The Lugunica Royal Castle, which he had looked up at so many times, now seemed distant, its white stone walls threatening to be swallowed by the evening sky.
"——
The word escaped Subaru's lips in a murmur, and his chest ached with the anguish of having been torn apart.
Emilia, imprisoned in that castle at the pinnacle of the capital. It had always been Subaru's wish to one day seat her upon that castle's throne—and it was never meant to lock her in a dungeon.
"...Emilia is a royal selection candidate. At least outwardly, she should be treated with courtesy. They wouldn't chain her up or anything."
"I know. I know that. But that's not really the point..."
"......"
"Ah, sorry... You were trying to cheer me up."
"Is that so? Encouraging a desperate Subaru is a partner's privilege, after all. Would Petra and
"Petra maybe, but Rem? I don't think she'd wail about it."
Subaru managed a bitter smile—and was surprised at himself for being able to smile at all.
Just moments ago, the thought of his own helplessness and the fact that he had no choice but to leave Emilia behind had felt like his chest would burst open. But
A glance to his side, and there she was—cute as ever, doing that little proud smirk of hers—and a small sigh escaped him once more.
——Subaru, Beatrice, and the others who had been waiting at the "
The safe house itself was, in a display of impressive boldness, the largest warehouse in the commercial district. Located near the defensive wall adjoining the noble quarter, it offered a glimpse into just how thoroughly the "Six Tongues" had embedded themselves—blending naturally into the capital, their existence practically invisible.
Now, Subaru and the others had moved to the back of the safe house and were gazing at the Lugunica Royal Castle—where Emilia was presumably being held—down to the very last moment before their escape was set to begin.
"......"
Crusch, who had not regained consciousness and remained asleep; Rachins, who unlike the others had shown no resistance to leaving the capital; and the members of "White Sheep" and "Black Dog"—these were the principal members alongside their leader Russell. Beyond them, several more operatives were apparently involved in disguise work and information disruption.
As expected of the kingdom's direct intelligence agency—their scale of operations was truly grand.
"But even with all that power, they've still been completely beaten, haven't they?"
"They won't stay beaten, though. That's what this escape is for—the run-up to a comeback."
"The run-up, is it? —I must say, that surprised me a little."
Hearing Subaru voice his determination not to lose, Beatrice—who held his hand—murmured something unexpected. When Subaru tilted his head and asked "Surprised?", Beatrice furrowed her brows ever so slightly.
"That you were able to decide to leave the capital so quickly, Subaru. Leaving Emilia behind and not meeting up with Otto and the others—those must have been painful choices."
"That's... undeniably true, and it still is. Before I went to see Microff, I was talking with Emilia-tan about what to have for lunch. She said she, Rem, and Petra were going to make boxed lunches today, and told me to look forward to it... and now here we are."
"Subaru..."
"It hurts. It's exhausting. But the fact that you didn't object either, Beako—you know this is the best option too, right? You, of all people."
Subaru's voice drooped pathetically, and after a moment, Beatrice gave a quiet nod.
She hadn't said it at the time, but Beatrice too had been convinced that staying in the capital would only lead to a gradual, losing battle. The reason she hadn't pressed Subaru to make a faster decision was her consideration for him—and for him to reach his own conclusion.
Not because someone else told him to, but because Subaru himself had to choose.
"You're adorable and tough, my Beako."
"And this adorableness and toughness come with a lifetime guarantee, I'll have you know."
"What a bargain. Good thing I signed that contract—Beako Insurance."
Subaru ruffled her head affectionately, his heart cleansed by how dependable his partner was.
Usually she would have long since yelled "Stop it~!" and escaped his grasp, but allowing him his way like this was probably another gesture of Beatrice's consideration for his feelings.
And then, just then— "I'll be ready to depart shortly. Are you two all right?"
The voice came from "White Sheep."
She wore a white robe over her black suit—the same "Perception Interference" robe as Subaru and the others—and had let down her tied-back hair, subtly altering her appearance.
Perception Interference plus a light disguise—her standard approach to concealing her identity.
"Huh."
"W-What is it? Do I look strange somehow?"
