"When things go this smoothly, it just makes me more nervous."
Scratching his head, Subaru sighed as he glanced around.
The sturdish stone corridor was just under two meters wide — barely enough for four adults to stand shoulder to shoulder, but perfectly adequate when you considered it was mainly used by servants going about their duties. The hallways back at the Roswaal mansion were just unnecessarily enormous and a nightmare to clean.
Anyway— "I was expecting way more obstacles — I can't believe I cleared it in one shot."
Hiding in the deserted passage — a corner of the underground corridors beneath the Royal Castle — Subaru let out a quiet sigh of relief at just how lax the security had been.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The "Thrilling Secret Castle Infiltration Operation by Kadmon, Presented By" went into motion roughly an hour after the three of them hatched their scheme.
"Listen, whatever happens, don't use my name. You can get into the noble district — the upper area — using my connections, but getting into the castle is a different matter entirely. If it comes to it, go find a guy called Henehehe in the upper west district. He'll send you back down without any fuss."
Even while making sure he wouldn't be implicated, the tough-looking shopkeeper didn't forget to provide an escape route for emergencies. That was Kadmon — always looking out for people, whether he liked it or not. And it was precisely that good-natured generosity that had gotten him dragged into this reckless venture in the first place.
The plan Kadmon suggested (though he'd deny calling it that) was for Subaru to sneak into the upper district by hiding among the cargo of a freight dragon carriage heading up from the merchant street.
The lower district — the commercial areas like the merchant street, the commoners' quarters, the slums, and so on — apparently encompassed the outer ring of the royal capital as a collective term. Regular freight transport ran from this lower district up to the upper district, and inspection at the checkpoints was relatively lax.
"So merchants are really that trusted?"
"It's not so much that merchants are trusted — it's more that they're not thought to be stupid enough to antagonize the higher-ups and ruin a profitable deal,"
The muscular giant answering Subaru's question was none other than the bald-headed old man himself, stroking his shining pate. His outfit had been swapped out from the shabby old clothes he'd been wearing just moments ago to something relatively presentable and clean. When Subaru's gaze prompted him, Rom added— "The upper district isn't so suspicious once you're inside, but it still helps to look presentable so you don't attract unnecessary attention. For you, of course, that's not a concern."
"R-right, well, in my position I'm currently employed as a proper household servant. First time in the royal capital, so they actually spent a decent amount on my outfit, believe it or not."
Subaru raised his hands to ward off the sizing-up stare, glanced down at his current getup, and laughed.
It was a formal men's outfit that
In the lower district, the formality of the outfit had actually made him stand out. But here in the upper district, that very incongruity would be neutralized and come across as mild rather than odd — or so he'd judged.
Satisfied with that reasoning, Subaru looked up at the cleaned-up Rom— "Even so, I gotta say — I'm seriously worried about you tagging along, old man."
He touched on what was, at this point, his greatest concern, voicing it with visible unease.
It was Rom who had volunteered to accompany Subaru for the smuggling operation into the upper district. Honestly, Subaru had wanted to refuse — he wanted to minimize the chance of being caught even by a fraction — but— "What, I've got some experience sneaking into the upper district. Where do you think I've been funneling all the goods I've stashed in that warehouse?"
"That way of putting it sounds exactly like those annoying dads who go, 'Back in my day, I was a troublemaker too.' Seriously, are you a habitual criminal? You're way more dangerous than I thought, this old geezer."
Subaru glanced at Kadmon for agreement, but the tough-looking man had separated from their conversation and was focused on negotiating with the carriage driver. The fact that Kadmon hadn't uttered a single objection to Rom riding along suggested this wasn't the old man's first time using this method.
And when Kadmon had first mentioned smuggling someone up, the driver hadn't reacted much either — further proof.
"Should I be lamenting the laxness of the checkpoint guards, or giving a thumbs up to the resourcefulness of merchants who exploit even that to make a little money on the side…"
"If anything goes wrong, it'll fall back on Kadmon too. You don't attempt something this reckless without a solid foundation of trust. Old man here vouching for you is the only reason your ride-along was possible — so be grateful, will you?"
"Dragging a fine, upstanding young man with a bright future into a life of crime with a big smile — that's textbook bad adult behavior. I swear I'll never turn into a geezer like this… but for now, I'll thank you on the surface. You're the man, Rom! Yeah, your head's shining extra bright today!"
