Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Meeting of the Worlds

After Natsuki Subaru, a young hikikomori dressed in long clothes and a black and white jacket with yellow details, unexpectedly and without any initial logic, appeared in another world—one far less technologically advanced compared to modern-day Earth, yet rich in different humanoid races, where fantasy (magic, mystical beings, demi-humans, etc.) is seen as a natural and even mundane aspect by all inhabitants—none of these things prevented the boy from feeling an overwhelming happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction in the face of all the new sensations his senses perceived. To him, every fiction he had ever known had become reality, experienced by his entire body.

As he walked for a short while to explore this new world, a quick and decisive empirical experience dampened part of his enthusiasm: attempting to manipulate magic to save a child from being run over and killed by a cart. His hand stretched out in the hope of performing his first heroic act, only to be met with nothing but air passing through his fingers. His heroic stance, reminiscent of a comedic scene, along with his naive and excited expression, merely made some bystanders—particularly the demi-humans—laugh, ignore him, or feel secondhand embarrassment for the strange newcomer. Shocked and frustrated, Subaru could only watch as the child's life was saved before his eyes, his mind now racing with the realization that his apparent supernatural abilities were nonexistent or, at the very least, beyond his current understanding.

This embarrassing situation opened a floodgate of questions within him, which only worsened as he noticed that he, the supposed hero summoned from another world, was illiterate—unable to read the carved words and letters on the wooden signs throughout the massive city, which clearly belonged to some kingdom. He couldn’t even recognize the names of the fruits sold at market stalls, and things nearly got worse when he almost entered a women’s restroom due to his inability to read the local alphabet. Feeling dejected, lost in thought, and disheartened by the harsh reality, he wandered aimlessly until he found himself in a dark alley, where he sat down on a small set of steps near a fork in the path.

Now still and calmer, he began to reflect on the new facts of his predicament while absentmindedly fiddling with the contents of his plastic bag to soothe his rising anxiety. A fleeting moment of joy struck him as he felt and remembered the small flip phone in his pocket. Despite being fully intact and having a 100% charge, the complete absence of the internet shattered his last bit of hope for entertainment or for contacting someone familiar.

“What’s the point of a phone if there’s no internet?” he exclaimed, irritated and indignant. “A world like this should at least have a decent digital plan for people from my generation!”

But complaining to the universe was pointless. Before he could decide on his next course of action, an unexpected event made him tense up—a sudden noise of footsteps echoed louder and louder against the brick pavement. The sunlight revealed the presence of three individuals dressed in simple garments, their attire giving off the impression of beggars, though they were still neatly kept by the standards of this world filled with hybrid races and magic. The man with the messiest hair, standing between the other two, grabbed Subaru’s collar.

“Move it!” His voice was both intimidating and devoid of patience or subtlety. “I don’t want to hurt you, but if you resist, I’ll be forced to. If you don’t want to suffer the consequences, hand over everything you have!” His sharp red eyes glared menacingly.

“Damn it… why does this always have to happen at the beginning of a story? It’s like some kind of requirement,” Subaru thought, feeling the grip on his collar tighten as his body tensed, his posture curling forward under the strength pulling him. “Uh… can we skip this part this time? You see… I’m broke.” He lied, opening his arms slightly to appear clueless and pitiful.

“That won’t stop us fr—”

“GET OUT OF THE WAY! MOVE!” A high-pitched, urgent voice suddenly echoed through the alley, bouncing off the brick walls and nearby houses. A blonde-haired girl, her hair tied back, sprinted toward them in a panic.

“Ha! You’re that girl who—WHAT?!” Subaru was left in shock, as were the thieves, watching as the girl skillfully scaled the walls, using only her legs to propel herself from one surface to another, effortlessly leaping between structures to escape. Whether by magic or natural ability, she continued her acrobatic maneuvers until she vanished across the rooftops.

“Well… that was—AHHHHHHHHHH, MY GOD!” Subaru barely had time to react before the thief gripping his collar struck him hard in the stomach. The moment of distraction was enough for the other two to join in, mercilessly kicking and punching him all over his body. They only stopped when they grew tired, with one of them pressing a foot against Subaru’s head.

“Now, let’s go over what I said before, but this time the hard way—” He was abruptly cut off when, in the eyes of the other two, a red streak of energy violently hurled one of their own against the brick wall, sending dust flying upon impact. Everyone—except Subaru, who was still on the ground but now free from the foot pressing on him—turned toward the alley’s entrance.

“WHO DID THAT?” The smallest of the thieves anxiously demanded, his voice betraying his attempt to sound intimidating. “Come out before it’s too late to regret making this mistake.”

Not even a minute passed before the mystery was replaced by an even greater enigma—a man, bathed in sunlight and standing at the alley’s entrance, dressed in refined yet simple attire resembling a suit. He walked forward with perfect posture, his hands resting at his sides, wearing dark sunglasses that concealed his eyes and any expression on his face.

“Silence. You disrupt order with your crime, which, according to the data, qualifies as aggravated robbery.” His voice was strange to the ears of those present—devoid of accent or any trace of emotion, making his first impression unsettling. “Do not resist.”

The remaining two thieves instinctively stepped backward, intimidated by the man’s aura. “W-Who are you?” the tallest one stammered. “HEY, HEY, WAIT!”

Subaru, still reeling from the blows, looked up just in time to witness the mysterious man gripping the thieves by the neck before tossing them aside like discarded trash, leaving the third one embedded in the wall. With the problem swiftly dealt with, the imposing figure approached and lowered his gaze toward Subaru.

“T-Thanks for saving me from those guys,” Subaru said, extending his right hand before even thinking to ask the newcomer anything. At that moment, Subaru began noticing certain details he had previously overlooked:

His "savior" wore a black suit, far more elegant and minimalist than anything from his own world. Though it seemed familiar, the material was not fabric but rather an unfamiliar substance. Another striking detail was the handshake—it was strong, not because of the way the hands met, but because the man's hand itself felt unnaturally firm, harder than expected.

“May I know your name? I’m Natsuki Subaru.” Those peculiar details nagged at his mind, and the man’s appearance felt entirely out of place in this fantasy setting. One thing was certain—this man had either summoned him to this world or was, at the very least, connected to it.

“Call me Max,” the man replied in a neutral tone, devoid of any emotional inflection. He didn’t smile or make any expression to accompany his words. “Boy, tell me, did you see a blonde-haired girl pass by here? She had a black ribbon on her head, red irises, stood about 1.53 meters tall, wore black pants, beige gloves, a sheath on her back, and a long red scarf draped over her shoulders, reaching past her knees. She was also running.”

Subaru was taken aback by the sheer amount of detail, the specificity of the description making it feel like an interrogation, despite him never having experienced one before. “Uh… well…” Something clicked in his mind. “Ah, yes! I saw her. She ran past me and started parkouring up the walls until she reached the top of that building.” He pointed with his right index finger, tracing the unknown girl’s path. “I’m still amazed she managed to pull that off…”

“And where did she go after that?”

“No idea, Mr. Max. She disappeared from my sight after reaching the rooftops and continued running. Why do you ask? Is she in some kind of trouble?” His tone was cautious yet curious. After all the humiliations and negative experiences, his initial eagerness for heroics had calmed, leaving him more of an observer.

"Hold your words, and I will hold my answers." The man turns only his head back toward the entrance of the alley. "We have company."

"Huh?" He remains slightly apart, glancing sideways to see who was approaching, as Max's body was still obstructing his view.

A new presence, just like the last two times, appears in that isolated place—perfect for robberies. That figure reflects and mirrors in Subaru’s pupils, as he is unable to deny or control the dopamine rushing through his body. Standing before them, at the entrance of the alley, is a girl with long, silver-white hair, wearing a white dress that leaves her shoulders and arms uncovered, with sleeves at her wrists. The dress has purple details at the edges, complementing her light purple irises, and a diamond-shaped green gem shines just above her chest, partially illuminated in the darkness between the walls. Finally, the last striking detail is the prominence of the helix or helix-like structure of her ears, which are pointed and far larger than any human’s.

"Who are you?" Her voice envelops the atmosphere with a serious tone, her eyes narrowed downward to complete an impassive expression. "You don’t have to tell me that, but I just want you to return what was stolen from me."

"You have wrongfully accused me, miss." Max turns his entire body, fully facing the girl. "Do not attribute a false crime to strangers and people you have never met."

"Huh?" She loses all confidence, her eyes widening slightly as she places her right hand under her chin upon hearing the man’s words. "Wrongfully accused? What… do you mean by that?"

"It is a crime committed against a person's objective honor, consisting of falsely imputing to someone a fact defined by law as a crime. It does not matter whether the imputation refers to a crime of public or private prosecution, punishable by imprisonment or detention, intentional or negligent. The crime of false accusation is consummated the moment the imputation reaches a third party. However, the truth exception is admissible, meaning that if the accused proves the imputation is true, they will be acquitted due to lack of criminality. Does this definition answer your question?"

Subaru shakes his head, snapping out of the trance caused by the girl's appearance. He looks at Max with a mix of annoyance and surprise. "Was that kind of complete and complex answer really necessary?"

"Yes, always answer in the best and most precise way possible when faced with a doubt or question." He neither turns his face nor moves his body.

"Ah! N-No, I didn't… I just want what rightfully belongs to me." She speaks awkwardly, realizing that she had tried to appear as something she was not and had made a mistake by unjustly accusing them. "Can you tell me where the thief went?"

"Are you referring to a girl with blonde hair and a ri—" Max is interrupted by Subaru.

"You don’t need to list all of her characteristics! Just mention the most important details, not everything."

Max simply turns slightly toward him, maintaining the same neutral and serious expression as before. Without saying a word, he conveys a demand for silence. Then, he turns back to the girl.

"Sir, I agree with him. Can you tell me her main characteristics?"

"So be it." Max repeats, in a very similar manner, the details he had just described to Subaru.

"You didn’t change your list at all." Subaru sighs in disappointment and frustration, his body slumping to express his indignation.

"Hmm…" A brief assessment runs through her mind before she responds. "Yes, that seems to be her. I didn’t react fast enough to remember everything; it was like a ghost. It’s also unfortunate that you lost sight of her. One way or another, you’ve helped me. Thank you—"

"Wait a moment…" A voice from nowhere echoes among them. Before their eyes, from the empty air, a small gray cat with a white belly, blue irises, and a purple satchel-like pouch appears. "Are you telling the truth?" It places a paw on its head, staring at Max.

"P-Puck? What is it? Did something happen?" She startles, her eyes widening as the cat appears without reason or command.

"A FLYING, TALKING CAT?!" Subaru exclaims with a shout, entering a state of euphoria. "Wait… I’m in a magical world… Why am I surprised?" He quickly calms down, unlike Max, who neither reacts nor comments on the cat’s appearance.

"No time for your self-reflection, stranger." Puck turns to the girl. "I can’t trust someone whose intent I can’t feel—unlike him." He points at Subaru, spinning his small body 180°. "He has no malice, but I sense good intentions."

"Finally!" Subaru steps around Max and faces Puck. "It seems someone is finally recognizing one of my greatest qualities—the superior virtues of Natsuki Subaru! I can help you!" He points at himself confidently and somewhat arrogantly.

The others remain silent, each reacting differently. Puck stifles a laugh with his paws over his mouth, the girl observes with a tilted, questioning gaze, though a hint of innocence is hidden beneath her surface expression. Meanwhile, Max remains unchanged—no physical movement, no shift in his lips. Only absolute neutrality and coldness remain.

"Indeed—ignorant, foolish, emotional, sentimental… yet, surprisingly, with a good heart." Puck states after suppressing his laughter, returning to his usual calm and cheerful demeanor.

"Call me Max. Girl." Since Puck’s appearance, Max has not moved a single centimeter. His hidden eyes behind his dark glasses raise curiosity—had his gaze wavered? He shifts slightly, positioning himself with more authority and precision. "What is your name?"

"Huh… well…" She murmurs. "My name is Satella."

"Satella." Max accepts the name readily, though a subtle itch of curiosity creeps through him, sensing an obvious concealment of information. "I hope you have not given me false information."

"You suspect me? Why?" She asks, annoyed and slightly offended by his comment. "I know that, unintentionally and by instinct, I said something unpleasant about you and the other guy. But I’m truly desperate to get back what’s mine." She begins walking further into the alley, approaching Max.

Max ignores and seemingly forgets Satella’s initial question about why he suspected her. He simply continues with the topic of the theft. "She stole from you? What did she take, and for what reason?"

