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Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Our Alpha, Our Omega

If someone had told Natsuki Subaru that Isekai situations weren't as idyllic as he once saw them and he had actually read Berserk, specifically its dark fantasy take, the young man wouldn't feel as dissatisfied with how bad his luck had gone now by setting him up for quite the unpleasant situation.

The Japanese NEET was no stranger to the idea of getting mugged, with his father having told him countless times of the days where he would happily beat the crap out of any thief trying to hurt his wife. The idea was the concept that had urged Natsuki Kenichi to train his son a fair bit, but not intensely enough to genuinely get the young man to develop an interest in physical exercise by himself.

This decision that Subaru took those days of lazing around instead of training was now showing its ugly mug by presenting him with that very situation which... didn't end well. The beating had hurt a lot, but he managed to not get anything broken as he was saved by what he initially thought being an angel. Nothing wrong in being a young man with hopes of finding a beautiful woman in the near future, but he was no deviant when it came to making angelic remarks to highlight a woman's beauty.

The moment he opened his eyes after fainting on his savior's approach, Subaru's gaze faced... a young face. A gorgeous face owned by a young woman with pretty violet eyes and pretty white hair that just heightened her purity to the highest point humanly possible.

Was that truly an angel? That's what he thought at that time.

"You are awake?" She asked softly, almost surprised and... Subaru remembered that he was outright gawking at the poor girl. He just had to remember what his mother had taught him in how to deal with ladies to realize how stupid he had to look right now. While his father's approach with the friendly and outgoing personality was neat when it came to talking with boys in general, that didn't extend to girls as his mother quickly reasoned with her 'caring' manners.

"Baru-kun, trust your Mama on this. If a girl is cute, you have to be the most polite about it, or else she will end up disliking you. How else is your Mama getting some grandkids then?"

Of course, a six years old Subaru wasn't certain of what he just heard at the time, but he understood one thing. While boys were keen to accept him being incredibly friendly with them... girls were to be treated with a degree of restraint. Too much of him 'being dad' and any chance of being close to possible female friends would evaporate. In fact, this is why Subaru, despite his mediocre grades and standing during his High School years, was considered an approachable and nice guy by fellow dudes and chicks alike. Not much of a bold man, that he wasn't ashamed to admit when it came to going forward to possible relationships, but nonetheless a good ‘kid’.

So, instead of being too blunt about the thoughts he was having about the very girl that had saved his bacon from some thugs, he merely nodded at her and decided to go for a more polite approach.

"Y-Yes. Thank you."

Simple, curt, and showing no weirdness that would gross her out. Still, the young woman frowned at his words, as if surprised by what he had just said. It felt odd considering that he had been quite 'humble' about it, he was sure of it, and yet the next words consolidated her shock.

"Thank... you?"

"Well, we did save him from that bunch of criminals," Another voice pointed out and his attention was briefly stolen by quite the unusual sight. A small cat with gray fur, it was flying just above the girl's head and now peeking at it. "Name's Puck. This is Emilia."

The girl tensed up, glancing up at the floating pet in a moment of annoyance and confusion. "W-Why did you tell him-"

"He looks trustworthy. He sounds trustworthy too."

That was... sudden.

The NEET couldn't tell what was going on, but somehow the floating creature - a familiar perhaps - had decided to trust him on the spot? Was it because he didn't look much, or maybe he hadn't done anything to draw suspicion on himself? Despite his questions, the girl still gave him a serious look, as if personally studying him before delivering judgment about the matter.

"What's your name?" The young woman finally asked and... he gulped nervously.

"S-Subaru. Natsuki Subaru."

A blink, her frown strengthened. "Natsu...ki? Is that your name?"

"My first name is Subaru."

A slow nod, then she looks away to further think about this. Subaru tried to plan out a way to not make things any more awkward. He was still receiving a lap pillow, and he knew how girls could get annoyed of giving those so frequently to mere strangers for so long. The reason he got one was mostly tied to the fact he was still injured and that just now the soreness from that beating had started to retreat and leave him mostly tired.

"What do you... think about elves?"

Subaru blinked. "Elves? Are you-"

"Answer me," The girl tensely pressed and only now he could see her sharp ears.

...

"I guess they are... nice?"

Emilia paused, and then frowned even more. A pretty blush adorned her pale cheeks, turning them a pleasant shade of pink.

"W-What do you mean with nice?"

"I've read books that say that elves are nice," Subaru elaborated, thinking back to the time when his mother read him the Lord of the Rings when he was a kid. It was a good book and his mother was always the book-smart woman that wanted her soon-to-be young man to become an intelligent member of society.

That proved to be a smart move as... the girl seemed to accept his words as true and it was enough to push in for a proper discussion. The two conversed for a while, with the girl eventually bringing up how she was looking around the capital to find an item that was stolen from her, a 'royal insignia' or something like that. Without hesitation, the NEET offered his assistance and mentioned that he wanted to return the favor for her helping him. The two were standing when he advanced that proposal, but the girl mentioned it was best for his well being that he didn't help her in anything.

"They wouldn't care if you're a good person. They would just judge you because... you're being nice with me."

Emilia wandered off without adding more to that, seemingly caught off-guard by that genuine approach, but incredibly unnerved by it as she proceeded to engage in a little run from Subaru. The young man was quite sure that he hadn't done anything to deserve that, and he was worried about what the girl had just said. The boy wasn't even trying to be rude or creepy, but there was indeed something wrong about the girl when it came to kindness for some reason. He was quite sure he hadn't said or done anything to truly offend anyone, and yet the young woman wasn't willing to call off the pursuit for a while.

Eventually it stopped, with Subaru barely holding control over his breath and ending up slowly walking up to the now stopped girl. Just as the young man managed to approach the girl close enough, he realized why the half-elf had stopped. A child, a little girl, was bawling without restraint while calling for her mother. Not unusual considering there were times where he heard of children losing sight of their parents due to massive crowds unconsciously splitting two or more groups apart. After a while, Emilia managed to convince the child she was going to help her and, much to her quiet chagrin, Subaru joined that effort too.

The little girl cried a little bit, but seemed to calm just enough to accept being escorted around until she managed to find where her mother had gone. Subaru wasn't... exactly sure he was doing a fine job. He never dealt with a child before now, so it felt incredibly awkward to try to keep things stable without messing things up. Still, he remembered that his father tended to use a lesser version of his classic 'overbearing' personality to amuse kids that wanted to test his muscles. He was a man-child to heart so, without hesitation, Subaru adopted a similar method, without of course bringing up muscles since he lacked in that department.

After a while, the two eventually brought the child back to... the 'Appa guy', someone that was selling fruits by the central square of the main market. With the little girl safely brought back to her home, Subaru and Emilia finally took a moment to talk about it once more. If before Emilia's reluctance to allow him to help her wasn't willing to give him any room of protest, now that he proved he wanted to genuinely help her gave him the argument to make her change her mind. The two agreed to help each other out of... friendship.

"After all, you have been kind to me and I think you're incredibly nice."

"Really?"

"Yes!" He happily exclaimed, failing to catch on the tiny blush on the half-elf's face at that truthful proclamation.

The two looked around, investigated a few people and... then realized what was going on. The thief that had stolen Emilia's precious item was one that was known to have her hideout near the outskirts of the city. The two wandered through the right path that led them away from the many buildings and crowds, and towards where a few poor citizens had made their home at. They stopped just once, with Emilia greeting a few spirits, small glowing entities that 'danced' at her hums and praises, leaving Subaru breathless before the fact that there was so much beauty in this world.

He was awed... but he didn't notice how the girl tensed up at his soft 'oh' as he looked at the fluttering group of magical orbs, thinking that for a moment, just for a moment, he had been staring right at her with that awe. Her blush was back again, and it made her question what was going on.

They arrived at their destination, opening the door to find out that the bar was... empty? Subaru entered inside, ignoring the sense of fear that irrationally grasped his mind as soon as he looked around the dark surroundings. Shadows left and right... but one in particular moved swiftly around, seizing the moment to strike against him.

Subaru tensed up, dread filled his heart as he felt it, the fright of coming close to die. It was night, it was close and it came to him. He turned around to run, but it was too late. A blade struck him swiftly, opening a massive wound over his stomach and almost killing him on the spit. He wasn't going to live beyond that day, and that made him feel particularly... miserable.

A squelching noise followed. Emilia had followed inside to check on him and met a terrible fate too. He felt guilty for leading her to this place, to her death. She fell near to him, her left arm stretched weakly as the girl shivered, close to death too. Maybe it was instinct, maybe it was determination, but in a moment that saw Subaru strays from the wimpy nature of his before the most frightening descent possible. His death.

"I-I'm going to save you!"

The promise of a stubborn NEET towards his new cute friend-

Yet, as his eyes forcefully closed with his life flickering away from his body, Subaru felt the hold he had over the girl's hand tightened. Emilia's soft smile, stained by a little line of blood trailing by the left side of her lips, was the last thing he saw.

A whimper came from her bloodied lips.

"T-Thank you... for caring."

-And the hopeless dream of a naive girl deprived of true happiness.

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AN

When the Barusu is potentially Dense (but not completely) and poor Emilia is socially incapable of grasping romantic love as an emotion to convey to someone she just met. Subaru got a bit more from his mother than his father, leading him to be a little more reserved, cautious but still have these moments of bravado and loudness when the situation gets exciting. Awfully enough, this hits Emilia in all the ‘right’ spots.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Hi Again

If someone had told Natsuki Subaru that Isekai situations weren't as idyllic as he once saw them and he had actually read Berserk was about, the young man wouldn't feel as dissatisfied with how bad his luck had gone now by setting him up for quite the unpleasant situation.

But he would have also been shocked to the core to remember that this has already happened.

Natsuki Subaru might not be a genius when it comes to life, but even he could tell that something was off if he ‘woke up’ back to when he first appeared in this world… right after suddenly dying a few hours ‘later’. Or ‘before’. It was confusing, it took him a moment to ultimately decide to find somewhere to sit and think more about what had just happened. This was definitely not something normal, even by this world’s standards from what little he got from this place. Magic was a thing, yes, but that didn’t mean that everyone could… loop? Was this something like returning to a previous checkpoint in a videogame and… did others remember that ‘first’ timeline? Has this happened before? What about that girl, did she remember him?

So many questions, and even as he sat down by one of the free benches in the main square, the young Japanese NEET couldn’t get any straight answers out of it. Quickest way to determine if he could truly ‘rewind’ back to a specific moment in time would be to… well, die again. But the mere concept felt stupidly wrong. What if it had been a one-time thing? What if he died for real this time around? It all felt incredibly stressing and as the bags he had sat down rustled due to the passing gust, the young man barely noticed a familiar face approaching him.

“I-Is this seat free?”

The half-elf, Emilia. She looked shy, her smile exuding an abysmal degree of confidence within it and her mind… but she also looked so clueless on who he was. He spared her a brief look, hopeful she would greet him by calling him by his name but… no. She didn’t. And that actually felt unpleasant. Instead of ogling her too much, he decided to go for a curt response.

“Y-Yeah.”

The smile widened a small fraction, with the girl sitting down and sighing as she looked around with an apprehensive look on her face. It was like she was waiting for someone, or trying to find someone which was… odd. In the previous ‘timeline’, she wasn’t exactly looking for someone, rather exploring around. Did something change from the previous loop? It didn’t feel so but… that still intrigued Subaru. And yet he didn’t press on it. He was a stranger to her, and it would have felt rude to force that kind of conversation like that. He didn’t feel that confident to do that. Not at the moment. Not when there was a chance he could die again because of what happened at the city’s outskirts.

Still, was that avoidable? Easiest solution but also the scummiest in his mind would be to not engage any interaction with the girl. To walk away, leave the place and try to find a place he could feel truly safe in. A place where to set down all the questions he got about his current predicament and slowly search the answers for them all. But… that would mean leaving Emilia to face death against their murderer on her own.

"T-Thank you... for caring."

The words burned unpleasantly, yanking him off from the notion of bailing from that kind of duty. It was principle that led him back into the very instance he had to deal with, the necessity to preserve the life of someone that had become a friend of his. In fact, he felt ashamed to have even considered bailing on someone like her. Emilia didn’t deserve that kind of treatment, not with how kind she had been the previous time and-

“A-Are you lost?”

Subaru’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt at that question. Violet eyes nervously poked at his unease, almost picking it up and matching with the one their owner had within herself. Emilia looked incredibly flustered for having asked, and the young man offered a shaky smile.

“I’m so-”

“Sorta.”

His throat burned a bit. He had been holding a groan at the mere idea that this was going to be a very troublesome circumstance. The girl’s eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and sheepishness. Emilia clearly hadn’t expected an answer, and this was possibly tied to how distrusting she had been around him the first time around. In this case, she was just surprised by that base interaction. Which was telling that her level of caution was generally that high with those she didn’t know about.

“Oh? I’m… sorry to hear that,” She muttered weakly, looking at her knees and… humming. “I’m lost too...”

That last bit came out in a whisper, almost childishly as she definitely didn’t want him to hear that bit but still say it. Sadly for her, Subaru heard and… decided to speak about that.

“Can’t you… you know, ask someone around for directions? Or maybe a… guard?”

That’s where something in Subaru’s brain started to unfold. He had forgotten that this place was the capital of a feudal kingdom… so, technically-speaking, there has to be some super-strong guard or knight that would be more than happy to help them. The only problem was that… Subaru didn’t have a good reason to ask for their help. He played the scene in his mind and it looked far from pleasant.

“Hello, I am someone that can loop back in time and know when I will get attacked. This one is a nasty one that is planning to get this lovely girl’s insignia and it is something really important to her.”

He almost flinched once he was done with that recreation, but his mind stopped to a very awkward discovery. Would it be convenient for him to bring up the looping ability? Or would it be really bad for him? After all, what were the chances of someone bad, like the big bad villain, could come for him and use him for nefarious purposes. Despite Subaru’s lacking worth compared to what people in this world could do, he knew that wasn’t something he was willing to let happen just for the sake of some recognition. He was better than that.

Back to Emilia, the girl had a surprised look on her face as she heard that idea. It was a good one, but it was clear she had already viewed it before and pushed it to the side. Her gaze moved up to him once more and she had that kind of expression one would have when their conversation buddy had grown a second head or a new limb out of nowhere.

But why? Why is she horrified at the concept of decency? Wasn’t it just proper to be kind to others? Or perhaps this world was just… crueler?

“I don’t think they would help,” Emilia answered quietly, “I am not… well-liked by others.”

“Why wouldn’t they help?” Subaru pressed back. “Sure, they could not like you… for whatever reason you think of, but it’s their job. It’s not like they can desert a duty just because they don’t want to.”

The girl frowned. “You… Do you think so?”

The NEET nodded, but before he could add more to it, another voice piped in.

“That’s a fair point,” A familiar purr came from Emilia’s shoulder.

Puck had been missing for a while, but it was possible he had sought solace within the green crystal the half-elf held as a necklace. The gray-furred small familiar offered a calm smile, but also a supportive nod at the young man.

“But what if-”

“Well, they are paid to do their job. It’s not like they can just tell us no since that insignia is really important.”

“Obviously,” Subaru agreed cluelessly on that point, ignoring the full importance of that trinket but picking up it had to be really important if the familiar thought so, and the girl looked less hesitant to pursue that kind of action. So, now that a guard would be assigned to this, they had a chance to stop the murderer from… well, killing them.

They both stood up and… Emilia tensed up. “O-Oh right. I forgot to introduce myself.”

He huffed, almost instinctively as he felt compelled to do that.

“None of that, I should have introduced myself too...” He offered a smile. “Subaru, Natsuki Subaru.”

She offered a pretty smile- one that held something in it betrayed a small hint of dishonesty.

“Satella.”

...What?

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Emilia made a friend.

Or that’s how she wanted to view him.

An acquaintance maybe? That sounded fitting considering the half-elf knew little about the man that was ‘Natsuki Subaru’. It felt odd how there were traditions that allowed last names to come before first names, but she didn’t mind- odd, but not ground to push away that friend- acquaintance of hers. The mere thought of struggling at this simple way of addressing the kind young man just left her miffed at herself. First she lost sight of Ram, then a thief stole the insignia and now she was dealing with this issue. Here she was, having trouble talking with a single individual. A ‘nobody’ in a way, a stranger that she should know how to dialogue with- and yet Subaru was nice. Nicer than other strangers.

It felt so wrong to call him a ‘stranger’ now. After all, she knew his name. And he was helping her with her current problem. Plus, she was meant to become a King, and that meant being able to speak with people, known and unknown to her. But while it felt difficult to bring up a conversation with Subaru, she couldn’t help but feel like he could do it with her way easier than it appeared. He was more cautious with his words, just like he was, but he was never shy to push his thoughts into conversation. Such as the surprisingly silly and yet apt thought he had about her introduction.

“You don’t have the face of a ‘Satella’.”

...What?

That didn’t make any sense. Many have told her that she looked similar to the Witch of Envy, Satella herself. Not only was she white-haired and an elf, but she also had the same violet eyes and her frame was akin to how she was always depicted by the tales of old. A stigma that had continuously endangered her capacity to befriend people, to the point that respectful comments or questions were rebuffed as ‘efforts to corrupt others’. She was no witch, but the burden of that reputation lingered over her shoulders as a massive boulder she couldn’t just shrug off. And Subaru didn’t see her as ‘a Satella’? That felt preposterous with how many times she was told the opposite. The idea behind that trick was more to test his reaction to her, and that name. If he would bother trying to sit beside her if it wasn't 'worth it'. A genuine kind soul, or someone that planned more? That interaction sure threw her off the loop for a moment.

“W-What do you mean?”

“Well, it just doesn’t feel right,” He argued with a silly look on his face. It felt like he was being pensive, but also poking fun at her. But not in a bad way, it felt less malicious than that.

“You think so?” Puck inquired with a fascinated tone. “And what name would you give her then?”

What are they doing?

For some reason, Emilia couldn’t help but feel like they were playing with her a trick but… it didn’t feel bad? It didn’t feel like something she should really feel offended about and… then Subaru spoke.

“I’m really not good with name-giving,” The young man argued while shrugging. “But I think your name would start with an E… like Elf.”

“Y-Yeah?”

How did he do that?

Emilia was just stunned by this. It was shocking, but all in all still with a fair reason. A silly reason, but one that actually worked in this kind of case. His smile brightened at having guessed right, and the girl felt something warm spreading in her chest. As if she was slowly releasing a knot she had been feeling deep within for a long time but had ignored it into forgetting it… until that moment.

“And are you going to tell me which one it is?”

Should she? After all, he was a good guesser, so where was the trouble in getting the rest out if he was that good.

“No,” The girl replied mirthfully, a happy smile gracing her face and one that remained just as she saw the young man grumble.

“That’s not much fair,” Subaru whined, while Puck snickered.

“That I can’t help you about, Subaru.”

Another groan, but it wasn’t the kind of sadness she pitied. Not when it was clearly an exaggeration of a response. But while Emilia wanted this curiously-fun interaction to stretch some more, her hopes were dashed away as they concluded their current goal. Eventually their trip culminated with them finding a guard patrolling around. But not just a simple guard. No, this one was quite particular.

Standing a few inches taller than Subaru, Reinhard van Astrea was quite towering for many people. The young man, a charming knight that had a renowned set of principles and values that were never put into question due to his chivalrous nature, had short red hair, limpid sea-blue eyes and a smile that showed genuine humility as the trio stopped him to bring up the whole matter. He was wearing the standard Royal Guard uniform which consisted of a double-breasted white long coat with a cutaway front, rolled cuffs, lapels, and lilac lining, a well-made black shirt under it, and white trousers with lilac cuffs, black shoes, black gloves. On the upper section of his left sleeve the crest of the House Astrea. The one thing that really gave a hint of his prestige was the Dragon Sword itself, Reid, the legendary blade that was used by his ancestor when they fought against Satella.

The young man had just finished escorting a little girl that had lost herself in the crowd within one of the many market squares in the city back to her parents when he was approached by the three. And the explanation that came out about this approach left him particularly surprised and mildly concerned.

“Lady Emilia, you could have told me or any of my companions about this just as this had happened. We would have helped you as it is our duty.”

Emilia held back a pout, both because she knew Puck and Subaru were right about what they told her and… because Subaru’s smug look just reminded her that the knight had revealed her name.

“I just didn’t see a reason to… concern a Kingdom’s royal guard with this affair-”

“None of it, Lady Emilia,” The redhead argued politely as his smile held strong, stopping her worried response. “It’s within your right to request a Knight of the kingdom to take care of this business since this is a national matter. We can’t just allow anyone to steal any insignia.”

A nod, and the group started to move to track down where the trinket could have gone to, the knight couldn’t help himself but inquire about Subaru.

“Natsuki Subaru… that’s quite the unusual name.”

“O-Ohi! What’s that supposed to mean, Sir Reinhard?”

“Only that, within this kingdom’s customs, it’s quite unusual. Apologies if that might have offended you,” Reinhard remarked sheepishly. “And I suppose you are Lady Emilia’s-”

“Friend,” Emilia blurted out, and her cheeks burned a faint red after having replied just like that.

Despite that awkward outburst, which left the rest of the group amused, no one pressed on it, rather rolling with what she had said. It felt odd to even think but… she would have preferred to have been called out rather than being agreed on this opinion. This was way more embarrassing than she expected it to be...

Well, I guess now there is only to pick up the insignia and be done with it.

If only she knew there was a bit more than just that simple step…

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AN

Things are already changing… and things will change even more by the time they get to Roswaal’s manor. It’s going to be tremendously fun to write, mostly the Emilia POVs.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Bleak Darkness, Rough Light

Despite Emilia's assurances and Reinhard's own guarantee that nothing wrong was going to happen if the situation got too risky, Subaru just had this sinking feeling that this felt too 'easy'.

Massaging his stomach, a gesture that was seen by the others as merely an attempt to soothe his unease, the young man traced the precise area where his belly got ripped open. The feeling had been so unpleasantly 'odd'. It wasn't the same as other injuries he got from before coming into this world.

At first there wasn't pain, but dread. The air yanked out of his lungs, his body screaming that something was wrong and... he was walking into that place once more. The unease wasn't that unjustified, he reasoned deep within his mind. Dying shouldn't be a pleasant experience, especially with how violent his 'first' one had been.

The previous thoughts about the chances of this being more than just a 'one-time thing' returned to his mind, but the young man was nonetheless displeased by those. He wasn't going to risk it, not with how vicious his previous demise had felt on his soul. Even now he felt the effects of it, as if something had been 'lost' that first time.

He was almost tempted to make a joke about this circumstance having deprived him of his 'death v-card', but the gloomy topic just pulled him away from that kind of amusement. Subaru just couldn't bring himself to think for too long about it without feeling genuinely upset with himself. It had been stupid to assume that a house of thieves would be safe for someone like him, an unarmed civilian, to enter without any issues. Stupid and suicidal. And also mortifying because he led Emilia to an early death too.

Breathe in and out. One, two, three...

Emilia's gaze would keep at his frame at times, turning away whenever he looked back at her. Was she trying to look at him while she thought he wasn't noticing? Puck's amused look seemed to confirm this, but Subaru saw no reason to press on this matter. Reinhard hummed jovially through the whole walk, suggesting a few things to keep in mind within the chances of a fight. It was an acceptable idea to have extra advice to rely on in case the battle turned in a way the NEET didn't see as favorable. The real issue within that advice was Subaru's role. Since he was the weakest, he expected for him to be taken the furthest away from the fight... but no. The red-haired knight was quite direct and frank about that matter.

"Lady Emilia's safety is pivotal for this kingdom's fate. I would suggest you don't let anything happen to her, Subaru. Even if this could cost your life."

His heart tightened at that last bit, but he was surprised when Emilia suddenly looked angry at that statement.

"While my safety is truly important, I believe what you said was lacking of care towards a friend of mine, Sir Reinhard," The half-elf argued heatedly. "Please, put some genuine interest in his well being."

Rather than being stunned or offended by that response, the knight smiled and nodded. He looked pleased by that remark, as if he had hoped for this reply but... how? And why did he take that route just to get her to speak that way about Subaru? The young man was confused, but Reinhard decided to offer some insight on the reaction.

"I'm truly relieved to hear this. You see, Lady Emilia, we all had a very mixed view of your take on how you see your allies due to your... current benefactor."

Emilia's frown softened, almost agreeing to that comment, while Puck huffed at that last bit. The whole reaction had Subaru confused over the topic. 'Benefactor'? Does this mean that Emilia might have someone that could potentially hurt her? That sounded to be the case but... maybe that wasn't as simple. Since this world was set in a feudal era, with some old traditions he was quite sure were common in Europe, perhaps it was just a matter of reputation or something like that. Japan was different in that regard, but while he observed that some traditions reminded him of home, it was also true that the rest of things he had seen here were common in the West.

Another reason to find a few books on the matter and see what I have to be cautious about in terms of politeness.

He saw no reason to pipe in beyond saying that 'it was fine'. And... that actually annoyed Emilia for some reason. The girl just started to stare at him with irritation, something that stunned him for a moment, but was little to what he felt when she spoke up about her current mood swing.

"It's not fine when a friend is treated that way, Subaru. I'm not that kind of person."

The young man felt touched by the moment, and offered just a frail smile as he wasn't exactly sure how to handle that interaction. Cautious and a plan-maker he might be in social situations, but this was one of the rare times he wasn't sure how he was supposed to answer it. And with no answer from his way and his awkward look, the white-haired elf was quick to see it as her win. Somehow. He just didn't question that victorious look on her face, preferring to stare at it and wonder how someone so cute would be treated this oddly by everyone else.

Differently than before, the house of thieves was not drowning in the darkness. The lights were on, the interior was visible and... there were just two individuals in there. The first one in sight was the tallest of the two and sported a bulky figure. He looked like a small giant as he stood around 7 feet, with his hunched back making him appear slightly shorter than that. He had white strands of hair lining his eyebrows, the only few locks that remained in his mostly bald head. He was wearing a sleeveless vest.

The other one was... a girl. Short, with fair skin and medium-length golden hair with a black bow. Her red eyes glowed vibrantly as she was soon looking at them entering the place. Her outfit was made of a black top, red scarf, and black pants that were incomplete on the left side, where she also wore a red ribbon. Covering the skin her top didn't hide from others’ gazes; she also had a vest, gloves, and a belt with a sheath where a lone knife was, while down to the very bottom she prominently had a pair of brown shoes.

"Welcome to my Warehouse, Knight. How may we help you?" The welcome from the old man was polite and yet it perfectly blended cutting formality with a warning tone.

"Good afternoon, we're looking for an item that has been... displaced."

The blonde shifted nervously, quite enough to confirm it was the thief that Emilia spoke about, and she was soon glancing right at the knight and then to Emilia, her red eyes gleaming in familiarity... before then finishing that quick study of the situation with him. Subaru stared back at the girl, with her eyes narrowing as she almost sensed his own doubts on engaging in that exchange and...

Those are some cool eyes.

He rarely saw red eyes on anyone, so, in a way, this combination of blonde hair, red orbs and the girl herself behaving like a standard tough tomboy... that was just plain adorable in his eyes. If circumstances had been different and he had been given the chance to speak and befriend the girl, he would have plotted some head patting for her. But right now, the only thing he could do was stare and wonder how it was possible for a thief with that kind of 'flashy theme' would be able to elude chases and attention from others. It was after he was done setting out the questions he realized that the girl had averted her eyes away from his, her cheeks a tone pinker as she really looked intimidated by him and... he felt at fault for it. He had been told many times by his parents to not stare at people for too long since he got eyes that tended to look mean when he stared at something and someone for too long. It was clear that was the case. And to make things worse, he realized that Emilia had been staring at him for a while. She had a 'sturdy' look on her face, with a hint of a pout by her lips as she tensely glanced at him. Was that annoyance that he saw on her face? Towards him or the situation?

Just as he glanced back at her, the girl suddenly looked away, a red hue spreading over her face in clear embarrassment. Subaru just felt even more embarrassed, mistaking that reaction as the same one that the thief had with him. Should he apologize once they were done with this? Definitely, he thought quietly.

His attention was back to Reinhard and the owner of the place, having missed most of that conversation due to his staring contest.

"I see. So this item could bring us that much trouble?" The small giant remarked with surprise. "I didn't expect the kingdom would go so far for it considering its size."

"The insignia is a relevant aspect of the succession. Trying to steal and sell it would warrant some dreadful consequences, of which I'm willing to ignore because I'm aware of your good conduct despite your foul affairs." The redhead admitted, his lips forming a thin and slightly upset line. "That would be just part of the problem, Rom. I believe we can agree that your presence here is already shaky due to your... previous allegiance."

'Rom' grunted, picking up the small insignia and looking ready to give it to Reinhard with nothing more than a small whine. But while he did so, his gaze moved elsewhere as the doorbell rang once more, announcing someone else had entered the place. And while Subaru didn't see his murderer in their face, he could tell this was the one. The murderous assassin that took his first life. A pleasant smile on her face, a polite humming and then a surprised look on her place.

This... this is going to be troublesome.

-----------d-d-d-d-----------

Felt was confused by the sudden change of mood from the knight.

Sure, the blonde had noticed the ominous aura coming from their customer, but after spending years of working in the business, the girl knew it was normal to work for unpleasant people. Yet, this very reaction and the unease shown by Rom was enough to confirm one thing: this customer wasn't a 'good one' for them. Especially since the product she asked for wasn't one that they should be dealing with.

The tall woman's long wavy hair was the same shade of black as the young man, which was actually uncommon to find around on other people and almost made Felt wonder if they were related somehow, and it was braided into a long tail on the left side of her head that reached down to her hips. Her slim body was well-endowed with large breasts and sultry curves, quite peculiar and intriguing for a young girl as Felt as she wondered if she was ever going to reach that bewitching beauty herself, yet her wonder was stunned by the deadly pale creamy skin color of the customer. Her outfit matched the focus of her beauty by being extremely provocative. She wore a pair of black elbow-length gloves with purple trimmings at the top, a pair of black high-heel shoes, and a black dress with purple decorations that was both strapless and backless and featured brown tights. The dress, that looked skin-tight and accentuating her hips and sizes, also had thigh-high slits on either side and an exposed front that flaunted her bellybutton and cleavage.

"Truly a feast, I'm so... pleased of the many guts that can be spilled."

These words further cemented the young thief's mind on the matter, especially with how lustful they sounded despite the unpleasant topic, and she was quick to unsheathe her knife for the occasion. The gesture was noticed, but almost mocked with a mirthful look from the 'customer'. Leering at her that way, it just pissed Felt off even more.

"I believe that will not happen, Elsa Granhiert."

The name didn't ring any bell in Felt's mind, but Rom was already looking belligerent at that announcement. This wasn't a fun business anymore from the way things were escalating. Even the pretty elf took a fighting stance and the young man beside her, the one she was quite sure was holding back something scary from the mean gaze he got, looked quite unsure of what to do. Worry? Could it be that her early assessment of the guy was wrong? Nonetheless, that wasn't important.

The woman smiled coyly. "Oh, I didn't know that I was known by the Sword Saint himself. Still, good Sir, I'm looking forward to seeing how precious your guts are. What kind of color do you think those are? Normal? Or perhaps they own a sense of 'justice' to them. Or even better, the sorrow of losing a mother at a tender age."

Felt almost shook her head in disappointment at that comment. Sure, trying to bait someone could normally be pleasant in case they could be overwhelmed but... that wasn't the case. Just with a step, the impetuous assault from the redhead was ferocious. The assassin quickly brought her daggers out but those barely blocked the strike of a... normal sword. A frown adorned Felt's face as she was quite sure someone like the 'Sword Saint' should have something stronger than that. And it was there that she noticed the man had been holding his proper sword holstered. Why would he do that?

Despite her confusion at that move, the blonde was soon baffled by something else. They were moving fast. Really fast. Even with her trained eyes, Felt was struggling to keep up with their paces. How was it possible for someone to be that quick? How was it even doable for them both to be able to move around without crashing somewhere. Her early efforts to master her skills had resulted in no shortage of failures before she got the right amount of speed and control needed for precise rushes. But right now, all that hard work that she had grown to be proud of felt insignificant before that display of speed.

Just as she tried her best to track their movements, she failed to notice something soaring towards her. In the middle of the fight, the assassin had thrown one of her daggers out, and it had aimed for... her. Why? Felt's head exploded in pure confusion as she brainstormed as quickly as she could on her matter, as she was unable to understand the reason behind that attack. Why her? What did she do that the others didn't? Why did the Assassin think of her as the biggest threat? Her legs received the message to move away from the approaching projectile, yet her feet were still standing on the ground. Dread roused from within, but as she saw the dagger getting dangerously close to her face, her world shifted down. Her footing was lost, someone had pushed her onto the ground and... then she saw blood flying out as the dagger found flesh. A loud yell filled with pain, Felt's already wide-open eyes were aimed at the individual that just pushed her out of danger's way and... felt horror piling up. The young man, he had saved her from that. And that dagger almost took his shoulder off from how big the gash was.

Is he even going to survive this?

Before she could say or do anything, she noticed tears had started to form and her chest was contracting in shivers. Panic, she had seen her life pass before her own eyes. Sure, she had lived on the streets long enough to know death could be around the corner... but there would normally be a warning, and she would be keen to avoid taking any road that got her too much heat onto her butt. Right now? She didn't get any choice, and she should have died due to her body freezing up in such a terrible situation.

"A-Are you alright?" The guy asked, his usually mean eyes flashed a mix of pain and confidence.

Who was he to ask her if she was fine? She should be the one speaking! So why didn't she speak? This last question ended unanswered for a while, but then her voice returned and she replied with a single word.

"S-Stupid."

Stupid for jumping and helping someone that was rotten bad, that was a thief, that was no one you knew about. But beyond that confusion born from that response, Felt spotted a strong lingering feeling of determination. There was no regret, even if the pain had to be horrible for someone like him.

That moment was interrupted as a shadow loomed over them. Violet eyes peering over the two as the young man, instead of moving away... stood between her and Felt. Why? Once more, her perplexity kept her quiet and shocked.

"Your eyes are... quite familiar," Elsa hummed quietly, amused and yet intrigued. The comment was aimed at the young man. "I've seen eyes like yours... yet yours are softer."

That last detail was relayed with quite the disappointed tone, yet her smile didn't falter. Felt was confused, and the shivering from the dumbass matched hers. Both were clueless on what she meant with that, but the blonde didn't see reason to keep in that position. To her credit, the assassin managed to dodge a knife-throw this close, her amusement remaining despite the sudden attack from the thief... but cracking as Reinhard used the opportunity to finally strike through the woman's defenses. The sword cut, but it also shoved the assassin away due to the strength applied to it. A pained gasp, then the assassin was forcefully slammed on one of the walls, with that part of the building cracking at the impact.

Silence echoed within the room, with Felt's gaze and breath shaky as she hoped it was over. That the knight had actually killed the bitch but... that didn't seem to be the case. For the most part. The assassin ran away, possibly frightened by that deadly hit, but she had survived the encounter. Time passed, Felt was helped up and Rom checked on her. He saw her tears, and the blonde felt extremely embarrassed. When was the last time she cried in front of him? A long time ago, and even now he sported the same calm and patient look. 'It is only a natural reaction’, he told her back then. That everyone cries at times, especially when we face something so unfair that could hurt us. And now she came close to dying.

While she thought it was over and that life could return to normal, the red-haired knight that had helped them asked a single favor out of Felt. Something silly in her mind, but that he was quite serious in having her try. Rom looked uneasy, but allowed her to give it a go but gave her a warning.

"Be careful."

Was the insignia really dangerous for those that weren't part of the kingdom? She had used special gloves for that, but the knight wanted her to try it. He said that something about Elsa's behavior had him interested in a 'possibility'. Despite her many questions and state of mind, the blonde complied and held the insignia in her palm.

...

"...Why is it glowing?"

----------d-d-d-d-------------d-d-d-d---------

AN

And so it is! This first 'tutorial arc' is now over and I have to say a couple of things:
1) While Subaru will accept Emilia's offer to stay at the manor, I have some plans to make it a bit more than just a 'no-brain' decision. A small 'issue' called Felt;
2) As this chapter and the previous point addressed, I plan to give Felt a bit more relevance in the story. I think she will add more to what I've in mind and... right now the main pairing is SubaruXEmilia;
3) Barusu is going to bring more than 'Victory!' to the village. Be prepared for some small improvements for feudal life and... head pats. Lots of them.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: Counter-Offer

'This is certainly... something.'

Natsuki Subaru wasn't one to say no to generous offers when he generally needed help for something. His mother had been quite strict in instilling a sense of humbleness even when it came to being dismissive of these. But as Emilia offered him a place to stay due to their friendship, he couldn't help but feel upset towards himself, and even more at his situation.

To think he would end up cashing in a friendship in the form of a place to stay, a 'safe haven' for him to go to. It left a bitter taste in his lips. Something that worried him to no end as he could tell this couldn't be a permanent thing. Despite the absurdity of the situation, he knew better than just keeping put and retaining laziness. The young man just didn't see it as feasible with how risky this world was. And that thought was just reinforced by meeting the girl who was meant to be escorting Emilia.

The young maid looked quite cute, but Subaru had plenty of experience from home, mostly second-hand, where pretty girls weren't always that nice, so he reserved from being too exposed around her until he knew who he was dealing with. Medium length light pink hair with bangs covering the left half of her face, her red slanted eyes gleamed in surprise at finding Emilia and in dismay when she spotted Subaru and learned what happened. She had two hair clips crossing towards the right side of her hair, flower-shaped ribbon on the same side of her hair, and a maid headband to match her outfit. A proper maid, but she looked far from subservient like he would imagine one to be. At least, not towards strangers.

Her name was Ram, and her sharp tongue...

"He looks like a homeless person. He could be trying to scam you, Lady Emilia."

Greatly upsetted Subaru.

It wasn't the first time the guy had dealt with girls behaving that way, but it definitely applied a layer of annoyance to what was going to be a very 'long' stay at this manor. And even as Emilia went on through great lengths to push back quick accusations from the pinkette, the maid made it clear she didn't trust the young man. Even more as the half-elf confirmed that he would stay at the 'manor' as a guest for the time being. The servant was quick to oppose this decision, not directly, but trying to dissuade her 'lady' to not go this extra step. Despite how she behaved up to this point, Subaru had the chance to see that Emilia had the means to keep some stubbornness within her choices, those that she felt really mattered and couldn't be declined.

Much to his relief, as the conversation had gone for an awkward amount of time, the maid eventually backed down from the 'fight', and ultimately bowed her head as the trio finally made their way to the carriage the girls used to get in town. The ride to reach the manor was fairly quiet. Subaru sat by a side of two sides of the seats within the carriage, while Emilia picked the opposite one. It just felt awkward to be forced to sit so closely to someone he had just met, especially if it was a new female friend and in an enclosed space.

The young man thought back to the few times when one of his childhood friends would just scold him to not sit too close to someone like that. It felt 'creepy', and he could see reason within that circumstance. So... why did Emilia look quite annoyed at him having made that decision? He decided against asking, feeling too light-minded to actually care. While the wound he sustained in that sudden fight hadn't pushed him in a feverish state or, worse, unconsciousness, that didn't mean he had the mental strength to endure any unnecessary conversation for today.

Reinhard had been quite clear when it came to this kind of matter, saying it was only for the best if Subaru tried to not exert his mind for the remainder of the day and injured arm in the next few days. It was actually the worst injury he ever got beyond getting murdered by that same assassin in a previous 'life'. The memory flared again, this time as a nagging factor before the chance he was venturing into an unknown place. Part of his mind, sympathetic to Emilia's cute offer, was keen to dismiss most of the worst out of the paranoia he had developed from that experience, but some good questions remained to keep him vigilant for any surprises. Looking back at the first few conversations with Emilia, both before and after his 'first' death, Subaru noticed how the half-elf had admitted to having close to no friends beyond Puck... and him.

This notion left a very jarring door open: this manor, the place that Emilia had confirmed she had been living for a while now, was not her home. And the people inside it? Not her friends. Which translated into a very unpleasant possibility that he might not be treated well within that place. Sure, he was a friend to someone the owner considered of importance, but what were the chances he would end up becoming a pawn in whatever game of intrigue he was being pulled into. It was clear there was something afoot within that relationship, but he had yet to meet the guy himself to say if it was indeed the case. After a few hours of riding, the carriage reached its destination around midnight. If before Subaru was tired, now he felt close to crash down on the ground as he left the carriage last. Emilia let out a cute yawn, hand covering her lips as she did so, but still not preventing some embarrassment to leave her blushing at the gesture. And the fact Subaru had stared at the scene with an amused smile.

The walk towards the gates was brief, with Ram calmly leading them into the tall building. It was there that the young man was introduced to the very individual he would have to be careful with. Standing about half a head over Subaru's current height, the nobleman was fairly towering. His straight indigo hair is long enough to cover his whole back and is usually tucked behind his ear on the left side of his head. His peculiar makeup covered his face in a very unusual fashion, reminding Subaru of a clown. His heterochromic eyes had his left orb shining golden and the right one blue. His current outfit consisted of a black hat, a top and bottom with different shades of purple, along with red and black boots and a cape. He also has a chain surrounding his right ankle.

Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers was the 'humble' owner of the manor, and yet Subaru was instantly distrusting him despite the 'cheerful manner' he greeted him with. It just felt like he wasn't being honest from the way he was eyeing him. To make it worse for the young man? Roswaal's smile flashed a true amused twitch. He knew what Subaru thought of him, that was what remained from that odd development and yet no comment was made about that silent exchange. Quite the opposite. The margrave smiled and was quite positive to the circumstance, even allowing Subaru to stay in the manor for an indefinite amount of time with just a catch: working at the castle.

...And that didn't sit well with Subaru. Not just when it came to trusting this man, but also because of the implications this deal would put him through. Despite his manly pride, Subaru wasn't exactly good at house chores. He could help cleaning, yes, but he was no good cook and he definitely would just create a mess out of this. Not only that, he felt that bowing his head to this matter would actually put him under heavy scrutiny from the odd nobleman.

Which meant I am going to be studied and perhaps used when Roswaal needed that pawn to control Emilia.

That wouldn't do, no. So, Subaru came up with a quick idea after remembering something the silver-haired friend of his that actually helped him to a degree.

"How about I help as a liason to the nearby village? Emilia told me that you are quite burdened between handling the paperwork of the other land and also making sure that the village is taken care of with utmost attention."

The half-elf perked in surprise at being mentioned by the boy and Roswaal hummed, interest flashing in his eyes.

"Why do you think I need someone like that, Su-ba-ru~?"

"Well, I'm not good at house chores. And working here in the castle would be detrimental for both," The young man explained truthfully, bowing his head with brief shame. "But since I've studied for enough years, I think I can help if there's a need for... someone on the field?"

"As an agent when I'm busy? A representative?" Roswaal guessed swiftly, taking a pensive stance that soon turned intrigued. "You said you have studied. Pray tell, how many years have you studied?"

"More than a decade." The answer stunned the occupants of the entrance hall. Ram herself looked surprised at that response, yet skeptical about its truthfulness. "Where I came from, school is mandatory and so I have some knowledge on handling this kind of affairs."

A pleased smile adorned the clowny man's face. "I see... and you would be willing to prove it to me?"

"Yes?"

"Then, let's make a deal. You will go through a test of my choosing tomorrow after lunch and I will decide if you will serve me as an agent or a servant of this castle."

That felt ominous, but it wasn't the worst thing possible. Just as Emilia and Subaru had split to get to their bedrooms, with the young man finally left alone from other issues, he proceeded to grab one of the pillows and scream his discomfort and mortification at realizing that he made a deadly mistake with that move. Sure, he knew how to do math at a level not many in this world could achieve due to how the 'modern average' was higher compared to the one obtained by scholars of this 'time', but Subaru couldn't read or write in the language he found himself speaking. What sounded Japanese bore another name and a different alphabet. In a way, he felt relieved to know there was just a single alphabet, and not many like in Japanese. It would make it simpler for him to study, but, at the same time, he knew that he didn't have a chance

"If you need any help, you can ask our librarian. She is quite bossy at times, but Beatrice is a good person."

Maybe there was a chance in this desperate situation. It was time to rely on a very unique ability he was keen to use during his high school years. An ability many students his age and mindset were aware of and had used times and times again.

Cramming. And, as expected, that didn't go well.

--------d-d-d-d---------

It was early in the morning and... there was a disturbance.

Beatrice had long mastered and honed those inner skills to perceive 'unusual elements' within her realm, and right now she could tell someone breached her little haven made of ink, paper and knowledge. The spirit huffed, turning her head to stare at the anomaly and frowned before interest flocked at her mind together with annoyance.

Despite looking like a lovely young girl around the age of eleven or twelve, 'Betty' was more than just that. Her large sky-blue eyes have pink butterfly patterns as their irises. The spirit's blonde hair was worn long and tied into frilly vertical drill-shaped twin tails. She wore a dark-pink frilly dress with white trimmings and an exposed front that left her legs visible, and was completely covered by pink and purple vertically-striped tights. A petite crown is also sported on the right side of Beatrice's large head, serving as a nice accessory which complements her appearance rather perfectly. Beatrice also wears pink shoes with butterfly straps on her feet, and has a large pink ribbon adorned upon the left side of her waist and a pair of similar ribbons tied at the top of her twin tails. She was also fairly cranky at this early hour, making this circumstance fairly upsetting.

"Who are you and what are you doing in Betty's library, intruder?"

The young man paused, almost jumping as she spoke loudly.

"N-Natsuki Subaru," He introduced himself meekly. "Puck told me I could study here."

Beatrice frowned harder as she wondered what she just heard. Bubby had offered that to this guest? That sounded so interesting and quite confusing. "Truly? Why?"

"He said that here I would find the help I needed to learn how to write and read the common alphabet. Since I can just speak fluently this language-"

"But not write anything about it, I suppose," The little blonde finished, pondering on the circumstance itself. "Which means he asked for me to provide you with assistance. Quite frustrating."

The guest bowed his head. "I'm sorry."

That reply further confused Beatrice. "Why are you sorry? You've yet to annoy Betty." Beyond being there to begin with. But the spirit could ignore that. Mostly because Bubby had told him to ask for her help.

"It's just that... you don't look happy with it."

"And?"

"I don't wish to be a burden," The boy replied earnestly, bowing his head with extreme politeness. So much that even Betty felt incredulous of such circumstances. "I will be in your debt."

"In my... debt?"

"I understand that you are friends with Puck, but I don't wish for this to be seen as a burden. So please, I will do anything to pay for this service."

Beatrice wasn't sure how to exactly handle this situation. Normally, people would ask things from her and expect her assistance to be granted. Roswaal had reasons to be as such, but his maids and the little half-elf? No, the blonde had her own standards and rules within her 'home'. Yet, she saw this as an interesting opportunity. A favor? There wasn't much she could ask just like that. She didn't get the chance to even think of something she wanted. Still, something did come to mind and Betty huffed before offering her terms.

"...Show me your native language."

Subaru frowned. "You mean-"

"Show me how you write it down. You clearly are not from Lugnica or even any place this library's books come from," She interrupted flatly. "You're not too frustrated, so Betty will teach you, I suppose."