"No, sorry, sorry—it's not that. You look really different compared to when you're just in the suit. If anything, you look more like the 'White Sheep' I know in this outfit."
"That... may be true. Before 'Silver Fox' picked me up... back when I was at Mama's place, I wore this kind of outfit more often than not."
"Ah, sorry. I brought up bad memories, didn't I?"
Subaru apologized, but "White Sheep" gave a faint smile and shook her head. "No—it's fine." She ran her hand along her long, dark blue hair.
"...If anything, I should be the one apologizing."
"Hm? What for?"
"Forcing everyone to rush on my account... Normally,
She looked down, her voice strained, and Subaru couldn't help but smile ruefully.
"White Sheep" had once been one of Capella's "Darlings," but now she served under Russell's "Six Tongues." With her fundamentally gentle nature, she really wasn't suited to being a villain's subordinate or a spy's comrade. After all, she was trying to shoulder even the weight of Subaru's decision-making time.
"You don't need to take on my burden too. I don't feel rushed—quite the opposite, actually. You gave me the information I needed to make my decision, and I'm grateful for that."
"Natsuki Subaru-san..."
"If you still feel that awkward about it, then stop."
"Hm?"
"Calling me 'Natsuki Subaru-san'—that's my full name. Either 'Natsuki-san' or 'Subaru-san' is fine, but pick one or the other. Using my full name makes me stiffen up."
Subaru shrugged, trying his best to project a casual tone. "White Sheep" blinked in surprise, her lips moving wordlessly for a moment.
Watching this exchange, Beatrice let out an exaggerated sigh from beside Subaru.
"There's no need to read so deeply into it. She's probably just saying exactly what she means, nothing more."
"What kind of unnecessary warning is that supposed to be? What else could she possibly mean?"
"I don't know~ Maybe I just won't tell you~"
"That was totally the tone of someone who does know!"
Beatrice covered her ears and turned away as Subaru pouted in frustration. Then "White Sheep"—until now frozen in awkward surprise—seemed to relax, her shoulders losing their tension.
And then— "—Subaru-san and Beatrice-san, is that correct?"
"Yeah, that's fine. You can even call me 'Subbie' if you want."
"Subbie!? Even I've never been called that by Subaru!"
"I-I don't think I'd be comfortable with that, so I'll keep things as they are..."
With a remarkably modest response, "White Sheep" relinquished the historic right to call Beatrice "Betty." Yet she didn't seem particularly bothered by this—instead, she looked at Subaru with an entirely different concern in her eyes.
Subaru furrowed his brow at this, and just as her lips began to move— "Um, Subaru-san, Ti—"
"——OI! How long are you lot going to stand around chatting?! Move it!"
A harsh voice cut through the air as Rachins barged in, his tone coarse as ever.
"White Sheep" flinched, her shoulders hunching under the sharp glare of Rachins's wide-set eyes. Subaru stepped forward to shield her behind him and stared down at Rachins.
"That robe really doesn't suit you, you know."
"Shut up! Leave me alone! And why the hell do I have to take orders from Russell on a leash? Let the ones who signed the slave contract do the work!"
"That—that's not a slave contract at all!"
"White Sheep-chan, when you get that serious it actually sounds real..."
Subaru gently chided the earnest "White Sheep" for taking Rachins's rudeness at face value, then turned once more to gaze toward the distant castle and let out a long breath. —Just praying for her safety.
"Emilia is probably wishing the same thing for Subaru, isn't she?"
"For us—not just me. I'd like that even more, and it's very Emilia-like."
Beatrice read his heart through a single glance, and Subaru responded to her insight. Then, as if shaking off his lingering feelings, he turned his back on the castle and began to walk.
The plan was to pass through the safe house and board the dragon carriage waiting outside.
And just then, in the now nearly-empty safe house, he spotted a robed figure struggling to carry a box roughly the size of a full embrace.
He couldn't tell what was inside, but it was clearly heavy from the way the person struggled with it.
"Want me to carry this out to the dragon carriage outside?"
"Ah..."
Subaru swiftly reached out and lifted the box from them—well, "swiftly" was a stretch. It was actually quite heavy, requiring a good heave-ho of effort.