"My amulet. And I have no idea why she stole it. She’ll probably sell it to someone, and I may never get it back." She lowers her head, clasping her hands near her skirt, stopping in front of him. "You don’t have to help me. I don’t even know if yo—"

"I care little for others’ opinions or the brief judgments of other beings regarding me. My sole objective is to ensure order and security for all." He notices that, for several minutes now, Puck and Subaru have been talking excitedly like two longtime friends sharing jokes and stories. "It seems those two are already treating each other as close acquaintances."

"That’s true…" She changes her tone to something more curious, a hint of amusement hiding beneath her controlled expressions. "Puck trusts people he knows are good, but this case seems rather unique. Is he your friend?"

"No." Max replies immediately, his tone dry. "I merely saved him from those three criminals while I was pursuing an apparent thief."

"You interrupted your pursuit to save him? That’s noble of you, Mr. Max." Satella smiles, her lips curving with genuine warmth, pride evident in her livelier posture. "Sorry—I have reason to trust you now and shouldn’t have acted so harshly earlier."

After a moment, she hesitates and softly confesses, "Ah… my real name is Emilia…I-"

"You lied," he still says without any emotion. The structured manner of his speech and words even resembles indifference and apathy towards others. "But you apologized, so I can reconsider the whole situation due to the honesty and sincerity in your voice. I must simply warn you not to repeat this kind of behavior with me, Miss Emilia. Now I have the right to ask: Where did you get the name 'Satella' from?" He looks at her the way an adult looks at a child.

Emilia's throat moves as she swallows nervously, and her expression darkens with shadows of irritation. "Satella is the cursed Witch of Envy, the one responsible for leaving the whole world under this curse and who nearly destroyed everything over 400 years ago."

"Why did you say that was your name?"

"I-I just wanted to see how you would react to her name. But it seems like you don’t know her… How? You don’t know the Witch of Envy?" A genuine confusion and curiosity take over her, finding it unusual that this man is unfamiliar with such a figure.

"I know you want to learn more about me and possibly about that boy, but for now, we have your amulet to recover and return to you." Max focuses on the two, still engaged in conversation, and raises his voice just enough to command their attention. "You two! Stop exchanging empty words and come over here."

Subaru and Puck look at Max, trying to control their amusement and playful nature. Before Subaru can react, attempting to exchange glances with the cat, Puck vanishes and instantly appears next to Emilia. "H-Hey! That’s not fair!" Subaru grumbles, pointing a finger in irritation as he realizes Puck is already beside the girl.

"Apologies, human, but I have the power of instant movement," the cat teases, sticking out his tongue.

Not wanting to be humiliated again like earlier, Subaru simply approaches the group and immediately asks, "What were you two talking about?"

"Exchanging some important information. Before anything else, let this moment be free of any questions from you. We have a girl to find."

"I’m going to challenge you despite your warning." Puck crosses his arms, staring at Max with a mix of authority and suspicion, slowly shifting into dissatisfaction. "Since when did we agree to trust you? Second, why are you so cold? I still question why I can’t detect any kindness or malice in you."

Max remains impassive under Puck’s scrutiny, turning his head slightly toward the small spirit as if acknowledging his presence but not as an equal. His voice is low, almost cutting in its simplicity:

"If you want to understand, observe. I do not explain what does not need to be said."

Puck blinks, surprised by the vague and enigmatic response. His tail sways slowly as he studies the man before him. "You're hard to read, huh? I don’t know if that’s good or bad."

"It is not relevant at the current moment." Max takes a step forward, ending the conversation with no intention of prolonging it.

Sensing the rising tension, Subaru raises his hands and steps between them. "Okay, guys, let’s focus! The priority here is finding the thief, right? So, less arguing and more action!"

Max does not look away, but his response is clear: "Agreed. Focus on the objective."

Emilia, still processing Max’s coldness, interjects, "If she’s an experienced thief, it’s possible she fled to the black market. There are rumors about hideouts in one of the city’s poorest districts."

"Locate. Lead." Max has already turned his body, ready to proceed.

Subaru steps forward, crossing his arms with a sigh. "You’re not even going to ask for more details? That’s it?"

Max responds without turning his head. "The necessary information has been provided."

Without further argument, Emilia starts walking, leading the group toward the mentioned district. Subaru follows closely behind, muttering to himself. "This guy is a walking mystery… A mystery in a suit and sunglasses."

As they move through the narrow streets, Puck floats beside Emilia, still uneasy. "I don’t trust this Max. He’s impossible to read. No intent, no emotion, nothing. He’s like… a walking void."

Emilia whispers back, "I know, Puck. But he’s helping us. Let’s move forward. We have to get the amulet back."

Puck sighs but remains silent.

Subaru, however, can’t suppress his curiosity. "Hey, Max, you’re like one of those movie protagonists. Seriously, what’s your deal? Some secret past? Some mysterious backstory?"

Max answers without hesitation: "It does not matter."

The curt response leaves Subaru speechless. "Wow, okay, man, you really are the king of bluntness..."

Before Subaru can continue, Emilia interrupts. "We’re here. This is the district I mentioned. We need to be careful. If we’re dealing with the black market, we can’t draw unnecessary attention."

Max stops and scans the area for a few seconds. "Understood. Follow me. Avoid attracting attention."

Without another word, he takes the lead, moving through the shady district with calculated steps, his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses, scanning the environment with precision.

The atmosphere in the district is heavy, filled with suspicious gazes and hooded figures whispering among themselves. Max remains unfazed, walking as if he already knows exactly where to look.

Subaru, unable to contain his curiosity, whispers to Emilia, "How can he be so… cold? It’s like nothing in this place affects him."

"He’s… different," Emilia responds, watching Max, who is already several steps ahead.

Puck, still wary, adds, "Different is an understatement. Something about him doesn’t make sense. But for now, he’s leading us forward. Let’s keep watching."

The group continues their search, with Max always ahead, guided by an absolute focus and an almost disturbing lack of hesitation.

As they prepare to leave an alley, Subaru, as if remembering something important, looks back at the three unconscious thieves. "Hey, wait a sec. What are we going to do with these guys? We can’t just leave them here, right? I mean, they could cause trouble for someone else."

Max stops walking and turns slightly, his expression unchanging. "They are not a priority."

Subaru’s eyes widen in shock. "Are you serious? We’re just going to leave them here like nothing happened?"

Max remains unaffected. "No resources, no authority. Not our problem. If you disagree, deal with it."

Subaru opens his mouth to argue but hesitates, realizing that Max isn’t interested in debating. He looks at Emilia and Puck for support.

Emilia sighs, glancing at the thieves with concern and indecision. "They don’t seem to be an immediate threat now… But maybe we should inform the local authorities. That way, they can be punished according to the law."

Max responds before Subaru can agree. "Waste of time. Our task is to recover the amulet. Prioritize what matters."

Puck floats toward Emilia, perching on her shoulder. "He’s not wrong. These guys aren’t going anywhere for now. And honestly, if we stay here debating, we might lose our chance to find the thief."

Subaru groans, clearly uncomfortable, but eventually nods. "Fine, fine. We’ll do it his way. But seriously, this still feels wrong..."

Max doesn’t comment further. He simply turns and begins walking again, as if the discussion ended the moment he gave his response. Emilia gives the thieves one last look before following, her expression carrying a hint of hesitation but also acceptance.

"I hope they stay here until we can tell someone..." Emilia murmurs to herself as Subaru follows, still grumbling under his breath.

Thus, the group moves on, leaving the unconscious thieves behind, while Max, with his relentless coldness, leads the way toward their next objective.

"Max," Subaru suddenly asks. "Where are we going? The girl probably fled to an unknown place, and none of us know where she went. Wouldn’t it be more effective to ask other people?" His tone is genuinely filled with doubt and inquiry.

Max stops abruptly, tilting his head slightly to look at Subaru without altering his expression or showing any impatience. His cold voice slices through the air.

"Subaru, time spent questioning strangers is time wasted. You clearly identified the direction the thief fled. Tracks, behaviors, and logic are sufficient to predict her next move. Asking is a resource reserved for when all other possibilities are exhausted."

Subaru blinked a few times, trying to process what Max had just said. “But what if she changed direction or found a hiding spot we don’t know about? I mean, it’s kind of hard to track someone who’s already out of sight, don’t you think?”

Max started walking again, his sharp voice echoing as he moved away. “If you want to waste time on unlikely hypotheticals, be my guest. I follow evidence, not assumptions.”

Subaru looked at Emilia and Puck, hoping for some support, but Emilia just shrugged, looking as confused as he was. Puck, on the other hand, seemed entertained by the verbal clash.

“Well, Subaru,” Puck commented with a mischievous smile and a shrug. “It looks like our friend here is more practical than we thought. Maybe we should see where his method takes us, don’t you think?”

Subaru sighed and scratched his head, still incredulous at Max’s attitude. “Alright, let’s follow the genius here. But if we end up lost, I want to be the first to say ‘I told you so.’”

“If that happens,” Max replied without even turning his head, “I will accept your criticism. Until then, stay focused on the objective.”

And so, the group moved forward, guided by Max’s unshakable certainty, while Subaru, with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, tried to keep up with his enigmatic companion’s unwavering pace.

The group continued walking through that unknown kingdom, passing through streets filled with food stalls, handicrafts, vases, and various other items, while carts moved between the people. Max walked through the crowd, always avoiding people and objects without bumping into them, his gaze never shifting from straight ahead, showing no hesitation. Meanwhile, Emilia and Subaru tried asking people for information or even requesting help, but without losing sight of Max, who never stopped to wait for them. The group walked continuously and in silence until Subaru decided to strike up a conversation with the girl.

He scratched his head before breaking the silence. “Can I ask you a few things?”

Emilia looked at Subaru. “Of course, go ahead.”

“What’s your name? I didn’t even get the chance to ask because of our ‘know-it-all’ over there.” He gestured lightly toward Max, who was still walking.

“Yes, yes. My name is Emilia.” She responded calmly, her voice much less confused and carrying fewer negative emotions. “Your name is Subaru, right? I heard Puck say it while you were talking.”

“So… you heard…” He averted his gaze slightly before looking back at her.

Without him noticing, her silver hair shifted closer to her right ear, revealing Puck as the one behind the movement. The spirit whispered something only Emilia could hear before retreating once he noticed her displeased expression.

“Yes, I heard.” Emilia smiled gently, as if trying to reassure him and forget whatever her familiar had just said. “You two seem to get along well. Puck rarely interacts like that with someone he just met. He seems to like you.”

“Oh, really?” Subaru gave an awkward smile, scratching the back of his head. “Well, I guess it’s because I’m amazing, you know? People just can’t resist my natural charisma.” He gave a thumbs-up with exaggerated confidence, making Emilia let out a soft chuckle.

“Is that so?” She tilted her head slightly to the side, her smile turning more amused. “I must admit, you do have a… unique energy. It’s rare for someone to interact and perceive a spirit so well.”

“Hey, I’ll take that as a compliment!” Subaru replied with a light laugh. After a moment, he became a bit more serious. “But seriously… why is that amulet so important to you? It seems like you really need it.”

Emilia hesitated for a moment, as if carefully choosing her words. “It’s something very special to me, Subaru. It has great sentimental value… and it’s important for other reasons as well.” Her expression grew distant for a second before she quickly smiled again. “That’s why I’m so grateful for your help.”

“Oh, no need to thank me!” Subaru waved a hand dismissively, trying to appear casual. “After all, what else could I do? Leave an amazing girl like you in trouble? No way.”

“You’re quite… direct, aren’t you?” Emilia raised an eyebrow, her tone more curious than reproachful.

“Well… that’s just who I am. Honesty is my motto!” He smiled sheepishly, rubbing his neck to ease his initial nervousness. “You can count on me, Emilia. I’ll help you get your amulet back, no matter what.”

Max, who was a few steps ahead, interrupted without even looking back, keeping his hands crossed behind his back. “If you’re done with your ‘exchange of empty words,’ I suggest you pick up the pace. We have a thief to find.”

Subaru sighed and muttered to himself, “This guy really is a walking ice block…”

“But he’s efficient,” Emilia commented in a calm tone. “And, apparently, determined. It’s good to have someone like that around in a situation like this.”

Subaru huffed. “Yeah… maybe you’re right. I just wish he were a bit more human and emotional, you know? Just a little.” He made a tiny gesture with his fingers. “By the way, one last thing… Where are we? I still don’t know the name of this place.”

“The Kingdom of Lugnica, or the Dragon Kingdom.” Puck’s head popped out from Emilia’s silver strands, his cheeks forming a playful smile. “One of the four nations of this world. Its history dates back 400 years.”

“That old?” Subaru asked.

“Yes, quite old.”

Subaru looked around as the group continued walking through the bustling streets, absorbing the information Puck had just shared. “The Dragon Kingdom, huh? Sounds like something straight out of a medieval fantasy. I mean, I know I’m technically in a magical world, but this makes it even more surreal.”