Beyond some unneeded 'thank you's, the blonde spirit was stunned to find out that the boy's claim was actually right. His language was similar and yet different than the one common in Lugnica. Both relied on signs, with each representing letters but also complete words. After that preliminary check, the girl just nodded and decided that she would be taught this unusual language, mostly as a new way to keep herself from the usual boredom. And tease Bubby if needed.

That silly man, Subaru, seemingly passed the test despite this 'test' meant to happen later to that first day of teaching. He learned a lot from it, there was no reason to lie about it, but it was clear he couldn't manage to gain that much knowledge in such a short amount of time. So Beatrice was confident that he didn't succeed through fair means, and that Roswaal had just meddled in his own test just because he was interested in his potential. Despite the meekness of the young man, even the spirit had to admit that this curious individual held a potential to not scoff at. Worst of all? She found his presence tolerable despite how little time he was around her.

Which was impressive considering how the only one that got that kind of respect was Bubby, even though the fellow spirit was put on a much higher pedestal. As this deal continued beyond the first day, Betty could say that this guest, this unusual Natsuki Subaru, was going to be quite the interesting character.

This is certainly... something.

-----------d-d-d-d------------

AN

Next time, Barusu goes to the village and goes through a different path than the original timeline. Not only that, he didn't get the 'chance' to meet Rem just yet. And that will make a serious difference in some dynamics within the manor.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: First Shift

It was a normal day at the manor. If one ignored the fact that there was a new occupant to it.

Ram was unimportant when it came to deciding if someone was worthy or not of being allowed to live within her master's manor, but that didn't mean her opinion was neglected by him. Roswaal was, beyond his eccentric nature, still someone that genuinely cared for second opinions. Not because of uncertainty, but to expand his opinion on circumstances he could have missed.

Specifically to which extent Lady Emilia and their newest 'guest' had bonded and if this could turn problematic for his plans with the half-elf. Despite her own unease before the young man named Natsuki Subaru, Ram had nothing to really blame him for. Beyond being a wimp, of course. And that, sadly, was no ground to push for anything too extreme, and the pinkette could pick a degree of affection Lady Emilia aimed at the young man.

Now, if that was returned or not was still unknown, but she had reason to believe that there was a form of lessened return. At the mere mention of an infatuation being the possible cause of the half-elf's affection, Roswaal bursted into a laugh. It wasn't unusual if the circumstance was enough to warrant that reaction, yet there was something on this specific occasion which left the pinkette fairly... distressed. Something just didn't feel right, even more when her master took notice of this and pointed out a detail which left her more confused than enlightened by the amusing factor of this circumstance.

"You know, Ram, in a way... he dooooes remind me of you."

That felt like an insult. And not. Questioning what that meant led to a sharp turn away from the topic. 'Like me?' Ram wondered confused as she tried to reason that comparison. It just didn't make any sense to her. Ram might not have an excellent literary education and thus couldn't fathom what Roswaal could be referring to at times, but in this case the girl felt like she had already gotten an answer by looking back to herself. Not to her 'current her', but what once was Ram.

Before the manor, before Roswaal and yet after she was left the only Oni alive with her sister. The confirming clue was on Subaru's face, an expression of uncertainty and yet resilience through the need of surviving that Ram didn't forget having experienced herself. It was odd, it felt unpleasant to see this, but not in the same key she was upset with Subaru. It was the reminder itself that messed with her grasp of his personality. He was so cheerful, but restrained. So calm, but definitely a nervous mess when in private. A maid like Ram could pick up that Barusu was nothing more than a moron by the end of the day, but the furthest thing from a truly worthless being. He had worth, she just couldn't understand the full extent of it.

Even more she felt perplexed by Roswaal's interest in allowing him to pick up a job that wasn't servile in nature. The way Subaru put it made it feel like he was doing this for Roswaal and the twins' sake. She doubted that was indeed the case, but the way he sounded so genuine at times made her feel less confident in throwing true insults at him. In fact, she hardly did so as most of their 'banter' as Roswaal put it was less toxic and upsetting for both, and more 'refreshing' at times. Not always, but sometimes it would strike a positive note on her standard day. The means to channel her irritation on someone that didn't have any relation to her daily burdens, while also becoming the 'target' of some sharp bickering from said individual.

The test itself further cemented the mysterious nature of their guest. Ram had doubted his level of knowledge, his capacity to think and be able to stand up to the claims he put about his current skills when it came to handling taxes and matters only noble-born men and women were expected to handle. Barusu surprised her through two specific reasons: First, he managed to handle the test mostly flawlessly, with the sole issues being the language bit. He understood the mathematics just well, but he failed to actually grasp the nature of their language by mentioning 'he could speak, but not properly read or write'. Upsetting, but not necessarily a problem to Roswaal as the Margrave was keen to admit; Then, the young man looked quite... interesting when busy.

She had seen him distracted, she had seen him annoyed, she had seen him anything but like this. And it felt incredibly wrong for some reasons. Ram just couldn't think of the right word on the spot, but she was stunned by how determined he looked despite the odds against him. Maybe it was because she had expected him to be less focused, to be less interested in giving his all due to the circumstance... but Barusu persisted. And it felt so out of character compared to what she had seen up to this point.

It shed a newer light on Barusu. And Ram couldn't say if it was a good or bad one, only that it made her quite intrigued to see to which degree the 'comparison' made by Roswaal truly extended to. What if her early assumption had been wrong? What if this comment was more than just that, but an indirect order to keep him around and study him without intervening? Even after a few days of having him around, Ram saw no issues that would demand a direct involvement from her. She could tell that there were secrets in his mind that would be interesting to learn of, but nothing that directly endangered their current status quo. So, Ram had no reason to worry about any grave issues of his.

The same didn't go for his sister.

"I just don't trust him. He could still be dangerous," A similar-looking maid remarked strongly, unwilling to fully accept Ram's own remarks on the matter.

Rem 's medium length sky blue hair were styled like the pinkette, except some of the extended bangs went to cover her right light-blue eye instead of her left one. She also had hair clips towards the left side of her hair, a flower-shaped ribbon on the same side of her hair, and a maid hairband. And where Ram was driven by logic, Rem was driven by emotion. While one would normally fail to see the main difference between the maid siblings, there was one that went beyond any physical details they differed about, and that was tied to their grasp of things. Ram was cautious, Rem was more brash when it came to some instances which felt odd. She was the one that favored direct involvement regardless of there being a reason or not. Which was good at times, and bad at others. And right now, that felt more like a nuisance at best.

"He could, but we are not given the duty to judge guests, Rem. Master Roswaal was quite clear Barusu is a guest-"

"I just don't like that he is so close to Lady Emilia," Rem interjected. "It can end badly if we are wrong and..."

"You don't wish for Master Roswaal's plans to be ruined. Which is reasonable, yes," Ram accepted while nodding, but offered a blank look. "But this doesn't exclude the chance of also ruining the plans for him as Lady Emilia has taken a liking for him."

"So I should just let it go?"

Ram paused mid-dressing up. It was morning, and her sister had taken the occasion to use this brief moment of privacy they could rely on to open up this discussion. She was almost done, missing just her hairband and then she would be off to start her share of house chores. It was interesting how Barusu's arrival didn't end up bringing too much of a burden to her duties. The young man was surprisingly clean for someone his age and background.

"No. Doubting is good within this situation, but I suggest you don't pick any harsh choices for the time being. I shall see if Lord Roswaal would be open to set you as his 'guard'. Just to confirm if he is really trustworthy or not. That is as much as I can provide you."

A bright smile appeared on Rem's face and... that wouldn't last long as Roswaal did indeed agree that Subaru needed guarding due to his current tasks, but what her Master did was actually reassign Ram to it. It was unexpected, so much that Ram's composure cracked.

"Why!? Why me and not-"

"Oh my~, I thought you were better than just a question without thinking, Ram."

Roswaal's response forced her to pause in her questioning, confusion settling in as it became apparent, slowly so, what was going on.

"You want me because Rem is unfit for the task?"

"I don't think Rem will keep her word," The man corrected, still smiling. "After all, she isn't exactly good at hiding certain looks she aims at our newest guest."

...What?

"Oh, you didn't see, right?" Roswaal inquired chirpily. "Well, perhaaaps you should be a bit more cautious around your sister nowadays. She has grown into a fine woman and servant, and I know of your feelings when she makes mistakes."

"...I will go through this task without issues, Master."

That was the only thing she could say. The pinkette was just shaken by what had messed up with that expectation and what had landed her in an odd job out of the blue. She was definitely going to have a serious talk with Rem about it.

For this was ten times worse than anything she could have foreseen happening for her recent future...

-------d-d-d-d------------

Emilia was still unsure on what to think of Subaru.

Yes, she knew that she liked him and that they were friends, but the real issue about it was how far she would go for him. After the first day of having the young man at the manor had gone and a few more days had passed, the girl just had this strange knot in her chest that didn't seem interested to leave her be anytime soon. It wasn't unpleasant, not to the point of discomfort, but it felt quite pressing at times. Specifically when she was close to Subaru.

She would feel her face grow hot, her legs would get a bit wobbly and her thoughts would grow unfocused when she was spending time with him. Ever since he got hired as an 'agent' to Roswaal, he had been quite busy but never too much from spending a few hours with her. They would talk, Emilia would try to make conversation by bringing up her knowledge of spirits. Which would be easier to get out early in the morning when they would stop and chat by the garden. It was pleasant, and it made her feel quite nice.

Still, Subaru was not without duties. Just like she was expected to keep on studying to become the new king. Their differently-earned knowledge was similar-graded as she slowly learned by talking about it. The young man was actually qualified for the job he had asked for. Puck had doubted it, but his hesitation to accept this matter came more from experience than prejudice. Subaru was no noble, and it was unusual for someone of his class to be able to handle the task of keeping the finances of the village up and running as optimally as they did. Not only that, but she was able to see some of the projects he brought up, none of which being too ambitious from the looks of it, were nonetheless interesting and somewhat... expected to have been already explored before.

Roswaal didn't show any issue with approving some of them, and Emilia was keen to follow the subject from time to time. The Irlam village was more of a loose settlement with a mayor that was picked by the locals as the wisest of them all, Milde Irlam. Hence why the village was called as such. Roswaal approved four new buildings being built through his treasury, the first two being two granaries meant to store grain during the winter, then one was a warehouse where to keep other food produced within the village's fields and then a clinic. This last project was perhaps the most expensive, but not one without reason as Roswaal agreed. The village had been lacking means to heal people that were sick. There were doctors, but not a building and the proper resources to allow proper healthcare to be established within the village.

Beyond these projects, Subaru also brought up an idea that involved her too and... it made her somewhat giddy. Not only because Subaru spent that task sitting beside her but also because Emilia felt the importance of what he was involving her with. A census, a registry where to write down the names of the villagers, their birthdates, their economic situations and properties. It wasn't too extensive as it might sound, but the process was actually intriguing and useful when it came to handling taxation. Even Ram seemed to be less inclined to disagree with Subaru about it compared to the usual. Yes, it was odd but the pinkette had been assigned to Subaru for some strange reason. And while it made sense that Subaru deserved someone to guard him, it still left Emilia fairly displeased.

Everything they talked with one another, she could feel an understanding which she felt 'dreadful' to handle. To the point where her smile would falter and her heart would throb in brief misery. It wasn't horrible, but it happened way too frequently. Luckily for her, that didn't mean Subaru neglected their usual meetings and... at times she sure was unsure of what to think of them due to how some interesting situations unfolded through those.

"Ugh..."

"Are you sure this is what you wanted?" Subaru asked, a worried look on his face as he sat by the bench they had stopped from, Emilia's head resting in his lap.

"Y-Yes!"

The true answer to that very awkward question is no, but she didn't have the mental strength to stray away from this equally- if not superior development than the one she had planned for. Emilia approached Subaru with the intention of trying to get a reaction out of him by offering him a lap-pillow experience. She had heard from Ram that would definitely be a good way to draw a reaction, but the way the maid told her that made her a bit nervous to see if this was the case. So, when Emilia asked, it came out more like-

"D-Do you want to try a lap-pillow?"

Now, the question had a meaning for Emilia because she wanted a single meaning out of it, but the way it was worded created a 'misunderstanding'. One she was unable to say 'no' to no matter the moral issue tied to it. Subaru accepted, a bit too earnestly at first, but then his next move explained his calm and openness. He patted his lap, the gesture clear for the half-elf to understand and, out of instinct, the girl's head was soon resting on the patted spot. And things went in a direction no one could have predicted. Good news is that yes, being subjected to a lap-pillow was indeed able to bring out some awkward reactions from people. Other news, this one more interesting than good (but also good too because of the pleasure tied to it) was that Subaru was good at head patting. She had questioned many times why the village's children were so keen to ask him for that treatment, but now she understood how delicate and yet delightful his touch was when handling hair and ears. Emilia was twitching with each jolt of delight going down her spin.

"Emilia... are you-"

"K-Keep doing that! Please..."

...

"O-Okay."

Despite Emilia failing to understand how much she liked Subaru, she couldn't help but now accept that friendship hardly grasped the amount of interest she held for the silly young man.

--------------d-d-d-d------------d-d-d-d------------d-d-d-d-----------

AN

Next time, the Wolfgram situation is resolved through a detail this Subaru is able to pick up early on and... Felt? Oh My!

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

Subaru Natsuki was no genius, but he was far from a complete dolt.

Things were going well, he reasoned, as the small additions he proposed were actually going to help the village he was meant to assist to a degree. He was not the one in charge of either the Irlam Village or of the land surrounding it, the mayor and Roswaal being the respective rulers of these two situations.

Yet, it would be a lie to say that his role was one of mere formality and limitations. With his advice being taken under consideration through heavy scrutiny but nonetheless accepted by Roswaal, he was soon seen as someone that was trying to do things right. And that quickly bestowed him with support from the villagers. It felt nice. Really so.

It gave him the feeling of homeliness and stability which he found lacking within the manor, and the exchanges with the peculiar guardian of the library further expanded his knowledge of Lugnica. The ‘Dragon Kingdom’ had been around for centuries, with the nation being born shortly after the sealing of the Witch of Envy as Volcanica, the Mighty Dragon, accepted the contract offered by Farsale Lugnica, the first ‘Lion King’ of the country.

History then turned a bit odd to follow due to how different it felt compared from the one back home. Numerous crises within the country, the witch cult (and the possibility these may be behind some of the events that weakened the nation), and the fact the Royal Family had been entirely wiped out in recent years by an unknown illness.

Hence why the Royal Election was indicted, with the main purpose being the elevation of the ‘Dragon Priestess’ which would work both the role of representative of the nation to Volcanica (which had gone missing for years now but made a resurface against a Black Dragon quite ‘recently’) and the role of king, the one and true monarch in charge of the country.

It sounded simple, but it would be a lie to say that it truly was. Subaru was no political expert in this regard, and yet even he could see with his abysmal knowledge of politicking that nobles were going to make it a tougher circumstance to solve. Everyone was, after all, trying to get a bigger slice of the cake now that the opportunity to score favors with each of the candidates was up in the air.

And where ‘Barusu’, an ‘affectionate’ nickname provided by Ram, was struggling to fully wrap his mind around this much knowledge, poor ‘Beako’, a rejected nickname for the twin-drilled blonde from the library by Subaru himself, had to face the issue of handling Japanese history. Or the general bits of it. Even at that point there was just so much to say and so much for Beako to be totally engrossed and keen to develop headaches about. Where Lugnica’s history could all be found within three thick books, Beatrice admitted that Subaru’s country held enough history to go for at least twice that number. The various periods, from the creation of the Imperial dynasty up to the Meiji Restoration and beyond.

At first the little blonde refused to believe him. After all, there was no way in her mind that a country could have this much culture and history to it, and yet the details offered by Subaru went beyond what Beako could classify as untrue. The sheer amount of ‘primary details’ just shattered her disbelief, leaving only a thirst to add more to her mind and knowledge. So the two kept on exchanging knowledge, and Subaru couldn’t help but feel like he was making progress in properly befriending Beako.

When he asked Puck about the reasons why the blonde preferred to be alone in her library, the familiar was tight-lipped on the overall explanation, but confirmed that it was something tied to ‘waiting for someone’. That meant a lot despite how short of an answer it was, and Subaru just couldn’t know for sure the full implication of that sentence. But rather than let the matter drop, he just tried to go through the easiest and safest routes first. Such as befriending the cute girl and trying to see if she was willing to tell him herself rather than having Subaru force an answer through some risky conversations. And with his studies proceeding smoothly, there was also a matter tied to-

“ Why are you staring at me with those malicious eyes, Barusu?”

Ram.

The maid was excellent in being prim and proper, but seemed to lack the class and the modesty one would expect someone with that kind of job. Obviously that was tied to the fact that Subaru was someone either equal to her in this standing or even inferior considering how little time had passed since he came to the manor. And with that in mind, the maid just found it simple to just mock him when possible. It didn't go too far, but it was tedious to handle at times.

For the time being, the young man had just sat down on the bed by his room to take a break from work, his ‘guard’ making her presence known by merely standing near the door, gaze aimed dully at the young man.

Of course I have to stare, it’s not like I can ignore your terrifying gaze!

Subaru sighed. “It’s not my fault I was born with these eyes, pinky.”

Her lips twitched, a brief scowl forming before her stoic face returned back to normal.

“ Alas, that doesn’t give you a reason to ogle at my frame.”

A snort left his lips. “Just because you’re cute that doesn’t mean I have a reason to ogle you.”

The backhanded insult acted also as an implicit compliment. One Ram didn’t ignore the sneer that ensued.

“ Sexual harassment too? I suppose you have no shame, Barusu.”

“ Now you’re just pulling at me, Ram,” He remarked dryly. “There is absolutely no reason for you to be so condescending even when I’m trying to be peaceful. In fact, I would dare to say that you just don’t like it when someone compliments you truthfully...”

The maid huffed. “That’s the truth so-”

“ Because you are self-conscious of your own beauty.”

The comment was meant to provoke a greater reaction out of Ram, a predictable rage which would give Subaru a good enough reason to bicker. The two have been at it for a long time now, and he felt he had gained enough insight on the pinkette’s devious mind to plan cunning things to irk her. But what he got back was surprisingly odd.

“ I’m not.”

Ram’s voice quivered, just briefly. It was as if she had been slapped, and she was recoiling for some reason. Subaru was completely sure it wasn’t anything in his tone and gaze, but his own words which had drawn such a shaky response. It didn’t help when the maid, giving him no chance to further expand on it, decided to take a break. Before she left, the young man spotted an odd blush on her face. A bit unusual, but perhaps she was embarrassed by the comment. After all, many women (and a fair majority of people in general) weren’t keen to listen to that kind of criticism out of the blue.

Subaru could only bow his head awkwardly at that circumstance, but he was glad to see that Ram didn’t seem to have taken it too badly as she was back around lunchtime, showing no issues whatsoever and resuming being the provider of snide remarks which had their bickering starting from. The same couldn’t be said about the younger twin. Rem just seemed to have a bone to pick with him, and this recent event just did little to assuage that kind of worry. Quite the contrary from the murderous glare she threw at him a while ago. Very scary.

Still, things just weren’t getting any easy for Subaru, especially when new troubles came up during these strange weeks of his new life. Specifically one that was currently giggling with fellow children and playing with quite the angry puppy.

The girl in question had suave yellow-green eyes that gave off an air of ease. Her long dark-blue hair was kept out of her face and tied into a triple-braid that flowed down to her hips. The young girl wore a short blue dress with a flap collar similar to a sailor's and brown edges. She also wore a pair of brown sandals that really gave off the air of her being a villager… but also not. There was just something off about this individual, especially when adults didn’t know how she came by and where she was living. That much should have been reason for concern, but no one had genuinely reached out to get this story straightened out. Her name was Meili, and she was a mystery Subaru felt a bit uneasy around for some odd reason.

This looked like a very suspicious thing considering she admitted to be orphaned and without a proper way to be this ‘clean’. Her clothes bore no signs of weariness despite the fact the girl has been wandering around for a long time now. With that suspicion leaving him worried, Subaru decided that the best way to solve this would be to rely on one of the children themselves. And among those that were quite close to him, only one stood out as the most trustworthy in that regard.

“ Subaru-nii! How are you? How is Lady Emilia? Can I get a headpat? Nice day, right? Headpat when?“

Petra Leyte was an A-Grade cute kid that had instantly stuck to him when he introduced himself. The girl had medium length orange hair that reached down to her shoulders along, with cyan eyes that exuded liveliness and delight. She wore an outfit that consisted of a pair of brown shoes, green leggings with horizontal stripes that were shorn just above the ankles, a white long-sleeved shirt, an open short-sleeved cream-colored cardigan with red outlining, and a red ribbon fastened to her collar.

She was really sold to headpats if someone hasn’t noticed yet. It doesn’t help that her parents were fond of him and keen to send their daughter to be around him way too much while he was dealing with business. In a curious twist of things, Emilia seemed to be more at ease at having Petra hog attention from him rather than Ram being around and jab at him with ridiculous insults. At first he thought it was about Ram being an annoyance, but then it became clear it was about the lap-pillow thing. Or not.

Subaru was no expert on women’s minds, and he could definitely tell that trying to understand Emilia was as fun as complicated at times. It didn’t help that Puck found the entire matter ‘hilarious’ and that he would have ‘laughed with him when the truth came out’. Truth, what truth? And why did Emilia slammed her hand on the cat’s mouth before he could say more, blushing and all of that. Was there an embarrassing secret she had to tell him? Something that was cute and yet awkward?

That just made Barusu even more curious, and so he planned to solve this eventually. But for now, there was this issue to solve.

“ Now, now, Petra-chan. There’s no need to be this pushy on poor me.”

“ But I’m not!” The orangette huffed, her pretty red ribbon atop her head twitching almost mimicking her annoyance. “I just like being around Subaru-nii since he is cool.”

Barusu cracked a smile, and he went for something the child had expected at that compliment. A head pat. The girl was receptive, and so were the other children. His presence here in the village was a hint of benevolence from the true boss, but they were also exceeding that by being genuinely polite and homely around their newest ‘friend’. For the kids, it was just a chance to have someone that was slightly older than them, but also not one of those ‘pesky adults’ as they called their parents and others older than twenty.

“ Do you know why I asked to talk with you in private?”

“ Headpats?” The girl guessed and Subaru sighed.

“ Yes, but not the main concern actually.”

Blue eyes glimmered with curiosity. “Oh? Then what is it, Subaru-nii?”

“ I know this might sound a bit strange but… have you seen anything odd about the new arrival, Meili?”

“ Strange? How so?” Petra pressed on, feeling like there was something interesting on the focus. “Did she do anything bad?”

“ I don’t know yet, but I am looking into it since I’ve found some details that are a bit concerning.”

The orangette paused, eyes closed to think about it and then seemed to remember something important.

“ Oh! She has been asking us to check the forest beyond the bridge. The one that Granny Irlam said was spooky and no one was supposed to go.”

The Wolgarm Forest, the specific area beyond the village which was known to have numerous Mabeasts that were kept at bay due to the seals left near the bridge connecting the village to that side of the forest. The fact that this was a thing meant it was really bad.

“ And no one has followed through, right?”

Petra frowned. “Well no, Granny Irlam was quite serious about it. And while we’re all curious to see what’s in there, we think it’s bad. So we always tell her that we just want to play in the village.”

“ I see and… can you do me a favor and never bring this discussion to Meili?”

“ Of course, Subaru-nii. By the way-”

Petra went quiet as her head was patted again. At this point, he could tell that this girl may or may not have gotten a bit addicted to this interaction. Way more than one would expect.

Still, the ball was in his court now and he had to play quickly before something bad happened as he could tell that something was indeed off with this kid. It didn’t take long for him to be back at the manor, with Roswaal allowing the young man to speak in private with him. Once behind closed doors, Subaru spilled the beans and explained his suspicions to the nobleman, knowing that it was just right to bring the man up to this kind of issue to his attention.

“ Are you suuuure about it, Subaru-kun?”

The formality sure dropped in the span of two weeks, didn’t it?

“ I am, Lord Roswaal,” Subaru confirmed politely. At times he would be informal himself, but he felt the need to be ‘formal when the situation was serious’. “Not only is this child in good condition despite having no home, no resources to set up a camp in the forest nearby and no parents to do that, but… well, she has been trying to get the children to check the forest where Wolgarms are known to live in large numbers.”

“ Oh?” The Margrave hummed, his eyes widening a fraction at that explanation. “That’s indeed concerning. And I suppose you have some plans to solve this problem as cautiously as possible?”

“ Technically yes. I mean, at this point she hasn’t shown anything that should be worrying but… she can’t be using magic to any degree right?”

“ But magic is something that can be used by people of all ages, except one has to have knowledge of it,” Roswaal answered readily, fingers tapping by his desk. “At the same time, this girl wouldn’t just waste time luring the children to willingly go into that side of the forest if she could use some powerful magic to force them herself. No, I think that she isn’t as dangerous as she appears to be when away from… these monsters.”

Subaru’s eyes widened. “You think she controls them?”

“ Maybe~.” The magician commented lightly. “I don’t have the means to determine her current abilities, but that sounds like the most feasible possibility as it would explain her seemingly suicidal plan to lead children in a forest with carnivorous beasts. They would normally kill everything, but in the world we live in no one should be surprised if some magic-users can actually control these monsters.”

Subaru could only nod.

“ Also, a fair warning. These critters are known to curse people with bites, Subaru-kun. Don’t let your life be wasted so suddenly.”

Quite the ominous warning, but Subaru decided to take it as one to keep wary off for the time being. A day passed and eventually he set up a proper plan to capture Meili. It was actually simpler than it sounded as he just had to ask to speak with her in private about her puppy. She was instantly happy to talk with him within that condition and… that puppy was scared.

Ram just glanced at him with an ‘Are you really frightened by that puppy?’ questioning look and he felt extremely awkward about it. Nonetheless, the situation was quite supposedly smooth. She would have to answer a few questions and peacefully be brought to Roswaal for further interrogation. Sounds simple and safe. Except instead of a conversation, he saw the puppy just launch himself at him. It was a frightening view, but all in all the puppy looked fairly innocuous and he was almost tempted to ignore the dog since it didn’t look too dangerous.

And yet, I can’t help but-

Be careful.

Soft, weak and yet hopeful and filled with worry. Why does it sound like Emilia’s voice?

Subaru still snapped into action, a bit stronger than planned as his left hand now cocked into a fist before slamming on the side of the puppy, and sending the pouncing critter onto the nearby tree. A sickening crunch ensued as soon as its body impacted on the wood, the little dog failing to move after landing on the ground. It was dead. And Subaru felt horrible because he had just killed a puppy.

“ Good job, Barusu,” The pinkette now behind him lamented. “You killed a little pet and-”

Ram’s voice ceased momentarily and Subaru knew what caused her silence as he could see the source by himself. The puppy had slowly morphed into a large creature, one that he had learned about through some books in Beako’s library. It was a Wolgarm. Meili turned around and started running. Panic on her face as she knew she had been discovered. Sadly for her, Subaru was slightly faster than her and he managed to catch up with her in a short amount of time. Soon a struggle ensued. Meili tried to fight Subaru off, but she lacked the physical strength to not be overwhelmed by the young man. Ram had decided to bring some rope for the occasion, which made Subaru feel like an idiot as he disagreed with the maid on needing something ‘that extreme’ despite the fact now it was necessary.

Meili was captured and this plot was foiled for the time being. What was left to do was give Roswaal the chance to further investigate on what got Meili to act like this, and if she had some associate that could have been helping her do this. Many questions came from this shocking development, but there was one that went beyond this situation. They were soon to receive visitors. Familiar people to Subaru and Emilia at that.

Hmm? Felt was... visiting? And why is Roswaal giving me a strange look now? Is that amusement or… something else?

That just didn’t bode well at all.

--------------d-d-d-d------------d-d-d-d-------

AN

Quick reminder that just because I’m ‘preventing’ deaths (when it’s more like Barusu is just putting his head through and being paranoid after Death n1), there are a few that no matter the intent can’t be dodged. And some are also customized ones due to the things that are changing now.

Petra is a bit of a headpat-lover, and may become something troublesome in the future for poor Barusu and Ram has indeed some troubles that Barusu is unconsciously sniping at.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: Minion? No, friend!

Of all possible circumstances that could have come out from housing Barusu, this was the one Ram expected the least.

Of course, there wasn't much for her to predict with a lack of information that tied the half-witted young man to someone like the latest-discovered Dragon Priestess beyond Emilia and him mentioning how they had recovered the insignia and Reinhard had seemed interested in Lady Felt. Ram was in no mood to disrespect someone that enjoyed the Sword Saint's support, even though the younger girl wasn't fit to endure the duties that were now enforced to her.

Felt was no noble lady despite how rich and expensive that new dress of hers was. Her hatred for it was just the tip of the iceberg as the former thief looked ready to just go full nude in due time by the very moment her irritation got the best of her. She couldn't blame her, not entirely, not when this situation unfolded so suddenly in her life. It felt awfully reminiscent of her own life. Except Felt was made of a tougher material and born through a harsher environment.

No, Ram blamed her for the reason for her visit which, if her earlier remark didn't confirm, was tied to Barusu.

"I want you to join my camp."

The offer, or rather 'demand', came out of the blue and without warning. Emilia had acted quite nicely up to that point, being the kindest a host could be before this abrupt visit. Even Felt noticed it due to her interesting way of sensing people's moods. They talked about what happened, and how thankful the shorter girl was towards Subaru for his heroic deed in protecting her.

The 'fancy-talk' as Felt was keen to dub came mostly from Reinhard, which fit well with the redhead's known chivalrous behavior. Everything was just going right... But when the topic was brought up, it felt like something had cracked. And no, it wasn't just the teacup that just a few moments before that sentence had been held by Lady Emilia as firmly and confidently as one could handle such a tiny and yet delicate object.

Rem hesitated to reach out and clean the mess, but Ram managed to confidently walk over the issue and deal with it herself. The pinkette couldn't blame her sister, not with how vicious Emilia's gaze had grown on the spot. It was truly terrifying how such a little derailment in a conversation could lead to this kind of mood swing.

"Apologies, Lady Felt. But I believe that's quite an inopportune question. Subaru works for the manor-"

"But he is not a member of your camp," Reinhard quipped, a supportive gesture towards Felt's plan despite what felt clearly as a very bold move.

There was no doubt in everyone's minds that this was a power play. Despite the clear interest to keep up a friendly behavior towards each other's camps, Felt wanted Subaru despite the fact he was fairly entrenched within the works of the main supporters behind Emilia's campaign. It was disrespectful, but clever in setting up a legitimate capacity to handle difficult situations with such a determined outlook. Ram could tell this was why Reinhard supported this, but... Felt? As far as the maid could tell, for her the request was driven by simpler reasons

"Why?" Barusu asked, pretty much vocalizing the question many had danced around with their thoughts and refused to address. Red eyes glowed with interest at that and a giddy smile appeared on Felt's lips.

"Why? Well, you saved me. That should be enough, right?"

Truly? Yes. Ram almost nodded at that logic, regardless of its foolish simplicity. It was an abnormal line of thought, and quite expected from someone that was inexperienced in terms of diplomacy. Yet, it held a degree of genuine 'bluntness' that wasn't amiss. It did highlight some ignorance on the field, but Felt knew what she was trying to get out of this whole circumstance and bringing up a reason that, if badly rejected, could easily create issue for Lady Emilia.

"Whaaat? You want me to have a role in your camp without even knowing what I can do?"

"Duh! I just want you in it because you saved me. Why should I care for that?"

"Lady Felt," Reinhard interrupted. "I think that Subaru is trying to say that, as I've already told you, it would be best to hire fitting elements before trying to pack your future court with people you don't seek to hire for a meaningful position."

That should have been it. Yet Ram was quite irritated when it became clear that Felt's own interest over Barusu wasn't just one born from mere thankfulness. Not when she pressed through this in quite the childish manner.

"What if I wanted him to occupy an important role then?" The girl asked, glancing at her 'advisor/guard'.

"Then that would still require you asking for my qualifications," The young man rebuked. "After all, you are just asking for a strategic job for me when I have yet to give any detail of my affairs."

"I-" The blonde stumbled a bit in that regard, going quiet for some time. That had been an interesting rebuttal, one that stumped any interest to press through, but Subaru wasn't done.

"Felt?"

The former thief, still annoyed, decided to still regale him a curious look. "Yes?"

"You don't exactly have to push for it just now. After all, I'm not even sure if I should involve myself in politics as of yet. I was hired just recently, and even though I am friends with Emilia, I don't feel that confident to be prepared for any higher position without endangering others. Sometimes we take a step back when we think we're unfit to do something, letting others do that because they are better at it and can do more to help."

...

That was actually an interesting view. It explained Barusu's attitude when it came to handling responsibilities, but it also connected to why he rejected becoming a servant to the manor. He was a man with a peculiar form of intelligence, that much Ram could admit at this point, but she felt even more relieved before the knowledge he was willing to not let this success smear his plans into something hideous and deadly for him and others.

"So, what you're saying is that I should be more careful with my picking and... listen to Reinhard?"

"Well yeah, did he say or do something which made him unworthy of trust?" Subaru inquired and Felt struggled with that counterpoint.

"No, but-"

"Then why are you pushing him away like that? Yeah sure, he put you in a dress you don't like, but technically you have all rights to dress as you want in your private free time so that shouldn't be a problem."

"I-I don't like it now," Felt rebuked and Subaru sighed. "What? It's not fair that I-"

"I don't like wearing fancy things at times, but if it's important you have to do it."

Her pout was interesting, but not as intense as her reaction would get at what came after that comment.

"Alas, I can't exactly join a camp just yet. I'm not planning to involve myself in politics, but I'm willing to help those that I consider my friends."

An odd light flickered in her red eyes, this time there was a deeper question within the small one she offered after that.

"And do you... consider me a friend?"

"Well, you're being nice and all. Plus, you don't seem like a bad person so... yeah, you're my friend too!"

A victory, Felt looked satisfied with that response from her relieved look and she didn't press on the matter anymore. Still, despite that 'save', the day was far from over as Felt decided to spend the night at the manor and enjoy most of it by following Subaru around. Like a little duckling chasing their mother and seeing the world just as much as the lone genitor would be willing to show them, with Felt learning of the Irlam Village, spotting a few kids and playing with them. It was all fun at the expense of the dress' integrity, and Reinhard's own 'happiness' from the tiny grimace settled on his face. A rare emotion for the young man to show, but quite pleasant considering how upsetting he had been towards Lady Emilia.

Speaking of the half-elf, if for a while the silver-haired woman had been relieved of that polite rejection, now she was facing an unpleasant wave of discomfort at the sight and thought of Felt cleverly trying to revert the refusal she just endured. A clever thief that didn't want to give up. Still, while the day was particularly pleasant with its clear resolutions and sky, there seemed to be something 'off' about the common sight the pinkette had grown familiar with. An element within the familiar scenery was no longer there for some reason.

...Is one of the children missing or was she imagining things now?

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Meili Portroute wasn't having a fun time. Far from it.

Maybe it was because this wasn't the outcome she saw herself being turned to. Either victory or death, not the compromising setting she was in. In a dungeon by the manor's basement, shackled to chains connected to the wall and unable to do much but lash out with venomous spiels at Roswaal. He was the one she blamed the most, as an employer and backstabber.

He lied to her, he told her- them that this wouldn't have happened. And yet it didn't. It should have occurred to her that Elsa's assessment on the prerogatives established by the Margrave weren't without reason: he wanted this to be a test. Except Meili saw it as a test of power and intelligence. If that had been the case, then she had rightfully failed. Yet, she now knew it wasn't. She wasn't the subject of this test, she was part of it... against the true subject, which was Natsuki Subaru.

Despite her high expectations to find the young man to be as silly and inept as Elsa had painted him (ignoring the pleasant 'fragrance' she mentioned his blood had), Meili found it difficult to despise Subaru. He was kind even if buried by work, he was always willing to listen and liked to play with the kids.

Plus, his headpats were nice. And that was the only thing she was willing to give to that kind of mysterious power. How could a head pat matter so much? Sure, puppies loved it, and Meili liked when Elsa did that to her, but there was a touch of 'warmth' in Subaru's palm and the way they moved which stunned her into bliss at times.

So yes, not only she felt sad because she lost this 'battle', but because she also lost that warmth for the time being. Roswaal had already gone through a 'light' interrogation, inquiring quite strongly if 'attacking the children from the village' was the same as 'creating a distraction to attract attention to her'.

Truth be told? No. Meili knew what she did was extremely foolish, but the Wolfgarm had been starving in the nearby forest. It felt so sad to leave them without nourishment and she felt it was just a mercy that she helped them. At the expense of the other kids. That truth she allowed out, leaving a saddened look on the clown's face and also forcing him to drop a 'threat' on her.

"I will soon send the best jailor I can think of. She will be exceeeeptionally good in dealing with your mood."

She scoffed at that thought. No one could crack her. Except Elsa. But surely- surely Elsa wasn't going to just allow that. The mere idea had her shivering in dread and... then that was no longer the case when the door finally opened, revealing who was going to be torturing her next.

"...Petra?"

"Hi Meili!" The ribbon-wearing girl answered happily. "How are you?"

Considering she was still bound by shackles to the wall she was pressing her back against? Glad that she hasn't been tortured. Yet.

"I-I'm good. Petra-chan, that scary clown told me he was going to do nasty things to me, you have to-"

"No, you're lying!" The brunette exclaimed, her tone raising with a hint of anger. "Subaru-niichan told me that you have tried to hurt me and the others."

"N-Nii Chan is just... uh... pranking us!"

"...Nope!"

Darn it! How can she see through her clever lying so easily?!

"W-Well-"

"Roswaal-sama told me that you are an assassin. And that you were planning to also hurt Niichan."

"And?"

"And that's stupid. And I don't like that you tried to hurt me, the others, and our Niichan."

Meili snorted. "That rich coming from someone that monopolizes Niichan for herself."

"Well, it's your fault for not pressing on it too. Niichan is open for everyone, or was for you as you've been incredibly naughty."

"And what are you going to do about it?" The dark-haired girl remarked jokingly. "You aren't good enough to hurt others. How are you going to torture me? You're pathetic, Petra-chan!"

Despite the hurtful words, Petra smiled at her with a stranger tone. "Hmm? But I'm not the one meant to torture you, Meili-chan~."

...What?

"But you are-"

"I was told to just see if you were willing to give up now before telling nice lady Rem-chan how much she had to spank you."

Meili's bravado vanished instantly as the word 'spank' was brought up. "Spanking?"

"Yes. She has been given a paddle and was ordered to follow my precise orders on how much you had to be spanked."

Dread quickly accumulated on Meili's chest. She had never been spanked, and while she didn't see it as threatening as many children her age would see it, the notion that it was delivered through paddle and not naked palm confirmed that it wasn't going to be a fun ride for sure.

"P-Petra-chan, we can talk about this-"

"Rem-neechan! She will get 50!"

"N-No, wait-"

But Petra was soon out of that room, with the blue-haired Oni that had been guarding her closely smiling as she peeked over the door while grasping tightly at the paddle she was holding onto. That looked to be hardened wood. It was going to hurt way more than she had initially imagined.

The next few hours poor Meili had to handle quite the punishment, while Petra happily walked around the manor and was delighted when she stumbled on Subaru-niichan as he was busy working. A hint of sadness formed mid-headpats when he brought up that there had been a nice guest that played with the other kids, but he also mentioned that she wasn't going to be busy for the next time.

Petra was glad to hear that. Such a nice Niichan she ended up getting out of the blue.

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AN

By the time Petra is old enough, she will become an efficient and absolutely loyal agent of Barusu. Her payments? Through headpats and lap pillows.

Chapter Text

Chapter 8: Emotions and Books

Emilia finished her 'homework' around late afternoon and... she decided to take a moment to rest.

Lying on her soft bed, the half-elf could only huff at the ceiling as she tried to think on how things have been 'stale' in a certain situation. Subaru was difficult to understand at times. Yes, he would answer her questions about his home and his family. 'Japan' sounded like an interesting country to visit, yet she was quite confused by the notion that their ruler had more of a ceremonial role and 'secondary' to a council of elected representatives.

She promised she wasn't to tell this to anyone, which was a legitimate concern due to how tightly invested some nobles were to keep an autocratic ruler rather than one that allowed lesser classes to pick up roles through a meritocratic system. It just... worked, and Emilia could tell this was an ideal solution to the Lugnican Dilemma.

Many had long struggled to understand that not all kings that came from the first dynasty were unfit to rule. And perhaps the solution to that would be a council akin to the one that was currently ruling as a regency. People with experience and wisdom to help any ruler through the hardships of managing a kingdom.

Yes, it felt so counterproductive considering that Emilia was one of the candidates to the throne, but it would be wrong to assume she would be the most perfect king among the rest. In fact, she doubted she was ever going to be the 'perfect king' as many would want out of this royal election.

So... that was food for thought, but not the only thing that had her thinking so intensely on the young man. It was a bit odd to be the one inquiring about families due to the loneliness she had in that regard, and yet there was just something brilliant when it came to hear him speak so highly of his parents. It was odd, but it resonated just nicely with Emilia.

The girl would even listen for hours if necessary, specifically when he spoke of his mother. Emilia just couldn't help but like this woman. The mother of the one she was after. She sounded quite smart (and definitely someone that could help her in her pursuit). Also, something about her kindness... hit deep. She couldn't explain why, but the girl could feel some sort of familiarity with the warmth in his voice about this amazing individual. Something she once... had.

A blink, then the mist behind the memory hurt too much to delve into. It's been a while since she thought of her past, and Emilia didn't like how difficult it was at times. There was a block. It wasn't magic- it was... trauma? That's what Puck knew. She had 'willingly' sealed off what she knew of her own childhood. Why? She just couldn't understand it. Still... that wasn't the point. Emilia huffed again, this time Puck decided to check on her. She felt a soft weight land on her chest and she looked down to see the cat familiar giving her a questioning look.

"Puck."

"Yes, Lia?"

"How do you speak confidently with someone you... like a lot?"

"Hmm~? What do you mean?" He inquired, a bit curious about the curt query.

"W-Well. There is this individual, which I may... like a bit more as a friend-"

"Subaru?"

Her mind went cold and then it burned. No- her cheeks were burning in embarrassment at that smug remark.

"Y-Yeah?"

"I see... Well, maybe it's not you that should be 'speak confidently' Lia."

The half-elf frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I don't see why you have to be the one making any steps. Sure, you are the one with the strongest feelings on the matter, but how about you... let him develop something in return?"

She frowned harder, causing Puck to sigh.

"How about you ask him to hang out in private?" The spirit suggested, adopting a thoughtful look. "Find an activity that isn't too suspicious, but also start to probe for any interest he might have towards you."

"B-But what if I end up making a mess like with the... lap pillow situation?" Emilia argued, bringing up a 'legitimate concern' in her eyes.

"You mean the little win you got out of a possible defeat?"

She wanted to rebuke that but... it would be a lie to say she didn't like it. Getting the lap pillow just made her feel so at home, so at ease. It felt like she had been there before. Someone she cared about was giving her that much comfort and... and it made her so warm inside.

"I just- I just want this to be easier," The young woman confessed. "I know love is complicated but... does it have to be that complicated?"

Puck blinked. "Yep. It's quite a big step after all, Lia. You need to fight for him just as much as he will have to fight to get you."

Her mouth opened and then closed. She got what he meant with the first half of that response, but the second one left her perplexed. Emilia needed to fight for him since it was becoming clearer that Ram may or may not be slowly developing feelings for him. She wasn't 100% sure, but the pinkette had been acting less vicious and softer around him.

The insults were there to keep the banter up, but a good part of the venomous speech had been curbed to leave things 'modest' at best. But him 'fighting for her'? As much as that sounded romantic and indeed a good way to determine if he was interested in her, Emilia knew that she didn't have a list of admirers. Not when her reputation as the 'witch' had done enough damage when it came to mere friendship ideas.

A sigh, then she turned to the side and glared at the wall. "What do you think I could do for that 'hang out' idea?"

"Hmm... how about you two spend some time in the library? I think I can convince Beatrice to have you two around in the library if you keep things quiet."

That... that would actually be ideal. Emilia's eyes widened at that notion. Not only would that give them the chance to enjoy some private time together, but Ram wouldn't need to be around to keep an eye on him. It would be perfect!

And before Puck could say more, the half-elf promptly bolted to find out where Subaru was and try to convince him with this idea; leaving the spirit to float about and sigh sheepishly at how invested Emilia had gotten over this entire situation. It was definitely a novelty, but he wasn't sure he was completely on board about it just yet.

Who knows, maybe Beatrice had more to say on the matter.

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Beatrice could tell with just a lengthy glance that Emilia was a lost cause.

Maybe that was a bit too harsh, yes, but the little blonde had seen people mess up badly in conversations. And Emilia was being 'the' mess in that situation. Odd as this might sound, the reason why Beatrice accepted was less about spending time with Bubby and more into seeing what was the point of allowing this to happen. Morbid curiosity over an escalating disaster- it was a common trait she may have taken by her creator, and yet in this case she was willing to indulge this desire of hers.

After all, what were the chances of seeing a young maiden try and fail to seduce a foolish young man. Subaru was not the worst, but he was just above average and... it made no sense to Beatrice as to why the girl would actually see in him an ideal partner for life. Sure, it could have been just a crush as Bubby reasoned within the realm of possibilities- but if Beatrice had a say on this matter despite her lack of experience, she could easily tell that wasn't the case. Not when Emilia was keen to recognize his flaws and... he reciprocated her affection to a degree.

Crushes were, as Beatrice saw it, a form of puppy love. You like someone a lot, you would die for them, but, in the end, you're just seeing the good and not the bad. And crushes weren't always returned to this degree. Subaru was still a young man. Goofy and dense he may be, he was still able to discern attention and, through some accurate studying, he could deduce himself why Emilia was being so intensely close to him. To an extent. He was still a man and one that had close to no experience about romance.

So, it became clear these two were stuck facing the same two issues: misunderstanding and miscommunication. While she could see this as one of those 'funny' circumstances that it was best to watch unfold without any intervention, there was just something about it that kept on ticking on her. And it was the sheer idiocy these two had. Maybe she was getting too vexed about it- way too much considering her lack of strong ties with both.

Yet, she decided to take a very unexpected step and actually approach their table. Subaru was bringing up more stuff about his job, with Emilia nodding and throwing in curt comments in an effort to keep up with her part of the interaction without actually doing much beyond that. It was painfully inert in terms of social conversations. And Betty's brain didn't need to deal with this. Bubby just watched this unfold, curiosity driving him quiet as he witnessed what the little blond had in mind for the occasion

"Subaru," She spoke up, almost getting a jump on the young man.

"O-Oh, Beako. I thought you were busy with Puck and-"

"Have you told her about your journal?" She inquired, deciding to skip straight to the point she knew could get them to finally make some progress.

"A journal?" Emilia pressed with a hint of curiosity and Subaru looked slightly embarrassed.

"W-Well, since I know I can't go back home, I just decided to... write things down. Things from back where I come from so I don't... forget."

The half-elf grew a bit numb at this. "Oh. I... I didn't know-"

"I didn't tell anyone but Beako, so I would have been surprised if you had known," He admitted sheepishly. "Still, it's nothing of importance."

"I think Emilia doesn't think that," Beatrice rebuked and the girl nodded.