"Wahaha, you filthy-mouthed brat. Should I kick you off the carriage right here at the checkpoint?"
They exchanged grins, then simultaneously sighed at the futility of it all.
Subaru shrugged and steered the conversation back— "So, seriously, why are you coming along? Rom's connections are what got us the free pass on the cargo carriage, but there's no real reason for you to cross a dangerous bridge too, right?"
This wasn't something that could happen just because Kadmon was an acquaintance. Subaru understood that Rom's cooperation was essential, which made it all the harder to pin down a clear reason for the old man to enable his reckless behavior.
Rom furrowed his brow in a complicated expression— "Your story is that
He grimaced as he said "Sword Saint." Hearing that title, Subaru pictured the red-haired young man and recalled that his residence was also in the upper district.
He was clearly from a notable family, and being called the "Sword Saint" meant that was only natural. Though in this world, where grand nameplates didn't exactly hang over front gates, actually locating his mansion seemed like a monumental task.
"I don't even know which house is Reinhard's, and even if I did, I can't exactly ring the doorbell and ask for a meeting. That handsome guy seems like the type who'd welcome an unannounced visit, though. What do you think?"
"Only you would pull something that stupid. What I'm doing is groundwork and preparation — for later."
"For… later?"
As Subaru tilted his head, Rom gave a slight nod— "A setup for bringing Felt back. Once we know where the mansion is, with enough money and connections, we can look into the details of the property."
"You're planning something on a completely different vector from me, but equally insane. I mean, it's me, so that's one thing, but you're lighting a fuse that's just as dangerous, old man."
Subaru tried to rein in the old man's radical talk, but objectively, the terrorism-level audacity of their respective goals wasn't all that different. One was scheming to infiltrate the Royal Castle; the other was drafting a plan to break into a noble's estate — both were crimes that could warrant immediate execution on the spot.
"With Felt specifically, though, if the guy she's with is Reinhard, I don't think there's much to worry about. Honestly, she's probably living better than she was here. Maybe she got picked up as a servant or something, like me, and is living her best life."
In her grimy slum clothes, it hadn't been obvious, but cleaned up, Felt had been quite the lookable girl, if Subaru remembered right. Someone like Reinhard might have noticed, felt pity for her starving in poverty, and taken her in — couldn't that be what happened?
He shook his head. No — Reinhard didn't seem like the type to operate from that kind of condescending pity. Subaru dismissed the thought, matching it against his internal image of the man.
Anyway, the likelihood of Felt being mistreated was low. But Rom tightened his lips with a troubled expression— "No, that won't do. It doesn't matter who her captor is. The fact is that child is in the upper district. And sooner or later, that could trigger a serious problem."
There was something stubborn — almost desperate — in Rom's demeanor that made Subaru uneasy.
He detected genuine concern for Felt in it, but beneath that, he sensed something even stronger — a more personal emotion harbored within.
Before Subaru could open his mouth to probe deeper— "Hey! We're ready to go. If you're serious, get in now. Third carriage, third car. The old man knows the drill — tell the kid what to do."
Kadmon had returned from his talks with the driver, informing them that preparations were complete. Rom raised a hand in acknowledgment, then fixed his quiet gaze on Subaru, who still had something to say— "In any case, we have to get past the checkpoint first. I'm telling you this especially because it's you — don't do anything unnecessary. They may be lax, but they're still royal capital guards. If you're caught, it'll hurt your wallet considerably."
"I'm more worried about getting my head chopped off than getting fined… though the fact that you can just pay money and walk away does hint at a certain level of corruption. I'll be careful."
Though still not entirely convinced, Subaru nodded and followed Rom's broad back.
Four dragon carriages were heading up to the upper district, occupying nearly half the wide merchant street. The ground dragons pulling the carts were a different species from any Subaru had seen before — these were thick-legged and squat, nothing like the lean, lizard-like ones he was used to. Instead of reptilian grace, they gave off the vibe of heavy, plodding turtles.
Four ground dragons, four cargo carriages. The one Subaru and Rom would ride was the third. The main cargo loaded onto it was— "It reeks to high heaven — wait, is this a fish shipment?!"
"Stinks so bad the guards' eyes will water before they can look properly. Plus our own smell will blend right in — perfect. Here, don't forget the deodorizing incense."
Rom handed over a small green pouch as Subaru grimaced at the stench flooding his nostrils. The pouch fit in the palm of his hand. Just sniffing it from the outside, Subaru was overwhelmed.