“For someone who seems lost, you’re surprisingly calm,” Emilia observed, watching Subaru with curiosity. “You don’t seem too scared by all this.”

Subaru shrugged, trying to hide his own internal confusion and shock. “Well, when you’re in a situation like this, you either panic completely or… adapt, right? I’d rather not lose my mind… at least, I hope not…”

Puck, now floating beside Emilia, wagged his tail while smiling. “You have an interesting mindset, Subaru. But I must ask… do you really not know anything about this world? And more importantly… where are you from?”

“Was it that obvious?” Subaru chuckled nervously. “I have no idea where I am, who you guys are, or what’s going on. It’s like I was thrown here without an instruction manual.”

“That much was clear…” Emilia covered her mouth with one hand, softening her expression, as if even the color of her irises had lightened. “You can’t read, and you have no money… but you don’t seem like a commoner, judging by your mannerisms and even your physique.”

Max, who had remained silent until now, spoke in his usual cold and direct tone without even looking back: “Ignorance is not an excuse. If you intend to survive here, I recommend you start learning quickly.”

“Ugh… thanks for the vote of confidence, Max,” Subaru muttered, crossing his arms with an annoyed look. “You really know how to lift someone’s spirits, don’t you?”

“That is not the objective,” Max replied flatly, with the precision of someone simply stating an objective fact. “It is to provide an accurate assessment of your situation.”

Subaru rolled his eyes and turned back to Emilia and Puck. “So, the Kingdom of Lugnica… What else should I know? Any essential tips for a lost tourist?”

"Lugnica is ruled by the royal family," Emilia explained. "Or at least, it was until recently... Things have changed, and now the throne is empty."

"Oh, sure, an empty throne... That never goes wrong," Subaru commented sarcastically, but his expression quickly turned more serious. "And why did you mention a dragon? Is there a dragon here?"

"No," Puck replied, his eyes glimmering. "A magnificent being that has protected the kingdom since ancient times. It has a pact with Lugnica, established over a hundred years ago, ensuring prosperity and protection in exchange for the kingdom's devotion. It is not here directly, but we believe it will always be with us."

"Wow..." Subaru seemed genuinely impressed. "So, besides magic, we have real dragons. Okay, I'm officially in an RPG world."

"Focus less on trivial comparisons and more on useful information," Max interrupted the conversation once again, utterly unfazed. "We are dealing with a thief in a hostile and unfamiliar territory. Unnecessary distractions are unacceptable."

Subaru let out a heavy sigh but didn’t argue. As incredibly irritating as Max was in his impassivity, he was right about one thing: recovering Emilia's amulet was the priority.

"Alright, alright. No distractions," Subaru said in a resigned tone. "But, Emilia, if there's anything else important about this world that I should know, I think it would be useful. Just… don't tell Max I asked, or he'll give me another lecture."

Emilia smiled softly and nodded. "Later, I'll ask you about some things, as well as our companion."

"Me too," Puck added, raising one of his little paws.

Subaru's mind kept questioning who this sharply dressed man really was—someone with such a distant and direct personality. It felt as if Max was something beyond his understanding, as though he were an existence far removed from human comprehension. Despite knowing the man definitely wasn’t from this world, Subaru couldn't grasp what he truly was.

‘Him.’ The word echoed in Subaru’s mind. ‘Is he a human, or does he just appear to be one? Or is he something beyond that? His clothes and accessories are from my world, but that still doesn’t explain his inhuman personality, the cold, lifeless sensation of his right hand, or the complete lack of suspicion about that red glow in the alley against the thieves. Is he some kind of RPG creature I don’t recognize, or something even beyond that?’

The group continued their way through the bustling marketplace streets, each of them focused on the goal of finding the thief—though their methods and perspectives were far from what would be expected in a professional investigation.

Chapter Text

The frustration of having none of their questions answered clearly weighed on the small investigation group. Searching for useful information among the citizens of the now-known Kingdom of Lugnica felt like panning for gold in an unknown river—without any confirmation that the precious mineral was even present in the area. No one knew who the girl they were looking for was. They were either ignored by the townsfolk, too absorbed in their daily routines to care, or insulted by some unhinged or ill-tempered individual. This almost happened to Subaru when a demi-human threatened him for no apparent reason, but Emilia and Puck intervened before things could escalate.

By the time the sun had passed its zenith and began its descent westward, ushering in the afternoon, their efforts had done little to advance their objective. Subaru had to swallow his pride and admit that Max's methods might be the best way to track down the thief. Not that much changed—walking endlessly through alleys, streets filled with carts, and crowded passageways was still necessary. They continued progressing for a few more hours, until the sunlight began to take on an orange hue at the horizon. Max’s greatest advantage was always leading them through the fastest and most efficient routes to their destination.

After all the challenges and difficulties of the past hours, their current location was far removed from the beautiful, commercial heart of the grand megalopolis—a city of Pombaline architecture, meticulously designed to showcase the kingdom’s greatness. The stark contrast became evident as they entered a poor, miserable district, abandoned by the wealthier society that had the means to remain far from poverty. The expressions on Emilia and Subaru’s faces reflected the reality before them. The houses had dirty, decayed façades, their materials rotting or worn down by time. Even the streets were unpaved, with only dirt and dust making walking and daily life all the more difficult. The people who lived there wore clothes as tattered as the buildings around them, mirroring the material decay of their surroundings while remaining trapped in an unchanging state of immaterial hardship.

The presence of the mysterious man, accompanied by a boy in strange attire and a girl whose pristine clothing bore no trace of dirt or imperfection, drew the attention of most of the locals. Their faces displayed a mix of neutrality, uncertainty, and apprehension. Some tried to appear indifferent, but the tension was clear in their gazes. Not everyone stayed to watch, however—some simply turned away, retreating into their homes as if those walls were their only refuge.

Subaru slightly slows his pace as he notices the deteriorated surroundings. He looks at the residents watching them cautiously, and in some cases, even with veiled hostility. The drastic change in scenery makes him uncomfortable, yet curiosity and doubt overpower the unpleasant feeling.

"Hey, Max," Subaru asks as he quickens his step to catch up with the man leading the group. "Why are we here? I mean, it looks like we completely left the busy part of town and came straight to... this." He gestures with his hand, indicating the deplorable state of the area.

Max does not slow down or divert his gaze, keeping his focus fixed on his destination. His response is cold, direct, and devoid of emotion. "Analyzing human behavior in marginalized environments can be just as enlightening as observing the center of a metropolis. Additionally, tracking escape patterns is more efficient in less structured areas."

Subaru furrows his brow, struggling to follow the reasoning. "Escape patterns? Seriously? We're following... clues?"

"Correct. If the thief possesses even minimal intelligence, she will seek refuge in places where surveillance is minimal and sympathy for strangers is nonexistent. This sector matches the criteria established by my analysis."

Emilia also quickens her pace to walk alongside Subaru and says, "But, Max, these people seem to be suffering... isn't it dangerous for us to be here? They don’t seem very welcoming, and they definitely don’t look comfortable with our presence."

Max slightly tilts his head toward Emilia but continues walking. "Emotional perceptions are irrelevant to the objective. As long as they do not interfere physically or verbally, they do not pose a threat."

Puck, once again emerging from Emilia’s hair, scratches his head with his front paw and smiles, forming a confident yet slightly goofy expression with his eyes closed. "He’s got a very... objective logic, doesn’t he? Not exactly the warmest company I’ve seen in my, quite literally, long but tiny existence."

Subaru gives a slight smile and chuckles softly, trying to ease the tension from Puck’s comment. "Yeah, that’s just how he is. The ice king." He then leans closer to Emilia and lowers his voice so Max won’t hear. "But hey, Emilia, have you ever thought that maybe he's just trying to act as mysterious as possible? What if, deep down, he's just a guy who has trouble making friends?"

"My social interactions are none of your concern, Natsuki Subaru," Max responds without even turning his head.

Subaru rolls his eyes and mutters to himself, "He couldn’t even deny it with a bit of enthusiasm..."

As they move forward, the streets become narrower, resembling alleyways. The environment feels even more hostile and unpredictable, with the constant sensation of being watched from all directions. Some children peek out from corners and doorways, while adults observe the group with suspicious and curious gazes. Subaru glances around, feeling increasingly uneasy with all the staring. Once again, he decides to address their leader.

"Max," he tries again, this time with a more serious tone. "Are you sure this thief is around here? It feels like we’re walking straight into a place where we’re going to end up—how should I put this? Mugged in the middle of the street? Or worse?"

Max finally stops and turns his head slightly toward Subaru, the natural light reflecting off his dark sunglasses. "Order must be maintained, regardless of the environment. If anyone decides to interfere, they will be dealt with according to the severity of their actions."

Max’s response leaves Subaru momentarily speechless. He swallows hard and takes a step back. "Alright... you win, 'Mr. Order.'"

Emilia places a reassuring hand on Subaru’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, I also feel uneasy being here." Her tone shifts, carrying a soothing and gentle warmth. "He knows what he’s doing, Subaru. Let’s trust him for now—besides, I have my own strategies as well."

"Really?" Subaru looks at her, curious and slightly excited. "Which?"

"I’ll share my strategies with you and our strict companion later."

"Even you want to be mysterious now? Are you copying him or something?" He tilts his head slightly while keeping his gaze on her, making Emilia chuckle at his reaction and the comparison.

Max observes the brief interaction between them before resuming his walk, focused on his objective. The group continues venturing deeper into the slums, with Max constantly scanning his surroundings, letting no detail—no matter how small—escape his notice. At one point, in the depths of the area, an abandoned tavern stands out slightly from the other buildings in this forsaken corner of the world.

Max watches the brief moment of interaction between the two before resuming his walk, focused on his goal. The group continues moving through the marginalized area, venturing deeper into what resembles a slum. Max keeps observing his surroundings, noticing every detail without letting a single one escape, no matter how small. At a certain point, in the background of the setting, an abandoned tavern seems to stand out in some way from the other buildings in that forsaken place.

"That is where we will complete our objective," says Max.

Subaru looks in the direction Max indicated, squinting at the old, worn-down tavern. The place seemed on the verge of collapse, with wooden planks nailed over the windows, missing sections of the roof, and an atmosphere of abandonment that made even the marginalized surroundings seem more welcoming.

"There?" Subaru repeats hesitantly and suspiciously. "You're joking, right? This place looks more like a hideout for ghosts or… I don’t know, crazy bandits."

"Precisely," Max replies emotionlessly. "An isolated, discreet, and deteriorated location, perfect for clandestine operations. If the thief isn't there, information about her likely is."

"You talk like you're sure of that," Subaru murmurs, crossing his arms. "What did you see that made you think this? It’s like you just… know things. It’s creepy and weird… to say the least."

Max does not immediately respond. His eyes, hidden behind his lenses, analyze the structure and the movement, detecting traces of recent footprints in the accumulated dust at the entrance, a pattern of movement indicating continuous human activity, though subtle. Additionally, the scent of fermented drink mixed with something metallic is detected through his deep perception and analysis.

"Logical, deductive, inductive, and abductive analysis," he finally responds, without any intention of elaborating further. "The environment provides all the necessary answers. Now, move."

Subaru looks at Emilia, seeking emotional support. "Did you hear that? 'The environment provides all the necessary answers.' Man, he doesn't even try to hide how amazing and superior he thinks he is."

Puck chuckles from within Emilia’s silvery hair and speaks in a teasing tone toward Subaru. "Yeah, he’s pretty confident. But, let’s be honest, Subaru, he hasn’t been wrong so far, has he? It’s better to stick to his plan."

Emilia looks at Max, then at Subaru. "If he believes this is the place, we should give it a try. It doesn’t seem like we have any better leads at the moment."

‘But he hasn’t been wrong so far… That’s true, he hasn’t made a single mistake—not even in simpler things like words, behavior, or movements. Of course, he doesn’t appear to be what he is, but even so, he seems so distant and strange compared to normal standards…’ Subaru’s thoughts echo once more in his mind, filled with escapism rather than responsibility.

Subaru sighs in resignation, admitting defeat once again. "Alright, but if something goes wrong, I just want it on record that I complained before walking into this creepy place."

Without acknowledging Subaru’s complaint, Max starts walking toward the tavern. When the group finally reaches the entrance, Max stops, inspecting the door—an old, worn wooden panel with rusty hinges—and makes a brief analysis.

"The structure is unstable," he informs. "If there is resistance inside, the integrity of the building will be compromised. Proceed with caution."

Subaru looks at the door and swallows hard. "Great, on top of everything else, the place might collapse on our heads. Any other bad news you’d like to share before we go in?"