He was relieved that he'd managed to lift it alone, preserving his dignity. The hooded figure he'd helped, however, reacted with visible bewilderment.
"...Are you all right?"
At the confused response, Subaru tilted his head.
He couldn't see the face beneath the hood, but the person was slim. Then again, given that "Black Dog" had been far more suspicious-looking with an unknown face, this wasn't reason enough for particular concern.
What caught Subaru's attention wasn't suspicion so much as the other person's awkward demeanor. But before he could pursue it further, the hooded figure bowed hastily and scurried away.
"That person didn't even say thank you. How rude."
"Well, some people are shy. Not everyone's as friendly and lovable as Garfiel, you know."
"Why bring up Garfiel of all—well, actually, I suppose that makes sense."
Charm wasn't just about appearance—it showed in one's behavior and mannerisms.
As Subaru and Beatrice shared a nod over this common understanding among their camp, "White Sheep" noticed Subaru carrying the box and hurried over with an apology.
"I'm sorry for making Subaru-san carry that... I'll speak to 'Blue Snake' about it later."
"No, no, it's really nothing... Wait—'Blue Snake'? Isn't that the person who healed my burns?"
"Oh, yes. She's an incredibly skilled healing magic user."
At the code name "Blue Snake," Subaru reacted with recognition, and "White Sheep" confirmed it. From sheep and dogs to foxes, having the healer be a snake was quite the thematic flourish.
In Subaru's knowledge, snakes and medicine were inseparable—there was even the tale of Asclepius from Greek mythology, whose staff had a serpent coiled around it.
The connection to "Blue Snake" was probably coincidental, though.
"If that's the case, I should be the one thanking her. Carrying one box is hardly enough to repay a debt."
"Ah, that might be difficult. 'Blue Snake' doesn't seem to like talking to other people very much... 'Silver Fox' has told us to respect her wishes on that."
"A doctor who hates people, huh? ...That makes her even more like a legendary physician."
Brilliant but eccentric—the standard qualifications of a fictional genius doctor.
Even so, Subaru accepted "White Sheep's" explanation and gave up on contacting "Blue Snake" for the time being. Instead, he resolved to help whenever he spotted someone struggling with cargo, steadily returning the favor in his own way.
But first— "——Let's go. So we can come back."
Natsuki Subaru spoke those words as if telling himself, and with Beatrice by his side, he stepped out of the safe house.
△▼△▼△▼△ "—The principle of 'Perception Interference' works by subtly altering the impressions and atmosphere that naturally emanate from the wearer, minimizing any sense of discord at any given moment. In other words—"
"In other words?"
"Within a heavily guarded security net, it's nothing more than a small comfort. Please do not place undue confidence in it."
Sitting across from him in the dragon carriage, Russell delivered this warning. Subaru nodded slightly and pulled his hood—and Beatrice's beside him—a little deeper over their heads.
The "Six Tongues" arrangements were complete, and they were now part of a column of dragon carriages disguised as a merchant caravan departing the capital.
The carriages provided were nothing fancy—more like the plain, unadorned vehicles used by traveling merchants on the highways, let alone the capital. For the disguise, the caravan consisted not of one or two but roughly ten carriages, which did raise concerns about attracting attention— "Please rest assured. Currently, the capital is in a state of mild tension. Many people, wanting to avoid this, are making the decision to leave temporarily. We are simply taking advantage of that."
"This tension... you mean—"
"Concerns about dangerous intruders possibly lurking within the city, naturally. A considerable number of royal soldiers have been mobilized, and searches are being conducted conspicuously. The death of Lord MacMahon is being suppressed from the public, but the atmosphere of emergency is impossible to hide."
"That's... yeah, it would be. Everyone must be filled with anxiety."
His expectations about the capital's mood confirmed, Subaru felt a pang of sympathy for its citizens caught up in the machinations of "Lust." Russell narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Natsuki-dono, your concern extends not only to Lady Emilia and your allies, but to the citizens of the capital as well?"
"Hm? Well, I wouldn't say I'm that worried, but I hope everyone's all right. Even Capella probably wouldn't use her authority to randomly swap out citizens for no reason... The fact that I can't say that with complete certainty, though, might be what's bothering me."