"Y-Yeah, I think that's a good effort to keep track of things and not forget," Emilia assured, but the spirit was far from done with her intervention.

"Also, it could be useful in helping you too, Emilia. After all, didn't you have issues remembering the past?"

The silver-haired young woman paused. "I-"

"Is that true?" Subaru asked, sounding quite concerned and leaning closer to the half-elf. "Emilia, I didn't know that."

"I- I- I-"

Her stutter sounded a bit too extreme for mere concern, but Beatrice saw that there was another element behind that strong reaction. Subaru, unconsciously or willingly, had landed one of his palms right over her closest hand and... Emilia had noticed it. And she was having trouble rationalizing it.

"I get it. It's not something you like to speak of, and definitely is something you're not proud to talk about with me- but I really want to help you about it."

"I... I guess?"

"Great!" He exclaimed, soon charging in with advice on how to create a journal from an empty one.

Emilia was numbly nodding and yet taking notes about it as Subaru was soon engrossed on the topic while also making it clear it was for her sake. As much as one would normally not see a point in something so 'non-romantic', Beatrice decided it was only for the best to get them to establish a firm connection first.

Yes, they were friends and they were quite amiable to one another- however, they were also not making any progress beyond that. And romance required trust and a strong tie with one another for it to happen. So, the spirit deduced it was only for the best if these two dunderheads began actually being open to one another. Less secrets and more trust- that's how they were going to end up establishing something more meaningful in the long run.

"Didn't know you were that good at this," Puck pointed out as she finally got back to him. "Did you read a lot about the genre?"

Her logical sense wanted to say yes, but there was a reason deep within why it felt awkward to be honest about it. And that was the 'why' she found this genre reasonably interesting. It wasn't tied to anything really incriminating. It all started moreso as a research on the irrationality of people. Why were some people so keen to give up everything for mere love? What was the point of it? It was the kind of research her creator would have supported as a 'way to kill time', not really important, but definitely something that would prove to be entertaining. And it was. In fact, despite initially hating that form of literature, Beatrice had adopted a less upset and more intrigued take on romance as a genre.

Sure, it was cheesy at times, but the lines were still driven by the very feeling many described to cause people's legs to go 'wobbly' and their heartbeat to pick up. Was it something Beatrice could relate too? No. She didn't feel any hint of loving something romantically. Puck? He was someone she adored. And he adored her in return.

But love? Romantic love to be more precise? No, Beako was just happy with mere affection. She saw no point of asking for more but... it was a genre. And something about it made her smile stupidly at how pleasant it was when a love story turned for the best. When love makes the best out of two people, regardless of the circumstances.

"Bubby, I am a girl through and through. So I remind you that if there's someone that can understand stupidity from another woman, I am best to know how to weed out that flaw," She flatly remarked. "Plus, the amusement hardly matters if this ends up crashing in a fire, I suppose. It would be foolish to allow these two to headbutt senselessly and waste precious time to do something about their lives."

"Hmm, it's still odd you would be so interested in it, Betty. You are usually not that interested in-"

"Affairs unfolding beyond the doors of this library?" She interjected. "It's not my fault you brought them here, and thus I saw it as a troublesome element I didn't want to deal with, I suppose."

"...Are you sure?"

Her lips twitched, annoyance flaring in the ensuing scowl. "Yes, Bubby."

The fellow spirit didn't probe any further, perhaps perceiving the fact that she wasn't up for an interrogation. Which was true. IN fact, the rest of their interaction was her petting him and enjoying some silence with him while the two idiots still struggling with feelings were chatting by the nearby table. Not how she envisioned her early evening that day, but she saw no reason to lament it beyond a few huffs and sighs from time to time.

It's not too bad, I suppose.

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AN

Betty is not a love interest, I'm afraid to say, but that doesn't exclude her from future headpatting, hand holding and cuddling. Barusu may be an idiot at times, but he can get a hint of what to speak about if a loli is telling him what to do and... these two need to kiss and make up in a room, I swear...

Chapter Text

Chapter 9: Playing with the Fire (Princess)

"The capital? We're visiting it?"

Emilia nodded at Subaru, the young man slightly confused by the situation. It was early in the morning when the girl brought this up. They were spending some time together reading and talking in the garden when the topic was finally mentioned and Subaru was, rightfully so, perplexed by this decision. It wasn't like he didn't mind leaving for that place, but after growing accustomed to how this section of the countryside felt, how orderly and simple life was here, he just couldn't help but see the capital, a beacon of progress compared to the rest, as a more chaotic place to be in.

"Yes. The first meeting for the Royal Election will soon happen now that Felt has been found. With all candidates recovered, it's time to proceed for the next step," Emilia confirmed jovially, flashing a smile before tapping something in the current page of her book. "And as I've noticed just recently, I have the right as a Royal Candidate to bring with me a guest if I so desire."

"Oh? And so you want me to be there."

"That's correct," The half-elf confirmed. "I know your job here is important, but I asked Roswaal if I could bring you with me. It wouldn't take much and he agreed that your help as an advisor would be essential."

At this point Subaru could only frown. Sure, that made incredible sense to him, but at the same time he could see that it would be problematic on another front: he did tell Felt he wouldn't have outright joined any camp until at least a while. And right now it felt too early. So, while Emilia wasn't aware of this, his reasoning behind not 'taking sides' was just logical in nature. He couldn't exactly expose himself like that.

"As a Guest, right?"

"O-Obviously. Had you been in my camp, I would have had you as my assistant or something like that."

Her cheeks flared red, yet the odd pout on her face didn't suggest just embarrassment, but also... upset? Subaru held back a frown, unable to perceive if he was to blame in that regard or not and not wanting to cause any misunderstanding with ensuing reactions. The rest of the conversation established two major points which would be good to know before this visit: First, his role was just to observe. He wasn't tasked with helping anyone beyond watching the event unfold and speaking with Emilia if she so needed some assistance in something; Second, he was not necessarily tied to her camp. He was a guest to her and her faction, yes, but he wasn't hired/recruited to swear his loyalty to her.

It was a satisfying concession, but he could tell that it left the girl particularly annoyed at him. And he couldn't blame her. Subaru could have easily joined her camp if not for the fact that he had made that promise to feel... and that he had slowly come to realize something was off with his current 'good luck'. It was a gut feeling right now, but he had this distinct feeling that he was being handed out this kind of good life. Some of the offers were interesting at first glance. Being with Felt would also mean employing the help of the strongest swordsman, while being with Emilia meant having access to Roswaal's riches and favors.

All of that sounded good, but... then that whole Meili situation happened. And even now Subaru knew that he had been lucky to react the way he did. Something had warned him about Meili's familiarity, and if it hadn't, then he would have discovered if he truly had a way to return back to life on a previous 'checkpoint'. And, truth be told, that didn't sound as an ideal way to confirm that kind of power.

Still, while he was glad things had been mostly calm here, he could still tell that something bad was going to happen to him soon. It was like a feeling, a phantom shiver which put him on guard for any surprises. And he knew that, if he picked Felt's offer, he would have lost more than he would have gained out of it. At this point, Subaru was growing convinced this was some sort of hardcore visual novel where 2/3 of the world's choices were going to end him one way or another. Hopefully he picked the right ones up to this point and he wasn't walking into a bad ending.

A few days later, Subaru found himself sitting together with Roswaal and Emilia in the chariot that was taking them to the Capital. The driver was Rem, with Ram having been assigned temporarily to the Manor as she was seen as the 'more responsible of the duo', thus leaving Barusu in the hands of the less 'pleasant' of the duo. He had no true issue with Rem, not up to that point at least. The blue-haired maid was just a bit... cold towards him. Not the same way as her sister behaved, not the chatty way. Rem was just keen to throw cold looks at him. It was downright chilling and yet her tone exuded nothing more than politeness. It unnerved him, but Subaru couldn't do much beyond being wary around her.

Once they arrived at their destination, which was the royal palace within the center of the capital, things started to get a bit easier to handle for him. The place reminded him of the fine rooms back at the manor, and while the young man could still see the familiar houses styled more after this particular city than the Arlam Village, he could still find some relief within those living quarters. And where he found relief in being safe in thick walls manned and guarded by powerful knights, Emilia found it difficult to keep her focus on her papers. She had written notes on what to say and yet the nervousness was gnawing at her silly. She just couldn't get some words right and tended to mess up some of the exercises meant to prepare her for the big speech she had to give.

At that point Subaru knew he had to do something to give her some distraction. Something that would soothe her mind and allow her to handle the pressure just right without getting too worked up. Would some 'Appas' help her? It felt like a stupid question. It was clear the fresh fruits were going to give her something sweet to ease down the pressure and he just knew how to reach that place. With Rem kept by Emilia's side and him being a mere guest that could come and go wherever he wished unless he had to be there for the big event, Subaru was finally out of his comfort zone and back in the city. He quickly left the richer area of the city, having tried to find a place that sold better Appas, but found out that it wasn't a 'noble food'. Hence his return to the 'humbler' side of town, where good but poor people and thieves thrived.

The vendor recognized him instantly. Barusu was soon pulled in a big hug, which felt oddly familiar to the deadly ones his father was keen to use on him. Nostalgic, but not enough to distract him from the main goal he had in mind. He had enough money to buy a big bag filled with a dozen or more apples, refusing to get some for free and reminding the man that they helped because it was right, not with the expectation of a reward.

Subaru was quickly off to get back to the living quarters. The path was less crowded than before, and the guards patrolling more than usual in an effort to keep the capital accident-free for the day made the whole trip somewhat safer than the previous one. The young man expected for it to be it but... then something happened. He heard a loud yell. Not a scream, a yell. Now, that would have been fine and all had it been a normal noise from the place, but the fact some people too turned to look at where it came from and the fact it came from one of the smaller alleys on the street's left side suggested it wasn't that.

The boy was soon off to check what it was all about. He wasn't fancying himself a hero, but he could tell that he needed to be sure if the guards could intervene on this matter or not. The alley was pretty dark. Subaru was regretting this decision mere moments he made it but... a feminine scoff and yelp caught his attention as angry voices were exchanging from one side to another. His curiosity led him to a most unusual scene.

A woman with blonde-orange hair, she had crimson red eyes and a frilly red dress which offered a clear sight in her large cleavage. It was done on purpose, especially with how her posture flaunted specifically that feature of hers. It wasn't like it was her only quality, her beauty being quite elevated compared to many other girls Subaru had dealt with in the past. The lady was having a heated discussion with what appeared to be the three thugs that kicked his ass during the first 'life'!

His jaw dropped at the sight, and his hand instantly fell by the pocket where his small knife had been stored. Roswaal had given it to him, saying that it would be just 'right' for him to have something to defend himself while in the capital. In his own amusing way, the clown had given him something rather than leave him without a proper way to defend himself. With Rem being Emilia's guard for the occasion, there was no one to cover his back if he tried anything stupid. Still, his eyes grew more focused at the trio, mostly ignoring the conversation as it was more about the grunts trying to force the woman to give up anything of value she had on her. And one or two were also staring at her curvy body. A distraction, but for what and... was it going to last long enough for her to get out of this bad situation?

A degree of worry emerged from his mind and he was soon 'moving by instinct'. He left the shadows, and he was instantly spotted. The shortest of the thugs growled. "What do you want? Piss off."

"Yeah, fuck off," The tallest added with unfocused distraction, his gaze still attached to the jiggly chest that was owned by the noble woman.

"Let her be," He muttered tensely and the trio finally noticed the knife.

"HAHAHAHAHA! He is trying to intimidate us with that lil' thing!" The little guy remarked before turning to the tall brute. "To! Get him!"

The grinning giant soon approached him and that's where something interesting ensued. Subaru was not good with knives but... he hadn't slacked off some exercise ever since he had been living in the manor. It felt a bit awkward to say this, but it had felt so easy to try and put his body through a lighter version of what his father had wanted him to train with on a daily basis. It was still a set of exercises that drained him to no end, but his stamina had gained a lot from this and he had been exercising when it comes to grabs and self-defense fighting. After having been subjected to that many times, it just felt right to know which ones to use while focusing on their body types.

The tallest of the three fell quick as he was suddenly pushed on the ground, his skull slamming down first and knocking him unconscious. The middle-man soon followed, his surprise becoming his undoing as Subaru's careful moves resulted in the thief getting his left arm dislocated during that 'fight'. The midget actually pulled out a knife and expected to get through him with that. He jumped too quickly, too out of reach and thus it felt simple to just slam the little guy onto the wall nearby. That was enough to put them out of commission as they soon pulled themself off and left, the tiny and middleman struggling but succeeding in carrying the still unconscious tall thief out of sight.

Sighing, Subaru turned to see that the woman had moved from her position and was now... looking right at him. She had shifted quite close, invading his personal space as she leaned a bit to stare better at his face. Red eyes flashed curiosity, boredom and a questioning glint which just elevated the sense of 'arrogance' displayed by the lady.

"You're not half-bad. But it was so bland. Not a single hint of style or fashion in that fighting style."

"...What?"

"Hmph, don't you know how to properly speak with someone of my rank? Or perhaps are you so dumbstruck by my beauty that you can't speak properly?"

"I... the..." Something smart, now! "The second."

Her lips curled in a smile. "Oh? So you are saying you are staring at me like a pervert would."

...What is even going on?!

"No?" He replied weakly.

"...Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"I suppose that's what happens when a mongrel-"

"Natsuki Subaru-" He interjected in an effort to introduce himself. Sadly, the effect he got wasn't the one he had hoped for.

"I didn't ask your name, mongrel!" The woman flatly remarked. "My name is Baroness Priscilla Barielle, Future King of this shabby kingdom. Do you understand whom you're speaking to!?"

Anger just roused at that amount of arrogance and pettiness. "A horrible person."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "W-What? What did you just say?!"

"Well, it's not my fault you're being so rude. What? Your parents didn't teach you any etiquette or what, Lady?" Barusu snapped back, expecting some anger but... not the way it happened.

Something in the young woman's posture changed. From the eased arrogance she was keen to flaunt without restraint, her body tensed and her eyes hardened. Subaru had not much of a warning to what ensued next as he just saw something red and on fire rush from below and... hit him? He blinked, his sight turning and rotating before he felt his forehead crash first on the ground and his body collapse shortly after. Shock flared, the noble lady scoffing with utter disdain before disappearing the odd sword she used on him. Darkness soon claimed him as he felt his mind grow lighter and...

Lighter.

...

Don't go.

That voice. It was the same voice that spoke to him while he was dealing with the Meili situation. The one that warned him.

W-What?

Please, just... don't go.

Something wrapped around him, at first too tightly, but then growing less stiff in its hold and... warmer. Nicer.

I...

Don't go. I'm sorry. This- you shouldn't- I'm sorry!

Y-You...

I'm-

You're wrong.

His soul croaked, failing to keep up a solid and coherent response in a more stable manner.

But.

You shouldn't apologize. My fault.

No, you-

My fault. Not yours.

...Fine. But... don't go.

I want to... live.

Y-You will live! I promise you this much! Don't give up! Do it for m- for yourself and the others!

O...Okay.

...

Subaru found himself sitting together with Roswaal and Emilia in the chariot that was taking them to the Capital. He reached for his throat on an involuntary move. No one noticed as he was tame in that move. Not too fast, not too slow. This time, things will have to be different and... he could do it.

He could die and come back somehow. Why?

----------d-d-d-d-------------

AN

One would think a smarter Subaru would be set to a deathless run. But one can't forget Subaru still has his parents' temper in some instances and these moments set him up for some awkward defeats, mistakes or even deaths if he is so clumsy about it. Now, what will happen next? Priscilla has been revealed but... how will Subaru handle her now? And what about the Witchy smell he might have now that he got RbD again?

Chapter Text

Chapter 10: One’s Trust, One’s Stress

Subaru had a lot to think about. And thankfully the small room he had in the living quarters of the Royal Castle would give him the proper setting to think about it.

That was the plan before something 'changed' from the previous life. He wasn't alone in his room. Roswaal having eventually noticed his sickly look and, after bringing it up to Emilia, managed to use her worry to reason him assigning Rem to Subaru for a few hours. Just to make sure nothing bad happened to him. And he could tell that something was off with the maid. She just looked so disgusted by the assignment, which stood out from her usual minor reluctance towards him. So, Rem was now sitting by a chair that had been moved so she could watch over him as he lied in bed.

Quite creepy, but he was still alive and allowed to think of recent events.

He died again, and he came back to a specific 'checkpoint' where he was tightly safe by being in the chariot reaching the capital. That mere notion was unpleasant for a few reasons. Yes, this could possibly imply a form of 'immortality', but the more he thought about it, the more  the young man realized that the entire situation was far from comfortable. Especially when it was clear someone had slapped that kind of power in him without his consent. And it was perhaps the very person that summoned him in this world.

It would make sense but... who did this? He remembered the few conversations he had with Emilia about the general things of Lugnica and religion had been a very brief topic because... there wasn't much to it. Despite its fantasy setting, he ended up in one of the few kingdoms where no one worshiped gods. Heck, the closest thing to deities were Grand Spirits and Volcanica, but even these were known to be too limited to be considered outright gods.

So, not a god. This wasn't a DnD situation and... yet someone did this to him. Not only that, but it triggers him dying. Was it a permanent curse? Or did he have 'lives' as if he was playing Super Mario? The entire concept felt so surreal to apply in real life, and on him of all people. The only saving grace of his most recent death was that it wasn't as painful as his first one. Decapitation sure felt a whole lot different than getting gutted and left to die by bleeding and enduring the injury's agony.

That woman... Priscilla had reacted to him being quite snappy. Subaru was slightly ashamed for losing his temper like that, but he had taken her reaction for granted. A proud noble woman, of course she would snap into action the moment her and her family were insulted. Plus, the young man didn't know enough to say if the insult had struck harsher if the woman didn't have a family to begin with. That thought had crossed in his pondering a few times and... it sure made him feel like crap. He had overreacted and paid the price.

In fact, the way Priscilla gloated over the thieves was proof that she wasn't jumpy with her weapon. Unless she was provoked into using it. But what to do about this piece of info? After all, he was still shaking by the notion of being killed so suddenly, and approaching his most recent murderer felt extremely wrong on many levels.

...But should I still help?

Subaru was conflicted about it. His morals told him to still help despite what happened, admonishing him for failing to see the situation he was walking onto and getting killed by his own hands. As upsetting that thought felt, he was at fault there for not expecting a harsh response from the clearly-prideful woman. So... what to do next? Should he really go and 'save' her?

He sighed, his thoughts growing thinner as he felt something worrying him back in the present time. Specifically a simple glance that had slowly turned into a glare. At this point, Subaru couldn't just ignore this circumstance anymore.

"...Rem?"

The maid's eyes gained some focus. "Yes, Subaru-san?"

"Are you... mad at me?"

The girl blinked, her posture remaining composed and yet something felt different in her attitude.

"Mad, Subaru-san?" The monotone tone had grown a bit colder than before, further confirming his growing unease.

"I think you have something against me," He reasoned carefully, not sure if the bluette had been assigned to kill him. For some reasons. Roswaal had shown no sign of wanting him dead and this whole interaction felt off. Why did the Margrave assign her to him, really? He could tell there was more to it, but... what could it be? "And you can hardly hold it against me."

"That sounds a bit too pretentious, Subaru-san."

"Yet you don't deny it," The young man remarked flatly, staring up into the girl's eyes. "You have been glaring holes in me for a while."

"...Perhaps there have been a few developments which made me particularly hesitant to see Subaru-san as a good person," The girl reasoned cautiously. "Specifically, some details I'm most familiar with and can recognize as bad."

...What?

"I don't understand."

"You could be a threat to Emilia-sama," The maid bluntly stated. "Do you have ties with the Witch Cult?"

"The- What? No."

"Yet you smell like that sort of filth. The disgusting scent of a liar, an assassin and a-"

What could be driving that kind of smell? Subaru didn't doubt Rem's concerns were right or not, yet he couldn't help but try to get what could have driven that kind of scent to develop in him. And then, it hit him. It had to be-

"My curse."

He blinked for a moment, realizing he had muttered that last bit and noticing a bizarre expression on Rem's face.

"Curse? Is this a joke or-"

"W-Why do you think I am in bed right now?" Subaru snapped half-angrily, very willing to make a stand to not die. For the third time! He had this urge to tell her the full truth, and yet he knew it would be dangerous. That kind of power was just something he couldn't tell anyone, not even Emilia. Not because he didn't trust the half-elf, but because she would then doubt if his friendship was real or he had manipulated her for it. After all, he had the chance to befriend her once before getting the second life done up to the arrival to the capital. The last thing he needed was to mess that whole thing up with the horrible truth he was keeping to himself. "If I was a bad person, I wouldn't be spending time getting watched over by someone and being away from targets to hurt."

Her mouth opened. "It could be a ruse so-"

"For what?"

The bluette paused, her posture sagging before the very notion that Subaru had done nothing to warrant any harsh reaction. Sure, his smell didn't help his case in her eyes, but the young woman had plenty of reason to hesitate any dangerous move that could risk her position within the Mathers Household.

"I... I don't trust you."

And that was the point of this whole situation. It's been something Barusu had known for a while, but never expected to become reason for suspicion and even potential murder. It was frustrating, but he couldn't blame the girl for doing her job and... he knew he had to somehow defuse the situation or be ready to get killed by it.

"...Rem. Can you come here?" He hummed as he made space on the mattress and patted the free side.

Subaru was aware it was a risky move but... he knew he had to get Rem to know that, if he refused to make a move even the moment he had the means to attack her in an exposed situation, then his explanation had more legitimacy than she was willing to let it be.

Rem hesitated for a moment at the request, and then frowned. "Subaru-san, are you asking me to... lay with you?"

"Yeah, lie beside me so we can talk," The young man reiterated calmly, failing to notice the innuendo he had presented with his earlier question.

The maid blinked once again at this, but her doubts were less about anything depraved and more into getting hurt in complying. Still, she had to accept the order as commanded by Roswaal and she was soon lying beside Subaru. Both were quiet for some time, staring at the ceiling and waiting for the other to talk. Surprisingly enough, Rem was the one that spoke up first.

"What do you intend to do with this?"

"Show you that I'm not lying! I'm not a bad guy."

"...That's all? Isn't it a ploy to assault me in my weakest?"

"I'm not that kind of person," Subaru argued flatly and then Rem shifted in a different position. She turned to fully to give her back to Subaru and... she brought a finger to her lips while staring back at the young man. Much to Barusu's growing surprise, he was soon directed with his gaze to why she had done that.

"Are~ you~ sure~?"

Her butt. She was shamelessly showing him her butt. Of course it was well-covered by her underwear and lingerie, but the skirt was raised and a good amount of her bubbly rear was exposed. And... and it was enticing. Any hot-blooded man would be drawn to such a sight, tempted to do something about it- to reach out and... and grasp it. Grasp 'glory'! His common sense screeched of sexual bait, and that Rem was clearly doing it on purpose to draw that kind of reaction out of him.

And yet, while Subaru's own intrigue had him moving his hand towards the wriggling behind, his mind managed to win over that inner struggle. Rem, who felt her heart beat faster than usual at that daring move to disprove the perverted assassin, was stunned when instead of grasping her flesh and deile her, Subaru merely reached for the edge of her skirt and carefully pulled it down to cover her mostly exposed bottom.

Why does she look disappointed?

Subaru couldn't make much sense of the bluette's mood with how bizarre her reaction was at that daring but gentlemanly move. She stared at his hand, then back at him, then back at his hand and... huffed.

"I guess you really don't wish to be outed as your true self."

At this point, the young man was outright annoyed by the maid. He stood up from the bed, ignoring that this move had Rem tensed up and walked up to the door.

"Where-"

"I want to check on Emilia. You should probably fix yourself," He flatly interjected, giving her a long look before reaching for the door handle and pausing as he held onto it.

"Also, one last thing, Rem."

"Yes, Subaru-san?"

"You are a pervert," The young man accused, sparing no glance at her as he proceeded to leave the room first.

And promptly ignoring the full-face blush that the stunned maid had to deal with for the next few minutes.

------------d-d-d-d------------

Priscilla Barielle was miffed. No, she was unnerved beyond recognition.

Everyone in her camp, those that knew her the most, were aware something had gotten the Fire Princess furious with someone, but at the same time got her interest. Anger and fascination- both factors were, by all standards, deadly when the one bestowing those to others was Priscilla. And if those two were mixed, then the poor unlucky bastard that crossed Priscilla's path was one that was going to suffer the worst fate possible.

Yet things were far different from the usual spiel of frustration-driven actions the woman would take in this regard, and some were starting to notice that there was a degree of 'odd restraint' in the Lady Barielle's take on the matter. She was angry, yes, but she wasn't acting on it as impulsively as she tended to. And Priscilla refused to quantify any questioning glance.

One brave man decided to ultimately go and see what was going on with the Fire Princess, and the end result was... pretty amusing.

Standing close to six feet, Aldebaran didn't look much fit to be the main guard to Lady Barielle. And his missing left arm further weakened any claim behind his current strength. Still, his frame was stocky and his body was covered in thick bulging muscles that gave him an imposing figure compared to many around his height. His overall shabby look, including his clothes and unshaven legs, can easily confound him with bandits sharing that sort of frame and clothing.

Some even called him the polar opposite of his mistress, Priscilla Barielle, due to this. He was after all a thuggish individual handling a princess. His outfit consists of a pair of green split-toe sandals with yellow buckles, sand-colored pants, a bandage around his right wrist that matched the one that goes around his missing limb, bandages of the same assortment that are wrapped around his feet like socks, an open green linen vest with yellow lining and a hem of white fur, and a shabby yellow mantle that reaches down to his hips.

What really made Al the best bet in trying to get the truth out of Priscilla was his general 'fearless nature' around her. It wasn't like he was outright disobedient, but the woman hardly punished him if he managed to play with his tongue long enough to amuse her. And in this situation, the helmeted man knew he was walking on egg-shells with his mistress.

"What's the purpose of that huffing, Princess?" He inquired, pausing just for a moment at her irritated look.

"I found a slanderous piece of trash, that's what!" She remarked fiercely, grasping tightly at the armrest of her chair, cracking both by her own strength alone. "And- And it infuriates me I can't find a reason to outright execute him."

That was... odd. Why would the woman feel the need to hold back on someone if she was so sure he had lied about her?

"Princess-"

"I was wandering the streets just a while ago. Wanted to see how amusing the low-life was," Priscilla started to explain, mostly in an effort to vent her frustration on him.

Al opened Pandora's box, and he knew he would have to endure it without uttering a single complaint. Which was quite upsetting, but nothing new on the long list of awkward things he had been subjected to in recent years.

"Then this mongrel happened to pass by, he 'dealt with' some of the scum that was trying to mug me and-"

"You were almost mugged, Princess?!" Al jumped at that detail which would have been relevant about the overall situation. Specifically why he told her to not wander alone the streets and to have him around in case she wanted to stroll among the trash.

"Not relevant, fool!" The noble woman lashed out fiercely, her glare easily subduing Al's own worry. "Still, this cur- this pathetic waste of air just helped me and- and when he started to actually appear like a proper servant, he actually rejected my reward!"

Al couldn't help but frown where this was going. "If it's not asking too much-"

"Kissing my hand."

And that explained a few things.

"He- He then refused by saying that it would have been wrong of him to 'taint me' with his lips."

Which sounded fair within the common logic used by Priscilla in handling 'rewards'. Heck, Al wouldn't be surprised if she had found reason to lament if this poor guy had actually gone through with that 'request'.

"So, I demanded him to go through with it," The noble woman replied, confirming her usual mindset towards this sort of thing. "And then he made the most disgusting accusation I have ever heard. He told me I, Priscilla Barielle, was a pervert!"

...Ah?

"I don't think I heard you properly, princess."

"He called me a pervert. For willingly shallowing my body with a lowlife's lips on my hands," The woman remarked louder than before, her left eye twitching in clear irritation. "That little bastard just went on to say that he wasn't sure 'I was thinking right' and left me a stuttering mess."

...Seems like you got a taste of your own medicine, Princess.

The ranting continued for a while, with Priscilla cursing the guy's name over and over again, but actually sorting no plans to hunt down and punish the individual at once. Quite odd, but perhaps she had yet to digest and recover from that verbal slap. Meanwhile Al hummed to himself as he thought about a few peculiar details about this story. Natsuki Subaru, that sounds like a name from back home. Soon the knight left Priscilla to huff and puff before the 'outrageous' event that forced her to remember such a pitiful name.

Priscilla wasn't going to let this matter go without some proper punishment, and yet he could tell this guy was going to handle her just fine.

----------d-d-d-d-----------------

AN

Pure Barusu manages to leave behind the seed of affection in Rem... and Priscilla too?! That's still up in the air, but the Fire Princess ain't going to forget our beloved Japanese moron like she did in Canon.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: Rowdy Elections

The Royal Election was about to begin and Emilia was terribly frightened by the notion of messing up.

Yes, she had spent entire weeks studying the same things over and over again, but she felt like her confidence was hardly going to pull the best out of that. The only elements that dragged her to keep a sane composure were Puck and Subaru. Speaking of the young man, he looked slightly unnerved when he returned from his brief trip in the market square they met in, but while she had all reasons to inquire what happened, his 'just tripped and fell' plus him bringing to her a worthy sacrifice in the form of succulent Appas to devour, Emilia found herself unable to bring out the many questions she had over his current mood.

The sweet fruit had her cheered up, her mind feeling less hurting and less 'heating up' due to the excessive stress she was subjecting herself in and... then she ended up finding an old acquaintance passing by the halls of the castle. Julius Juukulius was someone Emilia had met a few times in the past. All these encounters ended quite positively, yet it would be a lie to say she considered him a proper friend.

Mostly because there wasn't much interaction between them and that he was polite to her due to her status and not due to her overall personality. He was fairly tall and with a well-built muscular stature, with yellow eyes and intense plum-haired hair that were arranged neatly with a strand hanging down his face. He was wearing the formal Royal Guard uniform, a common sight from a knight.

She was surprised when he walked up to her with a pleased smile, greeting her with utmost care. Wasn't he already supporting a camp? An enemy? Despite the many thoughts suggesting caution before this individual, the more he got closer the more Emilia felt somewhat trusting of this individual. Mostly because he had seen into his own plights and he had been fairly open about his own dilemmas. In a way, she could relate to his struggles, but it was just a feeble and partial connection which still failed to become a proper friendship.

"Emilia-sama," The man politely greeted as soon as he got close enough for it, soon kneeling down and reaching for her left hand to deliver a polite kiss on her knuckles.

Emilia didn't hesitate in having him reach out for a kiss and wondered what Subaru was thinking of this sight. He looked quite surprised, but overall not upset by the sight. Somewhat that left her relieved and a bit annoyed. Maybe she wanted him to be irked by the sight, but the overall calm he showed was good as it confirmed he wasn't going to be the jealous type. And... that made her even more awkward about her past efforts to 'attack' any potential love interests trying to snatch him away from her.

"This is Rem, I'm sure you remember her from our latest meeting, and this is Natsuki Subaru, my current advisor."

Both introduced individuals bowed, but Julius' gaze stopped by Subaru for a few more seconds. At first she didn't think much of it, expecting this reaction to be driven by the notion the fellow young man was a new sight for the knight but-

"Your advisor? I don't see how someone with those eyes and at his age can provide you insight you already possess," Julius remarked. "I suppose he's not a proper advisor."

Now, Emilia was not an idiot when it comes to indirect jabs. After years of dealing with people throwing insults at her and making a bit of a thick skin about it, the girl just knew when someone meant to insult more than they made it sound. And right in that moment, her mind was just translating it in blunt words, with the results lefting her in quite the miffed state of mind: "He looks like a thug, he is too young to be wise, and he was given the role out of pity."

...

Oh~? Did Julius just mock my Su-ba-ru~?

The response to that was instantly perceived by the knight as the plum-haired young man found his hand unwilling to leave the suddenly harsh grip of the girl over it. A brief flash of unease appeared on Julius' face, but he managed to hold a fair amount of control over his current reaction.

"E-Emilia-sama, you're- you're holding my hand a bit too-"

"Apologies, Juulius," She interrupted with a tight apologetic tone. "You see, I tend to get partially crossed when someone accuse close friends of things that are unfound and fairly distressing."

"M-My deepest apologies, I was just trying to be cautious with-"

The half-elf yanked her hand away from him, releasing him from her vicious grasp. "I understand you have your own opinions on people, but it's mostly displeasing that you seek to insult someone I trust and care out of prejudice, Julius. I thought you were above that."

Hurt flashed momentarily from Julius' eyes, especially since she knew how much ironic that situation felt when thinking about the young man's own background. Ironic and... distressing at times. Seriously, why can't people keep up a sense of decency when it comes to commit to the very pains that hurt them in the past?

"Uh... Emilia?" Subaru asked with a quiet tone, his voice snapping her out of that irritation that took over her. "Isn't it a bit too..."

"Much?" She asked with half-a-squeak, realizing she had gone a bit too hard on Julius. She was miffed, yes, but perhaps her nervousness was giving her a bit of a sharp edge in this instance. "I-I guess. I'm sorry, Julius- it's just I tend to get quite protective of those I care for."

The knight merely bowed, showing no genuine upset at this. "It's alright, Emilia-sama. I should have been less straight-forward about my grievance and more... understanding."

"I'm glad to hear that," Emilia said while offering a smile. "Now, I believe we have a ceremony to take care of before turning up late to it, right?"

A nod, no more words were exchanged as the four resumed to move towards the ceremonial room where the main event was meant to unfold. Nervousness was back, and where she was ready to break down and panic, Emilia's mood and determination soared as she felt a familiar hand squeeze by her shoulder.

"Good luck, Emi."

Her soul exploded in bliss and the smile plastered on her face refused to back down before the terrifying setting that was the Royal Election.

--------d-d-d-d-----

Subaru was a bit clueless on how to handle the overall situation.

The room was filled to half-point by people that were divided between knights, officers, administrators and foreign dignitaries. It was so incredible to see, and, in a way, reminded him of the powerful portrait he once saw about the Versailles Treaty, except there were more people in there. He had to keep away from Emilia as the half-elf was approached by a waiting Roswaal into taking 'position' for the beginning of the election with Rem on tow.

Every single candidate was set to go through the process... all except Felt. Was she running late? Why would Reinhard be fine with it and why he was already there? As her knight, shouldn't he be attending her and guiding her to the throne room? And while they waited for something to actually happen, Subaru's gaze started to take notes of the two unfamiliar candidates, having already gotten enough of a sightful out of Priscilla before this instance.

The first one to appear in sight was a petite woman with blue green eyes and long, wavy light-purple hair that reached down to her hips. She was wearing a curious long white dress with a fur hat and scarf along with a large purse shaped like a wallet. It reminded him of a fancy Russian noble lady. She also donned a star-shaped hairpin on her hair and a small teal pendant around her neck. That was definitely Anastasia Hoshin- he had heard of her from some people due to her merchantile background, and how her products were considered premium items in the kingdom due to how rare it is to trade with Kararagi.

The other one was also peculiar due to her... masculine approach. A fairly beautiful woman with almond-shaped amber eyes and long dark pine-green hair that stopped down to her lower back. The formal outfit she was currently wearing consisted of a marine purplish-blue long-coat trimmed in white with golden epaulettes on the shoulders with a white blouse and scarf visible under it; blue trousers, black white-laced knee-high heel boots, white gloves, and a blue cap with a single horizontal white stripe along the middle.

"Oh~, you have been staring at Crusch-sama for a while nyow~," A soft voice called from behind.

Subaru almost jumped when he noticed a knight leaning right by his shoulder behind him and giving him a smug look. The young man had flax colored hair and yellow eyes, he wore the standard knight uniform which gave him more of a masculine air compared to the rest of his appearance. Subaru knew he was looking at a guy, he just had enough experience with the notion of femboys to know what was up.

"I-I was just-"

"Ogling~?"

"S-Staring at the candidates. It's just I never saw them before now," He admitted bluntly, but his embarrassed blush was met with a teasing smile.

"Neh~, it's alright. There is nothing wrong in admiring perfection."

He frowned. "And I suppose you are her knight, sir...?"

The cat-boy blinked in surprise. "Wha-? Sir? Nyah! What if I was actually a chick- Actually, I am a-"

"Man?" Subaru interjected and caused the demi-human to pause once again. "I mean, you are feminine but you are definitely a guy."

"...How?"

"Well, you have a neck protrusion that is known as Adam's apple, which is quite common in men," The advisor explained nervously, seeing the cat-boy's ears twitching a fair bit. "And you literally proved it with your... reaction."

The fellow dude stared at Subaru intensely and... smiled. "I like ya. My name is Ferris."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Natsuki Subaru."

"Oh, a polite one~. So, who's your boss here?" Ferris hummed, but before Barusu could have offered an answer to it, the doors opened and revealed Felt and... Rom right behind her.

It was an interesting sight to see a very short individual as the former thief being escorted by the half-giant, and his presence acted as a solution to two problems. First being the guarding issue being actually handled by Reinhard, but the young man having no chance to defend his lady without conflicting with his usual morals; and Rom's intimidating size nullified any bad comment coming at Felt when she was introduced as the final candidate to the election and given a quick rundown explanation of who she was and where did she came from. Usual introduction stuff.

After that, the rest of the candidates went on to 'greet' the sages and explained their motivations driving them. Priscilla wanted the kingdom because... 'why not?'. It wasn't exactly the precise reasons, but the paraphrasing did do some justice to the true reasoning being around it; then it was the turn of Crusch and she worked more on a tougher platform in breaking the oath to Volcanica for good due to the recent crises the kindgom had to go through without any protections from the dragon; then it was Anastasia's turn and she literally admitted being a 'greedy girl, and that she wanted a nation. That's all~'.

Emilia was the last one to speak and the one that drew more condemnation than the rest. Her message could have been misinterpreted and so Subaru thought it was just that as she spoke of equality, not exactly something nobles were so keen to hear when it can easily relate to rebellions. However that didn't seem to be the case as he would soon learn.

"This is just absurd! Why are we allowing the half-devil to continue with this charade!" One of the sages exploded with that hateful rant. "Are we really accepting the witch's candidacy?! What's with this travesty!"

That... that isn't be right.

Subaru was no expert in this sort of political practices, but even there he could perceive a general state of distress for those that were witnessing that outburst together with him. It was surreal to imagine a politician, within a role this important, be so eager to push out a subjective view on the matter. Wasn't that negative to a degree for them?

Emilia definitely gave off a confirmation of this from the gloomy look on her face. He had never seen the girl look so down and unable to react to this sort of insults. It felt so frustrating, and it reminded him of the various times she told him about the racism she had to go through due to her appearance. And to endure this before this large public sure had to feel extremely dreadful. And Subaru wasn't willing to stand for it. No, he had to react somehow and, while he was in no position to strike, he knew that the whole room was not exactly agreeing with this view. Plus, this reminded him of something Emilia told him about the sages and how this election was meant to ensue through the few rules the sages had implemented about it.

"A-Apologies, may I ask a question?" He spoke, raising a hand up and gaining some surprised eyes at him due to it.

His voice cut through the silence, Emilia's eyes widened at that interjection as she stared up at Subaru with confused and... worried eyes. The young man replied with a confident smile which quickly morphed back in a polite look.

"A question?" One of the sages inquired, looking at Elder McMahon as the wise man threw a fascinated look back at the youth.

"Depends on the context. Is it a personal one or maybe one that would entertain the time wasted for all candidates?"

"The second kind, McMahon-sama," Subaru answered readily.

The old man gave an even longer look at that and then... sighed. "Sure."

"The Council of Sages is meant to be the group which is going to elect the new kind. Doing so by objectively judging each candidate through their merits, flaws and deeds... right?"

"That's correct. However, I feel like that's now the question you were looking to ask for."

Subaru's mouth opened but noise failed to leave for a while as he realized what the old man had just told him. He had unconsciously asked a question without meaning to. Luckily, he still had a chance to still ask what he wanted to use against the jerk that hurt Emilia.

"The question is, if that's indeed the case, then why one of the sages is allowed to rant against one of the candidates due to personal bias and will this repeat with other candidates, such as those that come from beyond the national borders?"

It was a fool-proof question, and one that actively gained a few interesting reactions. The sages were mostly worried, with McMahon being the only one still offering an interested smile, Roswaal grinning giddily, Rem shaking her head and Emilia... looking ready to cry but still offering a thankful smile. Sadly, someone didn't take that nicely.

"And why would a mere courtier know about how this kind of affair works?" The same jerk from before shot back in pure frustration. "It's none of your concerns, commoner-"

"Yet it is mine!" Emilia quipped angrily, her fury bubbling up to this very point and drawing out quite the reaction out of her. And she wasn't the only one with that kind of compulsion to stand by Subaru's point.

"I agree, this circumstance doesn't paint a polite view of the sages," Crusch remarked flatly. "I believe an apology is the least it can be offered."

Soon her view was reinforced by the other candidates in their own.

"Fuh, I find this whole thing detrimental on the side that this game has been rigged. Is this even a proper election or just a joke to annoy me," Priscilla pointed out with some irritation, causing Anastasia to gasp.

"The game is rigged? That's not fair. Who do I bribe to win~?"

Out of all reactions, Felt was the most explosive of the bunch.

"Ohi, bushy-eyebrows! How about instead of squawking behind a desk you come here and tell that in front of us all? Heh, too much of a coward to do that?!" The blonde fiercely exclaimed, Rom grunting and cracking his knuckles and causing most of the room to shudder in surprise at that move.

Miklotov blinked and saw how hostile the crowd had gotten through that bad take on Emilia, his gaze turning to the sage in question and giving him a glare. "Sage Zellgef, I suggest you sit down and keep quiet. We will have a lenghty discussion about your concerns, but I find no reason to start assaulting a candidate by mere prejudice."

The man looked ready to protest, but between being grilled by the various candidates and his fellow sages quickly distancing from him, the topic died down as miserable as it possibly could.

"To answer your question, Natsuki-san, this Council will rule on objective circumstances and no by subjective ones. Your point has been made, and I wish to humbly apologize in the name of the council for this situation. I will make sure no similar scene will unfold out of it."

That was... intense.

The overall election resumed smoothly and the first session ended quite positively. Subaru was relieved that Emilia pulled through just fine but... then the issue came in the form of the many gazes aimed at him. Some were individuals that found his interruption foolish, others brave, but the group of glances he got the most heat from was from the candidates themselves. He made himself known to those that didn't know him.

And it could easily lead to some unusual scenarios for the near future.

--------d-d-d-d----------

AN

Oh my lord! What an intense election and... Emilia may take that valiant defense a bit too excitedly. Next time, Barusu finds himself in quite the situation with his first friend in this world!

Chapter Text

Chapter 12: Interest and Attraction

EDIT, Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of about a very horni half-elf going for 'half-a-lemon' and ending up unconscious sexually harassed by a sleeping Barusu.

"So, what do you think of your newest friend... Felix."

Ferris grinned eye-to-eye as he had expected Lady Crusch to gain some interest in the peculiar man that was Natsuki Subaru. It was obviously the same fascination a proper politician would have for an ever-evolving opportunity, or perhaps the source of solutions to many future problems if he proves to be as crafty as he had been in this 'introduction event'. The cat-boy hummed for a moment, thoughtful in his pause as he looked back at the kind of person Subaru showed himself to be. He couldn't say he outright believed it to be his real personality until further conversation but...

"He looks like a genuine individual. Quite loyal to his 'King'."

Curt, precise and what Crusch seemed to already know from the way she nodded at him. Felix rarely trusted new people, but there was just something about Subaru that made him instantly likable. It was possibly his attitude, the dark-haired young man sure held a degree of honesty that made poor Ferris wonder how things would have been if they had hired him before his current boss. Yet, something else flared within the young woman's gaze which gained his intrigue and a degree of concern.

"Anything else I can tell you, Lady Crusch?"

Crusch was quiet at this question, lost in her thoughts while a certain butler decided to use this chance to entertain his own curiosity through this situation. Wilhelm van Astrea may look like a simple, old but elegant man with a rather tall and muscular physique which one would not normally find in a man his advanced age. He had long bountiful white hair which was perfectly combed back, suggesting his perfection-seeking refinement when it comes to details. On his gentle and tired face, one can see a pair of dark-blue eyes that reflect wisdom, decades-worth of experience and above all else, a sense of elderly warmth. Coupled with his white beard, Wilhelm represents the very essence of a well-mannered and properly-maintained elderly gentleman.

Due to his role as a butler, his primary choice of clothes was his black butler's outfit which consisted of a white shirt over which he wears a vest of also white color. Over both the vest and the shirt, he's sporting a black, long-sleeved coat with some blue finishing touches around the edges. Matching the attire, his elegant pants are purely black. He was the Sword Demon, once a powerful swordsman which was considered the strongest in Lugnica before his grandson became the Sword Saint. Now 'retired' and supporting the claim to the throne forwarded by Duchess Crusch Karsten, he had been around to provide perspective in situations which only an experienced tactician or judge of personality could handle.

"He lacks physical training to the point of being Lady Emilia's knight, however his stunt at the Royal Election was proof he is not shy from displaying his opinion in a cautious and yet successful way."

Felix nodded, with Crusch finally recovering from her quiet pondering. "His loyalty is also noteworthy. Not many can flaunt a courtier like him."

"Yet he isn't fully affiliated to Lady Emilia's Camp," The brunet remarked, this time his words gaining a surprised look from Crusch. "I asked him personally, and he assured me he was serving her at the moment as an advisor. I would say that they are still quite close, especially with that quiet outburst of his~."

The demi-human was delighted to see how intrigued Crusch was at the moment, and yet he could perceive a strange glint from her eyes which felt... anomalous. In fact, her composure was a bit weakened by this topic for some unexplained reason and then the young woman delivered a response he didn't expect her to push for.

"Have you... noticed something familiar about him?" Crusch's question came out of the blue. Felix's hazel eyes narrowed in confusion, unsure what his lady meant with that inquiry but... something else gnawing at his mind. Did he actually notice something he had ignored? Could it be that he missed something relevant about him?

As the cat-boy thought about it, Wilhelm seemed to hold the key to that closed door, his eyes flashing a sense of unease that was tied to bring up a potentially unpleasant topic for Lady Karsten. And the reason why Felix couldn't see it on the spot was because it was one of those topics both had tried to keep away from for a few years now. And now, it was clear that this Natsuki Subaru had reopened that situation. Sadly, Wilhelm couldn't say much in that regard, well aware that any pressure to dwell on such a subject would just upset his employer.

"We will just monitor things from now on. But keep an eye on how we can potentially hire Subaru," the Duchess ordered, this move stunning Ferris further, but the cat-boy had no complaints about it.

After all, Subaru looked like an amusing individual and the brunet couldn't help but feel like he was oddly more familiar and pleasant than he first thought.

--------d-d-d-d--------

Emilia was a young woman with a plan.

A plan that, this time around, she knew was going to work masterfully. After all, Puck had given her some advice on how to get this bit started. The familiar agreed that it was a good situation for her to start making a serious step forward and he provided some insight on how to get Subaru to notice her properly. First thing first, she had to set up the circumstance to convince Subaru in a direct and yet 'not revealing' manner. And she did so by telling him how much she had appreciated his chivalrous behavior and that she was thinking of rewarding him.