With a swift motion, Max raises his right hand slightly, palm open, signaling the obvious to Subaru—a nonverbal request for silence and patience. This confuses the young man, making him doubt the hidden meaning behind Max's gesture. Before questioning it, Subaru places a finger in front of his lips and orders silence with a simple sound.

"Shhhhhh." Emilia’s expression shifts from surprise to understanding, and she nods.

Without disturbing the old wooden planks that make up the tavern's front porch and without causing any noise with his careful and calculated steps, Max approaches the door and tilts his head, pressing his left ear against it, capturing subtle sounds that the others cannot perceive. "There is someone inside," Max states firmly. "In fact, more than one person."

Subaru is surprised by this statement, not expecting any living soul to be inside such a place. He hides his nervousness and fear by taking a step back, positioning himself behind Emilia. "I hope it’s someone friendly this time."

"Can you tell who they are?" Emilia clasps her hands together in a hopeful gesture.

"Negative. Now, wait until intervention is necessary, or we will move away from the structure." His deep voice ensures they won’t be overheard or detected by even the slightest noise. After his comment, Max presses his ear against the door again.

Emilia notices Subaru slowly stepping back and positioning himself behind her, raising an eyebrow in a mix of surprise and amusement. Turning slightly toward him, she tilts her head and whispers, "Are you okay, Subaru? You seem a little… nervous."

Subaru forces a short laugh, trying to appear nonchalant, but the slight sweat on his forehead betrays him. "Nervous? Me? Pfft, no way! I’m just positioning myself strategically! You know, maximum protection. You're a royal candidate, so I stand back here to make sure nothing hits you first."

Puck appears, already floating around Subaru’s head, and lets out a sarcastic chuckle.
"So, does that mean you're going to use her as a human shield? How cute of you, Subaru. I didn't know you were such a barbarian..."

"Hey, don't put it like that!" A tone of irritation and alarm escapes his lips. "I just..." He averts his gaze and crosses his arms. "Okay, maybe I'm not very comfortable with this whole 'there might be someone dangerous in there' vibe. But cut me some slack, this new world isn’t easy for me!"

Emilia smiles gently, noticing that despite the playful tone, Subaru truly seemed uneasy. She lightly touches his arm in a reassuring gesture.
"Don't worry, Subaru. If something happens, we'll deal with it together, okay? Besides, Max seems to know what he's doing."

Subaru looks at Max, who remains still, pressing his ear against the door, analyzing the situation with cold precision. The contrast between him, Emilia, and Puck is striking. While Max seems like a machine, without any hesitation or doubt in his actions, Emilia exudes a gentle, encouraging, and almost innocent calmness—not a negative trait in social situations, except when faced with the cruelty of the surrounding society, which shapes the world. Puck, on the other hand, remains comedic in his remarks, always wearing a mischievous grin, waiting for the right moment to make a comment.

"Yeah... 'knowing what he's doing' is definitely something that guy does all the time," Subaru mutters, still not very reassured about the current situation.

"Then trust him a little," Emilia suggests, smiling.

"I only trust him because—"

Before he can finish his sentence, the ambient light is disturbed by another, more reddish glow, accompanied by a loud crack of destruction, scaring off all the nearby birds. The intensified color around them is not unfamiliar to Subaru, and his initial startled reaction is to turn to Max and question his methods. But instead, he only sees the old door blown open, burned at the edges with lingering sparks of heat—and the man's figure is gone.

That sight seems to genuinely frighten Emilia. Her senses go on high alert, the tips of her ears twitching at the sharp sound of the material giving way and the abrupt shift from calm to sudden action.
"W-What was that?" she asks, taking a step back, her expression filled with shock. "Where is Max? Y-You didn't tell me he could do that!" A slight indignant tone marks her voice as she turns to Subaru, her eyes reflecting both fear and disbelief.

"I-I didn't know he could do that! I just said he saved me, but I never thought he was responsible for that thing. I was kind of out of it because of those thieves beating me up..." He gestures wildly with his body and voice, like a dramatic actor. "Of course, I suspected something about the origin of it, but I didn't think he was even weirder than he already seemed..." He sighs. "Of course he entered the tavern in the least friendly way possible."

Emilia takes a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, but her eyes still hold concern. "This isn’t normal, Subaru. He just—destroyed the door! And he didn’t even hesitate."

Puck hovers beside her face, crossing his tiny arms and frowning. "And the strangest part is, I didn't feel a single trace of magic coming from him. That wasn't a normal spell."

Subaru swallows hard. "Well... considering he's a mysterious guy, strong enough to throw people against walls like it's nothing, and now he’s blowing up doors like it’s a joke... I'd say we should be a little more worried."

"Yes! Exactly!" Emilia points at the wrecked entrance. "So what do we do now? Go in after him?"

Before Subaru can answer, the sound of hurried footsteps and chairs scraping echoes from inside, followed by raised voices.

"Of course we’re going to have to go in," Subaru mutters. "If he made this whole scene, there are definitely people inside who are not happy about it."

Emilia clenches her fists and nods, trying to regain her composure. "Then let's go. Before he does something even more... extreme."

Puck spins in the air. "Ahhh, Max... you’re definitely a walking problem."

With one last glance at each other, the two step through the destroyed entrance, feeling the lingering heat of the explosion still hanging in the air.

The interior of the place was abandoned, yet it still carried the remnants of a past glory when it was grand and bustling with people from the region. Now, only empty, dust-covered bottles remained. The only light came from the sun’s rays filtering in from outside. The tables and chairs were overturned or poorly maintained, scattered near the bar counter—which itself had a hole going straight through to the wall, still crackling with tiny sparks.

It takes less than a second for Emilia, Subaru, and Puck to notice Max standing still, holding a young blonde-haired girl by the neck. She wasn’t very tall, her feet unable to reach the ground, and she struggled fiercely to break free.

"LET GO OF ME, STALKER!" her sharp voice fills the room with hatred, trying to sound intimidating with both her tone and the glimpse of her yaeba as she glares at the utterly expressionless and calm man. "ARE YOU JUST GOING TO STARE AT ME WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING? DID YOU CHASE ME ALL THIS WAY JUST FOR THIS?!"

“This is the…” A moment of epiphany runs through Subaru’s mind as he connects the characteristics of the girl restrained by Max with the exhaustive and detailed list Max had given him just hours ago to determine if Subaru had seen her escaping through the alleyway. “Is she really the same one I saw running away from you?” His tone remained indignant at his companion’s reckless actions, but he was in shock at the realization that Max had actually been right all along.

“Affirmative, Subaru.” He does not turn his usual expressionless face and continues to keep his entire body directed toward the already restrained, elusive thief. “Her name is Felt, and she is responsible for the crime of stealing Lady Emilia’s insignia.”

“So… it was her?” Emilia’s eyes widen upon hearing this.

Felt, still struggling, growls and tries to kick Max, but her strength is not enough to make him move or even show discomfort. “You’re talking like I’m some kind of dangerous criminal! I just took a little something! Let me go, you brute!”

Subaru instinctively steps forward, raising his hands in a gesture of appeasement. “Hey, Max, don’t you think you’re being a little too harsh? I mean, she’s just a girl, and she doesn’t even seem that old!”

“She committed a crime,” Max responds, his tone unchanged. “Recovering the stolen item was the priority. Restraining the thief was the most efficient method.”

“That doesn’t mean you had to grab her by the neck!” Emilia exclaimed, stepping closer as well. “She needs to breathe!”

For a moment, Max listens to Emilia’s concern, as if silently considering something. Then, without hesitation, he abruptly releases Felt. She drops to her knees, coughing and rubbing her neck.

“Damn… You’re way too strong for a normal human, you know that?” She spits on the ground and glares at Max with resentment. “If I had realized that sooner, I would’ve run farther away.”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference,” Max states, without arrogance or provocation—just a cold observation. “Your escape was inefficient, and your attempt to complete your plan with the stolen object failed.”

Felt grits her teeth and huffs in frustration, while Subaru and Emilia exchange tense glances.

“What do you mean?” Subaru asks, trying to ease the atmosphere and understand the situation.

“I heard two other voices in the area—one feminine but mature, like a woman, and the other aged and worn by time, like that of an old man. Both issues were handled using the most efficient methods.”

“What did you do?” Emilia looks at Max with a pensive and concerned expression, preparing to hear more of his actions. “They’re not responsible for the theft, and they didn’t—”

“Incorrect, Lady Emilia.” Max interrupts her without hesitation or any social courtesy—his interjection is precise and measured, cutting off her statement before she can finish. “Felt intended to sell the amulet to obtain money and fulfill the agreement with the unknown woman. This was the meeting point where the exchange was to take place, ensuring mutual benefit for all involved. The man residing here willingly accepted the situation.” He remains with his arms lowered, standing close to Felt to prevent her from fleeing. “The man is unconscious, and the woman was pushed inside the building by that red wave all of you noticed.”

Subaru frowns. “So you just walked in, broke down the door, knocked out an old man, and shoved a woman inside the house?!”

Max tilts his head slightly. “Correct.”

“That wasn’t a compliment!” Subaru runs a hand down his face, exasperated. “That’s exactly what I was talking about! You can’t just go around attacking people just because it’s efficient!”

Felt, still on her knees, crosses her arms and grumbles. “Damn… Old man Rom probably didn’t even know what hit him… and Elsa—”

Near the counter, a section of wood is suddenly sent flying upward with force, small planks scattering against the walls, ceiling, and abandoned tavern furniture.

Subaru feels a shiver run up his spine as a low, dragging laugh echoes from within the wreckage, followed by the sharp tapping of high heels on the old, worn-out floor.

“Ahh… It’s been a while since I’ve felt something like this.”

From the debris, a female figure slowly rises, dusting off her dark garments. Her short black hair, outfit, chest, and smooth skin are riddled with splinters, while blood escapes from her mouth and mixes slightly with her lips.

Subaru’s eyes widen in shock. Emilia, on the other hand, furrows her brows and takes a step forward to act, while Puck remains perched atop her white hair, merely observing the situation. Felt is left speechless, stunned by the fact that the woman is still alive despite being buried under rubble, covered in splinters, and suffering from some unknown, supposed magic.

The strange woman licks her lips as if savoring the moment. Her violet eyes gleam with a dangerous emotion.

“What a bold entrance…” she murmurs, running her tongue over her lips. “If I had known you’d be so rough with me, I would have prepared better. Seems like Felt forgot to mention just how unique you are… Unique in every way.”

She leans forward slightly, gazing at Max with a mixture of curiosity and something deeper—something hungry.

Elsa watches Max approach with a mischievous smile.

“It seems this will be settled another way,” Max steps forward, his hands clasped behind his back. “Make sure the criminal does not escape and that you three do not interfere.”

“Oh… This is interesting.” Elsa rolls her shoulders, lightly stretching her neck before letting her hand slide toward the sheath of her curved dagger. “I didn’t expect this negotiation to turn into something so… exciting.”

Max stops a few meters away from her, keeping his hands behind his back. His eyes analyze her every movement, observing how her muscles tense and how she distributes her weight on her feet.

“You are a considerable threat,” Max states, devoid of emotion. “But not beyond elimination.”

Elsa’s expression brightens with an almost predatory glint.

“So cold…” She takes a step forward, and in the blink of an eye, she vanishes from Subaru, Emilia, and Felt’s sight.

Max, without needing to move his hands from behind his back, slightly tilted his body to the side, dodging Elsa's deadly strike. His precision caused the blade to cut through nothing but air, not even coming within a millimeter of his fine suit.

Elsa landed gracefully a few steps ahead, twirling her dagger between her fingers.

"Ohh... you're quite fast."

"Your attacks are predictable," Max responded, stepping firmly forward. Without warning, he dashed at a speed enviable to human eyes. In the next instant, a dry impact echoed through the air as Max delivered a direct blow to Elsa’s abdomen, launching her backward. Her body crashed through an old table, splitting it in half with the force of the impact, before sinking slightly into the worn wooden wall.

But instead of showing pain on her face, grunting, or even betraying discomfort through her body language, Elsa laughed softly, her lips forming a small, amused smile. "Ahh... that hurt." She touched her lip, now cut by the old splinters, and grinned. "But that’s exactly what I like." Without hesitation, she rose once more from the debris, daggers in hand, eyes gleaming with anticipation and excitement, eager for more of this situation.

"I suggest your redemption," Max stated directly, unwilling to prolong the conflict. "Tell me who hired you and why you want the amulet, and we end this here."

Elsa, still smiling, ran her thumb over her cut lip, smearing it lightly with blood. Her feline eyes narrowed, assessing Max like a predator that had found a worthy opponent. "Redemption?" She chuckled softly, tilting her head slightly. "That sounds so strange coming from someone like you..."