As a member of the royal selection with decision-making power in the castle, swapping out members of the "Council of Wise Men" and upper nobility through authority use was arguably the most optimal strategy for a kingdom takeover. Compared to that, using the authority on citizens was little more than petty harassment—but Capella was just the sort of person who might do it gleefully.
Of course, that act in
"...Russell?"
Subaru suddenly realized that Russell had fallen silent.
Rubbing his chin with one finger and keeping one eye closed, Russell picked up with a brief "No—"
"Your concern is entirely valid, Natsuki-dono. I don't know if this will put you at ease, but the 'Six Tongues' are not withdrawing from the capital entirely. A considerable number will remain to maintain intelligence on the situation and carry out disruption operations. If you would trust in their efforts—"
"Yeah, sorry, but I'll have to leave that to you all. If I had ten or twenty arms and five or six bodies, I could do more, but..."
"What a ridiculous metaphor. Subaru is pretty much perfect as Subaru is now, I'll have you know."
"I appreciate the generous evaluation. ...Anyway, you're the only ones I can rely on on that side. Show me what the intelligence agency 'Six Tongues' can really do."
Subaru clenched his fist firmly, and Russell dipped his chin in acknowledgment. Taking comfort in this response, Subaru turned his attention to the rear of the carriage—toward the other carriages in the column.
As mentioned, the "Six Tongues" caravan consisted of over a dozen disguised dragon carriages. Subaru and the others rode in the lead, with personnel distributed among the others. What concerned Subaru most was Crusch, who had not awakened even once since the safe house.
Her consciousness had not returned since falling asleep in the sewers.
Just before drifting off, Crusch had mentioned something about the "Dragon Eye's" influence—but that had been a self-diagnosis, and in truth, no one knew what the "Dragon's Eye" actually was.
Beatrice had said there was no cause beyond exhaustion, but— "Are you worried about Crusch?"
"Of course I am. But you must be too, right? If you want to borrow Crusch's power to fight the 'Darlings,' you must be on edge."
"Worried, certainly. However, when it comes to diagnosis, there is no one more qualified—and that person has stated that Crusch's body itself is in no danger. The 'Dragon Eye' you mentioned is a concern, of course..."
"So for now, we handle her with care and wait patiently for her to wake up?"
"That is correct."
Subaru sighed at the careful response, lamenting how many things lay beyond his power.
In truth, it was the "Six Tongues" who placed the highest priority on Crusch's safety. They would undoubtedly do everything in their power for her sake. Including summoning their best healing magician— "Come to think of it—'Blue Snake,' was it? I caught a glimpse of her earlier. Is she the one looking after Crusch?"
"...You met 'Blue Snake'?"
"Hm? Yeah, we crossed paths right before we left—just barely. She didn't really talk to me though. 'White Sheep' was right; she's shy."
"...That's mostly correct, yes. 'Blue Snake' is indeed attending to Crusch. Please rest easy."
It was clearly a surprise for Russell to learn that the reclusive "Blue Snake" had encountered Subaru—his response had a hesitation in it that Subaru found novel.
Even so, while he felt relieved knowing "Blue Snake" was with Crusch— "
Ferris, stripped of his position as Crusch's first knight by Crusch himself, who had then brushed off Subaru's offer to mend the rift between them. His whereabouts since they parted ways at the capital's graveyard were unknown, but he was surely still in the capital. He must have heard about this upheaval by now.
At least Subaru hoped he had linked up with Wilhelm and wasn't doing anything rash—and that was when— "—It stopped?"
A sudden jolt of awareness that the dragon carriage had come to a halt made Subaru tense up. On instinct, he pulled Beatrice close, bracing for an unexpected development.
But Russell, sitting across from them, simply smiled and said, "Please don't worry."
"We seem to have arrived at the checkpoint queue before the capital's main gate. It's normally congested, but it looks like we'll be waiting a while."
"Waiting a while? It's about to be night—are that many people really leaving the capital?"
"Those with quick ears, quick judgment, and sharp eyes for profit—a limited group, mind you—are not deterred by day or night. Once this atmosphere spreads further tomorrow, even more will likely move."