"It's alright. These morons were trying to throw horrible insults at you for no good reasons and they were in the wrong, so-"

"But I want to reward you!" Emilia half-snapped childishly, kind of a risky move but one she knew would pay off right if played correctly.

Being 'childish' was nothing unusual for the half-elf when around Subaru, so he wasn't surprised by this input. Rather, by the overall situation. And while he was hesitant at first, he seemed to relent the moment she pestered him strongly enough. The young man was definitely not expecting for Emilia to ask him to spend the night in her room. He expected it to be a mere sleepover where he would sleep on the floor. The silly boy didn't expect for the half-elf to tell him to get in her bed.

He blushed a storm at that context, but she, braving her own blush and embarrassment, delivered the phrase Puck told her to repeat in case this issue came up. "I-It's just cuddling. I-It's not like that, you- you pervert!"

For some reason, the accusation was enough to soothe Subaru from any unease as he found it more pressing to escape the label rather than handle the sudden and most unexpected circumstance. It didn't take long for the young man, already in his 'nightwear' which was made by a pair of light-blue shorts and a small black half-sleeved shirt, to sink under the sheets. Emilia had opted for something a bit 'risky' from her wardrobe. Using her violet jacket to hide away most of her nightwear, which was made by a 'skimpy combo' of short lingerie bra and panties. Nothing else.

Subaru didn't notice as he nervously set himself quite close to her, his warmth reaching out and having her endurance in handling the shivers trying to manifest from her current plan's expectations even more strained than expected. He was there, and he was clueless of what she had planned to do.

He talked a bit about the election, saying that he was sorry for 'being so stiff' around her as he knew she wanted a friend to help her through this struggle. And she could only nod, Emilia's heart drumming madly in love for each word he uttered. All felt right, all felt... enough to justify her current ideas she wanted to explore on this eventful night. It took a while for both to 'fall asleep' and when Subaru started to quietly snore from his post in the bed and Emilia studied the situation.

How deep was his slumber? And can she finally make her move?

First thing she did, more as a test since she could justify this action, was slowly reaching for Subaru's right hand and... bring it close to her within her own palms. It was warm, soft- the girl shuddered as she slowly set it over her chest. Not on her breasts, but slightly above. Will he hear her poor heart? Will he notice it?

Her breathing got a bit irregular at that thought, her mind burning her thoughts away as she allowed the heat of the moment to drive her through the few ideas she wanted to experiment on. As her right palm grasped onto his own, her other hands wandered low on her body and, pulling her jacket aside, she had an easy time reaching the place that was burning with eagerness. She was damp, her groin soaked with her own juices as she had long ignored the craving that had wished her to go faster with her courting. He was so close, his smell was just damning her mind into a lustful mindset she wasn't completely interested in but that provided her with the bold plans that were working for her.

Her digits teased softly at her pink bean, shudders echoing over her body as she held back the first bouts of moaning. Any noise was going to risk her entire situation, and she didn't need that. The fingers dug lower and started to rub along her slit. She was just so heated down there, and the girl wanted much more than that. As she continued to tease herself, Emilia unconsciously leaned closer to Subaru, her nostrils flared with delight as she picked his scent. He was sweating a bit, possibly because of the unease from before and, while it didn't feel nice at first, her brain was slowly seeing the smell as 'Subaru'. It was him, it wasn't a dream. He was so close and... she shifted a bit closer, wondering what he would say or think of her if he woke up. Would he be embarrassed? Or would he succumb to her charm and allow himself to give her what she was wanting now from him?

The temptation was elevated and, as the young woman was stunned into these thoughts, she didn't notice how Subaru had reacted in his sleep to her closeness. His left arm had shuffled out of its lower position and suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer much to the girl's panic and growing arousal. Then, he shifted his knee upward in an effort to have his right leg over her, wrapping the girl further into that close embrace. Due to the way Emilia's legs were parting, the anomalous limb's movement ended with it suddenly pressing against her crotch, stopping her silent masturbation.

H-His leg.

Emilia was flustered, wide-eyed, and yet unable to pull away. Not because Subaru's hold was too tight and she was incapable of breaking from it, but rather because the feeling of having someone rub against her precious place made her whole body tingly. The feeling of her exposed pussy pressing against his firm knee had her thoughts shredding before the wanton calling to go beyond staying like that. To someone that never experienced that sort of thing before and was going by instinct, Emilia felt unable to resist and got on with it. She was soon rubbing back, her hips moving on their own as they slowly used the leg as a better tool to satisfy her desire. She was outright stripped of her calm, with the hand once holding his palm now pressing against her lips as she found herself unable to keep quiet.

The assisted masturbation lasted for a couple more minutes. With the half-elf feeling her world collapsed in pure pleasure when she climaxed. It wasn't an explosive one, but it definitely landed a wet stain near Subaru's knee. As she felt her orgasm settle, Emilia felt the irony of the situation. Here she was, sexually touched by a man she was in love with, before she even had a chance to kiss him right. Staring right at him, the girl's violet eyes fluttered as they settled on his lips. Undefended lips she could steal if she so wanted. But as she leaned in to do so, to seal the deal, the half-elf paused for a moment. This hesitation was... tied to her own will.

A kiss was... holy.

And getting one like this, her first one with someone she cared deeply for, felt the most sinful insult to her own morals. So, instead of that, she redirected her trajectory and landed a peck close to his lips but onto his right cheek before setting her chin onto his shoulder. The boy snuggled closer because of this tighter hug, clearly appreciating the closeness and leaving Emilia even more delighted as she fell asleep, her mind depleted of its energy and her arousal satisfied.

The next morning, Subaru woke up with the strange wet feeling around his leg. But as he opened his eyes to address this issue, his attention was stolen and outright captured by the state of undress Emilia had gone for to surprise him in the morning. Her jacket was gone, exposing her lingerie and stunning him with a sight below as her panties were slightly pulled down, not enough to show her precious modesty, but enough to show some hair down there. His jaw dropped, and his blush matched hers as he tried to apply logic on the entire situation. Any attempt he may have tried to pull through ended the moment she spoke-

"Good morning, Subaru~."

The happy tone just shredded most of the worry, as the boy returned the greeting with one of his own and, as the girl took this chance to slowly wake up and walk her way to the bathroom, Subaru was finally able to see the wet stain of warm liquid now resting on his right leg. Many questions formed, and he knew for a thing he would have to speak with Emilia about what had just happened.

Yet, not for annoyance, but for something that was making his mind burn a bit and his own lust rise up at the clear display of interest from the half-elf.

------------d-d-d-d-----------

AN

Emilia is making her move, and this time she is getting Barusu just right!

Also, Crusch's interest in Subaru is tied to a topic I think could have been used in the original story, but I think the author forgot to mention due to it lacking the 'background' for it to make sense.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Chapter Text

Chapter 13: A Heartfelt Talk

EDIT: Brief lewd interaction, but nothing happens beyond some peeking. Barusu is on Wholesome Education Duty.

Natsuki Subaru was a young man facing a questionable dilemma.

While many guys his age and with his inexperience in sexual situations would consider the implications of the previous night to be the best reason to know a girl was onto them, he was having some serious doubts that this was... right. Was he upset by it? Not truly. At least, not to the point of finding this disgusting. The sight had been... hot. Sorta. It made his hotblooded inner self react to the notion that the half-elf may have done a degree of naughty things to him. Not too much, but still something. And it was quite flattering to a degree. Just a degree. For the rest he was just... uneasy.

The young woman had acted while he was asleep. Why not wake him up? Why not try to do something before he falls asleep? Sure, he knew that Emilia was usually shy and nervous to try and have interactions with him, but this was a touch too far. Not too much, just... to the point where he found himself considering an intervention of sorts. Earlier that morning the half-elf had shown herself 'glowing' around him. She was so happy, giddy- secure. There was an amount of trust she was throwing at him that was novel if not worrying in some parts. Yet, that didn't prevent the young man from setting up a conversation with her before they planned their departure to get back to Roswaal's manor.

A smile plastered on her face, the silver-haired girl was instantly sitting on the couch beside him, with the two of them being the only ones in her room at the moment. Puck had gone to check on Roswaal and Rem, mentioning that 'Subaru had reasons for them to speak alone'. Emilia didn't understand at first, but soon it became apparent when Subaru started to speak about the reason he wanted to talk to her.

"I want to know what you did last night with... my leg."

Surprisingly enough, despite the fact her smile didn't falter, the girl sported a bright blush at that topic. Eyes wide open and aimed at him with a mixture of panic and interest, the half-elf gulped nervous before responding to that.

"A-About what?"

Subaru could already tell this one was going to be a tough business for sure if she was already reacting like this.

"I know that you did something with... me. While I was sleeping."

...

"T-That's silly. Subaru, I would have never done anything strange with you- who even told you something so silly and-"

"My leg was stained earlier this morning and... I recognized what it was."

There was a lengthy pause at that, with Emilia's attempt to shove the topic away interrupted completely by this revelation. Her eyes moved around as she pondered heavily on the matter. Then, she spoke up.

"D-Did you? I mean, you know what- what that is?"

"Yes, it's-"

"Me wanting to have babies?"

His jaw dropped. "W-What?"

"I mean- that, that is the sign that a woman wants to kiss a man, have a baby and-"

"That's not how reproduction works," Subaru interrupted, eyes narrowing in confusion as he was baffled by that explanation.

Emilia did that yesterday night and... she didn't even know how babies are made. It was surreal that someone her age would be so keen to jump at this kind of interaction without knowing at least the general reason why her body reacted this way. Heck, Subaru was no expert on the matter, but he could tell what sexual interaction was all about in its primary purpose.

"...It is not?"

He shook his head. "Kisses aren't what allows couples to have babies."

"Oh? Puck told me that- that it was that way but..." The half-elf replied smartly. "R-Really?"

"Yeah... It's more of a sign that you are sexually active."

"S-Sexually active?" She asked, blinking in a mixture of intrigue and curiosity. "What does that mean?"

"It means you are... aroused around me. Which means you are physically attracted to me."

A nod. "T-That makes sense, yes."

"And yet what you did wasn't... right."

Finally, she frowned. "It was not...? I-I mean, I wasn't trying to- to do anything with you but- but I started to touch it since it itched and- and then you pulled me close, your leg brushed on- on it and- and-"

Subaru blinked, surprise flashing at that narration. Up to this point he had so rightfully expected for her to have pushed that far. But from what he could decipher from what Emilia was saying as truthfully as possible was that he may have pulled her closer and had unconsciously rubbed her groin with his own leg.

If before it was sexual harrassment, now he couldn't help but realize that he had done part of that in his sleep. He was still unconscious, yes but... Emilia mentioned he had hugged her close to him. Now, the young man wasn't as strong as his father, but he knew better than to just ignore the magnitude of his own strength, especially when he was sleeping and thus couldn't control it as usual.

It didn't help that Emilia was showing him that she didn't even know that what she was doing was something she was aware of. That doing that was wrong and merely following instincts on the spot and relative closeness. He couldn't fully pardon her since she still went along with this, but that didn't mean he couldn't see her point and try to help her somewhat.

His mother would know better on how to handle this plight, mostly because she was a woman too and could understand Emilia's current raw feelings by experience. It wouldn't be the same but... it was still a reasonable point to rely on, especially when he could look into what his mother could have done about it if she was there.

Emilia 'winged' that effort and it led to backfiring right now due to his reaction to it. And now Subaru was going to find a solution to it that not only firmly put a foot down for any event like this to happen ever again, but to also educate the girl on how... to love. How to react to libido, to lust, to the unrestrained form of love that came more from the body and still quite from the heart.

"It's more on the fact you shouldn't have... engaged in sexual activities in me in bed without my awareness."

"...Is that so?"

He nodded. "I understand you don't see the issue with that but... think of this in reverse. You end up discovering I teased myself in my sleep. A-And you weren't awake and thus end up with a strange stain on your leg-"

"I would have been upset."

That's great-

"Because I would want to be awake."

-Even better-

"So I could have reciprocated the feeling?"

-And not what I mean but still... that could work.

"That's part of the point, yes. You would have felt upset because you had been excluded and, worst of all, used as a means to bring relief to myself."

"That's not... nice," Emilia admitted, looking at her knees. "I suppose that's why it's bad."

"Consent is always important, Emilia. I know you just are learning this just now, but this should be a point where you promise me to not do that sort of thing again."

"...Okay. I'm... I'm sorry if that hurt you."

"It hurts my trust on you when it comes to being this close to you. I put my faith in you when I accepted to share the bed with you because I thought it would have been just... you know, hugs and cuddles."

"I'm sorry," She repeated, her words even sadder now as her shoulders sagged at this realization.

"I can tell you didn't mean to hurt me but next time be a bit more cautious about it," Subaru replied kindly, grasping with his left hand at her shoulder. "Still, is this your first time feeling... aroused?"

A nod, but then she went the extra step with her response.

"I-It itches even now," Emilia mumbled nervously, unconsciously lifting her skirt and... revealing quite the mess by her underwear.

Being a young man that lacked much in terms of sexual interactions with girls as hot as Emilia, Subaru couldn't help but stare and... admire as her groin was drenched in her own juices, the see-through piece showing him the delicate and innocent slit that was just now learning of the tedious needs of being an adult. And Subaru couldn't even hide that the sight had him popping a boner too but he knew, deep down, that this was incredibly wrong.

Emilia was definitely looking for a stronger reaction and she thought she had one when he leaned closer to her. What she didn't expect was for Subaru to yank her onto her chest and lie down on the couch with her. Her violet eyes fluttered wide open at that bold move, and she expected something more to it.

And more came, just not in the way her body was urging her to. In fact, the way his hand rested on her cheek was... soothing. She felt the warmth mellow and grow different than before. It wasn't the intense inferno consuming her common sense, but rather the one that she originally felt when around Subaru.

"Do you love me, Emilia?" The question felt like the best opening to something. Her heart picked up in pace, her breathing intensified and her world broadened as a single word left her lips, drawing from endless relentlessness and ever-so intense devotion to such a subject.

"Yes."

...

"Do you want to go out with me when we get back to the manor?"

Her heart was beating so hard right now, and she nodded earnestly, her voice dampened for a moment by the emotion clogging her throat at this development.

"Y-Yes."

"I know this sounds so much, but I think you could do with me also explaining to you how... to help with your needs on your own too so you are more in control of those."

This time she nodded with greater determination, her heart was just soaring at the notion that her Subaru was finally going to be hers and... she snuggled closer to him, enjoying his closeness and feeling somewhat freed from the intense heat that had taken over her mind just mere moments ago.

As the two enjoyed some quiet quality time together, a pair of blue eyes peered over them from the window, a bored look crossing the youthful girl's face as the peeping tom huffed at the resolution she just witnessed. Her gaze was primarily aimed at Subaru, her interest centered around him more on how relevant his presence in this world was. The girl could feel it, he was something worthy of attention.

Perhaps a change of plan was much needed just to see this young man's peculiar... capacity to avoid issues in a more diplomatic way~.

-------------d-d-d-d--------

AN

I thought about making the chapter longer, but then I realized that it was better to just leave this big 2k words single block in to keep the readers focused on the single topic at hand. Hopefully that dulled the issues with the previous chapter. It's not a resolution, not an immediate one at least. I am aware of that. But it opens the door for Emilia to learn and improve from this mistake born from ignorance. All big changes, especially those that are so relevant and important to people's lives, take time to fully manifest.

And next time, I will finally bring up another alteration from the previous story. After all, the cunning mastermind peeping on the young couple may or may not have a different idea on how to make Subaru face a dilemma. If originally he needed help to solve this issue with the help of others, now he is going to face something which will require him to make use of some careful planning, well-planned barding and potentially redirect a murderer against another. But, of course, things are easier said than done~.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Chapter Text

Chapter 14: Bloody Smile

Warning: TW for mild-torture and gruesome deaths up ahead.

Rem could tell that something was off and it wasn't the unusual development between Lady Emilia and Barusu.

While the blue-haired maid easily picked up that the two had taken a different stance towards each other, the way they were so close and how Subaru looked so apprehensive of some of her lady's behaviors, that wasn't what really concerned her at the moment. As their trip back home started, there was a strange gut feeling which made her wary of the path up ahead.

Where once the chirping of birds and the bush-rustling critters of the forest coating the road to the manor with natural noises, now what she could hear was a dreadful amount of silence. This was a sign of trouble, one that was brewing nearby. Would it be correct to stop and check or was it best to just commit to a full retreat? A decision Rem was reluctant to even consider for some reasons as she felt her current duty was to avoid conflicts of all sort if not provoked. Maybe some other candidates were in the area and assassins had been dispatched against them? That sounded feasible...

But still... Something about this whole situation. It felt bad . And the maid's gaze hardened through the next few minutes of slow departure. Nothing else caught her attention, with her thoughts just barely lingering over the situation with Lady Emilia and Barusu. These two were utter 'morons' as Beatrice had called them, but there was something frustrating that made merely thinking of them so... infuriating. The way she looked at him, the way he didn't even deign her a single glance. Her brain failed to grasp why she would mind, why she should need that sort of attention- but her instinct and body wanted that. That love . That affection . Keeping him and... and making him hers~ .

Lust? No, not yet. But the thought of engaging in lustful ideas roused in her a sense of eagerness. Rem had to first claim him. For... For her. Herself? Yes, herself! Her breathing picked her, her sight slightly growing blurry as something inside her clicked. Nothing positive, this much she could say as she felt her body losing control and, out of the blue, she stopped the carriage. There was silence at first, but soon her lips twisted in a wide smile. She didn't feel amused enough to allow such a reaction, yet her body wanted to. After all... today was a joyous day to be alive.

Half-a-chuckle tore through her throat, sounding different than anything she ever uttered. It almost felt so unlike her .

"P-Perhaps it's because you are in control?" A new voice called through her mouth. It wasn't hers. She wasn't talking. She wasn't in control and yet... Rem was fine with this. The way the love tore into her mind made her feel so unsure of struggling. Why? It was so grand. So much love, so much devotion... so much~! "Yes, don't worry Rem-tan, I will take care of this and... you will have a Barusu to love, okay~?"

A nod, so vigorous and the maid felt subdued by that offer. Oh, the many things her naughty mind thought about as to what she was to do to her Subaru~. She didn't have to do much as Roswaal emerged from the carriage with a flat look on his face. The clown was smiling no more, an upset look on his face as spheres made of mana-enhanced water formed from his palms. Quite clever to strike against a flammable setting, but weaker and... slower. Something shifted fast, with the magician unleashing the spell in the general area where the blur came from, but the idea proved to be... useless.

The 'something' turned out to be a couple of fast paced chains with hooks tied at their edges. They rapidly emerged from bushes and stabbed into the now exposed hands of the sorcerer and then they proceeded to pull, easily tearing the palms off the arms. The hooks stunned Roswaal, he looked at his now handless limbs, shock raised by the sight and thus providing for the distraction needed for another chain to rush up to him and easily tore through his back and through his chest, ripping some of his heart out in the process. Blood exploded from his injury and mouth and the man soon fell to his own wounds.

A scream emerged from the inside of the carriage, and Rem knew it was Lady Emilia. But it didn't matter as her new owner was here, a slim figure bathed with bandages covering most of her body except her violet eyes, mouth and a couple of white locks fluttering in the wind. She offered a crazed smile as she looked into the carriage's occupants.

"Oh my, oh my~! Lovebirds, and the ones I was looking for~!"

There was a struggle, Subaru tried to perhaps 'save' Emilia, but Rem didn't know what happened there. Not when another hook emerged from the side, shredding her throat and leading her to a most happy death. She was crying but those weren't tears of happiness. Her mind was back to her, the control exerted onto it now depleted and her realization dawned with cruel horror.

An Arch-bishop was here. And Rem died before the sight of her own failure.

--------d-d-d-d---------

Subaru woke up some time after.

The first thing he noticed was how cold the solid ground was against his exposed shirt. He was missing his shirt and jacket. He still had his pants, albeit now shredded in some bits and revealing some injuries inflicted by his attempts to protect and take Emilia away from the crazed woman. It had all been futile. They had to be captured- they had to. And as he opened his eyes, he was greeted by her. That woman. He was over him.

"Hello~," Her jovial voice sent shivers down his spine. There was something odd about the warmth in her tone- something sinister. "Are you Natsuki Subaru-kun~?"

"...What?"

"Your name. Natsuki Subaru- Are you him? You have to be him- Oh my, such a beautiful face, I wonder if my poor bleeding heart is thinking more of you than just a test~."

W-Who is this person? And why was she looking for him? That look- that hideous look-

"I-I am Subaru."

"Oh!! Nice to meet you then, Subaru-kun. You may call me- Actually, you have to call me Siri-chan or I will be most displeased and annoyed with you~."

Siri-chan? Who is this woman?!

"W-Why?"

"Hmm, I suppose you have good reasons to ask. Let's say I will hurt you if you don't. Either you, or your little half-breed lover~."

His eyes widened, his body tensed despite the chains restricting his hands and feet. "E-Emilia?"

"Yes, yes, the little copy of that stupid witch. Now, Su-ba-ru~, how about you tell your lovely Siri-chan a bit more about this 'Emilia'," The attacker inquired, Subaru's grasp of reality over his surroundings broadening. They were near the road, it was a former campsite from the looks of it as a few broken-down tents existed left and right. "What makes your simple mind adore such a filthy thing?"

"I...Sh-She is my friend."

"Friend? You mean the one which you share the bed with for naughty things~?"

"N-No! How do you-"

"You were caught by a child! Naughty boy, naughty boy~." The last 'naughty boy' was delivered in a sensual voice as she shifted closer to him. "Tell me, Subaru-kun. Is it possible that you are a bit of a little liar to yourself?"

"No, I-"

She rubbed onto him as she crawled closer. "Are~- you~- sure~?"

"S-Stop it!"

"Hmm? You don't like to be teased?"

He glared at her and the crazy woman huffed. "You are no fun... still, I need you, my beloved Subaru-kun, to tell me some truths. To be the one that explains to silly me why someone as disgusting as that half-elf gets this sort of love- why her? Why not me?"

"Y-You are crazy!"

Instead of being insulted by this as his common sense wanted him to believe as soon as he realized what he had told her, the woman grinned widely.

"I am! And he surely loves that so much. No, that's not the point. What does she have that I don't?" 'Siri-chan' demanded, soon eyeing elsewhere and... to a nearby tree, where an unconscious Emilia was currently bound by chains to it. "Hmm, it's her breasts isn't it? They look delicious to a depraved man."

"T-That's not it," He argued. "She is my friend and-"

"Hmm." The young man paused as he noticed the woman was more focused grasping her own chest, trying to compare her frame to Emilia's and... clearly growing upset she was smaller than the half-elf. "I suppose that's a detail to be wary of. But still! What makes her so important truly if it's not her sexual beauty?"

"She is a friend-"

"Yes! I get it, Subaru-kun! She is your friend but..." Her outburst had him tense up, but soon the crazy lady paused, her eyes widened in realization. "A friend! Of course, it means there's friendship and love. Friendship and love~!"

Siri-chan giggled. "Yes! I get it now! You love her first as a friend and then as a lover. It's a build-up, a crescendo! A sweet process that led to a sensual culmination...!"

"I-" Subaru tried to say or do something, he was just too overwhelmed by everything but... then he felt the chains no longer holding him back.

He was confused, the woman was just freeing him like that? But before he could have asked why, he heard chains rattling nearby- four of those were rushing towards Emilia. They were going to harm her!

Instinct shredded into dread and unease, the boy's legs, albeit wobbly, managed to push him forward and towards where the unconscious half-elf was. The chains were fast, but Subaru was closer and-

Shhh Klinkt!

" Kyah~ You love her! Youloveherloveherloveherloveher loveherloveherloveherloveherloveherloveher LOVEHER~~ !!!"

And as Sirius continued to squeal in delight at this discovery, Subaru was soon coughing blood, the hooks sinking deep through his back while he used his body as a cover for the unconscious. He could feel one easily reaching onto the other side as blood started to emerge from his chest. He felt his world growing darker, his hopes dimming as a small fire before a cold storm. He was dying, again and...

At least Emilia was going to be safe from this horrible person. For now.

...

How deep was his slumber? And can she finally make her move?

Subaru's slumber was soon interrupted when he felt he was once more alive and... that was a heartbeat. His hand caught it and... He opened his eyes to see what it was all about. And Emilia felt dread rush instead of pleasure as her beloved proved to be still awake. She looked ready to hear him scream or shout, or even ask her what she was doing, why she was holding his hand onto her chest and-

The girl's world rolled fast and her brain burned in pure delight as Subaru merely pulled her in a hug. Did he think she was just sleeping and woke up at this? Emilia ruled this to be the case and tried to sell it to him.

"S-Sorry-"

"No," He muttered quietly, something in his tone making her pause before her own interest. "I... I need a hug."

Her eyes widening, the amusement gone as the girl felt the aching sorrow coming from her Subaru's voice. Gone was the eagerness to feel pleased, now a sense of dutiful affection stirring and indulging the need to provide him with her warmth in a most subtle and caring way. She returned the hug, confused by what could have sparked such an upset, but willing to assume it was nightmares for the sake of letting him rest and asking him questions the next morning.

Meanwhile Subaru cried silently, no noise leaving his lips as he just tried to find solace in that hug. He knew that was going to change things between him and Emilia, even more that he dodged the little spike of arousal the girl went through and... and they had to plan what to do next. What happened on the road to get back home- he couldn't let it happen again. But how to avoid that? How was he supposed to change things for them? A different hour to depart? Another route? A solution will need to come up to him... but not now. His mind was too stressed and drained to give him the insight he really looked for.

And as both enjoyed a mostly calm and quiet night, enjoying each other's affection and appreciation, a silent spectator stared at them by the window, a dull look on her face as her blue eyes flickered with mild amusement and curiosity.

"Let's see what I can do about this now..."

---------d-d-d-d------------d-d-d-d---------- AN

What's worse than Geuse? His stalker. After all, Wrath knows no bounds when it comes to Love!

Also, yes, the erotic scene with Emilia got 'retconned' by RbD, and this will have heavy implications in the long-run as, while this may sound a bit disingenous, the talk from the previous timeline did create changes. Just not for Emilia, but Barusu.

P.S. The reason why Rem went nuts is tied to Siri-chan's Authority of Wrath. Emotional imposition and expansion until madness if so needed.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15: To Avoid a Foe, Make a Friend

After weaving through issues by carefully planning ways out of messes that could have killed him, Subaru knew perfectly that every chance he got to prevent his death was good to take and... bad to remember about.

That entire scenario had been so surreal, so sudden- it made him realize how things weren't as simple as they were in Lugnica. At least, not as simple as a history book would explain when it comes to medieval times. While it was common for Japan to experience assassins and ninjas causing death and destruction, that was because the nation was shattered in warring states. But was this even a possibility in an unified state such as Lugnica? Yes, it was a Feudal Monarchy with various lords being autonomous, but was this enough to proliferate the assassins lurking around and attacking people out of nowhere?

It felt so upsetting and dreadful as it created a new issue to be concerned about while moving around and away from places that were safe for them. The roads were no longer passable without an active escort group to keep them protected. Why didn't Roswaal plan for something like that? Was it arrogance on his part or the ignorance that moving without protection wouldn't cause them any issue despite Emilia's relevance in the current event. In fact, how come he didn't think of this if he was so determined to push her as a winning candidate? The more he thought about it, the more Subaru realized that  there was more to it. That attack maybe wasn't as unexpected as Roswaal had made it appear by reacting so foolishly against it. No, he knew that something was going to happen. He just didn't plan anything to prevent it. Willingly.

But why did he cause this sort of mess? Or rather, why did he allow this mess to happen in the first place?

Slowly but surely the young man abandoned the tedious task of finding a reason behind the thinking of his current boss on this matter, and actually shifted his focus on how he was supposed to prevent this problem from happening once again. He technically couldn't do much, but Emilia was the one that had the most control over this sort of decisions. Speaking of which, the girl had been 'prevented' from doing awkward things with him. In fact, he had taken this chance to wake up with her, early in the morning, to actually educate her on her own 'attraction' towards him. Puck was annoyed to no end about it, but the familiar agreed that the young woman needed that form of knowledge to not 'be tricked by any malicious individual wanting to hurt her'.

And while it was quite uneasy to explain the details of how romance and sex worked, they both left that conversation with more ease towards one another. Subaru knew that he had to concede to a degree, but not to the point of sparking sudden romance. Instead of pressuring himself into a relationship he wasn't sure he could deal with without hurting Emilia, he just promised her that, once this visit was over, they could go around relaxing for a whole week. Just so that Emilia's mind was brought away from the paperwork and into a peaceful rest from that draining experience. Meanwhile Emilia looked a bit embarrassed 'for some reason', and was quick to apologize out of the blue for being too 'pushy' at times. He knew what she meant, but the way she was conveying it could have been easily mistaken at this point. He just... 'forgave her'.

Still, the main issue remained: how were they meant to make it back home without getting captured and killed by that crazy woman? Hiring guards now wouldn't be feasible due to how much money they could handle right now. Roswaal had been keen to limit their capacity to buy things or people, thus hiring muscles was not an option. So... if they couldn't hire, how about exploiting someone that already had muscles to offer?

"Subaru?"

The young man blinked, his thought-train derailed by that call. He looked to the side, Emilia pouting a tiny bit as she was clearly annoyed by something.

"I-I'm sorry."

"It's alright," She conceded, the half-elf's narrowed eyes showing she really didn't. "Still is there something troubling you to the point of ignoring me for a few minutes now?"

She really sounded annoyed, but the dark-haired youth had a plan. A plan that, hopefully, would win them some support in the long run.

"I just... noticed something. I had a nightmare and... and I realized that it was a possibility."

He couldn't exactly relay to her what happened, how his ability to 'reset' time when he died, but he could still fake it as a 'what if' he dreamed about from the looks of it.

Emilia blinked, her frown mellowing. "What possibility?"

"You know, it's odd that we don't have someone to guard us. It's just that if someone decided to hurt you, they wouldn't have to deal with much in case they paid for your death."

"T-That's not going to happen," Emilia reasoned nervously, confident on the lack of issue, but nonetheless shocked by the topic. "Rem would be able to dispatch any attacker."

"...Rem isn't going to be enough."

"He got you here, Lia. I think I get what he is trying to say," Puck remarked as he emerged from Emilia's necklace and settled on her chest. "Rem is strong, but she is just one. If an assassin with magical skills is involved, they could stun her and kill us inside the carriage."

"That's... but wouldn't that be risky?" The half-elf argued thoughtfully. "Killing a Royal Candidate just like that, after my presentation?"

"Not after your presentation and how this could have alienated some nobles," Subaru remarked curtly. "You wish to help the poor and the needy, Emilia. That, in their mind, means you will care less for them."

"B-But I didn't say that."

"You didn't need to," Her familiar confirmed. "The assumption and the presumption are both there for them to be wary about. So, you will be targeted one way or another."

...

"How... how do we avoid getting attacked now?"

"Well, leaving the capital without a guard would be risky, but we can't hire one with how limited our funds are right now," The young man admitted, yet smiling as he had a solution. "Which is why we could use the chance of making new friends and allies while also exploiting the fact they have guards themselves."

The half-elf blinked, curiosity stirred by Subaru's intriguing proposal.

"Oh? What do you have in mind?"

Subaru relayed the info and Emilia... frowned. Hard.

---------------d-d-d-d-----------

"A tea party?"

The surprise in Anastasia Hoshin's voice was no exaggeration. After all, this offer presented nothing short of a delightful way to kill two birds with a single stone. Maybe three if her aim was just set right for the shot. Still, the sudden arrival of her future cute rival for the throne had set her in quite the peculiar mood. After all, Anastasia had planned to initially keep away from handling her potential foes just yet. There was so much to do now that she knew what they could do and what they were up to, so it was reasonable to just fix her defenses for any issues and then plan an attack on those she didn't like.

But Emilia? Emilia she felt amused by. It was adorable how the silver-haired girl came forth with such a naive and yet potentially good idea on how to rule. In case of this rival's victory, Anastasia could see the half-elf grant her a chance to be around and still make a solid profit to make up for all the expenses made in her own campaign. In the opposite scenario, the merchant would have granted mercy to Emilia too. After all, she wasn't going to cause her any trouble and, who knows, maybe become a potential friend in the process.

Still, the offer had left her mind stirring with wonder at what may have caused the half-elf to be interested in such a crafty approach. It was clear it wasn't just a simple ploy to make friends. Maybe it had it in its secondary purposes, but a clever woman as Anastasia could pick up there was more to it. Surely there has to be something... right?

What do you think?

Normally a woman thinking loudly in her mind and then expecting an answer would make zero sense, yet Anastasia was special due to a 'feature' that made her equally clever and dangerous to deal with. She was never alone as her most trusted adviser was there to provide her with guidance in times of need.

I think the girl is cute.

Ah yes, her familiar, Echidna, sure knew how to connect with her when she needed to. She was always there and they were bound by shrewdness and brilliance, something very few people could obtain through that sort of bond. They 'found' each other in a way and... she trusted her with her life.

Am I right~?

There was a shared giggle, but soon the serious bits of that conversation came up.

Still, I think they're up to something. Especially the boy. He is fidgeting a lot, and Emilia is looking at him many times.

Maybe she's looking for moral support.

As if that's the only thing those pretty eyes want from him.

The innuendo was missed by the plum-haired trader as she had noticed the tension between these two. Julius had already told her that Emilia had reacted quite protectively to her adviser so... it made sense that perhaps there was a sweet romance in the making. And, if she had to be honest, she found it so adorable. And precious.

Now I want that.

I thought romances were not part of the bundle when it comes to acquiring the world.

Bah! I want them as my potential adviser. Look at them, they're so cute together!

Indeed, there needs to be more than just that to claim them as advisers.

Oh my, there's no need to be so tight about them. It's not like... you have been ogling at the boy for a while now, ah~?

The merchant felt her 'scarf' tighten up a tiny bit. S-Shut up! His scent is familiar, yet wrong.

Oh? Didn't know you had a lover~.

That's not what I said and you know that! Plus, I think that it was owned by a woman.

Oh... So, you actually like women? Is this why you're ogling at Emilia too now~?

Anastasia, I love you as a good person, but I fucking detest you right now.

Love you too, vixen~.

Ugh!

The enlightening conversation with her most trusted minion ( 'minion' my furred butt! ), Anastasia could tell that the decision was one and the same as before. Should she entertain the notion of a potential trap for the sake of expanding her retinue with good administrators and 'heart-speakers'? Perhaps, the answer to it wasn't just a yes or no. Maybe... it could be something more exciting for her and more awkward for them!

"I will agree to this on two conditions!" Anastasia announced eagerly. "First, Lady Emilia and the Margrave shall join my carriage, and, second, I wish for Mimi, Hetaro and Tivey to join Natsuki-san in your carriage."

The triplets instantly looked surprised at this novelty, yet their attention was aimed at the confused young man. Oh yes, Anastasia's plan was to primarily 'charm' Emilia into being a potential ally before any trap could be activated, while the Pearlbaton Trio will have the indirect job of mellowing the potential planner of this trap to misspeak and reveal any plot against her. It looked amazing as a plan and she could already tell her and Emilia were just going to have a blast through this.

If only she knew that the match-up was going to be even more amusing than she could have predicted.

---------d-d-d-d------------

AN

Could this be the arc where Barusu's lolimancer skills evolve into something more powerful? After all, a head pat can go for girls and boys without any hesitation.

And before anyone asks, Anastasia is more into the playful aspect of 'seducing' people, she isn't an actual Womanizer. Although I think Fox!Echidna has some inner plots to understand why Barusu smells of 'Gorgeous Bipolar Woman'.

P.S. The reason why Anastasia was picked was a strategic one: 1) Going to Felt would just get Emilia too jealous and think Barusu is plotting something; 2) Crusch lives on the opposite direction of the path they need to go to return to the Manor; 3) Priscilla- yeah, no.

Chapter Text

Chapter 16: Awkward Ride Back Home

Julius Juukulius was not sure he liked the disposition his lady had picked for him.

The fact his role as her knight was shoved aside so Ricardo could take his place in the chariot with their lady while she interacted with Lady Emilia and the Margrave set up a strange annoyance in him. Sure, the overall circumstance was reasonable as Anastasia wanted him to study the man known as Natsuki Subaru but... the plum-haired knight wasn't sure he was good for this kind of task. There was just a sense of unease to be around the young man. And the worst part? He could tell it wasn't Subaru he was worried about.

A quick glimpse at the first time reminded him of how any ill-placed action or word may gain him the ire of someone that was known to be devoid of anger on most occasions. Lady Emilia's reaction, the way he treasured the young man was nothing short of perplexing. It wasn't like Julius couldn't see why the girl found him appealing: Subaru was feasibly nice-looking for someone his age and pedigree, something not many could say due to the income disparity. Not only that, he was clever and somewhat of an emotionally positive individual.

This last trait of him seemed to favor him immensely as he was currently witnessing. Mimi Pearlbaton may have a sense of flamboyant quirkiness which made her as childish as her overall appearance, but it would be a mistake to assume she was a mere child herself. Her and her siblings- the orange-haired triplets were known to be close to adulthood, with the trio being 15 and Mimi being the oldest by mere minutes.

It made sense that they were the best option to pry information out of Subaru and understand more the standing of their potential allies... or future foes. And the more he watched and listened, the more Julius cursed his initial neutrality and reluctance to speak more. Why? Well, it was becoming quite apparent to him that Subaru may have a special touch to handle children and those beings with demi-humans features.

Mimi had taken to sitting on his lap out of teasing, but had remained there for longer than what a mere teasing session would require. Feline ears twitching attention, the girl was leaning on the young man's chest and... actually purring. Sky-blue eyes losing focus as she dreamily stared at the ceiling, the girl looked to be experiencing some outwordly situation which left her a melting puddle.

A sight which shocked Julius, but not what ultimately 'snapped' him in pure surprise. No, that honor was reserved to what ensued next. With their older sister displaying such behavior, two emotions roused from within Hetaro and Tivey: annoyance at seeing their big sister treated like this, and curiosity to understand how that came to be.

Since Lady Hoshin had been clear on not instigating issues, Hetaro, being the mind of the group, formulated a... simple plan. They would just approach the situation and try to understand how to get their sister out of that 'trouble'. Julius knew it was an extremely stupid plan, but he could also see that their motivation was not the true one. Not when the scene evolved to see the purring intensifying and now including masculine meowling to the count.

Julius was obviously unable to hold back from just staring at the scene with utter awe. Normally it was Joshua, his younger brother, the one that would find this sort of counter-diplomacy somewhat 'amusing', and yet Julius couldn't help himself but grin at what was going on. Tivey, the shiest of the bunch, had somewhat settled to sit on Rem's lap and... the maid had taken a deep liking for that situation and had joined Subaru in his curious ministrations.

Mimi giggled earnestly, craving for Subaru's hands to once more grant her either some scratches on her kitty ears, or even on her chin. But since he had two hands, one of the triplets would be spared from that interaction for a while at times by the time Rem pulled away from the situation and... they sure behaved like cats from the way they pestered and whined for more treats. Luckily Rem was swayed into getting back at it rather than just watching.

By the knight's truthful assumption, it was clear that any plan to draw secrets out of Natsuki Subaru had failed miserably and... perhaps this new interaction was going to further cement a more 'friendly' attitude from Lady Hoshin. If there was something Julius had learned to accept and be quite wary about, it was that Mimi behaved as an extent to Anastasia's greed. If the demi-human demanded something, then, by relation, Anastasia wanted this to happen.

It was unusual for a woman that vehemently denied herself the interest of sharing power with an equal partner, but, then again, Mimi was no equal partner to her lady, but rather someone that was adorable enough to sway Anastasia to do things for her. In a sense, Anastasia doted on her as if she was some sort of heiress to her.

Could this actually be the case? Julius never pondered this circumstance this deeply, and perhaps it was good that he was in a situation where he could start thinking of things he would normally be questioned for. Such as what would be Anastasia's plan once she sits on the throne? A normal observer would expect her to leave it as soon as it becomes clear that she can't move around as freely as she currently could, however Julius knew through the excessive investment the violet-haired woman was pushing forth that she knew what she wanted and she wanted to clutch at that power for long. And who wouldn't as a merchant?

To rule a kingdom means that she has the chance to pry open markets which once were thought to be close to her. It was a golden opportunity... however, how would she satisfy the need of an heir? Marriage? That didn't seem in the air right now. Adopting an heir? Mimi was the best choice for multiple reasons: not only was she clever and on her way to become a potential second-in-command to Anastasia's camp, but she was learning fast through the lessons Anastasia taught her over trade rules and bargaining.

Julius could see Mimi find some issues due to her upbringing and biology, however nothing suggested she was to be hated extensively about it. Knowing Anastasia, she was definitely going to 'replace or bribe' the local nobility to fit her whims so that any demi-human ascendency was going to be met with the least amount of backlash.

Still, what now was becoming an issue was the sudden attachment tied to this Natsuki Subaru. This new circumstance was definitely going to entertain the fun side of Lady Hoshin and... that wasn't necessarily good news for Lady Emilia's camp. It all depended on how the direct confrontation between the two royal candidates was going on that very instant.

And Julius could tell these two were going to be difficult to predict due to how quirky their personalities tended to be.

-------d-d-d-d------

Emilia was not sure how to label Anastasia Hoshin.

Yes, the woman was being pleasant and delivering a courteous tone back at her, but there was something overly-saccharine with this sort of approach. A thought which was shared by Puck as they both tried to decipher that sort of mystery. The plum-haired merchant was being quite clever with her words, trying to keep it quite simple and... somewhat uneasy on the half-elf's side of things.

"Are you sure you never considered that sort of friendly interaction? Sleepovers are quite entertaining when done right~."

"I-I think I see no point in inviting you in one, Lady Hoshin," Emilia remarked, holding back the nervousness as Anastasia had put an effort in trying to push in this new idea onto her, turning the mere invitation to drink tea at the manor as an excuse to stay over for the night.

The fellow royal candidate huffed. "Please, do call me Anastasia. And what I'm trying to say is that it would be a nice way to finalize our new friendship. In fact, I think I may like you a lot more than I thought possible."

...What?

"I don't understand-"

"I belie-e-ve Lady Hoshin is trying to say that she wants you two to form a stronger alliance. In exchange of that, of course, trust is quite needed," Roswaal elaborated jovially. "Quite the unexpected interest for a lasting alliance considering how limited interactions are between the two camps."

Anastasia smiled widely. "I've been told I can be quite impulsive, but it's that boldness in claiming all as mine that makes me successful. And, in a way... I may want to claim Emilia as mine too."

The declaration removed any logical footing Emilia could have relied on and her eyes widened in shock. The innuendo wasn't lost to her, and the amusement exploding on Anastasia's face did little to assuage her growing dread in that regard. Was Anastasia flirting with her? That actually sounded to be the case.

But could it also be ruled as 'courtship'? That was a dilemma Emilia couldn't answer without feeling her brain fail her. Not when she was so mixed on how to react to it. It was either rejecting her politely or outright ignoring her. And she had this feeling none of those options was going to steer Anastasia away from her.

"I don't- I don't think that's possible."

"Hmm? And why not?" Anastasia pressed, knowing she was dominating the conversation but perceiving trouble in that absolute control she had.

"Yeah, who would be better to spend time with compared to the princess here?" The question came from the Captain of the Fang of Iron himself, Ricardo Welkin.

Ricardo was a large wolfin with two large tusks hanging from the sides of his mouth. His eyes were turquoise-colored, and he had a muscular build that was covered with short brown body fur, dark-brown mane which he adorned as a mohican with two small red braids coming from the sides of his mane.

His fur had a lighter tan color around his chest, biceps, and mouth, and his dark-brown beard gave him more maturity than anything else. He wore long, black toeless pants, black arm guards, and white wrappings under his dark-colored clothes on his arms and waist along with an orange belt. He was also donning a shoulder guard that had the logo representing the Hoshin Trading Company.

"Lady Emilia is maybe thinking of her advisor, Natsuki Subaru-san," Roswaal struck again, and this revelation further embarrassed the half-elf and... left a peculiar expression on the merchant's face. 

One would have expected annoyance at potential rivalry to claim something or someone, yet a playful grin appeared on her face almost instantly.

"Oh yes, Subaru- kun, " Anastasia hummed mirthfully. "If you want, he can join us for the sleepover."

What?

"Together with Mimi, Hetaro and Tivey! That would be the most grand way to have fun. Don't you think, Emilia~?"

...I can tell she meant it in a different way than that.

Still, the setup felt feasible. Sure, the triplets she knew were older than they looked, but Emilia had a feeling Anastasia wouldn't do anything risky around them. Specifically around Mimi since it was known she cared deeply for that particular vice-captain of the mercenary group.

"I..."

You should accept, Lia.

What?! But she is-

She is trying to push you with this, to control you to accept. Yes, it is bad but... the more you resist, the bolder she will get. And right now, we are still in a somewhat safe and acceptable position.

As much as Emilia wanted to say Puck was wrong with that assumption, she knew he was right. And that she would have to take a gamble here to actually cement an alliance this early on. The more allies she scored, the higher the legitimacy of her cause would extend due to her diplomatic view and how she explained it to the rest of her potential future subjects.

"I suppose it can be done."

"Brilliant~!" The fellow girl replied in pure delight, her pretty eyes glowing with a weird light which made her shiver a fair bit.

Yes, she may have bitten more than she could chew but... Subaru was going to be there too so... maybe she was safe?

---------d-d-d-d------

AN

Maybe. Or maybe not.

And yes, Barusu just unlocked his 'shotamancer' skill, and if mixed with his natural lolimancer skill, he effectively obtained the more powerful 'Chibimancer' skill! Excellent!

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c                    

Chapter Text

Chapter 17: A Priceless Deal

Subaru had never been invited to a sleepover until today. Or rather, he never went to one, invited or not.

While the notion of sharing the night with a few friends sounded like a good idea, his mother had many times told him that if there were girls, then things would have gotten really unpleasant for someone like him. At first, he didn't understand what she meant with that, and the young man had good reasons to feel legitimately offended for that point.

But when Emilia explained to him how Lady Hoshin was going to stay the night at the manor and be their guest in a sleepover, he knew that there was a lot to unpack and worry about. Even as he was told that Mimi and her siblings were going to be there, he knew that this was bad. Especially when he was the only male adult in the room. He argued how Julius should have been there too, but the knight refused on the basis that 'a knight should not intrude a room where ladies slept without a proper reason'. And Subaru was no knight, so he had no reason to 'slight' his lady by trying to dodge that 'duty'.

Even he could tell this was a dreadful idea, but he couldn't determine if his worry was towards his lady or, maybe, towards Barusu himself. It was an odd development for sure, but he knew he didn't get much of a choice about it. So, here he was, sitting in Emilia's room by the floor near the bed as both royal candidates... talked.

Anastasia was the one doing most of the talk, something that was clearly an effort to gain dominance in that room. Emilia just restrained her interactions to brief quips and nods, doing her best to not be overwhelmed by Anastasia's charming skill in dialogue. As a successful merchant, this was expected and yet it was most unpleasant to deal with on the receiving end.