Silence stretched between them for a brief moment before Elsa sighed. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you that. It would be a shame to break a contract so soon."

"So, the option was declined," Max stated, as if he had already anticipated her answer.

Before Elsa could react, Max moved toward her with the same inhuman speed. A shockwave rippled through the narrow space between them, and she felt her body being violently propelled backward once again. Another punch, delivered with force and precision, struck her stomach. The wall behind her cracked and caved in even more from the second impact. The sound of splintering wood and dust spreading filled the room.

Elsa’s body trembled slightly as she rose once again from the wooden wreckage, a trickle of blood running down the corner of her mouth. "That was...," she smiled, panting. "...fast."

Before she could make another move, Max seized her by the neck with his right hand, effortlessly lifting her from the wall. His grip tightened slightly with every sudden or hostile movement, but Elsa only continued smiling, her characteristic expression blending pain and pleasure into a single moment.

"You really like making this more intense," Elsa laughed, saying, "but you don't even let me retaliate in proper measure. You're quite rude to a lady." Her sarcasm did little to hide how much she was enjoying the moment.

"I don’t care. Just tell me who hired you to get the amulet."

"Oh my, it seems you didn’t hear me the first time, sir."

Max struck her face with his free hand, sending blood splattering into the air like a fine rain. He withdrew his fist from her cheek, letting it rest near his knee. Meanwhile, Elsa slowly moved her head back to face the man’s dark sunglasses. Her movements were controlled and calm—far different from Felt’s desperate and flailing attempts earlier.

She let out a low moan. "Frustrated? Didn’t get the answer you wanted?"

"No," Max replied, his voice as unchanging as ever. "The answer I want will come with time—or with more pressure."

He lifted Elsa slightly higher, making it clear he could choke her into unconsciousness or death at any moment. But the assassin’s grin only widened. "Pressure, huh? You really have no experience with women, do you? I can tell you don’t recognize the most obvious signs."

Before Max could react, her muscles tensed in a swift motion. A silver flash cut through the space between them—a curved blade slipped out from within Elsa’s garments, aiming straight for the arm he had extended to strangle and restrain her in midair.

But instead of the expected result—a severed limb—the blade didn't even cut through the outermost layer of Max’s suit.
Stranger still was the sound that followed: a sharp yet not painfully loud clang reverberated through the tavern, lasting for a few seconds. The dagger’s blade bent unnaturally upon impact, as if it had struck something far harder than mere fabric.

Elsa’s eyes widened briefly. Emilia and Felt seemed confused by what had happened. Puck remained enigmatic, appearing unbothered or unsurprised. Subaru, however, was the most visibly shaken. Once again, his mind began racing, piecing together scattered fragments from the past.

‘He never makes mistakes. He always has a standard way of speaking, always direct, always emotionless, like a stone in any situation. His attire... it somewhat resembles something from my world. And when he was struck by a metal weapon... that sound was produced... That means...’

For a moment, Subaru’s body went cold. A nervous chill ran down his spine as a conclusion formed in his mind—one that seemed absurd within the context of this world, but not so impossible from his own perspective.

‘He is…’

Chapter Text

Time froze the instant the metallic blade and the black sleeve clashed, the clang that echoed between them strangely sharp and unnatural for a confrontation between two humanoid beings. And with that sound came the realization—this man was even more bizarre and out of place than he'd already appeared to be to his companions.

The curve of Elsa’s weapon bent even further after the impact, now resembling a boomerang more than ever—making it easier to compare her weapon of death to something one might find in a child’s game.

"It seems like you’ve got more surprises each time we meet," Elsa remarked, the flicker of a flame in her eyes shifting into a curious expression, puzzled by how such a thing could be happening before her, with nothing in reality backing up the strange clarity of the moment. Her voice softened into a tone of false politeness and veiled intent, hiding behind a smile that revealed no teeth. “I could say you’re—”

A sound cut her off. But rather than the cold, direct comment from Max’s deep voice that one might expect, what followed was the crack of bone. Elsa’s head twisted sharply to her right. Max had simply released his grip on her neck, letting her body fall to the floor—just another meaningless existence in a world overflowing with them. Yet that same twisted smile of satisfaction and thrill still lingered on her face. It was as if, on some level, the very idea of death didn’t frighten her.

Her body hit the floor with a muted thud, limbs splayed across the rotting wooden boards of the abandoned tavern. Beams of sunlight flickered through the dusty windows, casting fractured shadows over her motionless face—still locked in that sadistic look of pleasure and fascination with the unknown. Blood slowly spread across the floor, searching for the nearest gap between the planks to drip below the tavern.

Max remained standing over her, watching without a trace of emotion or hesitation. His strike had been deliberate—no doubt, no pause, no room for error. His goal was simple: extract the needed information or, failing that, remove a useless obstacle.

Silence fell over the tavern like a heavy curtain. The only sound was the steady dripping of Elsa’s blood, echoing as it slipped through the cracks.

Subaru swallowed hard. His eyes darted between the assassin’s crumpled body and Max, who remained utterly still—statue-like, with an expression that hadn’t shifted in the slightest. The scene before him was too surreal, too far from what the mind could easily grasp.

Emilia held her breath, her violet eyes shimmering with a mixture of uncertainty and unease. "Did she... die?" the question slipped from her lips in a barely audible whisper.

Felt, on the other hand, took a cautious step back, one hand firmly gripping the hilt of the dagger strapped to her belt. "That bastard took her down with a single hit..." she muttered, eyes fixed on Elsa’s lifeless body. "It doesn’t even feel real."

Puck, still perched atop Emilia’s head, was the first to break the tense silence. "Well, dead or not, at least she’s not moving anymore, right?" he said, doing a slow twirl in the air before landing gently on his contractor’s shoulder. "And that’s a relief. That woman’s a nightmare—I know that all too well."

Subaru, however, didn’t look the least bit relieved. His hands were clenched, damp with sweat, and his heartbeat was wild and uneven. He stared at Max with fierce intensity, barely blinking, unable to stop the thoughts that now raced through his mind—pieces clicking into place like a puzzle long ignored. The metallic clang, the flawless stance, the absolute lack of hesitation or emotion, and the way Elsa’s blade had bent against Max’s clothes as if it had struck solid steel—or something even harder, something that made a well-forged weapon look like brittle glass.

‘A direct execution. Relentless. No hesitation. No emotion.’ The ideas branched in his mind like the limbs of a growing tree, each thought a fact extending from a conclusion still out of reach, yet close enough to be terrifyingly plausible.‘He didn’t see that as a show of power. Max didn’t kill Elsa in anger, or even in self-defense. He erased her... like wiping away a mistake on a chalkboard. Like discarding a problem that no longer served a purpose.’

A chilling thought wrapped itself around Subaru’s mind at that moment: ‘Is he a machine?’ The weight of that possibility crushed his chest. He couldn’t say it for sure—not yet—but he also couldn’t ignore what he had just witnessed. Everything pointed in that direction.‘One of those ultra-advanced machines from sci-fi... the kind that can talk, walk, run on their own systems, and are theoretically unchanging in every way?’Suddenly, all his pop culture knowledge didn’t seem so useless in a medieval world—especially not with that man standing there, back turned, staring at the corpse of that insane woman. ‘T-800? Gort? HAL 9000? Ultron? TARS? David? Agents? Daleks? And yet… why can’t I think of the right comparison…?’

Subaru was still grappling with the horrifying possibility that Max wasn’t just an advanced machine from some far-off future—he might be something even worse. His anxiety pressed against the very idea of why such vastly different genres were colliding here at all. Sci-fi and fantasy weren’t meant to coexist—at least not in any strict or rational way. But now, before his very eyes, he was witnessing the clash of science and the supernatural. And then, a cold shiver ran even deeper down his spine—he had noticed something else.

‘But… what if he’s not really Max? Is this a disguise or the real deal? Is he holding back?’

Elsa’s laugh—grotesque and thirsty—invaded the room like a whisper from the abyss itself.
The assassin rose from the floor, her neck still tilted slightly to one side, as if it hadn’t fully realigned after the brutal fracture Max had inflicted. Her eyes gleamed with a near-childlike fascination, like someone who had just discovered a new and thrilling toy.

“What a wonderful feeling…” she cracked her fingers, her hand trembling slightly, as if her body was still adjusting to the situation. “I knew you were interesting, but this…”
She ran her tongue across her lips as more bones cracked throughout her body, and before everyone’s eyes, an apparent reconstruction began to take place. Her voice grew more excited. “Now I have to find out what you really are.”

Max didn’t react. He remained perfectly still, just like always.

Subaru, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back a shout. “WHAT THE—?! HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!”

Elsa chuckled, clearly amused by his despair. “You think I’ve survived this long just by luck?” she teased, spinning the bent blade between her fingers. “There’s far more in this world than your little head can imagine, kiddo.”

The air was thick with tension. The unnatural sound of Elsa’s bones snapping back into place echoed through the silent tavern, as if the very structure of the building groaned in protest at her presence. Subaru felt a chill crawl up his spine, cold sweat forming on his forehead. He tried to step back, but his legs refused to move—frozen by the terror and absurdity of the scene unfolding before him.

Elsa, with a crazed glint in her eyes, tilted her head, examining Max as if he were a rare gem freshly unearthed. Her lips curled into a crooked grin, her wide eyes burning with fascination.
“Not gonna say anything?” she leaned forward slightly, the blade in her hand twirling with a smooth, almost lazy motion. “That just makes me even more curious. What’s going on in that little head of yours? What are you?”

Max didn’t move. His eyes, hidden behind dark sunglasses, were locked onto her, analyzing every detail, every tiny shift in her movements.There wasn’t a single trace of emotion or hesitation in him. The situation meant nothing to him—not even a threat one might reasonably consider fleeing or avoiding.

Subaru glanced toward Emilia and the others. He expected to see the same shock and horror he felt mirrored in their expressions.The elf was clearly on high alert, the thief more ready than ever before, and the tiny spirit on Emilia’s shoulder watched Max with an expression Subaru couldn’t decipher—it wasn’t fear, nor relief.It was a strange mix of curiosity and evaluation. His feline eyes scanned Max’s figure thoroughly, as if trying to piece together a puzzle with too many missing parts.

Felt, less visible and more concealed behind the other three, seemed restless, her senses on edge. Her crimson irises had narrowed, sharply focused on the unfamiliar man, while she bit down hard on the corner of her thumb.“What kind of monsters are those two?” she murmured under her breath, her fingers trembling slightly. She’d seen plenty of strange things in her life, but nothing like this —and she already knew, without a doubt, that none of it was normal.

Puck, floating above Emilia’s shoulder, watched the scene with a sharp gaze, his small eyes glowing with a bluish light. “That woman’s regeneration is advanced for living beings, but…”
He turned his head slightly toward Max. “ This guy is even more unusual.”

Emilia, on the other hand, held her breath. She wanted to intervene. She wanted to ask Max what he was doing, to understand how someone could remain so cold in the face of death. But something in her instincts screamed that speaking now might be a mistake. Her gaze flicked between Subaru and Max, searching for a silent answer in Subaru’s face—but he looked just as lost as she did.

And amidst that universe of reactions… Elsa lunged.

The assassin leapt with agile motion, her distorted blade tracing a silver arc in the air as she launched herself at Max. This was a completely different kind of attack from before—she wasn’t testing him, wasn’t playing around. This time, Elsa struck as if she truly intended to tear off a piece of him.

The blade sliced through the air and cut the wind—but didn’t hit him. Max had already dodged again with ease. Elsa halted mid-swing, as if about to chain another attack—but she wasn’t fast enough. Max landed a punch straight into her cheek, sinking in deep, followed by a kick to her stomach, propelled perhaps by the air itself, sending her staggering backward.

For a brief moment, surprise and confusion overtook her expression—only to be swiftly replaced by an even brighter gleam of excitement.“Again!” Elsa laughed, spinning on her heel and launching another strike. But her next attempt was met with a blow to her wrist, a loud crack echoing through the tavern.

Elsa leapt back, putting distance between them as she breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling with an almost feverish thrill. “Oh, this is wonderful! You really know how to please a woman like me, huh? This is—”

The words died on her lips.

Max took a single step forward—and the atmosphere shifted completely. His very presence now carried the weight of intimidation, a suffocating sense of uncertainty regarding his intentions toward the woman before him.

Emilia bit her lip, a chill crawling down her spine. She didn’t know why, but in that moment… Max frightened her more than Elsa did.Felt stepped back again, her palms slick with sweat. “This guy…”

And then, he spoke. “You no longer have any use.” It was a simple statement, devoid of emotion—but something about it made Subaru feel a sharp chill slice through his stomach.