"It's just like the Empire all over again. A flood of people fleeing the capital, just like back then," Beatrice said.
"I was thinking the same thing. Last thing I want is to repeat the Empire's mess."
Subaru nodded at Beatrice's words, recalling the Imperial Capital Lupganana in Vollachia. The mass exodus of imperial citizens under Abel's direction, after
Moreover, unlike the dead, there was no way to identify Capella's "Darlings."
"That is precisely why we have Crusch's blessing, and why we exist. —Natsuki-dono, I believe this goes without saying at this point, but please—always seek the best path forward."
Russell's voice had dropped slightly, and Subaru met his gaze squarely. The man before him wore not the face of a merchant but of a spymaster—the head of the "Six Tongues."
A reminder of what was most important—words to which Subaru would hold himself.
"Seeking the... best path forward..."
"Yes, exactly. For the kingdom's sake, for the future's sake, for the sake of those precious to you—whatever the reason, always pursue what is best in reaching your final goal. And to that end, be prepared to make even the painful choices."
"......"
His tone was dispassionate, devoid of heat. But that didn't mean his words failed to strike home.
Certainly, words brimming with emotion and passion could move the heart. But the reason Russell's words carried no heat was that they had already been struck and tempered—forged beyond the point where emotion needed to be added.
You strike iron while it's hot to shape it to your desired form. —But there is no meaning in reheating, striking, and deliberately warping iron that has already been set.
"—It seems we've arrived at the checkpoint. I'll go handle it, so please wait here."
The carriage stopped, moved, stopped again—and repeating this cycle, they had finally arrived. Russell rose and stepped out through the small door to the driver's platform.
Subaru watched him go, then let out a deep breath. Beatrice, at his side, murmured— "Oh my. That man... I'm convinced he's Roswaal's friend."
"Heh, I was thinking the same thing, Beako. The direction of his gaze is different, but the angle of his vector feels the same. ...Seeking the best path forward, huh?"
"Subaru is always doing that. Betty will stamp her seal of approval on it."
Beatrice huffed, as if insulted on Subaru's behalf—though of course Russell had no such intention, and Beatrice knew that too. At the same time, capable people always carried this kind of frustration.
"—The checkpoint looks pretty intense."
Subaru stood, cracked open the small window leading to the driver's platform, and peered outside. Beatrice leaned in beside him, and together they surveyed the scene at the capital's main gate—the standard toll booth, and beside it, a hastily constructed observation post and waiting area.
At the booth, travelers were being asked to present passage permits and cargo manifests. Normally, entering and leaving the capital didn't require such stringent measures. The security level usually reserved for the noble quarter's entrance was being applied all the way down here.
"Yes, it is deeply concerning. That is why merchants move quickly in times like these. We have prepared the necessary passage permits and manifests. The cargo has already been sealed and tagged for inspection, but would you like to inspect it again here?"
Sure enough, at the checkpoint, Russell was speaking with the guard on duty.
At his side stood "White Sheep," and Russell was rapidly presenting the numerous documents he had given her, thrusting them before the guard one after another.
His quiet but relentlessly assertive manner had the guard thoroughly overwhelmed.
"The documents appear to be in order, and the merchants' guild seal is authentic. The manifest lists... primarily medicinal supplies?"
"Time is of the essence—this is cargo where speed directly translates to lives saved."
Leveraging his public identity as a merchants' guild representative, Russell further appealed to the guard's sense of ethics through the cargo's contents. The guard could find no grounds for objection.
And as the final touch— "Please... If we don't get these medicines, everyone in my village will..."
"White Sheep" took the guard's hand with a trembling voice, her plea so convincing it was impossible to believe it was an act. Having gone that far, whatever hesitation had remained on the guard's face finally dissolved.
Still holding "White Sheep's" hand, the guard straightened up and cleared his throat with an air of authority.
"I... I see. There don't appear to be any issues. You may pass—"
"—Halt! Who gave you permission to skip procedure!"
"—!"
Just as the guard was about to grant clearance and "White Sheep" was about to express her gratitude, an interruption came. An older man stepped in from the side, cutting between them.