The sharp, pungent odor blasted past the fishy smell and assaulted his sinuses with such force he thought his nose might actually fall off. He nearly dropped it in pain, but Rom bent down, picked it up— "That's our lifeline, brat. Don't treat it carelessly, you ungrateful wretch."
"I feel like I just borrowed tomorrow's divine punishment — what IS this thing!? 'Your nose might fall off' isn't even a metaphor — I literally thought it was going to detach from my face!"
"Carnago powder is intensely pungent at first, but once you rub it on, it eliminates both the strong odor and your body smell within minutes. Walk through the upper district reeking of fish, and no matter how nice your outfit is, you'll stick out immediately. Think of it as necessary suffering and endure it."
Rom's face wore a wicked grin as he pressed the pouch against Subaru's chest. Subaru accepted it with a sour expression and stuffed it into his pants pocket, as far from his nose as possible.
Kadmon waved them along impatiently — no more time to waste. Steeling himself, Subaru climbed into the cargo hold.
Just as expected — no, worse than expected. The stench hit him like a wall. On the verge of departure, his spirit was already crumbling.
Some sort of cooling mechanism seemed to be at work, preserving the fresh fish — the interior of the cart was colder than merely chilly. Watching his breath fog white before his eyes, Subaru let his gaze wander, searching for a spot to settle in.
"Stop looking around. Your hiding spot is just a bit past the entrance — there, behind that wooden crate. I'm hiding too, so make yourself small."
"Why do I have to be stuck in close quarters with a muscular old man for twenty-four hours… the floor isn't wet with fish juice or anything, right? These clothes are brand new."
"Given the alternative possibility of those clothes ending up soaked in blood, I'd say this is the better option. The crate's filled with salted fish — the smell's bad, but it's still better than bleeding out."
Rom shoved him toward the back. The push coincided with a gentle lurch as the dragon carriage began to move. Before disappearing deeper into the hold, Subaru poked his head out through the entrance and waved a final goodbye to Kadmon, who was seeing them off.
Kadmon responded with a perfunctory wave of his own, then turned his back — a clear "I don't want to see you anymore" — and walked off down the merchant street in the opposite direction.
Having confirmed that, Subaru finally settled into the far corner of the cargo hold beside the designated wooden crate, and focused on calming the rapid pounding of his heart — the thrill of his first real smuggling operation.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * —The pain of his own heartbeat, a mild regret for his recklessness, and the bumpy ride onward. Subaru's anxiety proved to be entirely unfounded when the man sitting on the driver's seat quietly passed word back: they had cleared the checkpoint without issue.
It had been barely twenty minutes since they departed the merchant street.
The whole thing had been so anticlimactic it was almost deflating. In fact, Subaru wore the stunned expression of a man who'd just been told the punchline of a joke as he looked at Rom— "Passing the checkpoint is really that easy? They didn't even check the contents?!"
He'd been mentally prepared for the worst — spears stabbing into the cart one after another, some kind of violent inspection like he'd seen in manga — and had even been bracing himself to drop flat on the floor. The anticlimax left him feeling completely let down.
Rom snorted at Subaru's unnecessary worry— "I told you, didn't I? It's an unspoken agreement. The first three carriages from the merchant street to the upper district are the only ones that go through as food supplies. The fourth carriage behind us is loaded with items the checkpoint guards can't afford to turn a blind eye to."
The old man's sly grin as he delivered this information was proof enough that he knew every detail of this checkpoint's lax monitoring system from the inside.
Subaru puckered his lips in displeasure at this revelation— "So it was a rigged race from the start. I was worried for nothing. Wait — does that mean what's in the back is basically bribes?"
"Put bluntly, yes. There are plenty of people in the upper district who'd be inconvenienced if this particular carriage were stopped en route. Minor infractions won't be enough to halt it."
Rom crossed his arms and murmured this, then turned a serious gaze on Subaru— "However, you must not antagonize those people. Getting caught and facing consequences is the last thing they want either. They won't even give you a chance to make excuses — you'll be disposed of cleanly, and the truth will vanish into darkness. A tragic end. Understood?"
The weight in Rom's tone was unmistakably a warning against Subaru's habit of acting on impulse. Even the usually brash Subaru couldn't squeeze in a joke under that atmosphere, and he gave a solemn nod of agreement.