Elsa couldn’t understand the meaning behind that sentence, and before she could respond or question the reason for such a comment, Max moved—in an instant, the air around him shifted, and dust scattered to the far and unreachable corners of the walls, as if making way for him. The time needed to process and react properly was robbed from her, leaving her unable to avoid what was about to come—without mercy, without restraint.

Max pushed her—with the open palm of his right hand square against her chest. The result was a brutal impact. All that could be seen was a body hurled in the opposite direction, followed by the dry crash of the tavern wall crumbling, and the sound of wood splintering outward from the building. Only a trail of destruction remained, the earth split into two deep furrows, ending with a faint thud of something landing on distant ground, while birds once again fled in a panic, unaware of what had just happened.

Subaru stared at the scene, heart pounding, body trembling. Emilia gripped the edge of her cloak tightly, her eyes glowing with a mix of fear and uncertainty. Puck, beside her, merely sighed—as if he had expected something like this all along.Felt glanced nervously between the three of them.

“Now let’s return to the main inquiry: the insignia.” Max placed his hands behind his back, turning without any expression—nothing, absolutely nothing as always—toward the group and began walking back toward them, his gaze fixed on Felt from behind those dark sunglasses.

Felt felt a chill crawl down her spine when Max’s hidden eyes locked onto her. Her heart raced, her mind screamed for her to run—but her legs felt stuck to the floor. She didn’t know what was worse: his overwhelming presence, or the fact that in the blink of an eye, he had turned Elsa into a blur disappearing into the distance.

Emilia, still trying to process what had just happened, took a deep breath and looked at Subaru, as if seeking some kind of silent answer. Subaru, however, was frozen, mouth slightly open, sweat running down the side of his face. He had never seen anything like that before.

Max stopped just a few steps away from Felt. His posture remained rigid, calculated, as if he didn’t even acknowledge the fear clearly written on her face. “You stole the girl,” he said, voice steady, without hesitation. “Now, return her.”

Felt clenched her teeth. As much as her instincts screamed to hand over the insignia and get it over with, her pride shouted the opposite. “Listen here, you creepy four-eyes,” she shot back, trying to sound defiant, though her voice trembled slightly. “I took it, and I’m going to sell it. That’s how things work.”

Max remained still for a moment, as if analyzing her words. Then, he took a step forward. Felt instinctively stepped back. “There is no negotiation,” he declared. “The insignia. Or I’ll do it myself.”

Felt clenched her teeth, pulling the insignia from inside her cloak and gripping it tightly. “You don’t even know what this thing is worth,” she insisted, desperately trying to buy time. “It’s a valuable artifact, you get it? I could get rich off this and change my life! I can’t just—”

Once again, he moved so that his presence became oppressive to the thief. The air around them seemed to grow heavy, filled with something invisible yet inescapable. Felt felt her breath shorten, her legs weaken. “That doesn’t belong to you,” he stated, as if merely stating an irrefutable fact.

Puck, who was floating beside Emilia, tilted his head and crossed his tiny arms. “Hey, hey,” the spirit called out, trying to ease the tension the way Subaru had done hours earlier. “No need to be so strict, right? I’m sure we can settle this without scaring the poor girl half to death.”

Max ignored him.

Felt looked to Subaru, seeking help, some kind of intervention, anything. But Subaru looked just as lost as she did. “I…” Felt clutched the insignia even tighter, biting her lower lip. She was never the type to be intimidated. She had grown up on the streets, dealing with dangerous people every day. But Max… he was something else. Something she couldn’t understand.

“Fine, fine!” she finally gave in, throwing the insignia toward him. “Take this damn thing!”

Max reached out and caught the object in midair without the slightest effort. Immediately, he extended it toward Emilia. She still seemed in shock from everything that had just happened, but snapped out of it with a quick shake of the head upon realizing her insignia was right in front of her—in Max’s hand. “T-Thank you,” she said softly, her gentle eyes landing on Felt, still trying to appear calm and grounded in reality. “I’m sorry for all of this.”

Felt scoffed, crossing her arms. “No need to play the nice girl now,” she muttered.

“Problem solved,” said Max. “But everything is not yet resolved with proper perfection and order.”

Everyone looked at him in confusion. “My insignia was already recovered, Max. It’s over,” said Emilia.

“The crime still remains without judgment.” Max moved before Felt could escape and gripped her wrists tightly. “That doesn’t change the fact that you’re a thief and must face the consequences of your disorderly actions. I don’t care about your story or the reasons you think justify your crime.” His voice was heavy with seriousness.

Subaru widened his eyes upon seeing Max holding Felt like that. The girl’s heart raced, and her mind screamed to fight back, but Max’s fingers were like an iron vise around her wrists. “Hey, hey! Hold on, Max!” Subaru stepped forward, sweat dripping from his temple. “That’s enough, man! She gave the insignia back, end of story! Why are you still coming down on her?”

Emilia, now clutching her insignia against her chest as if afraid of losing it again, blinked in surprise before stepping in. “Max… you don’t have to do this. I just wanted my insignia back. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

But Max remained impassive, not even looking at them.
“The crime was committed.” His voice was firm, as if he were merely stating an undeniable fact. “And crimes must be judged. If there is no punishment, then what is the point of having order?”

Felt tried to pull her arms away, but it was no use. “You’ve gotta be kidding me?! Let go, you lunatic! What kind of punishment is this?!”

Max didn’t answer immediately. He only tilted his head slightly, as if calculating something.

Puck yawned and floated a bit closer, landing on Emília’s shoulder. “Wow, this is getting serious, huh?” He then opened one eye and looked at Max. “Listen, big guy, how about letting the girl go? Emília doesn’t want punishment, and in the end, she was the only one harmed in this whole story, right?”

Max didn’t move.

Subaru felt a lump in his throat. He knew Max was... different. But this? The way he was talking? Like he was in a courtroom and not in a wrecked tavern? He looked at Emília, who seemed hesitant. She didn’t want more trouble, but she also didn’t know what to say to convince him.

Felt, meanwhile, clenched her teeth, furious. “You want a trial?! Fine! Then tell me, executioner, what do you think should happen to me? Gonna kill me? Chop off my hand? Huh?!”

The tension in the tavern was almost suffocating. And then, Max finally moved his lips. “The punishment will be proportional to the crime committed.” He slightly loosened his grip on her wrists. “You stole. Therefore, you must repay something of equivalent value.”

Felt blinked, surprised. “What?”

Max released her completely, but his gaze remained sharp. “Debt of service. You will assist Emília in something of equal or greater importance to the value of the item you tried to steal. Until that debt is paid, you are not absolved.”

Subaru was the first to react. “Hold on... hold on! You mean her punishment is… working for Emília?”

Max nodded, as if it were the most logical conclusion in the world.

Felt’s eyes widened in shock. “YOU’VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME?!”

Emília blinked several times, unsure how to respond. “I-I don’t think that’s nec—”

“Denied.” Max interrupted her. “A fair punishment has been determined. If the criminal does not accept it, I will have to consider stricter alternatives.”

Felt felt a chill of pure fear.

“… You’ve got to be kidding me,” she murmured, but couldn’t see a way out.

Subaru scratched his head, still thinking and now not knowing what to do. “Well... the situation’s been resolved: we got the stolen item back, figured out who took it, and the whole meaning behind the act, but now what? Where do we go? ‘Cause me and my ‘friend’,” he glanced at Max out of the corner of his eye, “don’t have a house or even a place to stay.”

Emília seemed to remember something and widened her eyes. “Ah, that’s right...! I was so focused on the insignia I didn’t think about that.”

Puck floated beside her face, spinning lazily in the air. “Veeery good point, Lia. After all, if it weren’t for them, we might be without the insignia right now.”

Subaru crossed his arms and sighed. “So, is there a place for us to stay? Like a fancy hotel? Maybe a palace? A humble but cozy house with magically warm food waiting?”

Max remained impassive, simply awaiting the answer.

Emília hesitated, bringing a finger to her chin. “Well… actually, I was planning to return to Roswaal’s mansion today.”

Felt, who until now still looked resentful about her ‘punishment’, frowned. “Roswaal? The Marquis? That clown-faced nutjob?”

“Yes.” Emília confirmed, trying to ignore the way Felt described him. “I was heading there when I lost my insignia. If Subaru and Max have nowhere to stay, maybe I can ask Roswaal to offer temporary lodging.”

Subaru lit up for a moment. “Oh! Did I hear ‘free lodging’?”

Puck chuckled. “That’s if Lia’s boss agrees, of course.”

Max remained still, but then asked a single question. “Will the place be adequate?”

Emília smiled, feeling a bit of the weight on her shoulders ease. “Yes! It’s a big and comfortable place. I’m sure he won’t mind hosting you two.”

Subaru clapped his hands together. “Then it’s settled! Let’s head to the mansion of that eccentric noble.”

Felt, on the other hand, stood with arms crossed, clearly displeased. “And what about me? Where am I going?”

Max turned to face her, his presence once again taking on that intimidating weight. “You know the answer.”

Felt gritted her teeth. The idea of having to follow Emília still bothered her, but she also knew that refusing was risky.

“… Damn it.” She kicked the ground. “Fine, I’ll go. But don’t expect me to play nice!”

Subaru laughed nervously. “No one was expecting that.”

With that, the group began preparing to leave, leaving behind the destroyed tavern. Felt just checked if the old man was okay on that wooden floor — for a moment she felt relieved that he was alive, but quickly left him behind due to Max’s insistence on getting out of that place.

Not unlike the other times, Max remained silent with his hands behind his back while walking with the others. The only difference now was that he was following Emilia, since she knew the way to the mansion. Subaru stayed his usual energetic self and tried to strike up a conversation with Felt, who just kept quiet and disinterested. Hands in her pockets and a sulky look on her face, Felt kicked small rocks along the way. Puck floated carefree around Emilia, occasionally snuggling onto her shoulder.

“So, just to confirm,” Subaru broke the silence, looking at Emilia. “Your boss’s mansion is safe, right? Because, look, considering everything that happened, it’d be really nice if we didn’t have to deal with another crazy chick trying to stab us.”

Emilia let out a nervous chuckle. “Yes… I mean, I think so. The mansion is well protected, and Roswaal has good staff. Besides, if anything happens, I’ll be there to help.”

Subaru blinked. “So you really can fight?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Yes! I’m a half-elf and I can use magic, so—”

Felt cut in with a curious look. “Half-elf? So that’s why those guys in town kept staring at you?”

Emilia looked away, clutching the edge of her cloak. “Yeah… something like that.”

The atmosphere grew a bit tense suddenly, but Subaru tried to lighten it up. “Well, at least we’ve got a mage in the group! That’s always handy, right?”

Max, without looking at anyone, suddenly commented. “A skill is not useful on its own. The defining factor is efficiency and purpose.”

Everyone looked at him.

Felt frowned. “Are you saying that if she’s not strong enough, then it’s useless?”

Max didn’t respond. He just kept walking, as if he hadn’t said anything.

Puck opened one of his eyes and yawned. “Brrr, always so serious. You need to chill a little, Max.”

The group kept walking, leaving the city behind and heading down the path that would take them to Roswaal’s mansion.

Without sharing it with the others, Max was thinking through the situation with the half-elf’s theft. He still needed to find out who was behind Elsa being hired to get the insignia and why. The information was vague and not at all solid enough to lead to a conclusion. The only thing he was sure of was the possibility that the person didn’t have the best intentions regarding order or ethics. But something still felt strange, and that feeling wouldn’t go away. He stayed quiet, keeping his attention on Felt in case she tried anything.

While walking, Max maintained his rigid and disciplined posture — hands behind his back and gaze hidden behind dark glasses. His mind, however, was working at full speed. The insignia was an important item, and someone really wanted it stolen. Elsa was just a hired assassin, a tool in the hands of someone with bigger plans. Which meant that, to understand the real threat, he’d have to find whoever ordered the theft.

The most likely possibility was that the item was linked to Emilia’s position in society or that it was some kind of test for something greater. The doubt lingered in his mind: was the theft the goal itself, or just a step in a more complex plan?

Max didn’t share these thoughts with the others. Subaru was too focused on his own survival. Emilia, despite being the owner of the insignia, didn’t seem to grasp the depth of the problem. Felt? Well, she was just an opportunistic thief — but even so, Max couldn’t afford to underestimate her.

Felt had her arms crossed, kicking small stones along the path, but Max didn’t trust her apparent calmness. If she tried to escape or hide something, he would stop her without hesitation.

Max’s silence was something Subaru was beginning to notice more and more as they walked. Not that he expected cheerful conversation from him, but the methodical and cold way he followed Emília’s steps—without diverting his gaze, without hesitation, or showing any sign of discomfort—made his presence feel even stranger.