He was presumably the guard's superior. Rushing over from the waiting area, the senior officer snatched the documents from the guard's hands and examined them.
"Merchants' guild certification and sealed cargo. But rules are rules."
"A reasonable sentiment, but is a by-the-book approach truly appropriate here?"
"You merchants have your way of doing things, and we guards have our pride."
"Is that so? —Very well, then."
The guard deferred to his superior, and Russell gave a slight nod. Even from a distance, "White Sheep's" anxious tension was palpable—and the same went for Subaru and the others.
They had all the necessary documents, and they knew the decoy carriages were in place, but— "T-This might be bad... Beako! Quick, get inside my pocket right now!"
"Are you panicking too much!? Betty is Minimum Pretty, but not that tiny! Rather than that, try being more dignified—"
Worried the dragon carriage might be searched, Subaru and Beatrice fumbled about in a panic.
Perhaps sensing their agitation, Russell turned and gave the entire column a reassuring wave.
Relieved that there was apparently a contingency plan, Subaru relaxed—only for it to be shattered an instant later.
—A violent tremor, the sound of shattering, and then several screams erupted from behind the waiting column.
△▼△▼△▼△ At first, Subaru nearly mistook the tremor for the carriage lurching forward, the sound for the creaking of the vehicle, and the voices for some kind of cheering.
It was that sudden and unheralded.
"What the—!?"
Eyes wide, Subaru grabbed Beatrice and vaulted onto the carriage seat, craning to look through the large rear window toward the source of the commotion.
What he saw was a disordered column of carriages, rising plumes of smoke, several figures stumbling out of the haze in a panic, and a building that appeared half-collapsed within the smoke.
"An... accident?"
"That's what it looks like. From the feel of it, a carriage axle must have snapped or something, triggering a chain collision."
"And a building on the side of the road got rammed. This is bad—there are probably a lot of casualties."
Just as Russell had said, the usual congestion from the capital's unrest was likely the cause. In a massive backup like the waiting column, an accident would create a crushing, grinding pileup.
He didn't know how many were injured, but they needed to clear people from the accident site immediately— "Natsuki-dono, the clearance has come through. The carriages are departing. Please take your seats."
Russell had returned inside and delivered the news with crisp efficiency. Hearing this, Subaru started to say "Russell—"
"Huh...? What did you just say? The carriages are leaving?"
"Yes. The guards on duty have gone to deal with the accident behind us. We, with our documents in perfect order, have been cleared to pass. They need to clear the backed-up column as well."
"But... there might be people hurt."
"That's right. Didn't he say the cargo contained medical supplies?" Beatrice added.
"It's a ruse. Not all the cargo matches the manifest. If we open the cargo hold, that will be exposed. I told you, didn't I? —Always seek the best path forward."
There was no harshness in his expression or voice—only the razor-sharp edge of the words themselves.
Those words sliced through Subaru, and he set his jaw at the premature opportunity to put theory into practice. —He understood Russell's reasoning. He did, even here.
"'White Sheep,' please explain to Natsuki-dono."
"Hh—"
With a sigh at Subaru's downward-cast silence, Russell turned and addressed "White Sheep," who had been peering in through the carriage window.
She caught her breath, turning her glistening round eyes toward Russell. But Russell did not turn to her. Instead, he said her name once more—"'White Sheep.'"
Hearing it, "White Sheep" climbed into the carriage and placed her hand over Subaru's, which rested on the window frame.
"Subaru-san, please listen to me right now. It will be all right. The guards are handling the situation properly. —It will be all right."
"...White Sheep... -chan."
Following Russell's ruthless decision, "White Sheep" pleaded with Subaru.
For an instant, a fierce resistance surged within Subaru. But the trembling of "White Sheep's" voice and hand conveyed, unmistakably, that this was not what she truly wanted either.
Desperately, earnestly—she was still trying to do what was best. If that was the case, then what was it that Subaru needed to do right now?
"——Subaru."
Beatrice's voice came from within his embrace.
In her eyes was trust in Subaru and the light of resolve—exactly the same glow as when she had promised to follow him into hell in the sewers, regardless of what he chose.
Even if it meant shouldering sin together, Beatrice would not waver.