The swaying of the cargo carriage indicated they were on an incline — the sound of the wheels biting into the ground changing from earth to pavement told them they had passed through the noble district and entered the upper area.
"We'll get off the carriage soon. After that, we'll go around to the places I know and gather intelligence in the noble district. …You do the same, brat."
"…That defeats the purpose of what I'm here to do."
"I helped you get this far into the upper district because you kept pushing. But going any deeper is impossible under current circumstances. It would just be throwing your life away. I understand things are pressing, but you haven't prepared enough."
Subaru was silenced by the sound logic. Rom roughly ruffled his hair with a calloused palm, then prefaced his next words with "Besides that"— "Attempting something without preparation could also be seen as 'preparing to fail.' Rushing won't get you the result you want. So at the very least… you understand, right?"
"It's hard to argue back when you're getting lectured with that mature, worldly-wise tone."
Subaru forcibly brushed the hand off his head and turned his back to the old man, sitting cross-legged on the cargo floor. Rom smiled wryly at the sulking attitude, but peered through a gap in the carriage canopy, judged that they were approaching the drop-off point— "All right, time to get off. Stopping the carriage outright would be conspicuous. The speed is slow enough that you shouldn't get hurt, but run alongside it as you jump down."
He worked an arm through the gap in the canopy and pushed outward, creating space for his body to pass through. Sunlight flooded into the cargo hold where it had been blocked, and Subaru squinted against the brightness as he looked outside.
Just as the paved road surface beneath the wheels had suggested, the noble district of the upper area was fundamentally different in construction from the lower district's streets.
Where the merchant street and slums had been cramped rows of simple, shoddily built structures, the buildings here in the noble district were each enormous — sprawling in both footprint and height. Each property sat in the middle of what Subaru considered completely wasted open space.
It was the atmosphere of the grand estates you saw in stories. He didn't spot anything on the scale of the Roswaal mansion, but that estate was Roswaal's personal brand of absurdity — only someone with that level of pointless extravagance would build something so huge. And it would have been nothing more than an extravagant toy if not for the competence of
So this was the gap between upper and lower — the disparity between nobles and commoners, the kind you read about in tales. It was just as rampant here in the royal capital of Lugunica.
Combined with the bribes packed in the carriage behind them, it wasn't exactly a favorable impression. But Subaru was riding on the coattails of that corruption, and he knew it. He wasn't exactly the picture of integrity himself. Dismissing the contradiction with practiced ease, he focused on the task of disembarking.
"How's it look? Think you can do it?"
"I have a prior record of failed carriage dismounts… I'm actually kind of scared, so if you could show me a demonstration, I'd be so grateful I'd want to send you a monetary gift."
"I like that you're honest about being a coward. All right, watch closely."
Rom nodded at Subaru's candid admission and made the first move.
Keeping one hand hooked over the edge of the cargo bed, he leaned out, and the old body slipped outward with practiced ease. He then gripped the edge with both arms, timed the drop, and set his feet on the ground. At that speed, being dragged and then caught under the wheel for a gruesome mincemeat death seemed like a likely outcome — but— "So public disembowelment is off the table… is this because of—"
"I've got a blessing working for me. As long as I don't let go, I won't be thrown off easily. And also—"
Just like the carriage he'd ridden on the way to the capital, this cargo dragon carriage was blessed with the wind. Rom began running alongside the carriage at an easy pace, completely unaffected by the forces that should have been acting on his exposed body.
The carriage's speed was roughly equivalent to a leisurely bicycle pace — faster than a light jog, but far slower than a full sprint. Even for Rom, whose stride was considerably larger than a normal person's, matching it wasn't difficult.
He released his grip. Rom's body left the blessing's protection entirely. Inertia immediately took hold of his large frame, but having anticipated this, the old man absorbed it without so much as a waver in his posture. He transitioned smoothly into a jog, keeping pace with the carriage.
Subaru watched this display and let out an involuntary sigh of admiration. Rom looked up at him from alongside the carriage and clapped his hands— "See? Just do what I did. Or if you like, I'll catch you nice and gently."
The taunting words were clearly aimed at goading Subaru's competitive streak. But Subaru, peering down from the gap in the canopy with a grin— He didn't show the slightest intention of following Rom's example. Not a hint of bracing himself on the edge.
Was he secretly terrified at the prospect of having to pull off this unexpected acrobatic feat? That worry settled into a frown on Rom's brow, but once the old man's jog covered more than three hundred meters, he caught on to what Subaru was really planning.