“Hey, Max.” Subaru broke the silence again, looking at him with curiosity. “What’s your deal? You always look like you’re plotting something.”

Max remained silent for a moment before replying: “Planning is the only way to eliminate unforeseen events and maintain order.”

Subaru made a face. “Do you always have to talk in such a creepy way? At least try not to sound like a villain.”

Max didn’t reply. He just kept walking.

The information he was looking for was still out of reach, but one thing was certain: that incident didn’t end there.

“Max. How did you do all those things against Elsa? Pushing her so hard and taking her down so easily? And also that weird sound when her weapon hit your arm.” Emília seemed curious and wanted to know more about that mysterious man—though the fear she felt from Elsa’s beating hadn’t completely gone away.

Max slightly turned his head toward Emília but didn’t slow his pace. His expression remained impassive, hidden behind his dark sunglasses. He knew that question would come eventually.

“My body is superior to that of a normal human.” His answer was direct, without embellishment.

Emília blinked a few times, waiting for a more detailed explanation, but he didn’t continue. Subaru, listening closely, raised an eyebrow.

“Superior? What do you mean? Are you some kind of half-golem? Or one of those secret experiments that escaped from a crazy lab?” he asked, half-joking, half-serious.

Max didn’t reply immediately. His mind analyzed the best way to satisfy their curiosity without revealing unnecessary information. “My physical structure was designed to withstand severe impacts and apply force in an optimized way.”

Puck, who had been resting on Emília’s shoulder, floated gently into the air, looking at Max up close. “Hmmm… I’ve seen creatures with physical reinforcement before, but you don’t have a single trace of mana circulating through your body.” The little spirit squinted his eyes. “You’re kind of weird.”

Emília nodded slightly. “Yeah… every living being, even those who don’t use magic, has at least a trace of mana inside. But you… it’s like you’re completely empty.”

Felt, who had been quiet until now, whistled. “So this guy’s not just strong, he’s a real monster, huh?”

Max kept his gaze forward. “The absence of mana is irrelevant to my function.”

Subaru crossed his arms and sighed. “Yeah, and you don’t like giving straight answers, do you? But fine… I’ll just assume you’re a secret project sent from a chaotic future to stop the apocalypse. Nailed it?”

He expected at least a look of disapproval from Max, but the man kept walking without even glancing at him.

The conversation didn’t bring any clear answers, but one thing was clear to Emília and the others: Max wasn’t normal. He wasn’t just strong—there was something about him that defied the world’s very rules.

“What can you tell me about Roswaal and the other people who live in his mansion?” Max asked.

Emília seemed surprised by Max’s sudden question, but didn’t take long to respond.

“Roswaal… well, he’s Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers, the lord of the mansion we’re heading back to. He’s a… peculiar person.” She paused, trying to choose her words carefully. “But he’s an ally.”

“Peculiar?” Max repeated the word, as if analyzing its meaning.

Subaru snorted. “That’s a nice way of saying he’s a total weirdo with a strange way of talking and acting that makes you question his motives every five seconds.”

Puck chuckled softly. “Nyahaha, Roswaal really is a bit hard to understand, but he takes care of Emília.”

Felt looked sideways, crossing her arms. “And what does this guy get out of helping her?”

Emilia hesitated for a moment. “He has his own goals, but in the end, he’s helping me.”
Max remained silent for a few moments, absorbing the information before continuing: “And the other residents of the mansion?”

“The main one is Roswaal himself, but we also have Rem and Ram, they’re twins and work as maids,” Emilia explained. “They may seem tough at first, but they’re good people.”

 Max mentally recorded the names and basic profiles. “And what is their level of competence?”The question made Subaru raise an eyebrow. 

“Huh? What do you mean by that?” 

“Combat capabilities and individual skills,” Max replied pragmatically. 

Puck spun in the air. “Hmm, well, I don’t know much about their abilities, but both are oni.”

Emilia nodded. “Yes, don’t worry, they’re trustworthy.”

Max showed no judgment toward the statement. To him, someone’s trustworthiness could only be proven through their actions. “And Roswaal?” Max returned to the central question.

Puck looked at Emilia, as if asking whether she wanted to answer that. “Roswaal is a powerful mage,” Emilia admitted. “He’s one of the strongest in the kingdom, if not the strongest.”

Max assimilated this information. If that man was truly so powerful, then what was his real intention in supporting Emilia? He already knew nobles rarely acted without hidden motives. In the distance, the large mansion came into view, and the entrance to the majestic courtyard stole everyone’s attention.

The group crossed the spacious Mathers mansion courtyard, their steps lightly echoing on the well-kept stone path. The surrounding environment was vast and lush, surrounded by trees swaying gently in the wind. The sky was clear, and the fresh air made the atmosphere feel almost peaceful, while the sun was beginning to set, preparing the way for night.

Emilia led the group toward the entrance door, her steps hesitant, as if pondering something. Puck floated beside her, playing with his own tail while discreetly watching Max. Subaru walked alongside Felt, who kept a closed expression, visibly bothered by the situation. 

As they reached the large carved wooden door, Emilia turned to Max and Subaru.

 “I’ll speak with Roswaal about the two of you,” she said, her eyes softening slightly. “But please, try to behave appropriately. Roswaal can be a bit… peculiar.”

Subaru chuckled nervously. “I was kind of expecting that.”

Max remained impassive. “There is no need for a warning. My conduct will always be appropriate for the situation.”

Emilia couldn’t tell if that was comforting or worrying, but chose not to insist.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door. For a moment, only silence reigned. Then, light footsteps were heard from the other side, followed by the sound of the doorknob turning. The door slowly opened, revealing a young woman with pink hair, an apathetic expression, and wearing a classic black-and-white maid outfit.

Her red eyes scanned the group with disinterest before landing on Emilia. “Welcome back, Emilia-sama,” she said in a monotonous voice. Her gaze then shifted to Subaru, then to Felt, and finally to Max. At the sight of the last, her eyebrows rose slightly.

“A beggar, a thief, and a stranger?” Ram murmured, clearly unimpressed.

Subaru was both irritated and surprised by the girl’s rude comment. “Hey! I’m not a beggar!”
 

Felt clenched her fists. “And I’m not just a thief, you—!”

Before the tension could escalate, Emilia intervened. “Ram, please inform Roswaal that we have visitors.”

Ram sighed, as if it were an unnecessary nuisance. “Understood, Emilia-sama.”

The group remained at the door, waiting for Roswaal’s response. After a while, a figure with green hair and dressed in noble garments that resembled a jester or clown came down the stairs with a captivating gait. His heterochromatic eyes landed on Emilia, and he spoke cheerfully. “Emilia-sama, how was your stroll through the city? Did you enjoy it, hmm?”

Emilia gave a hesitant smile, feeling a bit uncomfortable with Roswaal’s always-theatrical demeanor. “It was… complicated.”

The Marquis’ heterochromatic eyes narrowed with interest as he descended the last steps, approaching the group. “Ohooo~ complicated, you say? Now I’m even more curious.” His eyes then scanned the new visitors, stopping on Subaru first, then Felt, and finally on Max. His smile remained unchanged, but there was an intrigued glint in his gaze.

"Hmmm... who are these peculiar guests, Emilia-sama?"

Before she could answer, Subaru stepped forward, pointing to himself with a thumb. "I'm Subaru Natsuki! A traveler who got caught up in this whole mess. No home, no money, but full of energy!"

Roswaal chuckled softly, bringing a hand to his chin. "Hoooh~ a free spirit, I see." Felt, still uncomfortable, crossed her arms. "I'm Felt. And before you ask, no, I'm not here because I want to be."

 "Ah yes, the little insignia thief~" Roswaal said in an amused tone, as if it were a funny anecdote.

His eyes finally fell on Max. For a moment, the Marquis' smile slightly faded, only to quickly return to its usual form.

"And you? Who might you be, hm?"

Max remained still, hands behind his back, his gaze hidden by his dark sunglasses. His response came calmly and directly.

"Max. A temporary ally of Emilia."

Roswaal tilted his head, as if trying to decipher him. The air around them seemed to grow slightly denser, a subtle tension arising between the two. Then, Roswaal smiled again, clapping lightly.

"Ohoho~ how interesting, very interesting indeed! A man of few words, yet who exudes... hm, how can I put it... a very, very intriguing presence~"

He turned to Emilia. "So then, my dear Emilia-sama, I believe you have much to tell me, yes?"

She nodded. "Yes. There's something important about the insignia and other matters we need to discuss."

Roswaal took a step to the side, gesturing with his hand. "In that case, please, come in. Let us do this in a civilized and comfortable manner, hmmm? Right this way."

They all followed the Marquis up the stairs and through the hallways, their footsteps echoing through the noble and well-kept space—a stark contrast to the reality of the former slums, almost like living contradictions, never meant to be connected. After passing through several doors, they arrived in a room with windows that allowed uniform lighting throughout. In the center was a table with six chairs. Roswaal was the first to sit at the far end, closest to the windows.

"Please, have a seat," he said, his hands clasped together.

Max sat at the opposite end. Subaru chose the seat beside Emilia, who was closer to Roswaal. Lastly, Felt picked a seat near the Marquis and away from Max.

"Now, now~ please, Emilia-sama, tell me about this unfortunate situation. I want to hear the details."

Emilia took a deep breath before speaking. Her gaze briefly passed over Subaru and Felt before fixing on Roswaal.

"When I arrived in town, I went to the market, and at some point, I realized my insignia was gone. After searching a bit, we found Felt, who had stolen it. But... " She clenched her hands on the table, her expression growing more serious. "The insignia wasn’t stolen on a whim. Someone hired Felt to do it, and the same person also hired an assassin to stop me from getting it back."

Roswaal’s eyes gleamed with interest, but he didn’t interrupt. "That assassin, Elsa Granhiert, attacked us. If it weren't for Subaru and Max, I probably wouldn’t be here right now." Subaru scratched his head with a sheepish smile. "Well... I just did what I could." Max remained silent, watching Roswaal intently.

The Marquis’s expression didn’t change, but his fingers touched his chin thoughtfully. "Hoooh~ so someone wanted your insignia badly enough to hire such a... refined assassin as Elsa. That, hmmm, raises some interesting questions." He looked at Felt. "And you, my young thief, do you know who was behind the request?" 

Felt scoffed, crossing her arms. "No. She just hired me to steal Emilia’s insignia, that’s it."

Roswaal let out a nasal chuckle. "So mysterious~ how delightful." He then turned his gaze to Max. "And you, my enigmatic friend? Any observations on all of this?"
 

Max kept a rigid posture, his hands still clasped on the table. His voice came firm and direct. "Known facts: an anonymous client, a theft, and an attempted murder. Motive still unknown, but clearly related to the insignia. The identity of the contractor remains an open variable, and given the nature of the events, the most likely hypothesis is that it’s a political opponent of Emilia or an unknown third party."

Roswaal smiled broadly. "Oooh~ so logical! So cold! So... impressive~"

Emilia sighed. "The question now is: what do we do about it?"

Roswaal leaned forward slightly, his smile never fading. "Ah, my dear Emilia-sama, before we talk about what to do... we need to consider who might be behind this, hmmm~? But, since we have no concrete clues just yet, may I offer something—a reward for our heroes. You’ve saved a life as important as Emilia-sama’s, and even helped recover such a vital item as the insignia," he chuckled. "Subaru and Max, you may ask for anything, and I shall grant your request. Tell me, what do you want?"

Subaru blinked a few times, surprised by the offer. "Anything...? Wow, that’s pretty generous, huh?" He crossed his arms and tilted his head, clearly thinking of something to ask.

Max, on the other hand, didn’t hesitate. "I want unrestricted access to any source of information within this estate. Books, documents, records—anything that contains relevant knowledge."

Roswaal raised his eyebrows, visibly intrigued. "Oho? So you don’t want money, land, or a position of influence? Just... knowledge?" 

"Information is power," Max replied plainly.

Roswaal chuckled softly. "Indeed, indeed~ Very well, your request is granted. You shall have access to the library and any available records here."

Emilia looked at Max, still surprised by his request. Subaru, on the other hand, scratched his head. “Well... since he asked for something serious, I think I’ll go with something simpler! How about food and a place to stay?”

Roswaal smiled broadly. “But of course~ You and Max can stay at the mansion as guests.”

Subaru cheered. “Nice! Comfy beds and real food, here we come!”

“I need to let Rem and Ram know that we’ll have two new guests here, actually...” Roswaal turned his head toward Felt. “Three guests—”

“She’s here to make up for the damages caused by the theft, which means Felt will serve Emilia until the compensation for the crime is proportionate to her good deeds,” Max interrupted, while Roswaal responded with a mixed expression of surprise and understanding.