Subaru's only saving grace was his current interaction with the triplets he was tending to, with a certain 'big girl' getting her hair fixed with a brooch. Mimi was a little delight within the current situation. She had turned into a 'mini-Petra' once she got close enough to test his swifty hands, but she didn't seem to have inherited the normal girl's obsession with this. She was quite submissive yes, but seemed quite chill in allowing others to partake into this activity or even back off if she saw Subaru being too tired for it.

The boys themselves were patiently waiting for their turn, their gazes alternating between him and their sister, to the twins waiting at the edge of the beds. Rem in particular was subjected to some 'begging looks' at times since she had already shown she was capable in handling them with similar care, but, despite the brief moments of want in her expression, the blue-haired maid stuck by her sibling's side. And Ram hardly looked interested in 'risking' herself or her sister by dabbling with her potential foes.

She was stunned Subaru could have gone out of his way to deal with this, but the older maid could see it working in their favor due to how the triplets were reacting to his touch. It was an odd sight to behold, but at least he seemed to know what he was doing. But where the situation looked quite simple in nature as the group of six 'enjoyed' the sleepover, the truth was that a certain purple-haired girl had already gotten a few details down to make things even more exciting.

In fact, it was time for her to spice things up some more. "And now I would need to seek the bathroom. If I may-"

"You can take your leave," Emilia happily interjected, but Anastasia smiled a bigger one than the one appearing on her face.

"Then you will not mind if I take Subaru as my guide for it," The young woman cleverly rebuked, this time striking into Emilia's own insecurity for good.

And the half-elf reacted to this, an annoyed look easily replacing the serene one she just adopted. "You could ask Rem or Ram."

"But I would like someone that hasn't been staring at me as if I was some sort of pest~."

Subaru was screwed. Or he thought that was the situation unless he found a way to out-trick the girl he was accompanying to the toilet. It just felt so... terrifying. All candidates had means to defend themselves from potential issues, all but... Anastasia herself. At first he was shocked when Rem brought this up during their time at the capital, back in the previous loop, yet he could see why that justified her recruitment of so many more 'quality people' for military/security's sake compared to the others.

Right now, even as he knew he could overpower her, the young man felt nervous around the girl. It was the way she acted around, the way she carried herself. That wasn't the same arrogance displayed by Priscilla- it was legitimate confidence. And it came from someone that was physically and magically weaker than him. And the woman knew this quite well from the way she behaved around him now that they were alone.

"Julius is probably staying in his room. Not resting just yet, but waiting for a few hours before allowing the bed to claim him," Anastasia commented as they wandered the halls of the manor. The girl walked closer to him, an arm wrapping around his own. "This place is quite creepy at night."

"Just like any other at night."

Her lips twitched. "But you are here. My 'knight' in shining armor. Or do you prefer ‘advisor’ for the occasion?"

"I prefer to not be alone with you."

The bluntness was warranted, and yet Anastasia smirked at it. "I know, right? I can be quite pushy when I want to."

It was almost as if she prided herself about it, which weirded him out because of how quick on her feet she was. This was not just a simple sweet girl trying to make the difference just like Emilia- this one was a good player, and one that was effective in securing victories through diplomatic means through her pragmatic views on rules and powers.

"Tell me, Subaru," The girl hummed quietly, and yet quite amused by the disposition both were in. "How did a young man with your mind end up joining someone like Lady Emilia?"

"We just... met at the capital's market."

"You two met... without this being planned? That's quite a surprise," She wondered with a hint of mirth. "Nonetheless, you joined her by talking to her. Did she promise you anything? Something which could attest to your value?"

And now the purpose of this situation was clear to him. And Subaru didn't like it at all.

"She is my friend."

"So, what you are saying is that she got you by being your friend... that's interesting," The young woman hummed, and yet didn't persist through the rest of the walk, going suddenly silent.

That was the case until they got to the bathroom.

"Can you keep inside? I would like to not be ambushed by some assassin coming from the window."

His eyes narrowed at the woman. "Seriously?"

"Yep. And if you peek, I will not mind~."

The comment left him blushing, but he complied with the situation as he knew there was some truth in that. Having experienced a close-to-successful assassination attempt plus a successful one... yeah, Subaru was not shy from seeing how this was a possibility. Anastasia finally sported some surprise as he nodded, and yet some disappointment when he just gave her back as she fixed herself to sit down on the toilet.

Initially, there was quiet, then, Subaru decided to be the one to speak first for once. He had been controlled in these conversations for a while now, and he didn't like it. So, he felt righteous in returning fire with some of his own.

"...Why do you put a price tag on everything and everyone?"

The question, albeit simple in nature and in a sense quite offensive, spurred in Anastasia a different reaction than anything she had displayed before. Was it a surprise?

"Well, people are objects if paid the right amount."

"Are they?" Subaru inquired.

"Of course," Anastasia argued flatly. "People would do anything for money."

"...Anything?"

"Yep. Are you deaf?"

"I am not," Barusu replied calmly. "However, I think you are wrong."

She snorted, almost derisively. "How so?"

"People will not do some things for money."

"That's ridiculous."

"What's the price for you to drop the company?"

"Roughly a thousand pieces of gold."

The young man merely nodded. "What about lay off Mimi and his sibling?"

That's where Anastasia felt her eagerness falter once again. "That... without notice, it would be twenty pieces of gold each. If with notice, then it would be ten."

A small smile appeared, with Anastasia forgetting where she was sitting and what she was doing as her bladder relaxed during a moment of unease, further leaving her 'in the open' while the young man continued to give her his back.

"And how much would it take for you to be a slave?"

The question lacked malicious intent, yet Anastasia felt like an old wound had been opened with those few words. Memories, blurs of the past, from her time as a little orphan flashed. The many things she did, the many times she had to give up her pride and her morals to get the coins she needed- how much she had to do to kill off her debt and save Ricardo from slavery... and it finally clicked to her.

"None."

Subaru blinked. "None?"

"Yes, none. I would not accept any money to sell my body or my soul to anyone." Not again, no more.

"Then people would not do everything for money."

"Yes, they wouldn't. I was wrong. But they would do most things."

"Then that's a different thing altogether. Who wouldn't do some things for money?"

Her lips twitched, knowing she got caught in a fairly-good knot in her own logic.

"Then, what would you do for money?" Anastasia took charge again, knowing she had to go back to the offensive. "Say, what if I was in the mood to be treated like a capricious queen and wanted someone to lick me clean after I am done peeing. How much would you want to do that for me~?"

A crass comeback, but one that wasn't driven just by lust. Yes, she was slightly excited about being treated like this. To be rebuked so earnestly, so pridefully and for him to be so- so interesting. He was good-looking, not as Julius, but definitely in her top twenty favorite guys, and he was... making her giddy for the challenge he was throwing at her. Who would have known that, during a bathroom-break around midnight, she would have ended up having a philosophical talk about her own views of the world.

It would have been more probable to end up losing my virginity than that, so... I guess that's a bit of a loss.

He snorted. "Nope, I ain't doing it."

"What if I pledge my first time and a morning oral session once this sleepover is over?"

Subaru, surprisingly enough, held his ground, with his cheeks barely reddening at the lustful offers. "Once again, no."

Anastasia pouted. "Why not?"

"Because you are trying to claim me from Emilia by using intimacy as 'something of higher value' than friendship."

...Anastasia's jaw dropped. "How-"

"It's the way you weave into the conversation. My mother had once told me that people trying to sell something try to go around some potential offers and pricings for the sake of enticing a client to buy. Right now, you are trying to sell yourself as a lustful but kind individual which would be 'better' than Emilia with the benefits you offer," Subaru interjected, delivering a speech which Anastasia was not prepared for. "Which is also why I can tell you are disingenuous with this offer because you preferred to make such a 'high offer' compared to a 'lower one'. You value your friendship and your personal feelings more than your physical achievements."

...

Anastasia was tempted to applaude the man's truth bomb. It had struck her out of the blue, floored her and... she was so madly excited. Still, she admitted he was right. The merchant had willingly put her libido as a product for him to test out with his own in the effort to kill two birds with a stone: get herself a smart stud, and one-up the silly half-elf which she planned to seduce for later.

"How about a friendship? My friendship at that," The young man inquired, confusing the girl with the proposition. "I will be your friend."

Now, that was a bit of an insult.

"I have friends-"

"Do you?"

Her mouth opened and then... it closed. The young man had caught her in a very peculiar issue: how many friends did Anastasia really have?

Ricardo was indebted to her, the triplets were also following her after she got them from a miserable life and gave them a better chance at life- most of her forces were driven to her either by money or moral indebtment. Julius? He was her knight by commission and with a paid contract. Echidna? Yes, they spoke a lot and were quite close- but the spirit's situation was unique as she needed Anastasia. She needed someone like her to sustain her existence. It was a symbiotic deal, and not one that favored Anastasia as much as it favored Echidna.

What about... Subaru?

He owed her nothing, he didn't want her money, and his request was made without an expected payment in return for this. Unless he was lying, and she was going to find out.

"What do I have to do now? I mean, you gave me something important. A friendship is more than a mere alliance."

"...Nothing."

Her blue eyes narrowed. "Sex?"

"No."

"Do you wish for me to be a slave to your mistress?"

He blushed a bit at the 'mistress' bit. "N-No!"

Okay, that is quite adorable.

"What about... I don't know."

"I don't want anything. I want to be your friend for the sake of it," He huffed and she... allowed it.

Once she was done with the toilet, she walked up to Subaru, the young man noticing her approach and turning to stare at her. A determined look on Anastasia's face as if she had something cunning in mind.

"Then, if you are my friend, I want a hug."

And she was suddenly engulfed in an embrace. There was no groping, no wandering hands and- he smells quite nice.

She slowly returned the gesture and she felt slightly overwhelmed by it. No, she thought, she couldn't stop and cry. Not for this little, not like this.

"E-enough," She muttered nervously, feeling so shy and stupid so suddenly. "I want you to hold my hand during our walk back to Emilia's room."

He complied to that too, so flawlessly and readily. It was almost annoying how good he was at it and how it was making her feel so bubbly inside. She was an ambitious merchant that wouldn't bother leaving people to die if it made her a profit. But she was struggling with a guy younger than her and quite clueless of local politics and interactions. Yes, Anastasia was now sure of it.

She was hopelessly in love with a dolt. At least, he was adorable.

---------d-d-d-d-----------

AN

Anastasia went doki-doki and it took 'so little' for it to happen. I wouldn't say she is outright smitten, but she is seeing Subaru as a potential suitor due to how easily they both got under each other's skins with their words.

Chapter Text

Chapter 18: Devious Rescue Failure

EDIT: Chapter gets a bit graphic and gruesome later on.

Natsuki Subaru was not a detective, nor he fancied himself one in training.

This thought didn't come out of nowhere, but rather from a predicament which had plagued the entire land owned by the Margrave in the last two weeks. It's been that long since Anastasia left and... the conversation they had was still impressed in his mind. It had been nerve-wracking to push off the girl's aggressive flirting, but it came quite easy if compared to what had happened previously with Emilia. At least he wasn't dealing with the aftermath of some nightly molestation.

Subaru made a friend, and he wasn't sure this one would be wanting to remain just that from the few other interactions that came from that night. The lingering kiss on the cheek the plum-haired young woman dropped would have irked Emilia if not for the fact she too was given one. It was a teasing act, one that worked surprisingly well with the two of them due to how confidently the businesswoman behaved around them. Nonetheless, Anastasia had left with a positive mood and happier outlook over a potential alliance in the near future. That was good news when it came to elections but...

Peace was not meant to last for long within their lands. Subaru was aware that new issues would have come to them, just not from anything beyond the royal elections. It all started one morning when Roswaal brought up a peculiar news which caught the whole room's attention.

"It's veeery troublesome," The nobleman started to say. "There seems to have been two deaths yesterday night. Two rangers have been found poisoned at the edge of the forest."

"P-Poisoned?" Emilia stuttered briefly due to the shocking way they died. "An assassin?"

"Maybe. Or... It could be worse~!"

Why does he sound so excited?

"Do we have any details about it?" Subaru ultimately inquired and... he found his plate replaced by some documents Ram happily delivered to him. "Oh."

"These are comments from fellow rangers and a few hunters that looked into the body. The local doctors all agreed that the poison was injected via stab-wound."

"...So, it was an assassin," The NEET remarked and Roswaal smiled.

"Indeed."

...Then why did you make it seem like it was still not known?!

The young man sighed, but then he realized something. The papers had been dropped on his lap. Just his lap. Not Emilia's. A detail she noticed too, same for Puck- the trio stared at Roswaal for an explanation. Something the Clown had been prepared for by the way he smiled earnestly at the development.

"Since Subaru has been veeeery exceptional with his hard work, I believe he will have a good chance of securing the culprit to justice."

That was a bit excessive. As mentioned earlier in this entry, Natsuki Subaru was not a detective.

He had read Sherlock Holmes, he had seen some movies- all of that because his mom was an avid fan of the series and... Subaru did like that sort of stuff too. Not just as obsessively as the woman. He could understand the fascination and he too was into seeing a brilliant man in action, bringing baddies to jail through clever deductions. But Subaru wasn't that smart. He was not too dumb, but he was about as average as one could be with his upbringing.

No, he knew the job was going to be a tough one and... it was. As he went into his room, he listed down what he will need to start his efforts. Using just the villagers' account on the matter was not going to help entirely and he needed to be... there. Two hours later, close to mid-day, Subaru and Rem were calmly standing by the area where the corpses had been found. The maid acted as his guard, a duty she took with a patient look while glancing around but mostly at the young man as he was moving around... oddly.

"Why are you pacing like that?"

Formality had long been forsaken, something that Subaru didn't mind as he smiled back at her. He was more intrigued by the question than anything else.

"I'm trying to get some approximate distance from the trees to where the bodies were found. Since they are no longer there, I can't say it's precise but... it's something."

The blue-haired girl nodded, her gaze back to look around as she left the young man to resume his peculiar task. Then she glanced at him, writing down the various distances in steps. Soon they wandered back to Arlam where they checked the nearby clinic, the doctors having finished what Subaru called an autopsy. One of the men that had been found was without family, and while it was unusual for dead bodies to be checked by doctors, it was as scandalous as some traditional minds would want it to be. Not when magic worked around this sort of business too.

The healer came back with more details: the kind of poison that was used was not of Lugnican descent. There was a chance the attacker was a foreigner.

The duo was soon back to the manor, with Subaru walking off with these new clues back to his room and... then to pester a certain blonde spirit. At first Beatrice saw no point in entertaining Subaru in this regard, but when he mentioned that it would have been an adventure without leaving her sanctuary... the girl indulged him on a few questions.

By the end of a lengthy hours-long debate, two blackboards were filled with various words, drawings and lines connecting all at once in what looked to be an attempt to unsolve a conspiracy. And one that neither could decipher.

"This is frustrating, I suppose," The petite librarian remarked dryly, a feeling shared by the taller man beside her while both stared at one of the blackboards in particular.

"Well, there isn't much we can get beyond what I found. The attacker is definitely a professional since they left no footsteps, no signs of approach- they cleaned up after themselves."

"And that doesn't limit the hundreds of options in the list," She argued and Subaru nodded.

"However... We can make some assumptions. If the assassin killed two innocent men that had nothing to do with this, then that means they are experienced enough to use fear as an incentive. In fact, that would explain the unnecessary killing- it's to show off their skills and create dread in others' minds."

"That would be reasonable, yes. But it's still an assumption, and I don't like assuming about these kinds of important things, I suppose," Beatrice argued flatly, turning around and fishing some books out of a couple of shelves. "Knowing the poison doesn't help much either. Not when this strain is known to be sold in both Kararagi and Gusteko in equal quantities."

This was plain infuriating. Fast-forward to two days into this investigation and a new double murder ensued. This time they had a direct witness. It was a young boy that was walking around the forest with his parents for a picnic. The kid was a mess, crying himself to sleep a few times before he managed to get a proper description of what happened. A 'shadow', or a cloaked individual, which used daggers (two). It decapitated his parents before his eyes. And he spared him. Why? He didn't know, and no one could tell what really happened. In front of this new case, Roswaal decided to implement a curfew and limit the villagers' means to move alone in the area, and to always be around militia that was raised for the occasion. Also, Roswaal would now have Rem check round the manor for any surprises during nighttime.

It was a few hours after that announcement that something finally came to his mind. Subaru felt something click with the details he was picking up as he tiredly re-read his own notes. It was something he thought that made him realize the potential truth and... he gritted his teeth as he realized how fucked they were. Ram was definitely upset at being yanked off her bed, but she was the closest as Rem was still making the rounds around the castle to check for any infiltrator trying to get inside. The pinkette didn't understand at first, but Subaru was talking, fast and unforgiving.

"Th-The assassin- they are not trying to kill any of us here. They just wanted us to be distracted, confused," The young man explained, pausing and stumbling in his speech as his mind was burning while they tried to reach the dungeons. "They are after Meili. They are here for Meili."

The fact this killer struck by poison and then decapitation- both were without M.O. which was unheard off from assassins of this time. Unless the assassin was purposely using patterns different than their own so that no one could track them. Yet, they spared the child to narrate the scene when it was not necessary. They weren't after kids, which meant they were willing to overlook young survivors of their onslaughts. The attacks were randomly caused, a distraction for the main event.

Meili was without a guard to keep an eye on her for any potential escapes right now. Despite her long stay in the dungeon, she had been given a comfy room there with books to read and proper food to be satisfied. She was still a prisoner, and one that had still much to say from what Roswaal admitted about it.

Also, she had been relentlessly mentioning that Elsa would come back once she was 'free from missions'. One could miss it as a child making up an excuse to leave her captors paranoid, but her narration and devotion to the woman suggested that they were quite close. This meant that a rescue attempt would have to happen eventually... but Elsa wouldn't have risked doing one without covering her tracks about it. If she wasn't there on an official mission, then she was doing this in secret and couldn't be detected by anyone.

It was a risky situation nonetheless and he wasn't going there unarmed. After what happened during their botched first return from the capital, Subaru felt like he needed to have something to defend himself. He was still struggling with magic, so it had to be something which could help against supernatural creeps. The answer to that was a conversation with Roswaal about him worrying about a potential return of the Bowel Hunter which resulted in him gaining a precious knife which was imbued with an unique rune meant to nullify healing factors.

"Elsa is known to be veeery tough to kill after all~."

It was good enough for him. At least, it was something. They finally reached the dungeon and... the main door was open. No one had passed by today and the place was normally closed once Rem was done with her duties.Their paces picked up, with Ram realizing that someone was indeed in there to free their only prisoner.

She stood by the door as Subaru entered inside, expecting to find trouble and handle it himself somehow. Meili was... awake. And smiling.

"Hello Niichan!"

"Meili."

"She is here, isn't she?" The grinning child inquired. "I can tell she is~."

So, he was right.

"Elsa Granhiert is really here, then."

"You got me~." A familiar voice congratulated, stunning Subaru in shock as he turned around and... was greeted with two blades closing in on his stomach.

He was confused, why didn't Ram say anything? His question was answered when he noticed two details which showed the pinkette was very dead. First, the pool of blood near the entrance, then... the head rolling on the side.

D-Dammit.

He grasped her by the arms, unwilling to let go but... he stumbled on his blood and fell backward. Elsa just allowed the fall to happen, uncaring of the circumstance beyond its usual exciting view. She was so close and personal with her latest victim, to see his despair and pain drain his life away while his guts poured out of him. That was something Elsa loved to see and thus was utterly in love with the horrified look on his face. He was close to death and she had made it. The bastard was dead, and Meili would be free to return to her.

And in her moment of victory and success... Elsa froze in surprise .

Her beautiful eyes widened in shock as she felt Subaru's last move as he died, something so sharp and yet so unforgettable. She lowered her gaze down, her stare stolen by the sharp blade firmly piercing her stomach and slowly opening it. It wasn't a normal dagger, it was enhanced. It was disrupting her healing factor and she couldn't do much against this. The Bowel Hunter felt weak, but not for the reason many would have expected.

The woman just admired the slow but steady action, driven by pure pettiness and vengeance and... her guts fell on his, entangling and 'smooching' with one another. She shouldn't have been feeling happy, yet there was something artistic in the sight, something that resonated with her mind and heart, tingling her enough to leave a blush on her gorgeously pale visage. Her lips parted and her sight was raised to his face. His glassy eyes, his paling cheeks, his lips losing that vivacious pink and yet remaining enticing .

Should she kiss this devious bastard? Her arousal almost urged her to. Such a clever bastard. If only, oh, if only~.

But miserable is Elsa's fate, as much as Subaru was at the moment, as both found death in each other’s arms, within a sight that was dreadful to many, and yet so beautiful to the rest. Meili didn't understand in her grief, Emilia didn't understand in her sorrow, Rem didn't understand in her sense of loss, and Roswaal... just wondered how it was possible for two mortal enemies to look so at peace in dying in each other arms after what looked to have been an intense struggle.

But that's now what mattered to Subaru. After all-

By the end of a lengthy hours-long debate, two blackboards were filled with various words, drawings and lines connecting all at once in what looked to be an attempt to unsolve a conspiracy. And one that neither could decipher.

Yet now Subaru knew the truth and had to just crunch down the amount of proof to favor his current 'assumption'. A trap was to be prepared and he knew just how to do it.

-----------d-d-d-d-------------

AN

Two things I want to say about this chapter: 1) The Elsa/Meili Arc will come to a new turn by the next chapter and it will be amusing to a degree. And quite demented to a common perspective; 2) The Loops are happening, but Subaru is reacting 'differently' than he did with those in Canon. And the truth of this will be fully explained by the Sanctuary Arc.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Chapter Text

Chapter 19: From Fiasco to Success 

Natsuki Subaru was not a detective, but he didn't need to be one now that he knew the truth behind what happened to the killings in the village. 

The only gripes he could lament about in his inner grimace was how his 'checkpoint' power didn't get him back to before the first deaths unfolded. He still managed to prevent a second assassination by forcing Roswaal to restrain people from going out for any frivolous activities beyond the village. The end result of that move prevented the death of the couple that orphaned a child, but did little to prevent another potential victim to bite the dust. 

This time around, the one that got attacked was an old veteran of the Demi-Human Rebellion and a tough one since he managed to get back to the village from his shift at the fields despite the numerous cuts he suffered from. This time around, Elsa had changed pattern to a more suitable approach that felt fitting with this occasion, but in picking this new method she had ultimately failed to kill this one.

 No poison was coated on those blades, and the man managed to get to the clinic fast enough for him to not die of bloodloss. He was comatose by the time Subaru reached the clinic as there was so much a man could handle with so many stab wounds. Yet, before falling unconscious, he muttered a single word that allowed him to go through with his 'theory'.

 "W-Woman-" The elder croaked before collapsing. 

Roswaal was not entirely confident of Subaru's reasoning, but agreed on the chances that Elsa would have taken a chance to free Meili since these two were connected on a personal level. And the fact these cases were caused by a professional assassin which was trying to target random civilians... well, it wasn't difficult for him to take the leap of faith as a feasible possibility. Thus, a small plan was concocted to counter Elsa's overall chances of success.

And it all revolved around a lengthy deception with multiple steps to follow. First, Roswaal went on with the same speech he used on the previous loop, yet held back from actually setting Rem to patrol around the castle by Subaru's suggestion. It wouldn't have been necessary, that's how the young man justified it. The reason why he felt confident of that came through a few discussions with Beatrice and Emilia, coming up with a silly plot to trick Elsa into a bad spot.

First thing first, Meili had to be relocated. The girl was told that she would just be given a better room because she had behaved nicely, yet wear special shackles that prevented her any means to use magic. Ram would keep an eye on her while Petra would help in creating an 'illusion' of goodness of heart by being sent to have a sleepover with Meili. 

From the first few comments from Ram during the relocation, Meili didn't seem to suspect much about her 'big sister' being around, only that her 'big brother' was being nice and 'silly', the last bit being muttered under her breath and being captured by the pinkette's sharp ears. Next up came the main trap, the one that was meant to beat Elsa for good and cease this mess altogether without risking anyone or anything at the castle. 

Creating a doll with Meili's appearance was easy for Roswaal to do, with the puppet placed within her cell in a manner that she may look unconscious by the deepest corner of that cell. That was the bait, with the trap itself being a special seal that Beatrice helped Emilia set down. The point of such engraving on the ground was simple. Ice would coat any intruder up up to their head, thus sealing their fate for potential capture. Subaru had been debating if killing Elsa would have been the best option. 

Instictively, yes- yes it was. But as he thought about it, there were a few details that didn't still make sense to him. Like, how Roswaal had pointed out how Elsa would have never been sent by the organization to get Meili and that this mission was a risk to her by her boss' eyes. So, why take the risk as a professional killer to rescue a child you were partnered with... if you were known to kill kids on your free time? It didn't make sense to Subaru for such an insane woman to just accept this sort of exception. Why? And how? How that applied to her mindset at all? 

In the end, he chose to capture her to know the truth and more. Maybe they could get more insight on who recruited Elsa to steal Emilia's insignia, or even know more about the witch cult since there were rumors those relied heavily on this Gusteko-based organization of killers. In the end, Subaru had just to wait patiently and hoped things went as expected. 

Emilia had left a small mirror spell which would give them insight of what happened in that cell as they expected for the intruder to come in and... there she was. Elsa looked around, muttering something and then calling out louder for Meili before she stepped into the glyph. She tensed up as the ground beneath her feet glowed up, but she didn't get the chance to jump away as ice encased most of her body in a solid block. Rem went to secure their newest prisoner, making sure that her stay at the manor was a long if not permanent one. 

What ensued was... celebration. Emilia was hugging the soul out of him, Roswaal praised him, Rem and Ram looked pleased that this troublesome mess was dealt with and... Subaru wasn't happy. Not to the point of being at ease during the celebration. There was a special time at dinner where everyone was able to enjoy delicious meals worthy of such a 'grandiose day' as Roswaal addressed it. The news would be given to the village the next day, but a certain young man couldn't hold his own doubts for that long. 

Roswaal had already given him permission to interrogate Elsa, telling him to wait at least a day before going to check her, but Subaru couldn't do it. He had to get this burden out of his chest and understand what kind of entity he was dealing with. A true monster, a misunderstood broken woman? What was Elsa? What could she do if left within a single space for too long? Was she going to free herself? Was she going to be trouble? Or would she take the defeat with grace and submit? 

The latter perspective felt unreasonably stupid, yet it was an option. And the truth rested within that first proper interaction with the assassin. 

"Elsa Granhiert," Subaru muttered, staring straight into the eyes of the one that had already killed him twice now. 

"You got me~." The ghost of the previous timeline rebuked happily and loudly, almost shaking him from his stern gazing. 

The real Elsa smiled at him, quite amused by the hints of unease the young man held within his gaze. A playful sigh, and then... she relaxed. 

"I suppose you are the one that thought of this... trap. I am surprised, really. You tricked me once back in that tavern by employing Reinhard against me and now this," The assassin pondered, humming with unnerving calm and quiet despite the growing awe in her words. "Yet, I wonder... how did you know I would hit now?" 

"The speech from Roswaal," Subaru replied flatly, her eyes slowly widened at that. "It gave you a chance to expect the castle to be defenseless for infiltration-" 

"And I jumped into this simple lie without even thinking of its true nature... Have I truly lost my touch?" 

...

"No. You took the risk because you wanted her." 

Something unusual stirred in her eyes. "Be careful, little man. Calling me a liar-" 

"I didn't. In fact, that doesn't mean you still didn't lose your touch because of it," Subaru interjected. "You allowed yourself to be put in a risky situation because you wanted Meili brought out of a potential bad spot. Even now, you are more worried more about her wellbeing than yours." 

"...And I guess this is also something you gained by a glance alone?" Elsa shot back with a hint of sarcasm and quite a lot of irritation. 

"I spoke with Meili. She is quite proud of you as her big sister," Barusu argued calmly. "Even now, she is waiting for you to come and pick her up." 

"As I would have expected from her," Elsa confirmed mirthfully, yet her amusement died out with the next question. "Where is she?" 

"Not in a cell and not in danger," He answered curtly, knowing that extensive information like that was a dangerous thing to provide. 

"And the one in the cell was... fake?" 

"Yes." 

... 

The Bowel Hunter chuckled. "Truly a masterpiece of a trap. I have to say that if I had known of your curious mind, I would have placed you above your lady in terms of potential threat to me. This... this could have ended up in my death. You could have orchestrated it now that I think about it and yet, here you are, asking me questions. Why?" 

"I want answers and dead people don't tell those." 

"Fair point. But what sort of questions?" 

Subaru sighed, cutting the chase and getting to the point. "Why do you care for Meili to the point of risking your life and career?" 

There was silence at first, but then Elsa... spoke. And she was speaking a lot. There was a lot to say after all, and Subaru was not prepared for this story. She didn't explain much of her own background, only that she was bound to 'Mama' and that she was once sent to deal with a disturbance, Meili. A child grown in the wild, away from fellow humans and being taken care by Mabeasts. 

The child was one of them at first, it looked as much, but the orders were clear: capture Meili and 'recruit' her in the organization. Her power was interesting, her potential even more. Elsa didn't face much of a struggle in putting down Meili's original 'pack', but there was something that made her hesitate from actually maiming the girl in her bloodlust. 

That vicious stare only an animal could show, the way she growled and refused to back down from her vicious butchering and... a curiosity from within Elsa's own mind which eventually set the grounds for Meili to become part of her life. It would be wrong to say she really saw her as a little sister, but Elsa was nonetheless fond of her. A 'mascot', that's how she defined Meili. Yet there was a sense of lying within that confession which Subaru noticed, but decided against pressing for more of the truth. 

Eventually, the tale was over and the young man stood there, pondering as his tired mind tried to understand what to do with this much information. Should he now kill her? He felt unable to. Not because the story weakened his resolve in that regard, but because he knew now that Meili's mentality would never accept Elsa's passing. The way Elsa put it as made it apparent how these two were close. The woman may have been restrained about this, yet it was clear she harbored quite the familial affection for the young girl. 

And Subaru was unable to come up with a proper response to this. Not like this. He may have accepted that life here was grittier than back home, but he could feel his mother's compelling voice telling him how going for the extreme would backfire on him. No, he couldn't go through this. Not with that sort of mindset. He needed a solution- 

"So?" 

And he needed it now. 

"What would happen if you were set free with Meili? No weapons, and with some mana-nullifiers on Meili?" 

Elsa blinked at that last question. "I doubt it would be difficult for you to imagine. No weapons means a tough few weeks. The nullifiers would take money to deal with but that's not the real problem that troubles you." 

What would 'Mama' think of their failure? 

"Our organization would brand us as failures and needed to be rid off to make an example of traitors like us."

... 

"What if you were hired by a royal candidate? On the notion that you two have to pay back for your heinous crimes, you would be allowed to work under us without receiving a pay but still being allowed food, water and shelter." 

Something flickered and glowed through Elsa's eyes. "You mean you would want to hire a murderer like me for your lady?" 

"..."

"I have a feeling you are coaxed into this by morality. Oh, what a moral person, trying to be condescending by actions alone-"

"I am not condescending, I just- 

"It's still an interesting offer, yet I have to say that there is one thing you should really tell your lord to be wary about when it comes to people like me, something that I know he should have known before allowing you here to stand in front of me," The woman hummed, and then... the chains snapped. "With old chains holding me back." 

He was soon on the ground, struggling against her weight but... she didn't strike him. It felt like how he died last time, but not. He was the only one with a blade, still in his pocket, but the woman was defenseless. Harmless even. And yet not. Not when her lips slammed onto his, with her teeth nibbling hard onto his lower lip and cutting it. A light moan, Elsa suckled from the wound and then pulled away so that her lips were now close by his chin. Cheeky, yet twisted- her smile was hot and yet horrifying while her finger tapped at his injury. 

"Ah, this blood is so tender. As naive as you are even," She hummed, and then sighed in relief. "But sure, I suppose Meili and I can accept submitting to... you~." 

He knew it from the moment that last word dropped on him. That mirthful glancing, that amused remark- Elsa wasn't bowing her head to Emilia. 

He was bowing her head to him. 

Hopefully Emilia is not going to yell at me too loudly... 

---------d-d-d-d------------- 

AN 

Elsa is playing a game. If this is a good game or a bad one for Barusu is up to facts to prove. Still, this new situation will create a bit of a rift with Emilia. I don't need to explain why since... well, Elsa is a teaser. And a killer. Both traits will irk the half-elf to no end. Luckily, things will just fix up. Or not. Meili is around after all. And she is a naughty child with a need to prank the world for pissing her off.

Chapter Text

Chapter 20: Cutting Diplomacy

Emilia was normally a calm girl.

It wasn't just a matter of personal nature, but her first years of living in the wild had taught her that patience was a key virtue of the mighty. And right now, that patience was missing as she tried to digest the newest development in the murder case. Good news was that the culprit had been, indeed, captured. Odder news was that said culprit had sworn fealty to Subaru.

And that was an issue to her for a few reasons. Officially, the fact that Elsa Granhiert, and thus also Meili Portroute, had bowed to Subaru and not her meant that their loyalty to her camp was partial. Which, within an intrigue-related mindset, made this whole ordeal unacceptable and she should have forced the matter into shifting their loyalty to her. Unofficially she knew, deep down, that she was upset because of the blatant attempt to use her new closeness to Subaru against the half-elf. Even Subaru knew it, which is why he pleaded to Emilia to not take any harsh reaction, despite how warranted those were.

That conversation genuinely strained their bond because, between worry and suspicions, Emilia found it difficult to accept the logic the young man was pushing for. Yet, his words were not lost to her as the girl knew why he was so careful about it. Elsa may have verbally opened up to an agreement based on loyalty, but without a proper contract there was nothing stopping her from breaking from it at the first hint of unwarranted actions by assassinating Subaru himself. No, she could not go too hard without risking it.

The saving grace for herself and Elsa was just taking a moment to discuss this with Subaru and then work out a solution which would not only spare her from being too harsh, but also put Elsa in her place. It had to be the sort of punishment that Emilia knew would have gotten her equal respect and fear from Elsa, and the solution came in the form of a magical seal branded onto the Bowel Hunter's chest.

She was hesitant to go through the process, but her head perked in clear amusement and somewhat murderous naivety when the white-haired girl mentioned the one holding the 'master command' would have been Subaru. It would have been easy to just tie Elsa to her, but Emilia could tell that was one of the expected wrong moves from the Bowel Hunter. It was a challenge, a test, and one that the half-elf knew she was going to have to sacrifice something to win. And, in this case, was to allow the assassin to be restricted in exchange for her being around Subaru these many hours.

And her friend gave her proof of trust by actually putting Elsa to work by actually helping around the village. It was an amusing sight, at first. Elsa was definitely not pleased with the notion of having to carry things around, that she was caught as a potential culprit and that 'Lady Emilia already punished her the harshest way possible in the name of the villagers that died'. She was eyed through her labors, and yet, just as frustratingly as she could only be, Elsa managed to still get a small win out of it.

Sweat was unpleasant at times, but when it came to glistening one's skin, it was the sort of element which attracted attention. It gained focus, eyes on the flesh, on the curves and on the modesty which her outfit hardly covered. And Subaru started. Why wouldn't he? Emilia couldn't blame him, but she could easily blame Elsa because her gaze bore the clarity of knowledge over that form of attraction her physical frame created to the eyes of many men and a couple of women.

Emilia was not a merciful being. Kind yes, merciful not. So, when it came to retaliating, the solution was slightly more complicated than many would expect. Meili was still unbound, for a time. She was freed and kept under watch, but it would be futile to expend resources to keep a prisoner within a 'light sentence' to expend so many resources without something coming back to them. A talk with Roswaal in this regard opened a chance and one that quite frustrated Elsa.

The Bowel Hunter would have gone out of her way to ignore her seal and kill everyone in sight had the same kind of punishment been inflicted to the child. Hence why Emilia took a moderate approach and merely used a special contract meant to submit Meili to her. Emilia was Meili's boss and the child was now her maid.

Despite how dreadful that sounded, Emilia didn't plan to hurt Meili. No, she would actually want her to be her friend. What was wrong in befriending the very thing that made a loose patch stuck within the system? If Elsa tried something funny , then Meili would have been the one delivering retribution to her. It was all a matter of patience and moderation. She could do it, and she had a feeling that Meili would be open to that- to have someone else to talk to, someone that was expected to be a long-standing ally for the time being due to her and Elsa's current predicament.

In the end, this could all be summarized within a single task to prove her capacities. It was to handle a dangerous element within her ranks, something that was going to happen in the early stage of her future reign and... Emilia will have to weather the storm if she wants to really show her qualities as a proper queen of this kingdom.

Luckily enough, Elsa was being quite hesitant during this first week at the manor and both Subaru and Emilia were on her case to make sure that nothing unpleasant came up to disrupt their plans or even kill someone else for the entire duration of the mercenary's stay within the area. It was difficult to say if this status quo was going to persist, but Emilia could feel it in her guts that the Bowel Hunter wasn't going to keep being tame for too long. Not when opportunities would rise to create more issues for them. Or for her, and her love interest.

But where Emilia was so invested in keeping an eye on the external trouble which was Elsa Granhiert, she failed to realize that, within the manor, someone had unconsciously plotted a plan that would present her Subaru a few more dilemmas related to love and... more.

-------------d-d-d-d--------------

This is just not my week.

The idea of keeping Elsa around, despite how suicidal and somewhat insane it sounded, was working. In part. Elsa was a handful when it came to social situations, and not due to inherent incapacity to handle people. That was a thing, yes, but it wasn't as impactful as her willingly turning any chance to flirt in an opportunity to make him uncomfortable. And her teasing was working way too well for his tastes.

He had experienced this sort of stuff recently, but now he had an older woman doing this to him while he had just girls around his age teasing or even craving him. And for a young man such as himself, this was not doing him any favor in keeping his thoughts straight. One moment he was busy at work or studying some magic with Beatrice, and the next one saw him daydreaming about that curvaceous killer.

Her hips swaying, her leaning forward and accentuating her glorious bosom- Subaru was taught to be a gentleman by his mother, but Mrs. Natsuki had also told him many times to 'man up' when a woman was paying this much attention to him. And he really didn't want to do that with a killer. His killer at that, the one that had already claimed his life twice through his checkpoint power.

He couldn't handle the stress and he needed some time alone. Rem was more than happy to have Elsa help around preparing food, a task which, surprisingly enough, was well-received by the assassin. And while his new burden was busy with that chore, Barusu sought shelter in the only place he could find some peace in: the manor's bathroom.

The large 'lake' that worked both as a sauna and an onsen became his source of relief the moment he submerged his body into it. The heat eased his skin, the steam soothed his breathing and the warmth in this chilling night made him feel... at peace. He was at peace. And he was alone. For a time. He thought he could have been spared from any visit by any other occupant in the manor. And then, he heard footsteps and a voice called out.

"May I wash your back, Barusu-sama?"

Quiet, calm, collected- Ram. It was Ram. Subaru tensed up instinctively. He was in quite the tight spot as he knew that he had to react quickly before making a fool out of himself.

"N-No. It's fine."

That should have been it. He heard Ram moving, but rather than leaving the pinkette approached the water and then... she stepped down into the liquid, soon sitting beside him. She was naked- Barusu hadn't turned around to look at her, the nervousness having kept him from, and now that very unease was keeping him from staring at the nude maid. Gulping nervously, he rigidly stared forward, forcing himself to not look beside him where the maid was.

"Apologies for intruding," The girl remarked. "But I was planning to take a bath too and... I wanted to talk with you."

He blinked. "W-What about?"

"...Why did you... why did you give a chance to the Bowel Hunter despite the fact she's a... a killer?"

"W-Well, it wasn't like I planned it-"

"But why not refuse it? Were you not in an advantageous position? Why not kill her on the spot?" The maid interjected with many questions, then paused as she realized she was going too fast with her inquiry. "Once again, apologies, I was just... curious."

There's more than mere curiosity in that question, and Subaru wasn't sure he could pry the truth out of the pinkette just yet.

"I suppose it's because... she set herself in a position where I could get her to respect her part of the deal," The young man admitted. "The seal makes it so that Elsa has to do what I think would be enough to start repaying for her crimes in the village."

"And how would you repay them for their death? For those that died?" The girl pressed on and Subaru could tell it was something that was personal for Ram. Maybe about her and Rem's past?

"By helping the living, I suppose. They are those that really carry the legacy of the dead," Barusu calmly replied. "It's... I suppose it's part of my culture. We are honor-bound to respect our ancestors. So, I feel that the best way to honor those that were killed by her would be to have Elsa go through the hassle of helping those families she broke with her action."

"I... I see. And what if you can't have them to respect that?

Subaru frowned. "W-Well, then you should not show them mercy. If they have killed someone willingly for no good reason and they feel no regret, then they deserve to no longer be able to hurt anyone else anymore."

"..." Ram paused and then sighed. "That would explain a lot... yes."

"And how would that fit with you?"

He was still not looking at her, but he could tell she tensed up at the question.

"I-It's not a matter you should concern yourself about," She half-snapped, clearly unwilling to part ways with that information. Yet, as Subaru thought their conversation was finally over, the girl switched topics. "Also, I thought a pervert like you would have stared at an exposed maiden."

"...What?"

"I-I want to know why- why are you not staring at me like the pervert you are, Barusu?"

Subaru snorted. "I am not a pervert. Plus, my mother always told me to not stare at a nude girl if I can look away. It's not proper."

He expected this response to be satisfying for the maid. But what it got from the young woman was a scoff.

"Ridiculous. What if I just told you to stare right now?"

"Why would you-"

"J-Just do it," Ram quietly interrupted, ordering and yet sounding so begging for a brief moment.

Subaru turned his head slowly, bracing for a trick which would grant the pinkette the chance to smack him, but when he turned to see Ram, the girl was looking right at him and her body was exposed to him . It would be a lie to say that Ram was shamelessly doing so as a dark-pink blush hue was impressed on her cheeks and her eyes had trouble keeping up with his own as he found himself staring. And why shouldn't he?

Despite the fact she was flat by her chest area, her tits looked pleasant within her curvy shape. Her hips were nicely formed and her physique was quite impressive as hints of abs were visible to him. He was almost tempted to touch her stomach to see how close to form those she was but Subaru restrained himself.

Her groin was also pleasant despite it being underwater and thus slightly difficult to notice through the steamy water. Ram would have normally lashed out at this ogling, but something about her reaction made Subaru realize that she was actually preening under his long gazing. And her red eyes offered a silent question to him.

What do you think?

"You are..." He muttered, his voice still missing from that pleasant gazing. "Gorgeous."

Her blush darkened at his words, and she nodded with some satisfaction at the choice of terms. Yet, as she recoiled from the compliment, her eyes wandered below his face and down to his own crotch. Ram knew she should have stopped there, that's what Subaru would have preferred to but... part of her, some of the untouched instinct from her Oni blood just couldn't be stopped from giving her ideas. And needs.

"It seems I- I caused you a problem, Barusu." She said, and it wasn't difficult for the boy to see the source of her sudden mood shift. He had perceived action within his lower body, but he didn't expect for his boner to elude detection for so long. It was a bit embarrassing and... and he had to stop things from escalating, he had to.

"I-It's alright, I can handle it-"

"I-I have a duty," She justified herself first and Subaru next. "I caused you this grievance and I will not back down from aiding you to... find relief~."

There was more than just that and both knew that. Both should have stopped at it as this could easily go south really fast. But...

Both were soon sitting one beside each other. Subaru was too stressed to put a stop to this, and Ram was a maid that had a duty but also a girl with needs. So, it wasn't too difficult for Subaru to make it less awkward on himself by making it awkward for the pinkette.

Legs spread slightly open, the maid's lips twitched in delight as his fingers dangers around her clit and lower lips while her left hand teased the young man's length. It wasn't sex, it wasn't anything too outrageous in their minds. It wasn't a confession, it wasn't love- it was the yearning of two youths trying to bond closer. Odd, confusing, messy and yet cathartic. Barusu's mind was clouded with a need to find peace within this arousal, with Ram sharing this desire as they selfishly used each other in a most devious manner.

Both may have ideals, standards and morals, but both were, after all, mortals with mortal desires. And the Oni girl was also someone that had been missing having someone worthy of caring for her without deception but genuine interest for many years. She was a woman, she had to seek a mate and, even though Subaru was not available because he would be with Lady Emilia, the pinkette sought to at least glimpse part of his skills just as she faithfully showed hers to him.

Her inner spot tightened around his finger, the girl shuddering as he too could feel himself close to cum. Finally, his throbbing erection allowed ropes of white out and into the water, while the maid tensed up, leaning onto him and resting her chin on his shoulder as she moaned softly, tenderly and allowed her own orgasm to pass through. Silence ensued for a while, with Ram still resting her head on his shoulder for a while, her breasts pressing barely onto his arm as she enjoyed the connection they had and then... she gave him a calm look, one where her eyes sported an eased glint.

"May I wash you properly now, Barusu?" The request now lacked arousal or desire, but it was rather driven by genuine interest to help.

Subaru could only nod. "But you let me help you too."

She smiled- she actually showed a pretty smirk which, combined with how surprisingly calm and relieving the whole cleaning up process was, made the entire scene before this one incredibly confused. From aroused partners, to individuals that were surprisingly close in their friendly fashion but not straying too deep into their helpfulness. By the end of that session, both left the bathroom with relieved looks, with their minds cleansed of any frustration as they resumed their usual routine and prepared to rest in their respective rooms.

Yet, while Ram promised herself that this would have been the last time she tempted herself and the young man through this intimate place, it wouldn't take long for her subconscious to start plotting means and reasons to be in that bathroom whenever Barusu was alone and in need of help to clean.

A true friendship was born by trust and some physical understanding, yet the Pinkette didn't know how really interested she was in the boy that her lady yearned for.

---------d-d-d-d-----------

AN

Emilia and Elsa engage in mind games while Ram comes in and gets herself up ahead in the competition without even knowing how attracted she is to poor Barusu. Oh mai.

Chapter Text

Interlude 1: Competition 'n' Crushes

If someone was to ask Petra Leyte how she came to love head pats, the answer would surprise a few people.

The simple village girl was not exactly devoid of affection or neglected by paternal love. No, she was happy with her parents and happy with her social disposition. She dreamed a few times of being born a pretty princess, but she knew she was already one when it came to her parents and her friends. She was pretty and nice, hence why she was beloved by so many.

But what really caught her into the obsession that characterized her life ever since she met Subaru was the fact that it happened so suddenly and so... unexpectedly. Headpats were no novelty to her at this point, but when her Oniichan just started to do it, the way he rubbed his palm over her hair and head- she felt a jolt of delight that had her smiling and craving for more.

She wasn't completely sure what was different, only that her Oniichan knew how to head pat much better than any other adult. It was baffling, really. For a time the girl thought she was just going 'nutty' as her granny would when she would mention how she loved being hugged by friends and family. Even now she makes odd and silly faces when she is getting hugged by her but...

Granny wasn't the focus for her current circumstance. What Petra knew was that she liked her Oniichan, his headpats and that she had a rival in Meili Portroute. Her Oniichan told her that Meili's friend was a scary assassin, but Petra didn't care- it was a matter of affection and Meili couldn't hog all of that from her. Not when she wanted Oniichan to favor her the most. The rest of the kids in Arlam had already accepted that, albeit while giving her weird looks, and the simple girl was happy to think she was on top of the situation.