His frown deepened, veins bulged on his temples, and his face flushed red as he screamed through spittle— "You — you little — you're planning to ride it all the way into the castle, aren't you!?"
Seeing through Subaru's true intentions, the running old man shouted with a face full of frustration.
Subaru let the words wash over him, neither confirming nor denying them. But the fact that he silently moved to pull the canopy shut was all the confirmation needed.
—The cargo dragon carriage was heading straight for the Royal Castle.
Even as he fumbled and rephrased his slip multiple times afterward, Subaru's ears remembered the fact that Kadmon had mentioned first: this carriage's destination was the castle, and its cargo would be delivered to the food storage. There was little doubt about that. If not — well, the alternative of getting off with Rom in the noble district and finding his own way into the castle had a far lower chance of success.
Rom had sensed Subaru's plan and chased after him, but once they entered even deeper into the noble district toward the castle center, he had no choice but to give up the pursuit.
Just as Subaru had his reasons that couldn't be compromised, Rom had his own priorities. Creating a scene would serve neither party's interests.
Understanding this, Rom departed with a frustrated expression, slipping his massive frame into a side alley. Watching that retreating back, Subaru felt the weight of guilt.
In the end, he was betraying both Kadmon's kindness and Rom's consideration.
Given their utmost assistance, his behavior could only be judged as a double-cross. But Subaru had used their goodwill, and he had no intention of making excuses now.
—Getting to
That was the single highest priority in Subaru's current life. Every problem standing in his way was nothing more than a list of clauses he could afford to ignore.
The royal capital was a twisted place, teeming with danger. Exposing Emilia to it without protection was something Subaru's heart simply could not accept.
If he was by her side, maybe — just maybe — he could do something.
Or perhaps Subaru unconsciously believed that 'even if it wasn't enough, he at least had a chance of making things work.' —Without realizing just how arrogant, how inhuman, that line of thinking truly was.
The cargo dragon carriage trundled along the smooth, paved road toward the Royal Castle, utterly indifferent to the tiny squabbles among its stowaways. Loaded with enough hidden bribes to make the act of concealing them seem almost adorable, it moved along — slowly, slowly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Having parted ways with his benefactors in such a bittersweet manner, Subaru now faced the trials ahead alone.
Countless crises and hardships stood in his path. Friendships and love born among them. And lives, ambitions, dreams — all crushed, all trampled underfoot as he bled his way forward— —In an ideal world, that would have been the kind of development he was hoping for. But in reality— "Wait, this is actually kind of bad, isn't it?"
Freshly emerged from the castle's food storage, walking through the palace corridors with security so lax it was almost offensive, Subaru could only express his exasperation through a sigh.
His journey in the cargo carriage had continued for about thirty minutes after leaving Rom behind, and the carriage had slipped onto the royal castle grounds with him still aboard, as easily as stepping through an open door.
Along the way, the fourth carriage had veered off the route — that one must have been delivering its bribes via a different path. In that sense, it was the first three carriages' destination being the castle that had saved Subaru's life.
"My time cohabiting with salted fish wasn't wasted after all. Getting covered in salt was an unforeseen complication, but the deodorizer handled that, so…"
Subaru still felt like traces of white powder clung to various parts of his body, and he nervously brushed himself off while praising his own quick thinking.
At the castle, they had to open the cargo hold when unloading — there was no way around that. To avoid being caught in the act, Subaru had slipped into the crate with the salted fish, and that was how he'd dodged the danger.
In reality, they had checked even the crate next to his — the fact that they hadn't gotten to Subaru's crate was pure, god-tier luck.
After that, the cargo transport itself seemed to be some kind of wind magic application — everything was moved into the food storage without anyone handling it directly. Thanks to that, the suspiciously heavy crate didn't raise any flags, and this hybrid monstrosity of recklessness and improvidence had somehow, against all odds, actually succeeded.
For Subaru, it was a stroke of incredible fortune. But the castle's utter lack of security immediately raised concerns about Emilia's safety inside, which dampened any impulse to celebrate.
Factoring all this in, Subaru had slipped out of the food storage, chosen a sparsely trafficked area, and was now making his way through the underground corridors.
"Okay, so I'm in — but I've got absolutely zero plan."
Truthfully, he'd made it here, but he was completely blank on what to do next.
Watching over Emilia from the shadows — if that were possible, it would be ideal. But he wasn't deluded enough to think he could reach the castle's inner sanctum where she likely was without being detected.