"Right now, from here..."
"Yes. That is the wise decision, Natsuki-dono. It is the best choice in this situation."
The hand resting over Subaru's on the window frame was slowly lowered. Russell, seeing this, nodded with apparent relief.
Yes. Russell was right. He should go along with it.
"......"
The accident could perhaps be called a stroke of fortune.
The carriage was about to be searched, and Subaru and the others were on the verge of being discovered.
The guards' attention was diverted to rescue operations, allowing them to escape.
—All of it, for the sake of saving the capital, saving the kingdom.
And so— "Huh—?"
In the very instant he tried to accept this and pull his hand away, Subaru's lingering gaze drifted to the scene outside the window—where he saw it.
—A figure in a white robe, hem fluttering, running straight toward the accident site.
"Blue Snake."
"......"
——.
————.
———————— Are you an idiot, Natsuki Subaru?
"...'Seeking the best path forward'—that's what you told me to hold to, Russell."
"—? Yes. Your judgment is correct. Let's depart immediately. We need to—"
"Then!"
"—!?"
"Then my best choice right now is to never abandon someone I can save right here!!"
Subaru shouted the words at the top of his lungs, placed his hand back on the window frame, and wrenched free of the hand holding him down.
With a cry of "Sorry!" to the stunned "White Sheep" and Russell beyond her— "Let's go, Beako! Lend me your strength!"
"Gladly—you should be ashamed for making Betty beg!"
Clutching Beatrice to him, Subaru launched himself through the window and out of the dragon carriage. Behind him, he heard Russell calling his name, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
An accident—good fortune? What nonsense. An accident was a tragedy. It was anything but a salvation.
"You were right! I was wrong!"
He wouldn't have realized it if he hadn't seen "Blue Snake's" back as she ran toward the scene.
She was one hundred percent right. And looking at her retreating figure, all Subaru felt was a burning wave of shame.
How much of an idiot was Natsuki Subaru?
Why couldn't he understand, Natsuki Subaru?
Even if there were people willing to throw their lives away, his own standards would never change.
—Nothing about him would ever change.
"What are you doing!? Hey, stay back! If you're not a guard—"
"There are people hurt! Let me help! We have to pull them out!"
Through the choking dust, right at the edge of the accident site, a guard had his hand over his mouth—it was the same senior officer who had challenged their caravan earlier. His eyes went wide at Subaru's sudden appearance.
A man who had appeared out of nowhere, holding a cute little girl in his arms—of course the guard was bewildered.
But that bewilderment wasn't a reason to hold them back.
"I can use magic! I can help! Let me!"
"—Fine! The more hands the better! Come on!"
A moment's hesitation—but against the guard's respect for human life, it was paper-thin. The guard broke through it with a single breath and directed Subaru and Beatrice to the scene.
Rising smoke, groans of pain, children's cries—the space was, as he had glimpsed from afar, the aftermath of a chain collision triggered by one carriage's broken axle, which had then collapsed a building into a half-ruined wreck.
Those bleeding and those lying motionless. Panicked ground dragons stomping their feet, rescue calls and shouts of fury flying back and forth—a terrible chaos.
Confronted with the full scope of the disaster, Subaru's gaze swept for a place to start— "—Over here! Help me over here!"
The voice cut through the cacophony, loud enough to pierce Subaru's eardrums.
There, crouching in the settling dust and reaching toward a victim pinned beneath rubble, was a white-robed figure—"Blue Snake."
Subaru rushed to her side and saw the victim's condition—a broken section of beam had pierced through the torso, and blood flowed freely. A grave wound.
And then— "Beatrice-chan—use your magic to lighten the beam and pull it out! You can do that, right!?"
"Of course I can! But why are you—"
"Oh, honestly! So dense!"
With a flash of irritation, "Blue Snake" roughly tore off her hood. What appeared beneath was shoulder-length ash-blond hair, and pushing through that hair—evidence of her identity—pointed demi-human cat ears— "...Ferris?"
The name fell from Subaru's lips in stunned disbelief.
There, of all people, was the face he never expected to see—the one who had rushed to a dying person faster than anyone else. Ferris, the Blue, was desperately fighting to save a life.