Yet, Meili now lived at the castle, she was 'limited' in the ways she could interact with others, but she was close to her Oniichan! Petra tried to not react too strongly at this... yet it was getting to her! It didn't help that the little jerk was also telling her how many times she was alone with her Oniichan.

How many chances she had to get treated with Headpats and other affection-driven gestures. It irked her to no end... and it drove Petra to think. And to ultimately come to a conclusion. Hence why she was now standing in front of a very confused Meili as she was done telling her what big plan she had plotted up to this point, with Big Sis Rem standing right being the new 'servant' of the castle.

"W-What? That's ridiculous-"

"Ridiculous?! Pfftuah, more like you are jealous of my good thinking!" Petra rebuked confidently. "I will marry Oniichan once I am of age and then you will never get any headpats from him."

"That's ridiculous!" Meili repeated. "Why would Oniichan even see you as a potential bride if he is around other women his age? A-And me-"

"The fact that I will start working hard to be prettier and smarter!" The bow-wearing girl replied sternly. "I will study a lot, I will focus on having a healthy diet, and... I will ask Lord Roswaal to let me work at the manor as one of his maids!"

"Lord Roswaal has plenty of capable maids," Rem interrupted, but Petra grinned at this.

"Not when it comes to the library!" The orangette remarked giddily. "And I will ask very little from Lord Roswaal. Knowledge... to be closer to my future husband!"

"W-What about Emilia? She wouldn't allow that-"

"Which is why I will offer myself as a mistress to both!" Petra struck once again, stunning Meili into silence. "Once I am old enough, I will request that and Lady Emilia will surely let me be that!"

To Meili this was utterly stupid. Rubbish even. But the more convinced Petra sounded and the quieter Rem got, the more suspicious Elsa's 'little sister' started to get. What if the girl had found the fastest way to their Oniichan's heart? The idea just filled her with unease at the idea of losing headpats. She may not be as hooked to those as Petra was, but she had grown fond of affection, and losing that would pain her immensely. Hence why a harsh response was needed.

"Then I will do that too! I will study, I will eat healthily and then marry Subaru so you can't get any of that!"

A gasp came and more harshness ensued from both. To Rem this was getting quite silly. She knew both girls were crushing on Subaru, and she expected these pretenses to fall once Roswaal denied their requests. Surprisingly enough for Rem, Roswaal ended up accepting both as assistants to Beatrice.

The spirit wasn't entirely happy with that decision, but saw the two children's thirst for knowledge as somewhat entertaining. It was still odd how Roswaal just allowed this, but the blue-haired oni girl could tell something about their plight resonated with him. Quite unexpected and it sure provided for quite a few interesting situations at the castle once both had settled in their roles.

Subaru was, as expected, quite uneasy before the competition between these two, while Lady Emilia was quite 'amused'. It's not to say she was annoyed, but she found the entire development as interesting as frustrating. And, what really got Rem fairly invested in this situation, was the reaction her sister had. Ram shouldn't have made any big reaction, but to say that the pinkette was slightly unnerved would be an understatement.

Rem didn't need to ask to know that her irritation stemmed from the notion that Subaru was now subjected to more attention from people planning to settle down with him. If before Rem had some doubts about it, now she was confident she got it all clear:

Her sister was in love with Barusu, and she may have to help her about it.

------------d-d-d-d------------d-d-d-d--------

AN

A little 'pause' from big chapters and a little interlude to introduce new situations at the manor. Elsa is still being monitored, Meili is allowed around with Rem as her guard/warden, and Petra is going to work at the Manor a bit earlier than expected and for a few interesting reasons.

Now, the big question is- what about Frederica? And I can promise all my readers that she will get a job there, just for different reasons than canon.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Chapter Text

Chapter 21: Of Successes, and Punishments

"Hanumas?"

Emilia sounded surprised when she parroted the name of the place they were going to visit, but Subaru was fine with the interest he spotted in her eyes. And he couldn't blame her for that. Up to this point, they had focused some effort on improving Arlam to be a proper 'core-settlement' within the Mathers' domain, but it would be a lie to say it was the only or the most important town within the domain itself.

Hanumas' income was twice, if not thrice, larger compared to Arlam's due to its peculiar location: right at the edge of the Mathers' territory with the border over the crownlands. It was the 'entry point' into Roswaal's turf, and a place merchants preferred to check and stay at due to the safety of the path and the location's environment provided compared to the path and the limited safe space Arlam could afford.

While it was rightful for them to not neglect any small settlements such as Arlam, Hanumas was a primary source of income for the domain and, once it was improved too, it would provide them the chance to explore bigger projects. Subaru wasted hours of free time thinking, planning and eventually preparing some suggestions in that regard. Emilia was earnestly reading, thinking and nodding at some while rejecting a couple.

Either for economic reasons or because she felt some were just too 'outlandish' this early on. Normally, rejection would be taken poorly by Subaru after he put so much effort into it, but the half-elf calmly explained why he couldn't accept a couple of those. And he was glad to hear that since he wasn't one that defined himself an expert and, truth be told, didn't even expect these many to pass the girl's strict study.

Still, by the end of that lengthy analysis, Emilia agreed on the main point of this presentation: if they wanted to expand their current resources, they needed to expand Hanumas itself. Before going, Roswaal gave them a warning regarding the settlement. The place didn't have the same kind of nice people as there were in Arlam. While the administration was loyal to Roswaal and was going to treat them properly, the merchants were not going to be as trustworthy.

It was a fair expectation considering some of those weren't even affiliated with Lugnica. And yet Subaru wasn't too worried about it considering his current situation with Elsa and Emilia took the cake in terms of deadliness. It didn't help that Ram was assigned to keep behind and replace Rem in taking care of Meili ever since her and Petra started to train to 'become maids'. That whole situation was just a ticking bomb ready to explode on his face, but he was willing to ignore it for now and try to defuse the mess he was currently dealing with. Hopefully.

Their arrival to Hanumas came after two days of traveling, with the locals going to greet them while guards allowed them to reach the mayoral building where the chief of the settlement greeted them. The old man and his wife, who were both in charge of the city, gave them the most polite greeting, offering them tea, a nice necklace to Emilia and a tour of the place. It was a new sight for sure, and Subaru could compare Arlam's infrastructure to Hanumas'.

Emilia was hooked by the different sights too, but her view had the city stuck in the middle of Arlam as the less-developed and the capital. It was a very big difference compared to the capital, and yet Subaru could see her point as the city had taken some inspiration in the architectural style from some spots in the capital. Could it be that the builders behind these were also the same as the one that made the buildings in the capital? Maybe.

Subaru looked around, listened to what their guide told them about and... tried to look unfazed by the fact both Elsa and Emilia were hugging in his arms. First, it was the assassin, clearly provoking the half-elf to protect her claim too by tagging along. It was a sight for sure, and it made a few people around look amused and outright laugh when they also saw the face Rem had. The stoic maid was mostly expressionless, but her head shakes showed a strong degree of disappointment in the entire situation.

The tour lasted roughly an hour. They really went into details when it came to the various businesses that had settled down in the city and provided a steady and growing source of income. Not only that, but some of these places offered them food. And it was quickly becoming clear to Subaru, the more they delved into the hospitality shown by the locals, that this was also becoming a date. The issue was understanding who was part of it, who was the third wheel and how it was possible for a fourth wheel such as Rem to be part of this whole issue.

Once the tour was over, the four retreated to the living quarters provided by the mayor. Emilia invited Subaru to join her for some planning while Rem kept an eye on Elsa while they were busy. It was a power move, and one that Subaru conceded to so that no more bickering would happen as they delved down into the paperwork they had to deal with. And there was a lot to talk about after a solid hour of looking into properties.

The first thing that came to mind was the fact that there was no 'builders guild' in town. As he had rightfully suspected, the city relied on hiring people from the capital to build new buildings in Hanumas, thus getting to pay quite extra for the whole work and the upkeep of the property. Since the builders were contracted to the Royal Builders Guild, they were entitled to a hefty fee just to get hired by someone that wasn't the crown, and, at the end of the works, the crown would own 30% of the building's value and would give it up for more money to fill their coffers.

While that wasn't an issue if one considered this something that happened 'once or twice a year', the problem was that the Hanumas was approaching critical levels when it came to housing. The guide had tried to sugarcoat the mess, but it was clear that the presence of makeshift huts, a worrying rise in poverty, and quite a lot of beggars in the streets were not positive signs.

The housing situation needed to be fixed at once, and a few options were on the table.

"We could try to spend a lot to hire numerous builders from the capital, create a delay for the problem and then campaign to 'create' local builders through an education campaign."

"The expenses would be too high for Roswaal to accept," Subaru remarked, nodding to the points raised by Emilia but knowing these were unfeasible. "And 'creating' builders would take too much time. Even with a massive spending effort, there's just too great of an influx of new people in the city. It would tamper any progress and deepen the economic issue it could lead to."

The half-elf hummed in agreement. "Then what about we... trick the law?"

"What?"

The girl smiled, "W-Well, since the fee regard a guild-contracted builder and his crew, how about we hire one to settle in Hanumas, take unemployed men in his crew and do this work as an independent hire."

"But he is contracted to the guild-"

"Not if him or others like him are contracted to create a new guild here in Hanumas and the contract would be considered legally more binding than the one to the capital due to his relocation."

Subaru leaned back on his chair at this idea. "Would they even accept it?"

"Depends on who we ask," Emilia added. "Not everyone in the guild is treated equally and some people with noble families are favored the most. I think some will accept it if we give them a good pay."

It would be a continuous expense, and it would lessen the economic burden just marginally... but, at the same time, it would open up the chance to not only provide construction efforts that would cost cheaper, and also help them expand Hanumas so that more people coming from lesser settlements could come without risking poverty. It would also open job opportunities and, with a small tax applied to the guild, it would effectively solve the issue and make up for the expenses.

Subaru nodded in relief at that, and the two ended up dealing with a few more minor issues along the way. The housing issue was the primary mess to deal with, but there was also a need to rework the sewers to be less... 'antiquate'. Then fixing the water supply plumbing and ultimately dealing with new tariffs to implement to protect local activities.

Everything was set to be a successful push forward, and, without thinking much about it, a tired Subaru accepted a glass of wine offered by Emilia. The girl was smiling a bit cheekily compared to previously, but he didn't seem to pick up on that as he drank from the glass and... felt the fruity taste kick him awake while also bringing his restraint down. Emilia waited patiently, sipping from her own glass and ignoring the rising heat due to the alcoholic beverage.

Her plan was soon going to be accomplished and-

"D-Did you just try to make me drunk so you could do things to me?" Subaru suddenly asked, his words slurred to a degree but quite easy for anyone to understand.

Emilia tensed up at that, her eyes widening at being caught by Subaru and... the fact he sounded quite serious about it. Did she mess up?

"Y-Yeah?"

...

"And you thought it would have worked on me?"

She nodded slowly.

"Come here. Now."

A shiver went down her spine, part of her didn't want to comply with the order, but Emilia still accepted and approached him. Soon, he was bent over his lap, confused as she felt him raise her skirt and lower her panties. More shuddering, confusion rising as she felt like she had been in this very situation before but... with a woman? Someone older than her, someone caring but also-

SLAP!

Strict!!

What Subaru was doing to her, it was something really familiar to Emilia. She wasn't sure where she experienced this first before, but spanking was something she heard about and yet had little to no recollection of dealing with it before now. It was the feeling of resting her belly on his legs, the unease of her butt being exposed to the cool air of the room, and the warmth injected onto her buttocks through the harsh slapping. Her cheeks reddened quite fast due to how pale her skin complex was. Biting down on moans as the spanking went on for a while, Emilia couldn't help but feel like she won something out of this. And yet it was painful. Quite so. So, why did she feel happy about this? She couldn't tell. She only knew that the way Subaru was handling her, despite being a bit rough, wasn't cruel. It was punitive, it was just showing how wrong she was. How naughty she was~.

Sighing, and then yelping in pain, Emilia's brain turned off as she just endured the experience as much as she could.

Unaware to both, Elsa and Rem had gone to check on them and were peeping through the mostly closed door. The tall assassin had a hand brought to her lips, muffling a genuine giggle of amusement and arousal, while Rem just stared at the scene... her cheeks flaring red as she felt her panties growing damp.

Once again, the maid thought, Barusu proved himself a very odd individual with the way he handled the attention and the affection he was getting. Still, time was on her side and her plan will soon enter into motion...

--------d-d-d-d---------

AN

First alternative Arc: 'Fixing Hanumas'. While you may think this is just another round of sexual innuendos and scenes, this is actually the beginning of some serious issues even with Subaru's recent successes. For those that have yet to find the Re Zero Wiki map of the world, I will tell you only this: they are quite close to where the Whale had started to attack the merchants. And Pandora is feeling quite bored.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Chapter Text

Interlude 2: Something Good, Something Bad

Out of all potential supporters of Emilia's current affection for Subaru, Puck was perhaps the most loyal to this situation.

One would be confused by the notion that someone that had long established a fatherly relationship with the half-elf would be keen to see their 'daughter' get this close to a boy, but Subaru was no normal boy. And Emilia was not a little child. Mentally, she still held some fragments of her past innocence due to the trauma that came from her icy imprisonment, but the girl was turning into a woman, and she was smitten to Subaru to the very core.

That's not to say that Puck had no issues with the young man due to the questions the spirit held over him. To make it simple: Puck trusted Subaru when he said he knew nothing on how he got here and that he meant it all when he say that he wants to help people with the same eagerness as Emilia, but that wasn't the issue for Puck- it was the fact that what had brought him here was still keeping watch of him. The familiar Witch scent, the feeling of something watching them when some topics were brought up...

Puck wasn't sure who it was, but it all reminded him too much of Echidna. The Witch of Greed would have been less subtle about it and she wouldn't have brought Subaru if she had a choice- not because she would have disliked the boy (in fact, he was really worried if she somehow came back from the death and learned of him) but because she wanted a prime example of intelligence with enough knowledge to make her entertained... and craving for more.

So, it was not Echidna, which meant that Puck had no viable option that he could correlate. Despite having heard close to nothing about the witches, Echidna herself always pressed on a particular detail about it: none of the witches beside her could get this cunning. Some were close enough, but none would go as far as use some power to bring an 'outlander' in this realm. And thus Puck was back to square one.

Did it make him feel bad about it? No, he knew that the current issue was quite passive and thus forgettable for the time being. After all, it seemed quite neutral over the circumstances which tied Subaru to other women. Could it be that it wasn't a malicious watcher but something more... light-hearted? How? Another spirit? If that was the case, then why couldn't he catch any presence beyond a lingering one?

It didn't make Puck feel any calmer that his daughter was being watched by a mysterious entity, but he was glad that she was growing more confident about herself and... mature about it. Subaru was clearly aware of the strong attachment Emilia had towards him, but he also spotted the fact the half-elf had no filter. That's not to say that Emilia wasn't trying to not be too blunt about it, but she was so driven by positive emotions that she hardly gave it too much of a thought if an extreme action made her feel happy.

While one could easily mistake her as a mere shy girl, the truth stemmed into something deeper. Puck may not be a mind-healer, but he knew enough to see when someone was desperate for affection from everything- the stronger the better. She accepted him as her surrogate father, then made steps to try and get well with the maids, and she ultimately got infatuated with Subaru because he showed her care despite having no reason to gain from it. He was a pillar of light to her, and that's why Puck believed it was best for them to get together.

Other girls were after him? Puck was tempted to say that Emilia was not going to mind if those were nice enough to keep. Mistresses? Not that unexpected of a move from a man and his main lover trying to not break any heart or get sued by any heart-broken women trying to get back at them at any chance of refusal.

So, when Puck saw Rem plotting something that revolved around revealing lingerie, smuttery of the highest rank and potential sex- well, he was keen to believe that this wouldn't be bad if Emilia was somewhat aware and consenting of this. Of course, Barusu had to be accepting of this before anything happened. Would be wrong for the spirit to impose things by his daughter's command and... he just watched, took notes and wrote a letter to Beatrice about it.

"So, do you think the maid is in love with Barusu?"

The question made the spirit half-jump, with his green eyes aimed at-

"Hm, Elsa? You mean if Rem is doing this out of love?"

The assassin nodded, hips moving in an unconsciously sensual manner, but the point was clear. Was she curious about Rem's commitment?

"Yes. I don't want to make it hard on her or the half-elf. After all, both seem to be quite interested in him."

"Just like you are?" Puck rebuked, causing the woman to frown at him.

"Me?"

"I mean, you are always keeping a glass of water ready for him to drink. Normal water-"

"And?"

"It's always," He pressed on, giving her a dry look. "It would make it less conspicuous if you were not this eager to prove your worth to him."

That comment actually drew a stiff posture out of Elsa. Did he hit the right topic? It seemed to be the case from a quick look.

"I am not- I don't have anything to prove to anyone."

Defensive much?

"Then I suppose you should lessen the attempts that may be confused at that."

She merely snorted at this, and looked ready to leave-

"Also, I believe Rem is quite confused. She may be interested, but not as intensely as her sister is about Barusu," The response was all Elsa wanted and her mood seemed to lift up as soon as she heard that.

Puck merely sighed as she left, looking back at the letter and resuming his work on it. But as he did that, he paused once again as he felt something blur near the closest window. Like a ghost made by white sheets, something moved within Hanumas.

Her purpose, most malicious and quite teasing.

---------d-d-d-d-----------

AN

Barusu finds his 'match' next time, and this one may actually lead to two deaths.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Chapter Text

Chapter 22: A Horrible Night (To fuck a horny maid)

Warning: This chapter contains a turning point for this story. One would say that Subaru is going to learn a hard truth the harshest way possible. And it's not 'pleasant' as it may sound.

Subaru was quite sure Rem was up to something.

It may be a bit of a reach, but the way she eyed him like a cartoonish villain would when they were up to something just left him pondering on any potential issues in that regard. Things have been quite stable with the village's management and Emilia's own interest in him. Sure, he had to hang around her a lot, but it was mostly sweet things.

Likewise, Emilia seemed a bit less possessive and more confident when it came to be close to him. Hugs, holding his arm- those were gestures he couldn't ignore, but it was also pleasant to know she was willing to step on the middle path for the sake of 'success'.

At the same time, that was jeopardized by Elsa's own effort to tease him. Could he do much about it? Not truly, but he knew the assassin was holding back from making steps which would leave him with the choice of putting her 'in detention'. Which mostly told her to stay in her room and not leave for the rest of the day.

Surprisingly effective considering who was getting punished.

Back to Rem, Subaru was unsure on how to tackle the maid. He could understand Ram's attraction to a degree as the pinkette had been around him a lot and Subaru knew who she was and what she was like, but Rem was a curveball he was not prepared to deal with. At first, the young man thought it was a mere test like last time, but something about the way she was concocting this plot felt a bit more personal than it needed to be for a mere test.

He tried to think it was just that, or to ignore the matter altogether, but it ultimately led him in a particular situation which he should have predicted. It was night, and he had been staying in their (Emilia and his) office to finish a few corrections for the few changes they had in mind to implement now when it comes to the city defenses. Since it was on the border with the capital, there was normally no reason to worry about issues. Yet, there had been sightings of the 'Flying Whale' lurking within the path and leading to some issues with the merchants.

If they managed to somehow bring the beast down, then that would not only free the path, but also get some recognition by the capital as a prestigious action in the name of the kingdom. That would give Emilia some early start for the election and maybe recover any potential lost points during the introduction day before a few of those nobles judging her by her appearance alone.

He stretched his arms, got up from his chair, and started to make his way back to his room. The first clue that something was up came when he noticed the door was not closed by key. He had purposely closed it by key to avoid any surprises. He stopped by the handle, thinking if this was some sort of joke from Elsa or perhaps a cheeky nightly visit from Emilia but... he then entered the room and was greeted by Rem.

It was no test.

The girl was resting on his bed, her maid dress resting on the floor as she wore just a peculiar lingerie set. All-black , with thin gloves that reached around her elbows, and a pair of thigh highs which highlighted her thick legs.

"Greeting Subaru-sama," Rem welcomed him. "I saw how difficult work had been and-"

"No," He replied, knowing that this- this was a mistake.

It would have made sense had this happened in the manor, but right here where his room was literally beside Emilia, it was just begging for a terrible disaster.

"Subaru-sama."

"No means no, Rem. I am not doing anything with you."

As he said that, an unexpected sharp pain hit his head. It felt like a normal headache, but it was surprisingly more 'pressing' compared to the ones he had in the past. It felt somewhat unnatural as he felt his body heat up and his eyes wandering back to the girl as the blue-haired maid had gotten off from the bed and was rubbing her legs together.

"S-Subaru-sama~ Cock, I need- I need your cock in my naughty pussy."

This wasn't Rem's normal voice. It wasn't... right. This wasn't right.

He repeated this, but his body reacted to it. He sported a boner, his cock throbbing the hardest possible as he felt drool grow within his mouth. He craved it, he needed to spread her legs and reproduce. It was as if he had switched his mind with the one owned by a dog in heat. Rem didn't seem to notice- or rather mind as she suddenly got pushed on the bed, her panties pulled down as Subaru went for it.

He felt in pain, and then he felt in heaven as he thrusted his cock hard and fast inside Rem's tight cunt. The girl was a virgin, something proved by her pain cries muffled by her hands on her mouth and by the little blood pouring outside. Despite the rough first thrust, Rem was utterly compelled to keep him fucking her raw, with her legs wrapping around his waist as he started to drill her senselessly. Their mouths shared sinful and sloppy kisses, his hands playing with the fat tits she got as he wanted her to know she was his.

It felt so absurd, so... incoherent with who he was.

And then he came inside her.

There had been no thought behind it, only a desire to mate and give her his seed. Her womb was thus tarnished by his cum, gearing it to give him children. She shuddered and jolted, the maid's usual stoicism missing as she sounded even sweeter and even more giddy than Ram as she was getting her stress relieved by a proper fucking session.

Rem moaned, her fingers grasping tightly as they held each other while Subaru abandoned himself to the desire. It was just so strong, so powerful. Never once he got this much of a need to fuck. It was screwing with his mind, literally and he was not able to control his hips as he roughly fucked Rem. Her sweet meowling grew him a greater need to give her what she wanted, ignoring the normally loud voices of warning that this was wrong, that something was wrong- This wasn't right!

The voices tried to fight back, but his body was in charge and his libido was immense within that circumstance. Rem surrendered completely to his demanding touch, even becoming compliant and begging for the feeling of getting her now tainted womb be filled with fertile seed. He indulged her and his own instinct, burrowing his head on her gorgeous chest and forgetting what was around them-

Only him, Rem and stuffing her womb with so much cum that it wouldn't be possible for her to not be impregnated by him. And as his mind faltered to numbness, his world slowly grew darker and darker... until it was no longer the case.

His eyes slowly opened and he found himself resting over Rem, the sleeping girl looking pleased as his cock, now flaccid had rested inside her pussy, working as a plug for all the cum he had delivered. His balls were hurting, his cock was hurting, and his head was still aching- yet the lustful craving was no longer there.

How long?

How long has he been shut in that room with Rem?

The questions started to manifest as they both were drained from energy. Too tired to go any further, and no longer driven by the primal desire to breed. It was strange, it was like someone flipped a switch from the unusual behavior back into his normal behavior. Mind-control? How? Initially he thought this was part from Rem's plot, but such assumption was soon dispelled the moment an amused sigh came from the sight and-

"Greetings~!"

Subaru jumped, frightened by the sudden voice that cheekily saluted him. Eyes aimed at the source of that prankish effort, his gaze narrowed on a figure that wasn't supposed to be there.

The white-haired girl had a small delicate body. Her long straight platinum hair was seemingly transparent and gave off a glow. Her eyes were as deep blue as the sea and were framed by long eyelashes that offered a degree of emotion that went beyond the limited expressions she was showing. At that moment, the girl was quite amused by the way she eyed him. She wore a single white fabric, quite simplistic in appearance as it was worn as a poncho with blue stitches around the top.

"W-Who are you? Why are you here?"

"I am Pandora. Hello, Natsuki Subaru," She hummed mirthfully. "Say, how did it feel to have a chance for some relief after work? Deserved, right?"

He was about to answer that with more questions, but then he caught up with the blatant attempt to bait him. She was aware of what happened and...

"You did this, did you? I wanted to say no-"

"But you didn't!" She replied loudly. "How could you refuse such a young maiden in need of hope? Plus, the mind may think something, but your body- Oh boy, I can tell you are thinking of naughty things about me too."

His jaw dropped in horror at that. "What? No!"

"I can tell if you are lying. Or maybe I can perceive it as a silly passing thought more than a mere desire," She grinned. "Nonetheless. I believe you have so much to think and ask, but I think you are missing the main point."

What is she... talking about?

"I bet you are terrified," Pandora hummed. "Horror, such a bizarre feeling to experience but a sweet taste on a prey's face. What would you say, Natsuki Subaru? How does it feel to make the mistake of indulging your lustful cravings with such a slutty maid~?"

"W-Why?"

"Hmm, come on, Subaru. You have seen movies in your world- or at least, that's what I picked up from your mind. A foolish grunt is given a chance to get laid... only for it to be all a ruse for something much bigger ."

As she said that, a large shadow darkened the sky from above. A cloud? No, it was too big and static. He shifted outside the bed, and walked up the window, ignoring his current state of undress as he stared outside and... he felt his whole body hurt. Something filtered from the window, a gas which swiftly restrained him in position. Pandora hummed as she walked up to him, smiling as she mimicked his action of staring out of the window, but undisturbed by the gas.

"The Hakugei, such a wonderful pet. You know what really makes it scary? I will give you a hint, it's not his size."

Subaru frowned as he felt her reach and held his hand.

"I heard and seen many times that holding the hand of a dying man is just being 'kind' to them. And I think you need all the pity for being a filthy little mongrel that messed up for sex."

Before he could say anything, before he could do anything, Subaru felt his mind broken again as the beast above roared- his thoughts? Shattered, his consciousness? Stripped away from him. His body? Dead.

The last thing he heard as he perished was Pandora's giggles before his soon-to-grow cold corpse.

...

He stretched his arms, got up from his chair, and started to make his way back to his room. The first clue that something was up came when he noticed the door was not closed by key. He had purposely closed it by key to avoid any surprises. He stopped by the handle, thinking if this was some sort of joke from Elsa or perhaps a cheeky nightly visit from Emilia but... he stopped and turned away from his room. He had- He had to alert the guards, he had to get them to act before it was too late.

But as he bolted into the streets and towards the headquarters of the garrison, a familiar giggle pursued his steps, setting him in a more panicked pace.

---------d-d-d-d-----------

AN

This experience will, unconsciously, fuck up anyone's effort to get Subaru to be intimate with them. I mean, what would anyone expect after getting screwed big time like that? 

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Chapter Text

Interlude 3: A Storm Approaches

If one was to say that Elsa trusted people that sounded insane more than sane people, then they would be correct.

The reason why this notion came to be was one that she completely forgot about, but it was enough to make her listen to Subaru's panicked motivation on why he tried to have a scout party look beyond the border for any 'whale sighting'. It was a bit preposterous for the local garrison to expect something like that and the manpower was too thinned within other chores to prepare an expedition based on 'concerns alone'.

But where the guards reasonably rejected this request, Elsa saw no issue in completing it herself. It was a bit silly, truth be told, but the way Subaru spoke, the desperation and dread in his throat... it was too lucid to be mere insanity. It was more. He had seen something that made him quite certain that the whale was soon to strike.

Elsa was not sure if he was right or not, maybe he just had a nightmare or some indigestion which made him unable to think straight for a while and think there was going to be an attack, but as someone that had many times invested in understanding her target's habits and mindset, Elsa could tell that Subaru was completely sure of this. Something which was telling considering the fact the boy was not an idiot when it came to real issues such as that.

And Elsa wasn't up to say no to the chance to stretch her legs. She had been put on a single place for a bit too long, and while the former assassin didn't exactly have much of a choice about it, the opportunity to go and check for any potential danger coming their way was enough to make her scatter and see if there was a genuine and tangible reason to prepare defenses. The trip through the forest was quite smooth- too smooth actually.

One thing that instantly caught her attention and had her look around for trouble as she moved deeper through the area near the border was the lack of animals. Elsa had long learned through Meili that this detail was never good news. Animals could perceive threats, and only a handful would brave the storm. In that moment, as she ventured in what clearly felt like a trap, there was no sound of life within the forest. Even the trees felt dead to her as they grew colder and more distant.

Whoever was responsible for this, whale-controller or not, was dangerous enough to leave her on the edge. This was no normal sorcerer, and she was given proof of that when she finally found her . Many times she had been before the presence of Mama, but this situation was even worse: the oppressive energy within the childish form of that angelic entity was quite ironic as she was truly seeing a demon.

Weapons were deployed and she eyed the innocent-looking monster for any signs for weakness of a potential attack aimed at her. She was greeted by silence, the white-haired girl merely smiled as her blue eyes showed nothing but an immoral amusement against her. Vicious and childish, quite the dreadful combo to provide in personality to someone that had quite the magical potential at first glance.

"As I suspected. He knew and he sent you," The 'angel' muttered. "Still, let's see what happens when his little mutt is deprived of something. Knowledge always has a toll on people, trust me... my creator learned of that."

The mysterious white-haired child then raised her hand and while Elsa couldn't pick up the proper chant, she recognized some of the magic behind it. Turning and rushing away, Elsa's quick-thinking spared her from a quick death as she felt something rush and grasp at her right arm as it was once aimed at her head.

One moment she was holding two daggers, the next she was holding a single one as her right arm had gone missing- torn apart by a magic-enhanced move. Sudden, but the pain was negligible as she shifted and bolted out of sight. The child-like entity merely smiled, clearly aware of the chances of killing her with ease, but she didn't do so and let Elsa run.

Many would be frustrated by this unpleasant skirmish, but Elsa's experience had long taught her to cherish the small victories. Such as survival since she doubted she would have survived. Her legs were burning with how quickly she was moving, her eyes stuck and fixed on making sure she didn't miss any step in her retreat, uncaring of the chances of a chase. Not when her opponent smugly knew that there would be no real match. Not when she felt it, the particular stench of darkness rushing from beyond the border-

The whale was coming, and it was clearly being directed there by external order. The abnormal child, was she a witch or... worse? Was there even something worse than a witch? Elsa was not thinking straight as she would have liked, especially when she could feel her expected wound over her missing limb to be bleeding at this point when it wasn't. It felt like her body had entirely forgotten she once had a right arm entirely. And it was all because of a mere 'pull spell'.  

Despite her growing panic, she could tell one thing: Subaru was right, and they needed to get the city prepared for a real siege.

  ------------d-d-d-d-----------

AN

Elsa came close to getting Bad End'd by Pandora, but she is a tough killer. What she bears now is a bit of a curse as she rushes to tell Subaru and provide proof that a big threat is on the horizon. Will this matter? After all, Pandora is lurking and she is clearly curious to see if Subaru can be a threat or not to her plans and current status quo.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Also Patreon: P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

Chapter Text

Chapter 23: Whale's Problem, Whale's Solution

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Also Patreon: P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

Warning: This chapter has a bit of uncommon gore. Whales are nasty, especially magically-demonic ones.

Subaru has never read Moby Dick, but he was quite sure nothing in it would have prepared him for fighting a massive flying white whale.

Then again, he doubted anyone in that group knew what they were doing- even the garrison looked uneasy and unsure of what to do, with their commander limiting their current ideas to 'kill the whale' and... nothing else. It wasn't much- actually, it wasn't even enough to soothe any worry within the city that they could actually stop the monster. Emilia wanted to be brave for them, but she couldn't really find a solution to her own dread and no one could blame her for it.

The White Whale had lived long enough to be seen as the kind of monster that couldn't be brought down, its legend providing for an extra fear factor beyond its mighty form. Elsa's wounds confirmed not just that the Whale was on its way there, but that its controller was not something they could face directly and they would be lucky if she didn't take part in the attack. Something else to say was Emilia's odd reaction to the mention of a young girl with white hair wearing a white cloth with blue details.

It seemed to trigger a sense of recognition in her, but she shrugged it off when Subaru inquired if she had seen her before. She recognized Pandora, but it was something not even she could exactly remember from where. At this point, Barusu didn't care much about it. In fact, the only issues he was supposed to face where two: Rem being somewhat miffed that her chance to trick him into sex had failed, and the fact that Elsa was giddily milking his genuine concern for her to further enable the maid to be annoyed at him.

She just had a gift when it came to planning a time to push him into her chest while the maid was around, but never once did she try that with Emilia. Perhaps she feared the chances of getting iced up by the half-elf, but... there was also something she was pleased about. Subaru wasn't as upset about this behavior because, in his mind, she sort of deserved a break for losing a limb for merely scouting around. She told them enough and her loyalty was unquestionable in this topic, but there was also a hint of delight in being coddled up through his usual mannerism. She appreciated- not too much, but she definitely liked the attention.

All preparations were set, but Subaru had to headbutt a lot with the captain of the garrison for a specific reason.

"We are a group made primarily of swordsman, using bows and arrows wouldn't-"

"It would help, dammit! It's a flying target and we have a few mages, that's literally basic warfare."

It was stupid. Why would you use swords against a flying creature? In the end a compromise was set and Barusu felt like they had a chance to fight. Admittedly, it was a fool's dream at this point. The whale came, the forward scout running back in town with a frightened look before joining the defenders by the wall. The whale soon loomed through the darkness of the clouds it created.

Arrows were hurled, some enhanced, some not. Magic was not meant to pierce through the beast's natural armor, but the spells that ensued prior to the physical volley was meant to 'tenderize the meat'. In layman's terms, the beast's skin was weakened just enough to allow some arrows to stick through. And it was indeed the case.

More spells, this time using the arrows while Emilia assisted by freezing the whale's gills and sealing off its means to breathe. This move was one Subaru had planned and asked Puck if it was feasible due to the Whale's natural defense to magic. Technically? No. Practically? It could be done if the user focused on individually keeping the spell over its gills.

Struggling, the monster faltered in its flight and then ended up losing altitude. A most inglorious fall onto the ground soon unfolded, with the renewed warriors rushing through to stab the downed beast. A folly by all means, but one driven by desperation and anger. They knew the monster could kill them and more if they didn't do something, with their commander drilling that notion deep in their Gods-fearing skulls.

The whale trashed around, slamming against buildings indiscriminately and wounding numerous between combatants and civilians. It was a bloodbath, but the monster wasn't being spared either as numerous gashes were appearing through its thick white skin. It roared, but it was not a magically-powered strike- but a call against pain. A roar that came as the animal knew its death was approaching. The brutality went on for a while, but Subaru was perhaps stunned by its last move before seemingly dying before the vicious onslaught it was being subjected to.

Emilia noticed, Rem too, Elsa did try to move in, but she couldn't find a chance to strike due to its massive size. The half-elf struck with a few Ice Shards that stabbed and widened its visible wounds, while Rem's chain with the spiked ball end failed to change its course despite the power the strike packed when the thing hit it.

It shifted towards him, the ground shaking and the monster pace stunning him in a cold stupor that distracted him. A mistake, he called it, and one that the whale eagerly enjoyed as it opened its mouth and swiftly swallowed him. Good news is that Emilia wasn't taken in that quick desperate attack as Subaru purposely pushed her away from its trajectory, bad news being that he was suddenly pulled down the beast throat and into its stomach. The trip was unpleasant, and the destination even more hideous than anything he could have predicted.

Subaru hadn't read Pinocchio, but he was quite sure being within a whale's mouth wasn't supposed to be so horrible on his body. Gaseous acid tore into his clothes as his skin burned slightly. He felt the air ravaging his lungs and his eyes turning red and puffy at the atrocious gas. He felt everything in here was trying to kill him and a single misstep landed his left foot in a pool of acid.

Excruciating pain broke his thoughts, with his brain blazing as he saw his foot cooked to the bone- causing him to feel anything there and fall on the warm but unpleasant surface of the stomach that wasn't touched by the acid. A temporary reprieve since the acid's level was increasing within that belly, the monster was ready to digest him as the last thing it would do in its miserable life.

His brain hurting, his soul screaming and his world decimated by the pain and terror. But as he faltered, as he died again while he realized his efforts were rendered useless by someone that could bypass his loop power, a saving grace manifested within a single quiet voice that fluttered into his mind and left him perplexed and yet mute.

"Someone... here? No. Not here 'here'. It's... there. The whale? How?" There was a pause within the disjointed questioning. "Oh- Oh my. Someone that was swallowed by it? How peculiar- a planned prey turned into a predator. Amusing, but also disheartening. How did this happen?"

There was no means for him to respond, but the voice didn't seem to care.

"This doesn't feel right. Echidna? No, she is not that stupid. She wouldn't have a reason to waste effort in that- my creation is mine, who would be so stupid to-"

"K-Kill it," A fool's gamble, but Subaru committed his last breath to these words.

"Oh, kill it? You want to kill the Whale? The Hakugei? My creation? Why?"

Silence greeted the voice again, Subaru could feel his own heartbeat faltering.

"I see. Someone turned it into something different. Something it wasn't meant to be. The hunger hasn't been dealt with, it has expanded. That silly brat, she doesn't get it. She doesn't want to get it. But how could she since hunger is not her only fear?" There was a pause, then a hum. "I see, I see. Fret not, you... ehr, Satella's beloved? Yes, Satella's beloved seems fitting- Still, I believe I have a solution to this. But remember, hunger is the main concern through the whale. Nothing else, so please... give it a proper duty for once. Lest I have to suffer my curse even more than before."

His palm burned slightly, but his arms had long gone numb so he could barely perceive it. He was beyond the chance of survival, and he knew it but... He now knew that there was hope for... the future. Or rather the past.

The burning of the acid and the horrible stench of human flesh sizzling against the demonic liquid further confirmed how little control he had for his body when he couldn't even feel much pain and little reason to react- no strength, no will to do anything about it. He knew this loop was as good as over, but the next one- that was going to be... interesting.

He stretched his arms, got up from his chair, and started to make his way back to his room. The first clue that something was up came when he noticed the door was not closed by key. He had purposely closed it by key to avoid any surprises. He stopped by the handle, thinking if this was some sort of joke from Elsa or perhaps a cheeky nightly visit from Emilia but... he pulled away, glancing at his palm as the mark of the Whale was on it. Their bond existed despite the loop and now- now he could do something with this!

This time, Pandora wouldn't know what hit her.

------d-d-d-d------------

AN

Subaru will be on the move for a lot of conversations next time. Specifically on understanding who gave him the mark, and why she said the Whale was her creation. The reason why 'she' was able to communicate with him is tied to a biological/magical element within the whale that will be made known by the next chapter. It's a bit of a non-canon element, but I think that someone like Daphne would have wanted some sort of mean to know what the fuck her flying meal is doing while it wasn't around or on her plate.

Also, I have a new story on QQ which is set in Cyberpunk Edgerunners/Cyberpunk 2077. 'Clean Meat' SI ends up becoming the new bane of Arasaka and anyone that really is fucking Night City. More on the new story 'Cyber (Not) Gangster 2076'. Links are available easily on my discord server.

Chapter Text

Chapter 24: Invitations n' Breads

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Crusch Karsten was having a rather interesting day.

While one that didn't work as a close confidant to her wouldn't be able to tell, the Duchess had reasons to be quite invested in a specific news that just reached her camp. And said news also prompted a fairly expected request by one of her guards and loyal advisors, Wilhelm van Astrea. It would be a lie to say that this news was even insignificant to others as the importance held to it was quite... big when it comes to the royal election.

The Hakugei had been a problem for Lugnica for decades now, if not centuries. The issue had sparked incredible controversy when the previous Sword Saint was killed by the Unique Mabeast and, the assassination of such a monster had always been an important goal for Wilehlm to personally take part to. Was he disappointed someone took that from him? Not truly. The importance within that objective was, by the end of the day, the killing of the flying whale. And to Crusch, it was how it was killed.

A look into the report quickly bestowed this potential achievement to 'Lady Emilia'. It would be wrong to assume the Duchess of Karsten didn't see the potential held by the half-elf, even more with the peculiar advisor she had at her disposal. The beast was downed near a settlement in her domain and, to make this even easier to attribute to the silver-haired rival to the throne, the girl and his close entourage had been checking the border town near to where the beast was seen decimated.

No one could fully confirm that the assassination was committed by someone from Emilia's camp, but that didn't stop Wilhelm from making a fairly simple request which Crusch had already contemplated going through out of satisfying her own curiosity.

"I will send a request to visit Lord Roswaal's manor. It may be accepted, or it may not. I hope you understand that."

The butler-knight nodded calmly, his experience on this sort of system giving him the peace of mind to accept any disappointing outcome from this sort of deal. It was enough for him, and it allowed Crusch to be left alone with Ferris once more. The cat-boy had, after all, his own thoughts on the matter, and these were particularly refreshing to hear.

"I don't think it was that boy, Subaru. But he could have hired someone to do that."

"Perhaps," Crusch admitted. "I doubt it was even Lady Emilia. Her magic is tied to ice and no manifestation of that were reported on the whale's corpse.

"Plus, it wouldn't have pierced the beast's thick skin," Felix added, humming to himself and then smiling. "Still, who would have thought that Lady Emilia would have still gone through that proclamation~."

The purring was not undeserved as the report came with an announcement that was written down from a speech delivered by the half-elf. While the beast's subjugation had many eyes aimed at her, Emilia had taken the opportunity to make a quick gain in her popularity among those in her own fief.

She didn't focus on the whale's killing, but rather to the ensuing wave of Mabeasts that tried to attack the city around the time the monster was being destroyed, with Hanumas holding against the unusually big horde of monsters trying to destroy it. At the end of that successful defense, Emilia praised the defenders and assigned medals. The concept of medal-assigning was mostly a duty reserved to a monarch, but nothing truly forbade people from going through the process. It was just that no one saw a point in it... up until this point.

Crusch had never dealt with a situation where she had to reward her retinue to this extent, but the result of Emilia's own action were not missed to her: the people loved to be given praise when due. And while a medal wasn't going to meant much when it comes to the line of duty, it was a reminder that their leader saw their dedication and gave them something to immortalize their deeds.

It was not a statue, but it was enough to sell the notion of 'ruler sees and rewards their subjects'. It was the 'care' that mattered, not the value of the gift after all.

"Do you think we should really approach the situation nyow~?" Felix spoke once more, with Crusch nodding at his question. "But wouldn't that get us at odds with others?"

"No," Crusch admitted. "It is clear that most of the candidates have loosened their interest over this competition. Lady Emilia managed to do something not many politicians can achieve- and that is assembling a friendly and polite front which mellowed the rest of the challengers."

"And you think this will be beneficial to us? To be subjected to that too?"

"...I will refrain from giving a determined answer," The Duchess admitted quietly, giving her lifelong friend a genuine tired look. "I don't need to explain how being too blunt or too intense in either way would just be damaging."

"We will thread the middle path then," The hazel-haired demihuman remarked, and Crusch nodded in agreement.

After all, it has dawned on her how difficult this competition was going to be because of this formidable opponents.

--------d-d-d-d----------

Subaru was not happy.

The plan that he ordained to exterminate Pandora had failed miserably, the White Whale having been strong enough to devastate a majority of the forest in the clash with the small witch, but failing to reward him with the lifeless corpse of the faux child. As much as he was against murdering someone with that appearance, what happened in recent loops had made him reluctant to show any mercy to this specific individual.

Pandora was a threat to not just him, but others. That mindset and those powers- he should have known that using the whale to backstab Pandora would have yielded a negative result. Yet, at the same time, he couldn't help but realize that something was missing from that complete failure: and it was Pandora's retaliation.

It's been hours now, close to a day even, since the news that the whale had been slain by something in the forest reached Hanumas. And this was after what had been a tedious siege by smaller mabeasts. People had been rightfully confused by what may have sparked this sort of assault, with Subaru expecting this to be Pandora's way to precede something much worse.

But time came and went, minutes became hours, and there was no sign of Pandora around. Rather, the scouts reported the scope of damage inflicted to the nearby forest as the Hakugei's butchered body was spotted and secured by a small detachment sent to secure it. The royal capital was alerted, with a group of magicians and researchers sent to study the matter and secure the corrupt beast to be relocated to a safer location.

The news hit Hanumas big time as it was only through the Hakugei's death that Subaru learned a few details about the flying whale he didn't know about: specifically how big of an issue it represented for merchants' routes and detachment of large armies around the area. The monster had been terrorizing half of the kingdom for more than a few centuries.

Even while Volcanica was around to defend the kingdom's from grand threats, the beast's reign of terror had decimated so many campaigns against it that it would be a major understatement to define its destruction as nothing short of a boon for the local areas. Trade could resume at maximum capacity after close to a thousand years of the trade nodes being stressed by this factor.

In a way, this change was going to yield them even greater economic results and this was... good. But not the kind of good that he wanted out of this whole situation. So, he took the great celebration as a sugarcube to swallow to prevent the vitriolic taste of failure in defeating Pandora, knowing this would be a short-lived peace. Still, that didn't stop him from spending some time with Emilia and... blowing off some steam through a simple walk around the city.

"Do you think the bakery is still open? I thought people had raided it a bit," The half-elf inquired, standing beside him as the two strolled the quieter streets of Hanumas in the afternoon.

"It should be. If it isn't then we can look for other bakeries around. I think I saw at least two while exploring."

The girl smiled at the news, leaning a bit on him as they behaved in a couple-like fashion. It may sound like that, but Emilia was being quite tame in that regard. It was also cold, so she took the chance to be this close to him to draw some of his warmth to her. Still, it was around this visit that something drew his attention. He was initially relieved that the shop was open, and thus didn't give much attention to the other occupants inside the small bakery.

He was busy staring around at the sweet goods to notice that a child had walked up and caught Emilia's attention by softly tugging at her left wrist, the opposite side to where he was. The half-elf had noticed, her eyes had widened together with a delighted smile and... soon she ordered something for the child herself.

Subaru didn't even bother to stare much at the girl, deciding to not deal with that sort of things for a couple of days. He will have to keep his guard up around Rem since he 'rejected' her and the blue-haired maid may have taken some indirect offense to that but... then, as the food was served and they took a moment to sit down, Subaru noticed the little girl's appearance.

The child worse a pretty pink dress with a white apron and ribbon around her neck, tiny brown shoes and... a pretty pink ribbon tying her dark-brown hair in a ponytail. What really got him was something he noticed instantly as he stared at her eat and speak with Emilia. Her eyes were... like his. And that felt ominous, even more as she heard say something that shock him to the core.

"Oh? My name is Dora, Neechan! I am looking for someone. His name is Natsuki Subaru... I think he is my papa."

Uh?

Emilia's murderous gaze was enough to further drive in what he just heard.

Who is this child and why did she say she 'thought' she was his daughter?!

-------d-d-d-d--------

AN

Pandora goofed hard. And Crusch is cometh-ing!

Chapter Text

Interlude 4: Dora the Explorer

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Memories are odd, especially when you can't really remember them but you know they exist.

Dora knew that her name wasn't Dora, but it was something that felt the most certain within her realm of existence and it was a nice name. She just couldn't think of what her real name was. Only that Dora was the closest to it. And that she was meant to look for someone, Natsuki Subaru.