At worst, if he was spotted, maybe he could force a meeting with Emilia and she'd vouch for him — that was the brazen calculation he'd been entertaining.
Once he'd gotten this far, Emilia would be angry, but she wouldn't turn him away. He'd bow, pour on the sincerity, and cling to her mercy.
Even now, Subaru's thoughts veered toward optimism without a trace of self-reflection. Whether that was fortunate or unfortunate, no one looking at him right now could say.
And then— "Crap — someone's coming…"
Sensing a presence approaching from ahead, Subaru quickly darted his eyes around.
He was in the underground corridor — probably a utilitarian space used only by servants. Between the rows of crudely built doors, he instinctively slipped into the nearest room.
Thankfully, the room he'd entered was empty.
It was a small space — likely a changing room for staff. Several closets lined the walls, and the sweet scent suggested it was a women's room, which sent a thrill of guilt through him.
But there was no time to savor that sensation. Subaru hurried to the farthest closet, confirmed it was empty, and quietly hid inside.
Now he just had to hold his breath and wait for the presence in the corridor to pass.
Even as he clung to the optimistic thought that 'if I'm found, I'll somehow manage,' he was positioning himself in a situation where being found would absolutely not end well. The lack of a solid plan had created a crack in his resolve, but right now, that was the least of his concerns.
He'd deal with whatever came after — introducing himself, explaining, anything — once he got through this moment.
But Subaru's short-sighted gamble was brutally cut short— "—This room stinks."
The violent opening of a door and a female voice crushed that hope in an instant.
His heart lurched as though it might burst from his mouth. Feeling the blood drain from his ears with an audible rush, Subaru clenched his teeth against the despair threatening to rattle them loose.
The closet lacked any convenient peepholes like a locker — there was no way for him to see what was happening outside, no way to gauge the other person's actions beyond sound. He was trapped in darkness with nothing but his hearing.
Choking on his own tension, Subaru replayed every choice that had brought him here.
He'd underestimated this. He'd been cavalier about it. He'd been riding high on his own momentum. He'd been drunk on overconfidence.
Now that he was actually cornered like this, the stupidity of his reckless behavior became painfully clear. Just moments ago, every judgment he'd made had felt perfectly reasonable — and now he couldn't understand a single one of them.
But even as his rational mind spiraled into self-recrimination, Subaru couldn't bring himself to choose the option of revealing himself.
He couldn't let go of the sliver of hope — thinner than a spider's thread — that perhaps, just perhaps, he hadn't been detected yet.
Tormented by the unbearable discomfort of huddling in silence, Subaru heard— "—I'm only waiting five seconds. My princess has even less patience than me, y'know."
A muffled voice delivered that ultimatum through the closed closet doors.
The tone was somewhat lazy, but the will behind it was unmistakable — proved by the sound of a blade being drawn in the silence.
He could gamble that it was a bluff. He could cling to that last thread of hope and try waiting it out by staying hidden. But he didn't have the nerve for that.
"Five, four — skipping the rest—"
"Wait, stop! We can talk this out! — I'm coming out, right now, hold on!"
Panicked by the sound of steel about to be unsheathed, Subaru frantically pushed the door open. The closet groaned on its hinges, letting cool air rush into the cramped space and gently brush against his despair — if only for a moment.
What followed, of course, was interrogation with zero tolerance for excuses. Given what Subaru had done, this was far from a minor offense.
He wasn't surprised — he'd always known this was a possibility, even if he'd optimistically assumed things might work out somehow. Before he was crushed without a word, he needed to play the one card he had left— "See, Al? Didn't I tell you so?"
A familiar, imperious voice rang out, and Subaru instinctively raised his head. Before him stood a girl with orange hair, smirking arrogantly and pointing a fan-like accessory in his direction— "I said we'd cross paths with this clown before long. I didn't expect it to be quite this soon, though — that was a surprise."
"Yeah, well, you nailed it, Princess. Your eyes are sharp as ever. And this guy — he's got nothing," said the middle-aged man at her side, dressed in his usual bizarre light attire beneath a jet-black helmet. His tone was half agreement with the girl, half sympathy for Subaru.
At least the worst-case scenario — being cut down without a word — had been avoided.
Relief washed over Subaru's entire body. He sagged to the ground right where he stood, a dry laugh escaping his lips as he let out a long, exhausted breath.