She was in a forest, so green and yet so scary. She left it with haste, not even bothering to understand what the strange and smelly chunks of white material were within the area. The child just bolted, following the path that led to some distant buildings. In a bizarre sense of events, as her legs carried her to the nearby town, she was confused by what was the reason behind this goal of her: why was this Natsuki Subaru important? She felt strongly about his name and she knew his face.

And then she saw her reflection on a nearby window of a shop. She looked so similar to him. How odd, how... telling. Maybe he was her Papa. They looked the same except Dora was little, tinier and quite cuter. She knew what those words meant, but the girl struggled to understand where she learned those or why these mattered within the situation.

The stroll was a bit chaotic as there was some sort of celebration. A whale had been killed... and it had been a bad whale. She felt neutral about it, early on, but she soon felt happy as there were so many that were rejoicing the moment. She felt amazed by the feeling of being part of something so stupidly simple but infectious in its own delight.

The walk led her around, she saw kids playing and she played with a few, then one of the nice old ladies gave her candy. For some reasons, these many feelings had her cry a bit. It was odd, she knew that it was normal so why did it feel odd for her to feel so much happy.

Dora kept on walking, struggling to find what she was growing convinced was her Papa. She wasn't sure of it, but it felt true to an extent. She wanted it to be true. And thus she knew it had to be true. Humming and puffing, the girl enjoyed the festive mood of the town and almost forgot of her task until she truly found him.

Her papa was talking with a really pretty lady with white hair and beautiful violet eyes. Was that her mama? For some reason, she was more reluctant to think that was the case. She wanted- but she also didn't want to. She didn't know why, but she just rolled with that feeling. The owner of the bakery spotted her, handing Dora a delicious-looking bread. It was nice and warm, and it tasted simple but good. She melted at the feeling but didn't let it deter her from trying to get to her Papa. He was busy, but his pretty friend was free and thus Dora approached the pretty lady.

"Excuse me," She politely greeted, and she saw the lady smile at her, "What's your name?"

"Oh, my name is Emilia, little one. Are you enjoying your meal?"

She nodded happily. "Yeah, Neechan. It's super-delicious!"

The headpat felt oddly familiar, but it lacked something. Something Papa-esque, Dora ruled out.

"Hmm, glad to hear that. And who are you?"

The girl smiled widely.

"Oh? My name is Dora, Neechan!" Dora greeted chirpily, but not losing the beat to also add why she was there. "I am looking for someone. His name is Natsuki Subaru... I think he is my papa."

Oh, the pretty lady is now giving a curious look to Papa and... Also, Papa is looking! He looks so confused but... cute! I have a Cute Papa~!

----------d-d-d-d--------

AN

Meet Dora, she will kill you through diabetes or random bouts of dimensional-shifting powers she has no control over.

Chapter Text

Chapter 25: Sleepless Night

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Going back at the manor should have been seen as a chance for Subaru to regain some bearings over himself, or even find peace in the notion he was in a safe place once more.

Yet none of those feelings were met even as he found himself in his room. It was night, Roswaal had already known of the Whale situation and had handled praise where it was due for holding the defense against the mabeasts. Despite his positive outlook, something had troubled the Margrave, that much Subaru could tell on the spot as he knew who was to blame.

The child that was now slumbering in the bed, right beside him- a responsibility he wanted to take care of but not for the reasons many would expect him to do so. Subaru was always taught to help those in need, especially if those were children. Between his mother teaching him to be a good person, and many ads giving him a sense of urgency to be some sort of 'saviors' of hopeless people, this time he felt that nothing mattered to truly fuel his good conscience in helping this case.

Dora was Pandora. Actually no, she was part of Pandora.

The innocent child that was within that deception that was the little witch before something happened with the whale which caused her to 'break'. Puck's explanation on the matter helped in soothing Emilia's glares over the notion that this child was indeed his daughter- it was amusing to even imagine as Subaru hardly gave off that sense of 'infidelity', yet Emilia had been on the edge for some time in this regard, mostly because of how 'limited' their interactions had been within the aspects of intimacy.

Yet, the explanation was what really mattered the most at the moment: Dora was a shard of a person, one that bore a 'close to human' resemblance yet held a degree of magic that went beyond the limits of normal humans. The familiar summarized her as 'mostly human with some facets owned by spirits'. Magically-gifted, but extremely naive and innocent due to her current stage of existence. Her youthful appearance mirrored her state of mind, especially when she truly held limitations within some elements that were baffling to say the least.

She had to pee at a certain point, but she wasn't able to muster the awareness to seek the bathroom herself. Subaru had to walk her to the nearest toilet and hold her hand, wipe her off once she was done while also not freak out at the familiar face, a mixture of his and Pandora. The sight was horrid to someone that was stressed out and still recoiling from the happenings that led to the situation he was quite upset about. N-No, not just upset- there was more- more he couldn't just bring himself to words about.

Sleeping was impossible as his attemps to proper rest were tainted by the sight of him doing it with Rem. The poor girl wasn't aware of what was going on, the urge to do it may have felt normal to her, enticed her to take him on, but Subaru felt himself in deep turmoil as he remembered all details. He was quite sure Pandora did it for the sake of harming his psyche even further with this act.

He remembered the feeling of his hands being out of control, same for his legs, his mouths and then his sexual hunger. It all had felt so wrong to pursue it and he felt that, in the end, he hadn't been given a choice. To an extent, he was glad he looped. He could try to ultimately rule out that experience as it was- forced, and wrong. On her? No, on him. As it was intended by Pandora. The pain of being forced into a distraction that made him want that intimacy, his boyish urges indulged in a way that were not of his own decision.

While many wouldn't see the issue, Subaru had one- and it was the fact he didn't get to say no as he had wanted to. And that this no-choice ended up forcing him to see another death, this one unpredictable and so sudden that even now he flinched at the final moments. Which is why he wasn't sure how to handle Dora.

He hated Pandora, so should he hate Dora too? His mind said no, his experience said hell yeah. Both were not helping in giving him an answer and... as much as resting with his eyes open and staring at the ceiling while thinking about his trauma was something 'refreshing', Subaru decided that lingering in bed wouldn't do it.

He needed a fresh air to breath and some lone time to ponder without being constantly reminded of how good this world was in trying to either damage his mind or murder him.

Dora was deep in her slumber, so she didn't notice that her 'Papa' was now out of sight. Subaru didn't expect to find anyone around this late hour, but he was shocked to find out Ram out of bed too, walking around to clear her own mind of recent matters.

Things just end up going... pleasant from that point onward.

-------d-d-d-d--------

To say that Ram was annoyed at her own sister would be an understatement.

Rarely Rem got to the point of irking her to this point, but her sister was somewhat well-meaning with her own plans despite how stupid those were. Being angry at Barusu for just not being there to tend her lustful needs when she was just trying to capture him with her lewd charm? That was a risky idea and one that backfired in a positive manner as far as the pinkette could really care of.

Rem took a chance, the chance failed and her integrity lasted through this whole mess. Was she to not feel angry for this failure? Obviously not, but Ram said it all to her in a rather simple manner: take notes of your failure and don't try to take a man's interest for granted. After all, Rem had been distant enough to Subaru to actually be unable to establish a connection. Ram had been around him more than his sister and had entertained chats with Subaru so that she could establish an understanding with him.

Heck, even the bathroom debauchery that soon will probably resume gave off that sense despite the intimacy it remarked. But what really frustrated her is that Rem's own plight was not a matter of proving herself to anyone, but of her urges manifesting now that she knew her sister was active around a man in particular, thus a trustworthy man in her mind.

To Ram, that was... flattering, for her sister to pick a man from how she behaved around him, but for Rem to look into trying to get together with htat same man without much of a clear grasp of what seduction was all about was as concerning as jarring. Part of her wanted to teach her how to do it right, but strongest voice in her mind told her to not do that. Not just because Rem had to learn her own way into romancing and lusting, but because Ram was not willing to exactly bring her sister in what was clearly going to be a 'make or break' situation between her, Subaru and Emilia.

An occasion came right by the night they returned. Subaru was wandering the halls, clearly restless and seeking some private time to entertain heavy thoughts. Differently from the more light-stepped pace he would follow, his steps were heavier as he seemed more reluctant to end the walk at the time he would usually do. It was also quite late, and Ram was pondering over her own dilemmas when he stumbled on him.

It was clear as she got quite close that Subaru was deep in some troubled thinking, and he even hesitated to bring up what it was about. It took Ram some convincing probing to ultimately draw him out of his shell and... his answers barely gave her anything to work with.

"I have been having some dilemmas over the Whale situation and... I think I know where Dora comes from."

The child? Why would she trouble him so much? It wasn't related to children in general, or that wouldn't explain his usually jovial attitude towards Meili and Petra. No, it was something centered around Dora herself. Something that made her raise an eyebrow in pure intrigue as it was clear that, whatever had gotten into Subaru, it was something so important over Dora's identity that should shock others.

"You do?"

"To an extent, yes," He admitted. "And I have reason to believe that she is... indeed tied to this person I had problems with. Bad problems."

The way he used the generic 'bad' term felt somewhat wrong. He was restraining himself, hesitating on his steps even now that it was about verbal chatting.

"How bad?"

He bowed his head, and he looked absolutely tired. "Quite."

The next scene was quite amusing, yet no smile adorned her face as they both found an unused living room. Ram sat by one side while Subaru rested his head on her lap. Had this been the case months ago, Ram would have been frustrated by the disposition while complying with the request, yet this was now a normal expectation. And Subaru's hair was soft.

There was much to say about Barusu, but to see a man this full of energy be this gloomy and downtrodden by what felt like guilt or regret sure made her wondering what had gotten to him. Much to her surprise, a certain shadow decided to tag along in that room and Elsa was soon leaning by the doorstep.

"I have been wondering if he was going to seek someone to talk to. Did he mention what he was troubled with?"

It wasn't concern that Ram heard, but rather curiosity. Reasonable considering that an assassin would be perplexed by Subaru's shift in attitude just like that, thus urging her to seek the truth without being too direct about it.

"Dora may be connected to a troublesome person. Enough that Subaru is genuinely frightened by them."

"To this extent? Very interesting," Elsa hummed, stretching a bit and resting on that usually-uncomfortable setting. A very bizzarre sight for sure, but one of vigilant guarding which made Ram even more at ease for tonight. "Anything else?"

"No."

That silenced the assassin for the time being, but Ram knew that just giving a lap-pillow wouldn't do to solve Subaru's own plight. Yes, the pinkette had in mind a solution to this, but first she had to discuss this with Lady Emilia. There was no doubt in her mind the half-elf was going to accept this plan, knowing that it would forward her situation while also gaining an ally in her quest of love.

In return, Ram would be secured a firm seat as part of the couple's life. And, who knows, maybe she can drag Rem into this too if she managed to get things done right...

Yes, tomorrow is going to be quite an important day.

---------d-d-d-d---------

AN

While Rem is a bit blunt with her plans, Ram is a cunning genius. Her big PP plan will be so impressively successful that she may end up carrying someone else into the lewdness of next chapter.

Chapter Text

Interlude 5: Rise of the Headpat Cult

Important AN! I revamped the Patreon to offer more benefits for all tiers. Also, a new change for the Snippets Archive has been enacted which means that new story ideas will be posted first in the patreon and then released a month later to the public.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Dora found herself frowning before the two girls that had dragged her in a pretty-looking room and put her to sit by the bed... for trial.

In fact, she wasn't even sure why she was getting trialed, only that her presence 'caused issues to them'. The fellow girl thought they were going to accuse her of something she didn't commit, to ostracize and distance her from her papa and... she didn't even know where that thought came from. Up to this point, everyone has been so nice so where did the distrust came from?

Looking at her arrival to the castle to actually meeting these two first, she had been confident they wouldn't have caused her any form of issues. Yet, it was clear she did something that crossed them both at once. To the point of cornering her as she was returning from a 'quick raid' to the kitchen to get herself some bread and a cup of milk.

"You have been called her to face judgment!" The bow-wearing girl known as Petra muttered seriously. "You... are trying to illegally take time from Oniichan!"

"...Oniichan?"

"Y-Yeah, that stupid idiot of Subaru. The one you call 'Papa'," The other one, Meili, stated firmly.

That confused Dora. They were Papa's... little sisters? Did that make them her aunties? No, it was complicated. Maybe Cousins. Hopefully- wait, were they even related to him? The girl was truly confused, but one thing managed to actually make it through as a question.

"Why is that bad? Isn't it a daughter's duty to get headpatted?"

As she said that, she got quite the reactions. Both looked like they wanted to say no to that, but perhaps they saw some truth in what she just said. After all, her papa meant well for her, so why wouldn't he want to headpat her?

"It's not... that you don't need them or don't deserve them but-" Petra tried to explain, only for Meili to interject.

"But you are like stealing him from us. We got turns and then you come around getting all these headpats without even taking under consideration that we too deserve that right," The dark-haired girl explained. "And this is forcing our hand. Which is why we will force you to sign an agreement to split the headpats' time between us."

Dora felt slightly mortified by this. There was an agreement on Headpats and... she caused issues about it by not noticing it? How was she supposed to know that? It felt silly to imagine, but, at the same time, she could understand how unpleasant it would be if someone just come up and stole her papa's headpats from her. She would, at least, prefer to be told that someone wanted that rather than just walk up and claim it as theirs.

So, to an extent, she understood their plight, but something stopped her to sympathize with them entirely. After all, one part of Meili's response left her quite nervous of what was soon to come.

"F-Force?" Dora squeaked nervously. "W-What are you going to do to me?"

Both shared a giddy look, and smug grins.

Endless scenarios played within Dora's mind as she imagined all sorts of potential pain and suffering coming through these girls. Both looked ready to do much, to do the most to make her 'understand their point' and so she braced. The girl didn't know it was going to be even worse than she had imagined.

Soon, Dora's eyes widened astronomically as she saw them both raise their hands around their shoulder's height and... flicker their fingers in eagerness as the punishment became clear to the poor girl. Moments later, rather than screams of pain and despair, the room was filled with loud giggles as poor Dora discovered through this experience that she was extremely weak to tickles.

And the fact that she felt no hint of malice on them just made the experience way more pleasant than it should be. She was being 'forced' to agree to something she didn't want to, but the sheer amount of delight that came from that interaction was plain unbearable~! Before she knew it, the three of them were cuddling up in bed. In an effort to fight them off, Dora had tried to tickle back, causing each other to tickle themselves and tire themselves as much as they did with her.

"So, you agree to the terms of this deal?" Petra hummed while nuzzling up to her.

"I-Is that only the headpats?"

"We could- we could include the maid outfit. Of course, you are not one but it's-"

"Cute," Dora guessed and she nodded in agreement. If it was a cute, then the dress could get more headpats.

It was genius! How could she have not thought of that?!

And by joining this group, did that mean she made new friends by opening up to those girls? It made her so happy and warm in her chest she couldn't stop smiling.

"Still, there are so many trio and calling ourselves the Maid Trio may be too redundant," Petra argued with a huff, but Dora had a brilliant idea about it.

"What if we just found someone else and became a... quartet?"

Petra smiled, Meili nodded at the notion while offering a pat on Dora's shoulder.

"Our newest friend is indeed clever."

The compliment just made her bolder, so bolder that she saw no issue in accepting a 'plan of attack' to increase their membership.

"Come on, Beatrice. You know better than us that Oniichan knows how to headpat nicely!"

"I don't! Stop harassing me!" The blonde exclaimed while keeping the doors to the library shut.

The girls were finding a way to force at multiple doors at once, thus forcing her to expend all her attention to keep them out. The rascals, those troublemakers- The nerve of disturbing her much-needed tea time for something so irrelevant!

"I-I am not letting you inside! S-Stay away!"

"The world is bleak, hence why headpats are the solution, Beatrice!" Petra shouted back, ignoring the screeching. "Stand forth, my fellow maids- tonight we shall be a quartet!"

The Siege of Roswaal's Library went on for a while, a small distraction to what was soon to happen through Lady Karsten's visit. Of course, the children were ushered to defeat by the promise of nice snacks before dinner, thus concluding this little war in a defeat for what would soon become the 'Handpat Cult', a group that would eventually swallowing the country in a new, cute, but at times dangerous trend.

The world wasn't just ready for that yet...

Chapter Text

Chapter 26: Cunning Trauma

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Trigger Warning! This chapter contains the narration of a canonical attempted sexual assault on minor. The author doesn't condone the event, but it is a relevant element on a character's background and the way they turned as they are 'now' in the story, both in canon and in this story.

"Are you upset for Lady Karsten's visit?"

Puck's question didn't come from mere assumption, that much Emilia could tell. It was nothing new when it came to her familiar's honed senses in picking up whenever she was nervous for something or someone, and the half-elf was reasonably unnerved by the awkward visit. Two were the reasons that really worried her about Crusch Karsten, the reason for the visit and the outcomes coming from this interaction.

"I am just... nervous," She replied quietly as she finished combing her hair, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

To make it simple, she had a clear grasp on why this visit could easily turn into a potential downfall for her reputation: Crusch was the main favorite of the competition, and Emilia was right behind her in that regard. Both were grown into established and respected candidates to the throne, but they had their own qualities and flaws.

Crusch was tied to a rather old family within Lugnica, one that had for long supported the kingdom's government through rebellions and natural disasters. Her pedigree was excellent for someone to prolong the dynastic status quo, but her public remarks were quick to draw the worry of many nobles.

Breaking the oath to Volcanica felt understandeable, but it was also something that felt less as a reaction to inaction and more of a vengeful response to it. That being said, despite her fief being quite prosperous, the high taxation was a troublesome issue that had sparked no few uprisings in the smaller towns in her territory.

Emilia was quite the opposite in most of these details. She was 'new blood' into the nobility and she was a half-elf that bore a resemblance to Satella. That was what really had messed up her early reputation, this much she could accept. So, through hard work and the help of her Subaru, things had gotten better in that regard through deeds rather than words.

The careful planning of economics and the expansion of the few small hubs all around Roswaal's fief was testament of something that only Anastasia Hoshin had shown during the race: Emilia was capable of handle the many economic issues that had recently unfolded within the kingdom without having many suffer because of it. It would be a lie to say her ideas were perfect, but that where her Subaru came into play.

His show at the introduction to the Royal Elections had projected him as a relevant figure despite having close-to-no reputation. His help and that display of loyalty painted him as a 'clever fellow with a loyal heart to his lady'. And that mere thought had her burst in delight... if not for the fact that her reputation as the Witch's Second Coming was still running strong deep inside her.

Emilia couldn't blame anyone for this as she knew hate was hardly something that could be defeated so easily. Plus, the figure she was compared to was someone that had almost destroyed the world so... she understood that many would still be reluctant to let go of that foolish assumption.

Now, onto the reasons why Crusch was trying to interact with her now rather than earlier or later on within the competition:

1) Crusch was trying to find dirt that couldn't be found from external means. Most of her camp was loyal to the core, so, if Crusch wanted to find reason to stir a scandal against her, then she had to get close enough to see any potential issue to proclaim to the public;

2) Crusch was trying to present a deal to her for the sake of retaining some power after the election. It could go either way and yet the growing powers they were amassing was enough to leave a worry for both in case any of these two won the election- nothing would stop the other frown throwing a revolt, even though Emilia hardly thought that as a possibility. Still, Crusch could try to secure an agreement that, after the elections, the second-in-place could still retain some privileges within the decision-making process.

The other issues, as mentioned earlier in her thoughts, was the outcome. It could go through multiple scenarios and most of them were not positive for her. Emilia knew where to stand her ground for, but she doubted Crusch would just not have a way to sweeten any deal with something to offer which could make concessions feasible. At the same time, the recent event tied to the White Whale's defeat was going to give her a bit of leverage on Wilhelm van Astrea.

Crusch considered him relevant enough to listen to his words, so, by using him as a way to get more chips to bargain, the ensuing negotiation could actually turn to her in a positive manner. She just had to keep her wits, clear her mind and-

A knock on the door ceased her grooming session, the brooch resting on the table as she gave permission to the one knocking to enter. The door opened and... Ram stepped in the room.

"Lady Emilia," The pinkette greeted her with close-to-usual stoicism with a hint of nervousness, coupled with some... unease?

It was a bit surprising considering that out of the twin maids, Ram was the one that could handle plenty of pressure from anything. If she was so keen to show some concern, then perhaps there was something really worthy of interest in the pinkette's nervounsess.

"Do you need anything Ram?"

"Y-Yes, I would require some of your time to... tell you something, Lady Emilia. And also ask you permission for something."

The white-haired girl perked at these words, noticing the slowed pace and the brief stutter in the maid's voice. That had to be quite urgent and important, so the half-elf nodded and walked the pinkette to the bed. She just wasn't expecting this to be where she ended up gaining a loyal ally through her next battles in the political arena... and a close friends in her pursuit for her Subaru.

Things were just looking good, and were going to get even better. That much she was sure of.

---------d-d-d-d---------

Subaru sneezed a bit as he finished compiling the last few papers meant to be his notes for what was going to be a tough situation with a potential enemy.

Emilia didn't ask him to do this, but he felt he needed to get things written down out of paranoia. Ever since what happened in recent times, he had gotten reasonably unsure of what sort of troubles he may deal with, and with people capable of bending reality to the extent of Pandora, it wouldn't be wrong to ignore the chances of some of them being able to erase memories.

His Loop ability could do so much, but restoring memories was not one of them, so Subaru had a journal written in Japanese so that he could avoid having anyone reading into it and discovering some harsh truths he couldn't tell anyone.

"I suppose it's advantageous to know a language that no one but you can read," Elsa commented as she peered over his head, standing behind him and right in the best perch to see what he was doing. Subaru didn't respons to that, mostly out of distraction than genuine irritation towards her. That didn't stop the Bowel Hunter from pressing on the matter. "And it's quite curious. Like the one used in Kararagi."

"I've been told that already," Subaru mumbled quietly, but he didn't find peace as the woman leaned closer to stare at him.

It was quite creepy, and he decided to deal with this now before it escalated any further.

"Are you bored?" He asked, and the smiling woman nodded. "Well, we could arrange a spar with Wilhelm van Astrea. Surely that-"

"Can I gut him?"

The interruption drew a grimace on his face, one that Elsa expected as she chuckled at the sight of it. Still, this really got Subaru thinking on one thing he never asked Elsa and that he felt somewhat entitled to know.

"Why do you like gutting people so much?"

The assassin paused, then frowned. "You mean... why I am compelled to do so?"

"I mean, why do you like it? While I was among others that could say you just picked it up with the job, I can tell there's more to that."

Subaru didn't even need to look at her to know she was tensing up. He could feel it in the air as it started to feel... harsher all around.

"Do you think there's more than mere pleasure?" The question felt like a mix of daring for a response and coaxing for one. It was quite unusual as a combination, but Subaru nodded nonetheless.

"Yes," He stopped writing for a moment. "Where I come from, there are people that study criminals' minds and try to understand how they came to have specific traits and why they went on to commit crimes ranging from thefts, murders, and even sexual assaults. They would... write books about their findings, providing insight on how much of those assumptions, compelled by evidence, are correct."

"Oh? And why would anyone be interested in something like that? Aren't people upset by being reminded of how horrendous monsters like us are?"

"It's how they tackle these origins. They always draw on how a killer's childhood is at times the source of many issues, not always, but it's a constant element on many dangerous criminals' minds," Subaru argued, remembering the reasoning her mother gave him on why these were so interesting. And he couldn't help but agree to that. "If we understand 'monsters', we could also, somehow, fix them."

"'Fixing' them entails that they are broken. Do you think I am broken, Subaru-sama~?"

"...Do you?"

Elsa leaned back. "What?"

"Do you feel broken, Elsa?" Subaru elaborated, feeling at ease as he could tell he struck the right topic. "Because, how can you fix someone that doesn't feel broken?"

"..."

There was quiet, and Subaru was convinced he did it. Yet, that peace wasn't meant to last.

"I was born an orphan, and Gusteko lacks any proper orphanage system to take in filth off the streets," Elsa muttered with a different tone than usual. She felt less eager and more... dull and deflated. "If there's something anyone knows of that kingdom is that there are a lot of religious people... and the streets are dreadfully cold. Corpses can be find even now at times of people that have died the night earlier. No one cares much but to remove the 'stains' off the path."

Subaru turned to look at her and she was sitting on the bed, eyes aimed at her grasping hands.

"It would be wrong for me to say I was a saint. Stealing food was a must to survive, and I was taught as little as possible since there was no honor among thieves," Elsa remarked dryly. "And one day that backfired horribly. A butcher, he was roughly in his 40s, massive with a big belly, thick arms and legs- he had a personal policy on young thieves. Girls, in particular."

A knot formed on his throat, but Subaru didn't stop Elsa as she went on with her horrifying backstory.

"He was onto me quite swiftly, I barely had any clothes on me, but he... he didn't get me. No, I... I couldn't let him hurt me like that- I saw what happened to the other girls- how they couldn't eat properly, how they would be tainted forever- the hollow stare in the cold winds and... and that's where I found it," The Bowel Hunter smiled a bit. "A shard of glass, tiny, but just enough to fill my hand and give me something sharp to fight back. I just struck, I slashed that big belly behind the cold gray cloth and then warm red and pink flooded onto me. It was... refreshing, and yet so... so unique."

"How did you feel about it? When the warmth got to you?" Subaru inquired quietly and the assassin looked up, right on his face.

"Happy. I was no longer cold and I was safe because the monster was dead," She spoke up without hesitation. "And the guts- they were so beautiful."

"Because they were warm and were signs of the butcher's dead."

Her smile fell a bit. "W-What?"

Subaru stood up and took a seat right beside her.

"Have you ever felt like gutting someone didn't feel right? That you were dissatisfied to a degree on commiting that act?"

"...Sometimes? Why are... why are you asking me this?"

"I am trying to confirm if your reason to favor gutting is driven by trauma, and the fact that, due to how severe that is, you are trying to find a solution to it by... doing what you do," Subaru reasoned, piecing together all the bits that he learned from Elsa. "Have you recently thought of gutting Meili?"

Elsa leaned back in surprise. "I-I don't-"

"What about me? Speak bluntly and honestly."

"...At times, I want to- but how does it fit with a 'trauma' and-"

"You don't want to gut people you are either affectionate or neutral about," The young man interjected again. "Elsa, you favor those that you consider as enemies as you can relate those to that butcher. Likewise, you consider the killing of different targets as necessary to bring yourself in a spot to get the job done."

At this point, Elsa was devoid of words so Subaru finally brought the conversation to an end.

"Perhaps you should revaluate all missions in light of this so you can say for certain if I am right or not. I wouldn't mind talking about this with you again but... I have notes to finish writing."

The woman merely nodded and as Subaru got back on the scribbling, Elsa actually lied down on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling, pondering on her life choices and how insane of a person her new Master really was with that absurd analysis... only to realize that there was some deep truth with what he had told her.

Traumatizing the Bowel Hunter was not how he had initially planned to do this but... it works.

----------d-d-d-d---------

AN

Ram is plotting the coveted white-pink-Barusu threesome, and Barusu is providing Elsa with a much needed mid-life crisis.

Also, I know this may sound unimportant to many, but FFN added the feature where you can turn on/off the notification mails. This is normally off and has to be turned on by the profile settings and I've been told many were not aware of this. Also, this feature tends to go 'off' after 90 days of being active, so keep an eye on that too.

Lastly, since the new month started there are a few news: 1) Commissions on Questionable Questing and Furaffinity are now open; 2) There's a voting poll for everyone available on Discord to decide for the story coming after Lovely Morons since I finished that story.

Chapter Text

Interlude 6: A Verdant Dream

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Little Crusch Karsten found herself in a pretty garden.

The visit to the Royal Capital had been urged by her father as a way to get some affairs dealt with in regard to their fief's taxes. At the time, Crusch cared not for that sort of matter, only focusing of turning what felt like an uneasy trip into something different and memorable.

Hence why, drawn by the royal garden, felt her gaze moved not by the many colorful flowers forming the majestic array they were set to represent, but the lone bud that was left in the far corner, a tiny unborn flower that stubbornly latched on that hope of finding a place where to belong in that wonderful world. As the heiress of a dukedom, Crusch knew well enough that this was also her reality.

In a world where women hardly gained relevance and where their choice on life were subjected to scrutiny and many limitations, the young Karsten was quite confident that her own path was not going to be as lovely as she dreamed it to be. A beautiful hope for adventure, to visit the world and see the many beauties of it. Her father always tried to cheer her up by supporting those dreams, but his awkward voice and nervous coughing always deflated that possibility.

He wanted his daughter to do so, but the world refused on the basis of what she was born to be. A world with confusing standards and odd morals, where chance and opportunity can make and break great characters, or even shape the future of an entire country if so needed. But that sight was disrupted by loudness as a strangely familiar and noisy boy yapped against his tutor near to where she stood.

In the past she didn't know who it was as she ruled it out as a mere noble boy that was whining against the usually-boring tutors that praised their students but seemed to rarely regard those compliments on their educations' achievements. But this little Crusch knew who was battling against the aging advisor of his and she knew she had to catch up to him to confirm it ot be true.

Without hesitation, the girl bolted to try and catch up to him, a task that proved to be tedious as the long-skirted dress presented a few issues but not as many as what the entire situation caused. Even though she was sure she was meant to catch up with them as they retreated from the garden, she felt they were running away even faster. Too 'faster' also.

Her heartbeat picked up in pace due to how this was turning into- a chase for... someone. For him, for their memories together, for that missed chance to say 'I love you too' to him and... and that chase failed to bear her any result. She moved, fast and swift, her feet burning with trepidation and stress- Crusch felt her pace slowing down a bit after a certain point, the intense running having depleted her stamina as her child-like body couldn't make it through that sort of exercise as easily as her adult form would.

But that wasn't the real issue. No, that came as she turned a corner and was greeted by a hole that brought her into a lengthy fall unto oblivion. Crusch felt the wind press on her face, the discomfort of such an unexpected fall leaving her panicking, but not enough as she did find a closure to that descent.

Back in her adult body, back when he died.

She felt her eyes widening, tears forming as she remembered this scene perfectly as Prince Fourier Lugnica perished before her gaze, his life claimed by an unknown sickness that had massacred the Royal Family. One by one, they all fell- even Fourier. Her childhood friend, the one she had hoped for a brighter future with.

And here he laid, death and soon to be forgotten. It was as the unpleasant truth returned to her mind that she finally woke up.

Her eyes opened to remind her of where she fell asleep, the chariot bringing her to Roswaal Manor. She had not exactly planned to sleep much, but the previous night had been stressful and she had invested so many hours trying to get the paperwork for back home done for the month. Crusch was still a bit depleted, but most of the stress had left her body- only the hollow sorrow visiting her quiet mind and hardening her resolve again and again for what was not going to be a visit of courtesy.

Things had changed a lot in the last few weeks, and these conditions of power could not be ignored if she wanted for their dream to survive this foolish election. Crusch wasn't sure how Emilia managed to pull through the hardships she had to go through as of recently, but the Duchess was willing to call out the one element that felt appropriate for her rise to prominence.

Natsuki Subaru, and what bond he shared with the half-elf.

Too familiar, too coincidental to what Crusch was familiar with. She didn't even bring it to Ferris that the catboy knew that it could be possible- reincarnation? Was that even a possibility? She didn't want to lose herself in that hope just yet but... the temptation was quite intense. And as they finally arrived, Crusch got something else to worry about. The small group of servants that came to welcome her- three cute girls that bowed to her.

...This is unfair, this is so unfair!

As much as Crusch didn't like to show her emotions, there wasn't much she could do with that adorable brigade of maids. There was no doubt in her mind, Emilia was going to be a tremendous opponent to face in this negotiation...

-----------d-d-d-d-------

AN

And thus the Mind Games begin!

Chapter Text

Chapter 27: Slow but Boldly

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Crusch Karsten. The name bore great importance compared to other candidates, which made Subaru nervous on what Emilia had in mind to say and do around the potential frienemy she was handling.

That's not to say he didn't trust the half-elf in going through the right path, but he was rightfully concerned on what Lady Karsten's real goal here was. There was just something odd coming off from her gaze when she first saw him. And right now Subaru felt like he was somewhat implicated on the main purpose of this visit... while also not because Crusch didn't request him to be around.

She was talking with Emilia and, with the meeting being a private one-on-one kind of deal, he was pretty much left in the dark on what was going on. What he could do, however, was consider the best possibilities behind her visit- starting with Ser Wilhelm as he had reason to be around the camp leader that had been close to where the White Whale that had killed his wife was found.

Likewise, the peculiar individual that was Felix Argyle was not without his own reasons to look forward to this day. First thing first, Subaru was sure that he had been ordered to keep track of him and probe for information. The cat-boy was quite clever in painting the questions he asked in a way that felt less like an interrogator would do with a prisoner, and more like someone that was trying to appear clueless on the ramifications behind each answer.

Some things could be revealed, such as how long he has been serving Emilia and how he came to meet her, but other things were best left quiet. It was a very intense interaction, but never once he felt tempted to go for Elsa's offer of having him 'offed for being a nuisance'. Felix was curious, this much could be irritating at times, but it wasn't to the point of going for that extreme reaction.

In fact, Subaru found salvation through the 'little maids brigade' that tagged along with him. Petra, Meili and Dora were quite 'provoked' by the appearance of a 'cute girl' and the first minutes they interacted with Ferris was with the idea that they were talking with a fellow girl. When the catboy ultimately revealed the truth, the girls' minds were 'shattered beyond relief'.

"B-but that's not possible! You're too pretty!" Meili exploded in pure shock, causing Felix to giggle.

"I knyow right?"

"Miss Ferris is actually Mister Ferris!" Petra had her hands by her head's sides. "It's impossible."

"I-It's not that weird... right?" He asked, sounding faux distraught.

"Why do you wear girly clothes?" Dora asked, sounding incredibly suspicious that it was a lie.

"Oh, I like to feel pretty. That's all," He admitted. "I think it's like why you like to wear the maid outfits?"

"Nope! We wear this because we wants to be close to Oniichan!" Petra rebuked mightily, the other two nodding.

"Headpats!" Meili confirmed, urging Ferris to stare at Subaru with an intrigued look.

"...Headpats?"

The next hour saw Wilhelm looking away and trying to ignore the noises made by Felix, the catboy resting his head on Subaru's lap while getting his kitty ears treated to some scratches and attention. It was nothing new compared to what he had seen back when Lady Karsten took care of that need, but the way the feline fellow was behaving with this treatment was... new. And awkward to be subjected by sight and noises.

"Nyah~~!"

Subaru would be lying by even thinking that he was not impressed by this development, but it was also true that he had seen so many people react oddly with his headpats.

Since it was a cat-person he was giving the head-scratching, it wasn't that crazy that he would react in a way different than the rest. Nonetheless, it was a very odd sight when compared to how a cat behaved... and seeing that with a human mimicking the stretching and the purring.

This lasted until the meeting was over and Crusch left the office to find the sight... perplexing.

"Felix?"

As if slapped awake, the boy's eyes snapped wide open and he jumped off Subaru's lap. "L-Lady Crusch, was the meeting good?"

"Yes... We should move to our rooms for the night. Ram shall escort us there."

The pinkette had been present at the meeting to handle out tea and snacks, so she should be aware of what had happened. Sadly, there wasn't going to be much of a chance until hours after lunch. And Subaru knew better than risk a potential accident by going to bathe at his usual hours.

He decided to switch up to go wash up before it was time to eat and, hopefully, get the time to interrogate Ram on the matter. But for now, some solo bathing was needed to wash any stress off himself. These days were going to be quite difficult until Lady Karsten had to leave, and any chance to destress was welcomed.

What Subaru didn't know was that this hope was taken a bit too literally by fate as he realized a bit too late, right as he was sitting down by the edge of the large bathroom's tub that he wasn't alone. And that, inside the tub, a certain blue-haired girl had failed to make herself noticed out of genuine embarrassment and being caught off-guard by this development.

Still, that didn't stop her from uneasily greeting him after a while.

"S-Subaru-san."

Subaru's eyes were closed when he heard that. "Rem..."

...

His eyes shot open. "Rem!"

Jumping in surprise, Subaru's wide-eyed gaze was aimed at the nervous girl as she had just a towel and... she wasn't covering herself at all!

"I-I am so sorry, Subaru-san. I should leave and-"

"I should be the one leaving!" He half-snapped, mortified beyond relief. "You were the one taking a bath and... look, I don't want you to push aside your needs for me."

The maid frowned at this and then gave him a quizzical look. "Subaru-san doesn't... hate Rem?"

As much as he felt shocked about this inquiry, Subaru knew that it wasn't without merit- he had been avoiding her for a while. She wasn't to blame, but the fact that she came at him for sex so suddenly and that it was used by Pandora to hurt him... it made him nervous- it made him vulnerable in a way that even now he was struggling to come up with an answer.

"I... I don't hate you."

"Were you upset because of what- what I had in mind to do?"

"...Yes."

"I am sorry-"

"Why?" Subaru asked, wasting no time to let his emotions run high as he felt irked by the memory itself. "Why did you want to do it with me? Why would you want to do it with someone you clearly don't love?"

"I just..." Rem hesitated to explain. "I always wanted to be like my sister in helping around. She was the one that took care of mostly everything the first few years we were working for Roswaal, and I always felt like I needed to catch up."

She closed her eyes. "When you arrived, Subaru-san, I thought my sister would have hated you but- but she was somewhat interested by you, finding these few moments meaningful and... and then I saw you two... doing things. Here."

Embarrassment came back to Subaru, but he merely nodded at this.

"And?"

"And it... it made me realize that my sister and I are... lonely," The maid bowed her head, ashamed by the topic. "I always thought my sister was in love with Roswaal but, but then I realized she was just being relatively 'useful' so he could keep us. She was always working for me, always helping to keep us around and never once causing issues. As I realized that, I also tried to fix it but... I didn't want to outright copy Ram."

"...So you tried to have sex with me?" Subaru jumped straight to the point and Rem, unable to find ways to go around it, nodded.

"Yes. And Ram found out."

Oh. Wait, what?!

"And she-"

"And she was upset with me because I was angry at you," Rem answered. "She told me that I deserved being left like that because I was trying to demand something out of you by charming you into it."

It wasn't like Ram hadn't done something similar, but she was less forward about this and their intimacy was always driven by mutual interest.

"Well, she's not... wrong. Rem, I don't find you horrible or ugly if that's what you feel after that. I just- I can't just do it with someone out of their beauty alone, now. I... it has to be meaningful- and you can't live your life just by copying what your sister does as you are your own person. You are Rem!"

"... I just... what if I mess this up?"

"Everyone thinks that of themselves, Rem. But only those that are willing to listen to that silly stuff is bound to let it happen," Subaru replied truthfully and felt that part of that response worked well with his own plight. "Say, Rem."

The girl blinked. "Y-Yes?"

"How about we just take this opportunity to get to know each other, no rush or no pushing from other issues. Just you and me trying to understand one another."

"...Oh? You wouldn't... mind?"

"I would not, no."

There was no debauchery ensuing from this conversation and, while he did help her wash up her hair, Rem felt pleased by the overall situation as she didn't push her luck. Since things had gotten intense with Emilia and Ram, she thought that would have extended to the blue-haired girl too but... he didn't mind the slow-pace this time around.

Weirdly enough... this felt like a good step to start fixing this mess.

-------d-d-d-d---------

AN

If only Barusu knew that the day wasn't over yet and a threesome (plus a surprise) is just waiting for that night.

And yes, next chapter will be pure smut.

Also, using this chance to drop in a bit of an important news, I have started an original story called The Kobold Emperor. It's available on Royal Road and Questionable Questing, and it involve a High Fantasy setting, an Insert (not SI tho), some debauchery, lots of lore such as maps, history of countries and even an outright timeline I am currently building- all of which is quite original despite people assuming I am copying from Re:Monster and similar franchise with similar topics.

Chapter Text

Chapter 28: A Queen n' Maid's King

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

EDIT: This chapter has smut inside. Smut and debauchery of the threesome kind.

"I want to do it with you."

Such a demand was not what Subaru expected, and Emilia could tell this much was right within her list when it comes to his potential reaction. It took her a few days to conjure this peculiar documentation that was meant to be some planned guidance before this very event. She studied it, molded it as integral part to her existence- and now she was struggling to not be seen as a silly idiot while getting what she wanted.

Everyone was mostly asleep, with the sole exceptions being Elsa as she had been sent to keep watch over Crusch's current whereabouts for any surprises together with Rem, while Ram was standing right by the door, waiting for her cue to come in for their combined assault. There was no doubt in the half-elf's mind, the pinkette was a needed element in what they have been conveying similar feelings about- the finalization of intimacy with their sole love interest.

"E-Emilia, that's-"

"We have been going on dates for a while, and I know that you don't like it when I push on this but... I love you, Subaru. Please~."

Pushy but not too much, bold but not too much. All within balance for the sake of... the perfect first time!

Despite some unease, the young man gave her a conflicted look and then a conceding sigh. "Do you really think it would be fine? I mean, there's Lady Crusch, you are meant to be the future queen and I-"

"Would be my king," The girl quickly quipped, acting on instinct as she couldn't see anyone sharing the throne with her but Subaru. "Because I love you."

"...Why do you love me?"

A trick question! Luckily for Emilia, Ram had pushed her to provide herself an answer. It was a bit weak, she realized, but then she took a moment to further think about- what made Emilia love Subaru and be this open and demanding of him? The answer was odd, but pleasant to hear within the proper context.

Emilia hates loneliness. And she hates how shallow people would be by her side in helping her. Puck helped her due to paternal duties as her surrogate father, but no one else had given her the means to be happy and open as she was now. Subaru opened that door by becoming the beacon of happiness for her dark days. She would always rely on him because he cared for her and loved her too. Not as intensely as she did, that much Emilia was willing to concede to as she was smitten to the bone at this point, but that didn't mean she was obsessed by it.

Maturity is the key needed to read such a raw and powerful feeling- with Love being the kind of sensation that needed proper understanding by all sides- Emilia knew the source of her affection, but it was also a matter of conveying it without being too brazen about it. Time had helped her gain control over that mighty need, ultimately culminating with her resoluted idea of a future with Subaru always by her side and with a few 'side individuals' to fill up their needs if needed.

It wasn't even a scandalous notion as many kings in Lugnica had indulged the need to create a big family. The illness that took out the previous dynasty had exterminated numerous members, and with a single ruler now being sworn in by election, there was a need to make a big family. One that a single lady wouldn't be able to accomplish on their own, regardless of magic and propensity for a long life. Subaru was meant to be the one making her a mommy from beginning to end, not someone else to replace him.

"I love you because I find you amazing, and yet so wonderfully simple. You helped me when I was so cold and lonely, when I needed companionship and gave me friendship and love, and care and... I can't forget the times you opened up to me and I found your heart as handsome as you are to me," Emilia threw in everything she got, and with each moments of response she took, the more steps she made to get closer to Subaru until she was finally standing in front of him, just an action away for a kiss. "I love you, Natsuki Subaru. Please, be my king."

The kiss did happen, but rather than be Emilia, it was Subaru that took the extra step. That move did stun Emilia for a moment as her world was suddenly overruled by the pleasure that exploded through her face into her brain and then into her whole body. She managed to get hold of herself and kiss him back, the entire smooching burning away any form of unease at the action and she ultimately found her breathing heavier and steamier as she pulled away, Subaru quite winded yourself.

"I... I will be your King, Emilia."

Her heart throbbed in delight, but now it was time for the next hard part of the conversation.

"There's also... something else I wanted to tell you, Subaru. It's... Do you know that kings can take concubines?"

There was a moment of pause at this, silence coming back to her as Subaru looked incredibly perplexed by this.

"What about it?"

"Well, there's someone that likes you too and asked me to join us tonight since she wanted to confess her feelings for you. And I wouldn't mind if she joined us," Emilia elaborated, and finally she saw Subaru's eyes widening in realization.

"You-You meant that Ram- And you don't mind?"

"She told me what you two do in the bathroom and, while I was a bit shocked by it, I couldn't help but relate to her own troubles of heart. I think it's fitting, she was as lonely as I was and she found someone like you- I am not a cruel woman and I know and trust Ram to not overstep her boundaries," She leaned in to whisper the next part. "Plus, I think you deserve to have Love, my dear King. So much Love."

He shuddered and Emilia smiled. "So... she is-"

"Right outside. Should I tell her to join us?"

Part of her expected Subaru to hesitate and wait to give an answer but-

"Yes, please."

Emilia smiled and walked back to the door to check on the maid. As much as Ram tried to appear quite calm, it was clear to Emilia that the wait had slowly eroded her confidence. Not to the point of her outright showing nervousness, but enough to make her brieftly break from her stoic mask to show some anxiety.

"Come in, he is ready."

A quick nod. Maybe too quick.

Ram walked behind her, her pace modest between nervous fast and timid slow, but she soon was standing before Subaru and... it was adorable. Both looked absolutely clueless on how to start the conversation and Emilia was ultimately needed to get it started.

"So?"

Subaru recoiled first. "R-Ram, do you really like me?"

The maid proceeded to frown. "Like you? No."

"Oh-"

"I love you, Barusu!" She snapped. "Like? You think I just like you?!"

"I-"

"Don't answer that. It's rhetorical," The girl rebuked right before he could have said anything in that regard. "Still... yes, I do love you and I do want you and I would accept if it was too much but-"

"Okay."

"But-" The girl paused as she heard the young man speak. "Wait. What do you mean with just 'Okay?'"

"W-Well, I love you too and Emilia is fine with this so... I do want you here."

"...Oh."

Emilia blinked, feeling amused at being once again forced to break the ice again.

"So... do we start doing it now?"

"First there is foreplay, Lady Emilia."

...

"...What's that?"

"I thought you were familiar with that, Lady Emilia," Ram mumbled, then shook her head and sighed. "Look."

Blinking, the half-elf complied with the request as she turned to see Ram carefully leaning down near his groin and then reaching for his length. Her hand wrapped around the shaft, rubbing along it and ensuing a quiet groan from the young man before... using her tongue to lick near the tip.

Emilia's jaw dropped a bit. "I-isn't that dirty?"

"I know Barusu clean it, so it's quite clean," The pinkette replied flatly. "And it's pleasant for him."

"Pleasant?"

"Have Barusu lick you down there."

Ram's rebuttal only left the half-elf even more confused, but she still followed her instructions and, despite Subaru looking a bit surprised at how quickly Emilia was going through Ram's words, the boy started to apply his tongue to her groin. The deep fire in her exploded as she felt her entrance stimulated by a long lick, then her legs stiffened as Subaru just focused around her upper slit, teasing the tiny bean there.

"O-Oh~, I- I seeeeh~!"

Emilia was soon 'singing' and moaning as she wasn't left unattended while Ram continued to carefully service her future master. And despite her own hesitation, the pinkette seemed to be at ease with that thought as she put a lot of effort in pleasing him. Maybe it was the love she felt for him, or, as Emilia briefly saw before her mind was lost to the pleasure of foreplay, the hand kindly caressing her cheek and head.

It wouldn't normally mean much, but the delicate touch was perhaps a reminder and a display of positiveness that slowly thawed Ram's own libido and made it more prominent. Climax claimed Emilia first, the girl having to lean forward for Subaru to hold with his other hand by her thigh as she released more of her sweet juices on his face, her own visage burning red with pure delight.

Ram managed to get the young man to orgasm too shortly after, her mouth soon filling with his seed and forcing her cheeks to expand to accomodate the sudden load entering through her mouth and deep into her throat and belly. None of that fertile cum was spared as Ram just drank it all and left behind a clean cock to go for another round.

That was the full extent of foreplay as Emilia now wanter more of that. She wanted the main dish, like a capricious child that discovered her favorite meal was too close for her to ignore. With her own clothes put aside, Emilia opted to ride her beloved future husband rather than push him to do all the work.

Ram was hugging him behind his head, accommodating with his stress by comforting him with the sight of her exposed breasts while the half-elf climbed over him, rubbing his length back to a somewhat stiff frame and then slowly worked it so it would easily enter her. Virgin lower lips slowly spread at the large head, with a surprised look manifesting on Emilia's face as she realized this wasn't going to be as easy as she envisioned it.

She put more pressure, ultimately managing to lower more than enough to insert the first inches of the length, but slowly realizing this was but the first part of two for this first time's issue. In fact, it was now time for the biggest moment, when her purity was finally given to her lover. And the pain was nothing to scoff at.

The half-elf had been waiting for it, expected it to be quite dreadful and... it was right there in the pain chart. It was relatively unpleasant and put her to pause for a few dreadful seconds. She looked at Subaru, and rather than seeing an annoyed face at the sudden pause, he saw an understanding look that was mimicked by Ram.

Right there, the pain became easier to manage as, after all, she was with those she came to trust dearly. As the pleasure started to slowly take over the aching, Emilia resumed her descent, finally feeling her inner core stretched by Subaru's penis and soon it was touching right down to the doors of her baby chamber. She felt it, she knew it, and soon she would get more out of it.

After the first descent went, more unfolded as Emilia pushed herself upward, struggling a bit as her hole tightly wrapped around Subaru's length in an effort to milk it, clamping on it as she then slammed herself back down to its base. The feeling of pulling on it and then getting filled by it made her moan loudly.

"Ah~" She softly conceded, eyeing somewhere else as she felt her awareness of the situation slipping from her grasp, with only the need to bounce up and down remaining to her.

This pleasure, it was not- this was nothing like anything she expected to find, her womb aching almost like it knew it was time for her to be a mother. She had, after all, taken those fertility pills just for the occasion, to make this event the thing that finally made them intimate together. She was ready to be a mommy, especially since that meant her Subaru was going to make her the happiest woman this world has ever known.

Somewhere, somehow, a certain half-elf Witch giggled at the news her main plan was coming to fruition.

The intense drilling ultimately concluded with Emilia getting her world stormed as she felt her fertile core ravaged by Subaru's eager seed, filling it up nicely and leaving her feel warm inside as he pulled out of her. Some of the white ropes slowly made their way out of her, but Emilia shifted so that she could carefully push some of that back inside.

Ram didn't look the part, but Emilia wasn't willing to be the only one enjoying the party as she crawled up to her and started to undress her much to her surprise.

"L-Lady Emilia, I thought we agreed tonight would be yours-"

"Nonsense, Ram. I have felt it- it's a wonderful experience after a bit of pain and... truth be told, I find the idea of sharing this big step with you worthy of exploring. Trust me on this occasion~."

The pinkette didn't look outright convinced, but didn't offer more protests as Subaru, quite pumped up for the occasion and hardened at the tough of going back at it again, just prepared to press it in and then... she tensed up as he claimed her virginity too.

He paused, kindly waiting for the maid to grow more accustomed to the feeling and the two were sharing an intense look. Emilia studied this reaction with some curiosity than anything else as neither Subaru and Ram looked to be trying ot be lustful about it- rather, they seemed to be trying to see each other's thoughts on the matter.

It was somewhat amusing, and it made for a cathartic break before Subaru started to move. Ram took a while to 'warm up' to the thrusts, but she eventually got accustomed to it and started to move her hips accordingly. Being on the 'other side' allowed Emilia to see Ram in a different light.

There was something very contrasting of the image she had of Ram compared to her usual self. In that nude frame, Ram looked quite exposed and innocent and cute. She was so submissive despite trying to play it tough and with her purity taken and her world rocked by Subaru, Emilia felt her own body heat up at the sight.

Dropping her own clothes, the girl started to tease her voracious pussy, teasing the giddy hole in preparation for the next round.

"S-So strong~!" The pinkette moaned and made Emilia grin in delight at the noises.

The moans were, after all, something she didn't hear herself saying, but she had a feeling those had been quite... intense. And lewd. So lewd. And Ram was getting quite there as her surprised comments turned into demands.

"H-Ah~ Harder~, breed me harder, y-you -ah~ Handsome d-dumbass~!"

Subaru didn't pass out this opportunity to slap her butt, just once as it was more than enough to get the girl stiff and tight, groaning as her womb was soon assaulted by a fresh batch of baby batter stirring deep in it. Ram was out of commission after this, and Emilia crawled up to Subaru to hug him by the side.

"Are you ready for more, my king~?"

Much to the half-elf's surprise, his cock hardened at the offer and she was pleased together with the maid all night long.

------------d-d-d-d---------

"If you think this is going to annoy me, Satella, then you have to try better."

It's true, Echidna usually didn't mind what sort of antics her former friend had a knack on while she was still active, but when she was 'hit' with an urgent communication request, the Witch of Greed had swiftly opened the magical connection and got hit with the sight of a young man going to town with two girls, one looking quite a lot like Satella and a maid. The young man was having the time of his life and...

It was no secret that Echidna was lonely and horny at times, but this was just a backstab than mere teasing. And one she refused to give mind to as she exploited it for her own gains. After all, she knew how to make some nice tea from her own bodily fluids, and the product of her orgasms was nothing to waste in this limited space.

Panties on the table and with her cup ready to claim some more girlcum to convert in sweet tea, Echidna was happily enjoying the sight of the two girls getting bred silly by that cute stud. It's been a while since she contemplated debauchery, and there was no way in hell she was going to entertain the offers made by Carmilla. Like hell she trusted the Witch of Lust to know how sex even worked with how clueless she was about it.

But as she was distracted staring at the sight of the two girls taking a moment to clean that nice cock, Echidna failed to notice a portal had opened and a white liquid had been poured in her cup. The portal closed right before she turned to bring her cup to her lips to drink and...

She gulped loudly as the tea tasted odd but nice.

"R-Really?" The Witch of Greed inquired. "How did you even get the boy's sed to me?"

A piece of parchment manifested on the table.

Patience and leftovers.

"Oh, so this is also the girls' own nectar. That's... that's depraved, even for you."

More letters appeared on the parchment.

Says you. Still, I have a task for you.

A loud sigh came from Echidna. "What now?"

They will find you. I want you to tell them the truth.

"The... truth?"

Yes, the truth. The big truth. The big truth that makes the 'known truth' a lie.

"I... Oh! I get it. And stop calling it that. It's not the 'Big Truth', it's just a prank gone immensely wrong."

You forced us to take stupid steps to keep the truth from others!

"And I said I was sorry. Look, it's not my fault that dumb dragon doesn't know what 'it is just a prank, fool' means!"

...Just tell them.

"Fine. But... why?"

You will understand when you will met him.

"I better do because this sounds stupid," Echidna lamented before turning her attention to the sky. "I didn't mean it..."

I really didn't.

------------d-d-d-d--------

AN

Debauchery and some mystery in this AU! After all, butterfly effect is quite a bitch and goes beyond Barusu's mere personality. More to come soon and... boy, it will be a good way to 'wrap things up' eventually.

Chapter Text

Interlude 7: Jolly Dilemma

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Roswaal Mathers was a man with many secrets, but also an interest in discerning new ones.

How long has he been around? Centuries? Maybe a millennia? The history of his family was convoluted and deviated from what one would define a normal family. Each generation would carry a single Roswaal, a single Mathers, a single student to Echidna that patiently waited for her return.

But now? Now that the circumstance was finally at hand as the Gospel confirmed that this very moment was now imminent, Roswaal paused a moment. He may be a devoted student of the Witch of Greed, but he didn't become so without actually being a thinker before a doer. Especially when this very development came at a very delicate circumstance.

The visit of Lady Karsten was definitely not what had triggered this. The Duchess was irrelevant to anything tied to Echidna, and while this development happened right during her visit, it would be a lie to say that this was the only thing that happened in recent times. The Whale? No. The little abnormal girl that Subaru brought to his manor? Not even that!

And what really frustrated him was that he doubted it was what kind of depraved pleasure little Emilia engaged with Subaru and Ram.

Ah yes- Ram was not a loss to him as the pink-haired maid relied still on him to support his sister. The fact that they both were fancying the amusing thing that was Natsuki Subaru only made the deal sweeter. After all, the boy was thus chaining them to the manor as he worked for him.

Subaru himself was the most anomalous element of them all. Roswaal had the chances to met odd people left and right, to shake hands with incredibly confusing details of society that developed into relevant beings, irrelevant and forgotten messes or just outright dead people.

Subaru was the one that stood up as the most perplexing of them all due to the fact he was so cautious- his paranoia wasn't missed by Roswaal's keen eye. He had so much experience on the topic, and Subaru behaved like a man that went to war and couldn't look at some things at times.

His odd reaction to Rem up to a certain point? Telling- it was a jarring reaction that only those that faced a degree of trauma.

But how and why?

That's the jolly dilemma that made Subaru the sweetest of treats in decades. He was a specimen to an experiment he wasn't even aware was unfolding. A live experiment... meant to draw out what made Subaru special beyond his outwordly circumstances.

His mind was a raw diamond- open to novelty, but clearly reluctant to do so if not strictly necessary. Roswaal would call that a Picky Student, someone that was very selective on what to know and what to keep blissful unaware of. But the main element that made him stand out the most was what Roswaal had slowly discovered being Subaru's magical trait: time-travel. Or rather, a variant of that.

The 'jolts', or the moments where he would suddenly alter his plans for some sudden ideas or worries, happened in crucial moments which could have ended poorly for either him or the rest. Such a condition was fascinating within the mindset of the scientist, but awfully confusing in the way this unfolded.

Roswaal determined that the high moment of these time-traveling moments was his demise- death would take him back in time to the crucial crossroad and provide him with the foreknowledge to handle that sort of threat. That was the 'how', and now onto the 'why'.

This time, Roswaal couldn't rely on Subaru to find the solution to this question, but one aspect of this time-travel was something picked up by the maids: he would emit witch miasma whenever he got back. While many would reasonably say that was a defining trait of a Blessing or a Curse from a Witch's Authority, that wasn't exactly true. At least, not always and not within the circumstances he was dealing with.

One thing that Echidna always prided and mocked was the fact that, while all Witches had their absolute domains to rule, each had their limits and not all Witches could harness 'everything' this world had to offer. In fact, the Witches were not in charge, but an aspect of it- the Lugnican one to an extent.

Other spirits, dragons and high beings commanded other aspects and ruled over different section of the world. Some still exist, but not all of them do.

Which is where Roswaal drew a fundamental closure to this thought via what data he had at his disposal: A Witch gave Subaru this power, but this power was not inherently owned by the Witch's Authority.

Considering the inclination shown by Subaru's miasma while using this power, Roswaal deduced the main suspect was the Witch of Envy- or, specifically, the good half of the Witch that still persisted within her containment area. The story of the past about the Witch of Envy was one of confusion and disdain, but Roswaal knew through Echidna that...

"It's not that complicated, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it was a simple affair. Everyone made a mistake and I totally don't bear a lot of that blame."

She definitely bore a lot of that blame, but that wasn't what Roswaal really concerned himself about. It was how this all tied up. After all, this was the first time Satella made a move- a move that not only unfolded in such a delicate moment in history. And Echidna was now following with a very clear request in most part for him to comply to.

Bring Natsuki Subaru to Sanctuary. And put away that hideous shrine you built in my memory.

The main plan was simple, but the other aspect was such an odd request. Why would he comply to hide away the little shrine he had with the old panties Echidna once wore?

---------d-d-d-d----------

AN

Roswaal is not a villain, but he isn't a good guy. He is the creep. The smart creep at that.

Also, I have a Snippet Archive on FFN. It's called the 'Bukharin's Archive'. Simple name, lots of ideas as I uploaded thirty chapters worthy of various stories there.

Chapter Text

Chapter 29: Best Waifu Arrives  The Path to Sanctuary

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

If someone asked Frederica Baumann what she thought of being a maid, the answer would be... quite simple.

She loved being helpful.

Perhaps it was the nature of being kind coming from her mother's own teachings that made her so soft within, but the fact that she had to bear most of the burden that was taking care of her younger brother also aided her in developing an understanding mindset.

Sure, she was strict and had been taught how to be a proper maid by working both under the Mathers Family and the Miload Family... but that didn't stop Frederica from feeling sympathy for many people. But, for as many would say her kindness was boundless, her introduction to Natsuki Subaru created... confusion.

She wouldn't say dislike or hate- the blonde would even go as far as to say that Subaru was a pleasant fellow to interact with. No, it was the way he moved around interactions and his perplexing reactions that left poor Frederica in a bit of a shock from time to time.

To make it simple for many that yet didn't know her... Frederica loved to fantasize situations. Of course, those were mostly tame occasions as she hardly cared for deep intimacy in her stories, but Subaru was pretty much what she would expect out of a fictional story. How? Well, Frederica had gotten years on how many 'clever men' behaved, but Subaru was quite unusual if not outright wonderful in his actions.

Caring, compassionate but also careful and worried. He was a whirlwind of emotions at times and a pure stoic mask in others. He was... ever-changing, a never-ending flow of discovery that had her instantly hooked to him. Not romantically or sexually, that right she knew by glance and smell was owned by Lady Emilia and Ram- Rem too if she was right with some of the blue-haired girl's looks at the young man and... the assassin one was tedious to decipher, but there was a driven compulsion in her steps which would suggest something was cooking within Elsa's mind.

From romantic and perhaps deeply depraved to the soft tones of wholesome, Frederica's attention was also taken by the 'little maids' that followed Subaru. Part of her wanted to teach them right, to let them know that being this cute may not be the best option as proper maids but, as Ram was keen to remind her, they weren't exactly working as Roswaal's maid and it was Subaru's own indiscretion that dictated that sort of matter.

In layman's terms, Frederica was annoyed she couldn't make things 'right', but she was also glad that it was the case as she found the trio to be worthy of many many ideas with her dolls.

...Oh right, Frederica was not exactly a 'writer', but a situational player. One that used dolls to mimic circumstances while also fostering her passion for dress-tailoring.

So, one can imagine how big her heart got when Ram said that the trio would definitely 'love' to be her test subjects for some cute dresses. That was almost enough to make, on its own, a good enough reason to just leave retirement altogether. Still, it didn't replace the fact that Roswaal called upon one of the last favors she owned to him for the sake of 'guarantee them a safe entry to Sanctuary'.

Sanctuary- it's been so long since she visited 'home'. It's been too long and yet it was also too early for her to find out what happened to Garfiel. Her brother was her siblings, sure, but he was not going to like she was back. It was his stubbornness in believing that everyone and everything that left had to be hating on him- that he was alone and that he had to be a loner.

That stupid brother of hers! Already getting her so irked at the kind of interaction she was meant to have with him. He was going to shout a lot, demand a spar and even ignore her request to do it at another time since she didn't want to ruin her maid dress. She had five more of those outfits, but that didn't mean she was willing to part with any of them out of wanting to spar with her dumb brother.

Which left her to a severe impasse she had to handle before that encounter.

Brilliantly so, she had a bright idea which regarded the one she wanted to seek advice from. Not Roswaal, not the twins or even Emilia.

Rather, she asked Subaru a very simple question. Perhaps too simple.

"If you had a sibling that tended to fight a lot and wants to spar you regardless of your wishes, how would you deal with him?"

Beyond a very confused and intrigued Subaru as he made it clear that the question was quite 'specific', the response left her to think a lot as it was very open but a valid one nonetheless. On the day that they left the manor to reach Sanctuary, Frederica readied herself for that long-fated meeting and, as the journey took them to their destination, here she met him.

It was quite gritty as a sight. Her brother allowing the carriages to pass through, but the short-haired blond just stood between the group and Sanctuary itself. Eyes aimed mostly to her as her brother spotted Ram.

Ah yes, that's going to be awkward to explain to him. After all, he did tell me of his crush for her...

Still, the thought didn't deter her from going through what she had planned for this.

"So, are you finally ready to spar with me?"

"Yes," Frederica flatly replied, giving him a serious look that actually surprised him. "But it will not be just a mere fight. It will be a test."

For a moment, confusion flashed from Garfiel's eyes but he managed to recover fast as he knew that, for the first time ever, he would get a proper challenge.

"Oh? And that is?!"

Frederica calmly set down a small table, two short chairs and a chessboard. "A chess game."

...

...

"Are you mocking me?! You said a spar!"

"Yes, a spar is more than just being a dumbass and punching your way in and out of things."

"Why the hell would I want to play Chess?"

Frederica thought back of what Subaru said about this.

"Let him fight by your terms and, if he starts fighting that off then you should-"

"Well, if you don't want to spar with me, just say it. I am not playing any silly games where only you decide how we do this. Of course, you can back off if you are a chicken."

"I am no chicken!"

Hook, line and sinker.

The huffing brother of hers took a seat and proceeded to get brutally decimated in some chess games. It was a good way to allow the others to move into Sanctuary, one that made her unable to guide them around but... if this helped in avoiding any other antagonistic issues with her brother, then that was more than worth it.

Especially when her brother, softened by some silly hits to his silly pride, opened up to accept some advice and, by coaxing him under the idea that 'girls liked smart and strong guys', ended up learning something new for once. In the end, this was a nice way to open up the way back to work and with his family but... all good things come to an end.

Even more when you are a loving sister with a stupid brother.

Garfiel never showed any interest as a reader of books, but when Frederica spotted a book shifting out of his small jacket while he was celebrating his second victory against her, she gave the book a look and-

Naughty Tales of a Useless Goddess: How to catch a Maid (Adults-only)

The scene from loving shifted into one that best fit with her current state of mind.

"S-Sis, I was- this is not a book of mine. I-I swear!"

But she held the book away from her foolish brother, a hand grasping and squeezing the top of his head to keep him away from the naughty book.

It was clear that some proper sisterly-bossing was needed to fix her dumb brother of hers! 

--------d-d-d-d---------

AN

I have a confession to make. Out of all Waifus this series has to offer, I actually like Frederica the most.

Chapter Text

Interlude 8: An Endless Existence

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Ryuzu Meyer was not a single entity. Once, maybe, but now she was no longer a single person.

Endless clones produced by the Witch of Greed for the purpose of experimenting on a human body. Numerous to be precise, and at times all at once. Only four were preserved with advanced technology and differing purposes within Sanctuary.

After all, Echidna couldn't be bothered to actually take care of this herself. Arma, Bilma, Shima, and Delma.

They were all overseers of the project- individual guards that acted at the behest of common sense and logic. But each had their own personality. The sense of individuality was something that Echidna reasoned as 'necessary for the sake of self-preservation'.

The formula wasn't truly clear to the four, but they could see how monotonous understanding may dampen the reach of their logic. It made for a greater scope for any potential thought and reactions to novelty. Such as the one that they had received instructions about. It was the first time that Echidna herself sent a 'pulse' back to them.

An order was issued, and it was clear to them. The issue wasn't the clarity of the message, but rather the reasons behind such a directive. Sure, it was not a surprise that guests could come to visit from time to time but... Echidna had planned for more.

These were going to be the ones to 'free them'. At first, this was interpreted as just Sanctuary losing its barrier and its locals being granted the opportunity to finally explore the world around. The danger was 'no longer an issue'. Worrying, but it wasn't the full message's meaning.

The last bit of it made it clear that any worry had to not be concerned about much to Shima's own relief. Out of all clones, Shima was the one with a greater remembrance of the last ten years of their original self. The reasons that motivated Sanctuary to exist.

Any thoughts of rebellion was squashed by that single line: the Witches will have a proper party.

Liberation was not just for Sanctuary.

If this was indeed as many of the overseers were expecting, then the worry of danger was unmotivated. The Witches would use Sanctuary as a base of operations, thus making it valuable to protect at all costs. There was, however, a singular worry embraced by the general consensus: Will the Witch of Envy take part to this?

Echidna mentioned 'a proper party', which would allude to a full reunion but... wasn't Satella split in two?

So many questions, so many ramifications to consider and-

Bilma, stop engaging in that.

I am not doing anything~!

The childish overseer was getting mixed comments through the telepathic connection she shared with her 'sister'. She heard the three children coming along that 'headpats are good' and when Shima confirmed that the original Ryuzu Meyer was not shy to get her head patted, nothing stopped Bilma from studying the phenomenon.

And the repercussions were spreading through the whole group of Ryuzu Meyer clones. Most were too distant to perceive it, but soon the guest engaging in such an act, one Natsuki Subaru, found himself swarmed by similar-looking white-dressed clones that were driven by raw emotional craving.

It was confusing to the Consensus, but it was agreed that it was just a lingering buried trait of their original creator that Echidna had left behind for some reason. And while the strange feelings made them all a bit bothered about, soon it started to grow on them.

Not in an obsessive fashion, but Shima reported an increase of 'individual self-sufficiency' within the 'braindead clones' that was nothing but miraculous as it lessened the need to perpetually remind them to eat and sleep everytime it was needed. Now those simple primary needs should be easier for the puppets to manage.

But with all novelties came a bitter taste of the past. Specifically a certain nagging student of Greed trying to get more info on what Echidna was planning to do. The 'P.S.' in the message was one that they had many times come to respect, but it was the notion of knowing Roswaal themselves that made the entire ordeal somewhat bearable.

Delma took the burden of flatly commenting what was already said by Echidna. 'You will see, eventually'.

It was such a simplistic way for the Witch to tell her obsessing student to 'fuck off, I am not interested in a horn-dog that wears make-up'. Silly at it may sound, this was something that had been many times repeated for them to remember the precise count.

So it was a rather heinous burden- especially the very day something was about to change. Either day or week.

Still, it didn't take long for the group to take on the challenge. Subaru and Emilia went through the first gates. The process had to be monitored without any of the clones to enter the facility lest incurring in the wrath of Greed. It was enough of a trouble for anyone in particular to venture the challenges, but those had to unfold without bribery to the overseers.

So, they just monitored and waited, well aware that the end of their imprisonment was soon to unfold. Luckily for them, the situation was not devoid of any intriguing developments. Such as the tall blonde maid giving Garfiel some grief, while the other maids merely 'cheering on their fellow maid' and the three little girls playing around the white-dressed clones.

Everything sounded quite interesting, especially when the first thing that will come out of the broken barrier would be a fight. A detachment of the Witch Cult had started to encircle Sanctuary, and they were waiting for something to happen to 'act'. Luckily for the overseers, traps could be laid down and turn the entire forest into the worst place a cultist could dare to make any attempt to cause trouble to the settlement.

Still, the big question that came within the general consensus was one and the same: how did they know today would be the day?

------------d-d-d-d--------

AN

Next time, there will be a case of 'switcharoo' for some of the tests. Let's just say Emilia will have a reason to put Barusu through heavy exercises to get a muscular body.

Chapter Text

Chapter 30: Memories of Old, Traumas of New

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Emilia was not sure what to expect out of the trials, but she was quite sure that when she was told that they would face their pasts, this was nowhere in her mind.

One moment she was stepping through the gates with Subaru, the next one she faced darkness and unconsciousness. Panic surged mostly on the fact she couldn't feel Subaru's hands squeezing her and she couldn't feel Puck cheering her up in that moment of personal despair.

But from Darkness came... warmth. She slowly stirred awake, eyes blurry as she felt the drowsiness fight back against her wish to wake up from this... nice bed. It was not the kind of bed she was accustomed to as it was without a proper mattress and set close to the ground.

She finally opened her eyes, breaking through the blurriness as she was rewarded with... definitely not her room at the manor. And not in the right outfit and body as she was clearly... smaller. Very small. Roughly the same age as Petra and... why are those clothes familiar?

Before Emilia had the means to properly regain control of her bearings, her attention was stolen by a soft knock on the door, with the door opening and... a kind-looking woman with brown hair and eyes- but it was the eyes that stole her full breath.

Those were... Subaru's eyes!

"Oh, you are awake. I am glad," The lady mumbled happily. "Hello there, how are you?"

"F-Fine."

She was so nice-looking! Even with those intense eyes she was so soft and so warm. She even ignored her ears, which would be sign of distrust and just reached for her forehead to check her temperature.

"The fever is gone, but it would be best you don't put too much strain on yourself. Okay, sweetie?"

"Yes."

"Now... I think your name is... Emilia, right? Subaru was quite chatty about you. A pity he left to buy some candy but... you can join us by the living room."

Subaru? Where is he?! If he is here, then why didn't he wait for her?

As the half-elf contemplated this, she slowly came to realize this was not... real. As the woman held her hand to slip out of the bed and follow her to the living room. It was a spacious house despite lacking that many windows, and she was soon greeted by the sight of a man with his muscular upper body exposed while doing some exercises.

He is so muscular!

Despite her diminished size, Emilia's mind was capable of still reacting before the sight of a man that knew how to train. And this man was actually her man's father! He had Subaru's hairstyle and color- even the face was her beloved lover's. Which meant that he had the right blood to ultimately make himself as powerful as that!

I just need to push him the right way and he will handle us better with those good muscles~.

"Kenichi-kun, what did I tell you about dropping your chores for exercises~?"

"That the couch is quite nice for a disobedient husband such as yours," He replied with a smile, yet Emilia could taste the grimace building up behind that fake smirk. "And I see that our little guest is awake. Hello, little lady."

"H-Hi."

I am whipping Subaru in that shape. I will have Rem and Ram to help me. Heck, I will ask Felt too if she doesn't touch him too much.

They all sat by the table and Naoko offered her a few slices of appa or... apple?

"This is good," She ultimately judged, causing the woman to giggle at that silly comment.

"I am glad to hear that. The shops around can be quite cheap about some of their products, but this one I think I got right."

A slow nod came from Emilia.

"Say, Emilia, is it true that you are close to our Subaru, how is he around new friends?"

A bit on the nose, but Emilia offered a pretty smile and took this situation as her test... to ask his hand from his parents.

"He is friendly and quite caring. He gave me hope when I needed it, so I love him a lot."

"Ah, I can tell," Naoko reassured, her smile now strained. "Subaru-kun is... a good child. He is just unsure of what he has to do. He wants to please many, there was a time he even went as far as copying my dumb husband with some mannerisms but... He is still our child. He is still our son. And he needs so much love at times that it seems like we are spoiling him rotten."

"But he needs it," Emilia confessed honestly, understanding what the real topic was all about. "He is not honest if not pushed into being that."

"He is a stubborn kid with a good heart. At times it's a very nice thing but-"

"He is also dumb. Like your husband," The half-elf finished herself, her pretty smile matching the mother's own while they both ignored the whiny 'hey' from Kenichi.

"Now, Emilia, I know this may sound easy for you to say and I know you may not think much of it. But I want you to keep by his side at all costs now that he is not around us- we can't watch over him, but you can."

...Wait, what?

"Y-you know-"

"We may be construct of his mind, but we were given brief life. A mirage of the true Naoko and Kenichi but... we still love him. Our Subaru. Hold him dear to your heart and never let him despair. Be his shelter and guide, because I know, despite your own struggles, that you care for him quite dearly."

She felt her world shake as she was lifted up and given a hug. Emilia embraced someone she hoped to turn in her mother-in-law in the near future.

"I will always love him!"

And with that proclamation, Emilia's world cracked like grass. In a mere blink of an eye, the half-elf felt like being punched awake, snapping upward as she woke up back in her body and... in a field of flowers. She made it! Did she? Was this the second test?

Her perplexity was met with further confusion when she heard a muffled sob nearby. She glanced at the source of it and then bolted towards it as she recognized the kneeling figure.

"S-Subaru?"

He didn't respond, only sobbing as she gave him a tight hug in an effort to console him. Something about this reaction felt far too genuine to be a trick and she recognized his own smell there. It was him. And he was hurting. What happened? Did he sees her past? Was it that... bad?

But before she could properly ask him that, she found their hug suddenly squeezed up by shadowy and lengthy arms that wrapped around them. For a moment, true terror surged to Emilia as she knew only one individual capable of this and... there was no pain coming for them as a now individual joined the embrace. This one sharing a pale but smooth skin like hers. A slender frame and hair as white as hers. The eyes? Same as hers, and yet the sorrow so deeper than anything she could compute at the moment.

"I am sorry," Satella muttered as she hugged both Emilia and Subaru.

-------d-d-d-d----

Subaru was not sure of what to feel about this.

It wasn't his past- this much he could understand, but his constant approach to tragedies sure screamed at him that he was stumbling into one. This wasn't even a mere guess, he could feel it in the air as he woke up in a warm bed before the sight of Emilia's only family- Fortuna.

Kind lady, he could see where Emilia's good traits came from despite her not remembering the woman. Tired, lonely but not as she had 'Geuse' to help her. A strong individual when it came to his morals and personality, but quite the slim guy with little to no muscles on his body.

He still put on a fight when that happened. Pandora came, and she took the village in a storm as the small forest was decimated despite the desperate efforts of the protectors. He saw Emilia's friend getting slaughtered, then Pandora tricked Geuse to kill Fortuna before his mind was consumed and... and Subaru was alone in the cold.

But there was no explosion of ice as he realized would have occurred through Emilia. It made sense that the horrid affair would have been what triggered the glacial response against Pandora but... but this was not happening to Subaru. Instead, dark smoke emerged from his body. Polluting and destroying the world around him as the cold stopped mattering- he was just glaring at the source of all this pain and he lashed out at it.

"Why are you hurting her?! Why are they hurting them!?!" He snapped, his childish voice cracking as his adultish one briefly took over as more dark mist wrecked their surroundings.

Pandora just stared at him, unflinching and unforgiving. "Why should I tell you? You are not the one that can open that door so I see no point in answering any-"

"...What door?"

The query was not one to mock, but a genuine one, and Pandora paused and then frowned as she realized just that.

"That door."

Subaru couldn't see a door despite Pandora's upsetted tone. No, he could see an opening within reality itself. And one that gave him a different scene. He was suddenly yanked by it as the darkness failed to subdue itself as he watched the truth that he doubted Emilia even remembered.

"She is just a baby! Why does she have to be brought away? You are strong enough to take care of her!" Fortuna's angry voice was met with sorrowful silence. "My family died for this! For her- so she could live. And you want her to be thrown to the wolves?"

...

"I am dying, Fortuna," The old man sitting in front of the standing elf announced, these few words shaking up the lady as her wide eyes betrayed disbelief.

"T-That's not possible. You lived for so long-"

"All because of her love and... pain," The old wizard interjected weakly, holding his chest. "As much as I can prolong this torture for myself to protect others... my flesh is mortal. And my time is now due to come to an end."

"So you are just going to... let her leave before-"

"Before Pandora finds her. If she finds her, Fortuna, things will not go well for us," The elder mumbled before turning to... Subaru. "And now, I think you and I will have a talk."

The boy frowned as he realized that it was just him and the old man now in that dark office.

"W-What? I thought-"

"This is not a memory. More like a memento I left behind on this child's mind before she left my care, and that I hoped for either you or my beloved Satella to find in the eventuality these two girls met."

...

"You are... Flugel?"

"I am," The old magician confirmed, a smile adorning is face. "But I am afraid that we can't do much of a talk due to how limited I am in my functions."

"Wait, what do you mean with-"

"You being the second individual beyond my wife and Witch of Envy that gets access to this?" The elder interrupted mirthfully. "Let's just say that you and her are not so different. After all, you were shaped by Emilia's failed witch factor."

Subaru could only frown as the fragment sighed back at him.

"To make it simple, when I sealed away my wife, I made an effort to try and save her by severing her darkness away in the form of the Witch of Envy. This succeeded but by a far bigger cost than I could have expected due to Echidna's own idiocy on the matter. She is spoiled and arrogant, causing for her own greed to act up when it became clear I was trying to seal away Satella's power elsewhere."

"What- What did she do?"

"She tried to trick Satella into thinking I was trying to fully seal her away. This caused her control over her darkness to slip and cause a major disaster known as the 'Witch Calamity'. I fought with other heroes against the Witch of Envy and ended up sealing her."

Flugel leaned back on his chair. "Time passed, regret and guilt  manifested and I survived by sheer personal spite and my connection with my beloved witch. That's when I realized that this endless existence had a limit due to my decision to split Satella and the Witch of Envy apart. Magic thought right to 'create' a new Witch of Envy after enough time had gone by without one around."

"Emilia?"

"Her appearance, her personality and even the first signs of pollution from the abnormal Witch factor she was born with. Another ticking bomb but... one I could work to save this time around. But, in doing so, that ended up leaving me up for expiration," The magician further explained. "I removed her Factor and sent it to the world I came from. The one we came from, Natsuki Subaru."

"You came from Japan?" The young man asked, surprise burning up in his chest. "But- why? Why there?"

"It was safer. There magic is heavily suppressed and the effects of being the 'sane' container of the Envy factor were to be extremely mellowed with the passing of years."

Subaru lowered his gaze as the floor turned into a limpid pool that showed memories of his past. His struggles to relate to others, to make friends with the same ease as many others, the self-loathing that for a while made him unwilling to pursue beyond the path of being a NEET.

Why, no matter how much he put an effort to reconcile with some of the issues he had with his parents... he still felt like he couldn't get them. He couldn't get it. He couldn't just pull away from the pit of despair he tended to hurl himself at and... he felt anger. Anger that Flugel welcomed with a weary but calm look.

"I will not apologize. Not only because I don't believe myself in the wrong, but because I know for a thing it worked as intended- even now, I can confirm this was the best decision. And Satella's choice to bring you here confirms this. She knows you can subvert the natural expectation of magic producing another Witch of Envy. With you here, Subaru, with your own body having controlled the now-tamed and subdued version of Envy in your soul, you will be able to become a stable Warlock of Envy."

Subaru just couldn't speak. Tears before the painful memories continuted to slowly trail down his cheeks as a muted and unforgiving scream from his gaze rebuked any logical response from Flugel. In the end, the old man smiled at him and... he was soon 'alone'.

Everything was numb and unforgiving... and then a pair of warms crashed around him, trying to pull him out of that hole through a warm hug but... that wasn't working. The same wasn't for the feeling of pure love that his body was subjected to. In a brief moment, he felt a heartbeat closer to his own and he felt at... home.

"I am sorry," Satella muttered as she hugged both Emilia and Subaru.

----------d-d-d-d-

AN

In layman's terms, Satella is Subaru's step-mom by magic. Only by magic. What? You thought that Emilia was the 'relative' here? Oh no, that's your Barusu and, truth be told, this would explain many things on why he is able to adapt so well to some of the witch factor he dabbles with in canon. And to think that Arc 11/12 should be the final one and we have yet to get a legitimate answer on why Satella chose Subaru.

Chapter Text

Interlude 9: Bullied Greed

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

"This is quite childish and extremely unfair!"

Echidna was usually a composed individual, especially when she was supposedly in charge of the place where any troublesome element may start something. But, for some reason she pinned on the young man and half-elf that Satella got her to bring into this pocket dimension, the other witches were able to do something that she couldn't have predicted: rope her up like a salami.

"We are finally able to give you what you deserve," Minerva remarked happily, grinning viciously. "And you sure deserve a lot."

"It was just a prank! You can't seriously put so much on me because you messed up too, Minnie!"

"All of it!" Carmilla exclaimed, sounding out of character for a moment.

"What did I even do to you, Carmie?!"

"You lied to me by telling me that my Authority made me fireproof!"

"I said 'maybe'-"

"You said 'I can assure you, without any doubt, that you can withstand fire, Carmie, so go for that walk of flames'!  I was burned to death!"

"And I made use of your body as respectfully as a good scientist should."

"You literally played catch the ball with one of my kidneys with your stupid apprentice!"

"Yeah, stab that fat dog!" Daphne exclaimed, causing the furious crowd to pause and turn to stare at the blindfolded witch. "Hm? I hear silence. What? Too much? Come on, there's a kid too, I can't be too explicit with my insults or I would get heckled. Plus... I would go for a dog. Hmm, hot dog~."

"I am not a kid! I am a growing girl that drinks plenty of milk!" Typhon rebuked, while Satella, Subaru and Emilia stared at the scene with growing confusion.

"W-What are you all doing? I thought you were all together in this," Subaru remarked, with the half-elf nodding in agreement.

"Most of us are. Echidna is the one that kept our souls but... she hasn't been that good of a host," Satella remarked nervously, glad that the young man had recovered just enough to talk. "She's known to be a dreadful talker and she used this chance to throw some mean-spirited insults around."

"So... you are... Satella?" Emilia inquired slowly, never once thinking that this would have happened.

"Yes- I know that there are many things spread about me but... I am not bad. Most of the time," The older elf assured. "And right now, your presence here is essential to fix a big issue that we are all, in one way or another, responsible for."

Some of the other witches started to approach.

"Hello!" The chirpy green-haired young girl that stood out as the youngest of the group greeted. "I am Typhon, Witch of Pride. Is it true that you give good headpats?"

"Typhon. It's not fair to introduce yourself like that, you are a big girl after all," The tall blonde beside the little girl remarked, then turned to Subaru and Emilia. "My apologies for sounding too harsh but... I am Minerva, Witch of Wrath, and Typhon can be quite pushy at times."

Right as she finished speaking, the little girl had crouched down to where the trio was sitting and went for the forceful lap pillow. Subaru reacted instinctively and the girl beamed in delight at being treated with the promised headpat. Right as he did, Emilia tensed up when a head suddenly settled on her own lap.

"Headpat please," A woman with long pink-hair and pale skin asked before... falling asleep on her lap.

"And that's Sekhmet, the Witch of Sloth. And... there's not much to say about her," Satella introduced, sounding quite flustered about this turn of events. "They can all be so much."

"I get it! We are quite loud," Minerva agreed with a degree of irritation. "But we all mean well. The past shouldn't define what we are now."

"But... why did you want us here?" Emilia finally asked, not getting the point of this 'party'.

"The idea is simple and relatively harmless," Satella assured quietly. "We want you to carry us around through a few crystals that Echidna has stored in her workshop deep in Sanctuary."

"...Why?" Subaru asked and they all looked a bit nervous.

"Because we think Flugel had left something that could bring us back without... our authorities."

The blonde's response stunned the two outsiders.

"But wouldn't that be bad? I mean, magic says-"

"Magic has a limit," Typhon interrupted Subaru's comment by finishing it for him. "Yeah, it demands for someone to bear that responsibility- but!"

Minerva sighed. "But Flugel mentioned something about having found a way and... Echidna said that she knew that was true. We need to find Flugel's last workshop and then we will find a way to end this."

"If we are deprived that way of our Authorities, then anyone else using them would be deprived of those too."

"This could... end the Witch Cult, right?" Emilia asked and Satella nodded.

"The Cult was originally a group created by Flugel with the idea of sheltering us and keep us from being attacked by bigoted groups. Then... that mess Echidna caused happened and we all got to this very point," The 'Witch' of Envy remarked dryly. "Still, right now these are our souls. The moment we will be put in the crystals, we would not gain any of our powers but... the knowledge remains."

"And we know a super-lot!"

"'Super-lot' is not a thing, Typhon!" Minerva whined angrily, causing the little girl to giggle before leaning more into the headpatting.

Emilia  frowned thoughtfully at this and then looked at Subaru.

"What should we do?"

Subaru thought of what he had seen during the trial and... he knew that this may come back to bit his butt but...

They had to trust them. For now.

------------d-d-d-d----------

AN

The End Game is now set!

Chapter Text

Chapter 31: Next Phase

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti was frowning.

This expression was, rightfully so, enough to gain a shiver or two fro the various 'fingers' assisting him in this little siege. It was originally meant to be a 'reunion' of sort. He could tell that she was there and that it was only right for him to finally find her LOVE.

For a time, this triggered in him a deep sense of delight, with his brain rumbling blissfully as he knew that he was about to be blessed by her AFFECTION and CARE. But while the Sloth Archbishop prepared for such a simple but wonderfully brutal meeting, his little hope for a clean party was interrupted by... an issue.

Before the barrier could have been removed, before they could have had the chance to ultimately destroy this little fortress created by the Witch of Greed, his Fingers started to... panic. It wasn't him or his reactions, as it would be usually. No, their disappearance was tied to something far more sinister.

He thought Pandora's disappearance would have been reason for JOY, but right now he was feeling... DESPAIR! The gritting of his teeth was soon muffled by the wave of white coming from the furred critters multiplying and devouring the various fingers surrounding Sanctuary.

Tiny as rabbits, yet horned and famelic. The small bunnies that were rushing through the large force Geuse had mustered showed no mercy upon his own minions. The Archbishop was briefly stunned, yet soon found himself furious over this attack he couldn't truly deal with.

The Oousagi! One of the Highest-ranking Mabeasts created by Gluttony herself! Despite their size, the sheer hunger and capacity to breed turned them into little infestations that no amount of magic could have preserved. As much as Geuse's capacity to revive himself was close to endless, the pace which the Oousagi was claiming his Fingers' lives made the chance to outlast them nigh-impossible.

It infuriated him even more as not even HER HANDS could stop their spread. Too fast, too many, too ruthless and, perhaps the worst bit of it all, they were the finest prey around as the beast could not breach the barrier. Not before too long, Geuse was cursing Gluttony and Greed for this countermove, knowing that it had to have been them behind it.

Maybe, surely- but still, the chance to claim HER LOVE had gone to waste. With just two Fingers surviving, Geuse knew it was time to recruit more fools, turn them into puppets and have a new host of bodies to command to his whims. His assault had gone to waste, pitifully so, and he ranted furiously as he saw the aggressive mabeasts rush away, giving them chase. Away from the Sanctuary right on time for the barrier to fall and... spare the locals from disaster.

Irritating, but telling. Whatever happened inside that place was far more dangerous than he thought if someone could control the Mabeasts like Pandora used to. It was shocking, and it was... amusing.

Angry shouting turned into jovial cackling. Geuse could feel his brain trembling in joyous fear as they ultimately led the rabbits to a nearby village, the place devastated while they easily used the chaos to slip away. While they couldn't get their share of LOVE, they could still spread pain and sorrow to their own pleasure.

Small gains, but still gains. A shame he couldn't see HER again. But soon?

Oh, it was going to be like a family reunion~!

---------d-d-d-d--------------

Subaru's decision collided in a single development. The Seven Crystals he was now carrying.

While at first glance those may sound ominous, their purpose was surprisingly simple if not purely defensive in nature. The Witches had stored their essence within it, with Echidna providing an explanation on how the Crystals worked- the 'Containers' served that purpose, to contain their soul. They could speak through it, they could 'see' and 'hear' through it, but they couldn't use their Authority while stuck there.

The crystals themselves were a culmination of an experiment that sought to create the perfect container that could hardly break, with the one having the most means to destroy the crystals being the Sword Saint himself. Considering the fact Barusu had no plans revolving around crossing Reinhard, that was not something that was going to happen. Ever.

Despite this, Subaru took precautions with Emilia on how many people could be made aware of this development. After all, the chances of people learning of this could seriously damage Emilia's chance to become the ruler of Lugnica and... yeah, pretty much set them for an execution for carrying around the Witches of Sin around others.

After leaving the Sanctuary, however, they found themselves bombarded by questions from Ram as the pinkette relayed some events that were jarring and... perplexing in regard to what Roswaal had done to handle said problems. The Witch Cult had set an ambush which would have gone into action had Roswaal not done something to call upon the 'Oousagi' and sweep the cultists into a massacre.

"They are what?!"

Daphne sighed. "They were created as a means to provide food to people. Except, from the looks of it, I made them a tad bit too strong... heh."

"That's not a 'heh' matter, Daphne! I had to fix so many broken things after your assaults," Minerva angrily stated from her crysals.

"At the expense of other lives, obviously" Sekhmet dryly added, causing the restrained blonde to huff in annoyance at the drawback of her Authority- if she was to use her 'healing fists' to fix someone, there would be a catastrophe of similar or higher intensity happening elsewhere in the world.

Still, there was a large question in regard to this 'counterattack': how and why did Roswaal call upon the Oousagi?

When Emilia asked this, the 'clown' provided an answer that slightly unnerved Barusu. And not for some deadly reasons, rather...

"Oh, I did so to protect my Master's newest caretaker. I wouldn't want Lord Subaru to be assaulted by those foolish mongrels that are after Mistress' own chosen one~!"

Subaru had heard of this word once or twice in the past, but 'Simp' seemed to fit Roswaal's reaction to a fucking T. The man's joviality in accepting his submissive nature first towards Echidna and then towards Subaru due to this new circumstance- it was the nature of a Simp.

"Oh Master, the Shrine should be renovated-"

"IT SHOULD NOT BE RENOVATED, YOU INSANE APPRENTICE OF MINE!"

Echidna's shrill exclamation was quite awkward to see in that particular exchange, but Subaru found some relief in seeing Typhon's crystal interacting nicely around Meili, Petra and Dora. The trio were quite eager to become a quartet from the looks of it, yet it wasn't the one topic Subaru was the most pressed about.

"Just to make it clear, Lady Emilia... we have the support and the advice of... the Witches. All witches...?"

"That seems to be the case, Ram. While this may sounds weird to say, I think we can trust them."

"Especially with Echidna restrained like that," Puck pointed out strongly from his own crystal. "Trust me, the others are not as ambitious as the Witch of Greed and she is not someone that will ever be put in a position of grand trust."

"What kind of arrangements should be taken into consideration?" Ram pressed on the matter, sounding a bit worried but overall focused on what this new development would need in form of supporting the crystals.

"The crystals do not require magical energy. As far as we have to focus about is to keep their identities a secret to prevent any potential war against us. The entire kingdom- no, the entire world would come after us if they knew that we have the support of the Witches, even if in a limited pattern," Subaru elaborated, knowing that this was the obvious situation.

The only way to 'free' them, if ever, was to win the Royal Election, let Emilia take over, launch an investigation on the topic, unravel the truth and slowly prepare for their return in a limited form without their Authorities. The real gripe on that potential finale was the ramifications- removing the Authorities would be matched by a sudden 'cut' to other succession-based magics that opposed the Sin magic, such as the Sword Saint blessings.

If that was indeed how things were going to go, then that would be a 'balanced' decline of magic. Not to the point of its disappearance, but enough to end some of the worse elements of it at the expense of the best ones. A sacrifice, but the best one needed to conjure an end to the Sin Magic and Authorities.

And with the barrier now down and their path back 'home' open to take, Subaru knew it was time to entertain their victory plan- starting with Felt and her group's integration within their camp.

--------d-d-d-d-------

AN

Reason why I couldn't update earlier: commissions, but now I am done taking any more for the month.

Still, the 'victory lap' is nearby. We go through the biggest and most ambitious plan Barusu had: convince all the candidates to rally behind Emilia. While such a move may sound bold and deadly, he knows that time is not on their side- especially with a group of sages in charge of the election plotting to stretch it for as long as possible. This will end with Subaru's Nobunaga-like ambition (more conquering, less pillaging/murdering).

After this story is over, I will probably go for something 'lighter' and tame. Like Barusu having to deal with his Isekai Witches' harem. The first chapter as a concept is available on Bukharin's Archive, which is crossposted in FFN and QQ (not AO3 because it's a tedious task to crosspost that much), it's title being A NEET's Seven Sins.