Felt widened her eyes and slammed her hands on the table. “What?! Are you kidding me?! I never agreed to that part!”

Max remained unfazed. “The law must be applied fairly. You committed a crime and therefore must pay for it. Working for Emilia-sama is the most efficient way to balance the scales.”

“You’re just making up rules now!” Felt growled, crossing her arms. “I already gave the damn insignia back, it’s all settled! I don’t owe anyone anything!”

“Returning what was stolen does not cancel the crime. If there had been no intervention, the theft would have led to serious consequences,” Max stated in a cold and uncompromising tone.

Roswaal watched the scene with a curious smile, while Emilia seemed unsure about the situation. “Max... I don’t think we should force Felt to stay here if she doesn’t want to...”

“She is responsible for her actions,” Max responded without hesitation. “If escaping responsibilities is an option, then order becomes irrelevant—besides, she came with us willingly.”

Felt clenched her fists, clearly angry, but without immediate arguments to counter. Subaru, on the other hand, looked at her and sighed. “Well... at least here you don’t have to worry about food or shelter. And who knows, maybe you’ll even like the place?”

“As if!” she huffed, looking away.

Roswaal laughed. “What an interesting situation~ Well, if that’s accepted, I’ll have to ask Rem and Ram to prepare accommodations for our three guests.” He then stood up. “And with that, our conversation for today comes to an end.”

Felt huffed again but said nothing, while Emilia seemed relieved that things were at least partially resolved. Max, for his part, simply nodded slightly, already visualizing the next steps now that he would have access to the mansion’s information.

“At the very least, there’s a library here, correct?” Max asked.

“Yes~, the ‘entrance’ is along the mansion’s hallways, just let Beatrice know that you have my permission to enter and access any book.”

Without saying a word, Max simply stood up from the chair, turned his back, and began walking toward the door.

“HEY! Aren’t you going to say anything? Not even a goodbye? Or anything else?” Subaru called out.

He turned slightly and said only: “No, we’ll meet again in a few hours.”

Subaru sighed, throwing his hands up. “Man, you’re impossible...”

Roswaal just laughed in his typical drawn-out tone, while Emilia looked at Max with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Felt, on the other hand, just huffed, arms crossed.

Without further delay, Max left the room, his footsteps echoing through the mansion’s corridors. His destination was clear: the library. If there was any place where he could find answers, it was there.

In the hallway, Max looked for any door indicating the entrance to the library. However, not a single sign could be seen in that corridor. He stopped walking the moment his feet left the carpet, seemingly paralyzed for a moment by confusion and incongruence with the information given by Marquis Roswaal. It wasn’t exactly an error between what was said and the unexpected result, but rather a lack of obvious connection between the words and reality.

After a moment, Max walked all the way back to the beginning and resumed his search. This time, he stopped again, seemingly noticing something strange and unexpected, and stared at a door that looked just as ordinary as any other. Soon after, he reached for the handle and turned it counterclockwise to open it.

The door opened with a soft creak, revealing an interior completely different from the rest of the mansion. The walls were covered with towering shelves, packed with books of various sizes and colors. The air was dense, filled with the smell of old paper and ink. The lighting was gentle, coming from a few magical candles floating in the air.

And in the center of the room, sitting in a chair with an open book on her lap, was a girl with a peculiar appearance. Her blonde hair was tied into two large curls, and her light blue eyes stared at Max with a bored and slightly irritated expression. Her small hands held the book delicately, but her voice carried impatience when she spoke:

“Hmph. Who dares to disturb the great and magnificent me?”

Max remained still at the entrance, analyzing her for a brief moment before responding with his usual coldness:

"You are Beatrice. I'm here because Roswaal gave me permission to access the books in this library."

"Roswaal gave permission? It seems with each passing day he loses more of his sense and keeps saying my name to just anyone, I suppose."

"Regardless of your opinion on that, I’m here to use the available resources."

Max entered the library without hesitation, his eyes scanning the immense shelves in search of something useful.

Beatrice huffed, closing the book with an audible snap. "You're quite bold for a newcomer, I suppose. Do you think you can just walk in and rummage through everything without showing even a hint of respect?"

He looked directly at her, his expression unchanging. "Respect is something earned through worth, not empty words. Are you in my way?"

Beatrice narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. "Tsk... do as you please, but if you mess anything up or bother me too much, I’ll kick you out!"

Max ignored the threat and began walking among the shelves. He needed to find information, and wasting time on trivial arguments was not an option.

‘There’s no formal system of cataloging or classification in this place. It seems I’ll have to do something about this knowledge emporium,’ he concluded silently.

Beatrice, near a table, placed the closed book down and began walking toward Max. He didn’t turn his body toward her — his attention was on the books, and he continued without caring about the approach of the small girl. Her red dress with white frills swayed as she walked, and the opening in her clothing revealed her legs covered with pink-and-purple striped stockings.

"Don’t move." She said in an authoritative tone as she placed a hand on one of Max’s legs — due to the significant size difference between them. Six seconds passed, and Beatrice raised an eyebrow in confusion and surprise. She stepped back, lowering her hand and looking up. "You have no mana. How do you not have mana and are still talking to me?"

Max briefly shifted his gaze from the books and looked down at Beatrice, with no apparent emotion. "Because I do not possess it." His response was direct and objective, as if the matter was irrelevant.

Beatrice furrowed her brow, arms crossed. "That makes no sense, I suppose. Every living being in this world has mana, even the most insignificant ones."

"Then according to your logic, I shouldn’t exist?" Max asked, tilting his head slightly to the side.

Beatrice opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. There was something deeply strange about that man. He was not a common being, and the total absence of mana was just one more detail that made her uncomfortable. "That doesn’t interest me now." She muttered, turning around and returning to her table. "If you’re going to be a bother, just leave already. I have no patience for idiots."

Max, unfazed, returned to examining the books. But in his mind, he already knew that Beatrice could be a valuable source of information.

Beatrice narrowed her eyes as she turned her attention back to the books. Something about Max bothered her deeply. The absence of mana wasn’t something that could simply be ignored — it was a fundamental concept of existence itself. Even inanimate objects had traces of residual mana, so how was it possible that a being like him existed without any?

She tapped her fingers on the cover of the closed book in front of her, momentarily averting her gaze from Max. He was focused, scanning the titles on the shelves with meticulous precision, as if searching for something specific.

‘He doesn’t even seem bothered by it, I suppose…’ Beatrice reflected, lightly biting her lower lip.

Max took a book from the shelf and opened it, finding a writing system similar to Norse Runes and vaguely reminiscent of Eastern Kanji. Of course, he didn’t understand or know the meaning of the words, so he left the page open and approached Beatrice, who was already seated in the same chair as before.

"What is it?" She looked at him with a neutral and contemptuous stare.

"What is written here?" He pointed to the largest sentence on the page.

Beatrice rested her elbow on the arm of the chair and placed her face in her palm, looking lazily — almost bored — at the page Max held out before her. Her eyes quickly slid across the Runes.

"Hmph... this is basic." She crossed her legs and recited with a slight inflection of sarcasm in her voice:

"The link between worlds is made through the Thread of Fate, and only those who understand the nature of Essence can pass through the veils without getting lost."

She then shifted her gaze to Max, examining his reaction with poorly disguised curiosity. "Why do you want to know? Most don’t even skim this kind of material out of fear or ignorance, I suppose." She tilted her head. "You can’t read a single rune, can you? You can’t even feel the flow of the words. So why are you here if you’re illiterate?"

There was something in her tone — a mix of challenge and provocation — as if she wanted to extract an answer from him that might explain a bit more about what he was.

Max stepped a little closer to the table, leaned his body slightly forward, and fixed his eyes on the new line Beatrice had indicated. His unblinking gaze ran over the passage. He showed no emotion, but his mind began to work. The symbols started to align like pieces of a puzzle: repetitions, symmetries, subtle variations. All of this facilitated understanding, especially with Beatrice’s translation, adding logic to that form of writing.

Max then spoke objectively:

"Essence is the foundation of the world, invisible to the common eye, but vital to the structure of reality."

Beatrice slightly widened her eyes. Her expression wavered between surprise and growing curiosity. For a few seconds, she observed him in silence, as if she had discovered a living anomaly before her.

"...Impossible. Are you faking it? No... you’re not— You didn’t have time to learn, but you understood. That’s not normal reading..." She crossed her arms and pressed her lips together. "You’re a problem, I suppose..." She swayed in the chair. "And I hate problems."

"You’ll have to tolerate me, Beatrice. Because I’m not here to be understood, only to follow my objectives." He turned with the book in hand and began to read it rapidly — two pages in less than a few seconds — then continued to another and another, with none of the patience or delight of a regular reader.

Beatrice merely watched, still in astonishment, trying to decipher a riddle that made her question her own intelligence and knowledge of the world. She returned to her reading to ignore the whole situation, but her gaze, with butterfly-shaped irises, kept drifting back to that man — or at least, that’s what she considered him to be.

Chapter Text

After Max left the room without waiting for any kind of comment from his group or the new allies, the conversation continued for a while in a friendly and even calmer tone for Felt, as the man was no longer beside her, watching her every moment. Roswaal remained seated at the table, still smiling and composed.

Lowering his hands and placing them on the table, Subaru spoke in a slightly irritated and tired tone.“There he goes again… doing things on his own without caring about anyone else…”

The half-elf’s curious and confused eyes still lingered on the closed door, but her tone didn’t shift much—still mildly displeased with Max’s behavior. “At the very least, he said he’d come back before leaving. Let’s wait.”

Felt rested her hands behind her neck and closed her eyes. “At least he won’t be staring at me the whole time with those eyes, behind those glasses, like some stalker or authority figure.”

Roswaal chuckled softly, as if the tension had dissipated from the room. In his usual theatrical and drawn-out voice, he remarked: “How curious… the moment he leaves, the air seems to flow again in this room, doesn’t it? Hmmm… Max is certainly a man who fills the space… in a rather… intense manner.”

Subaru glanced sideways, letting out a quiet huff, his shoulders still tense. “Yeah, but that doesn’t change the fact that he acts like he’s the only one with a brain here. I get that he’s strong, but… he could trust the others a little more.”

Felt opened one eye, still leaning back in the chair with a carefree expression. “Or maybe he just doesn’t trust anyone at all, huh? Who knows what kind of past that guy has… you can tell he’s carrying some heavy stuff. It’s not normal for someone to look the way he does.”

Emilia spoke again, more composed now, trying to bring some balance to the situation. “He seems like someone who acts because he feels he must… not because he wants to seem superior or out of pride. But I agree that his way… pushes people away. Maybe if we show him we want to help, he’ll accept it… in time.”

Roswaal slowly spun a wine glass between his fingers, watching the liquid with exaggerated interest. “Or perhaps… Max is exactly what he seems to be: someone who acts first and asks later. And that can be quite useful… so long as we know where to aim him. Hmmm…”

Subaru leaned back in his chair, sighing once more. “Let’s hope that library is worth his time… because if he finds something important, I really hope he shares it with us. That is, if he doesn’t give us the coldest, most straightforward answer possible…”

Felt gave a short laugh, both eyes open now. “If he disappears, I might actually be grateful. That way, I won’t have to explain myself every time I breathe.”

Emilia offered a gentle smile, even though the atmosphere between the three of them remained a mix of weariness and uncertainty. “He’ll come back. I’m sure of it—and he said it himself.

Roswaal delicately set his wine glass down on the table, leaning slightly forward, as if his attention was about to shift to something more practical. The smile didn’t leave his face, but there was a more formal and direct tone in his voice now. “Well then… since Max is off chasing forbidden knowledge, I believe this is the perfect time for something a bit more… mundane.” He laced his fingers together and rested his elbows on the table, gazing at Subaru and Felt with half-lidded eyes. “You two will be staying here for an indefinite amount of time, correct? So… it would be wise to familiarize yourselves with the mansion. This place is vast, full of corridors, windows that look like doors, and doors that look like traps… oh yes, and people too!”

Subaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You mean… like a tour of the entire mansion?”

Roswaal nodded once, almost theatrically. “Precisely, Subaru-kun. We wouldn’t want you getting lost on your way to the bathroom, would we?”

Felt muttered under her breath, brow furrowed. “I could’ve found my spot on my own… I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Oh, but this is more than a walkabout,” Roswaal replied smoothly. “It’s also a formal introduction. After all… you’re staying in the residence of one of the most influential men in the kingdom. Etiquette, hospitality, and… surveillance are all in order, aren’t they? Hmmmm~?”

Without waiting for further comments, he snapped his fingers. In an instant, the front double doors opened gently, revealing two figures identical in appearance but distinct in aura. Ram stepped in first, wearing a serene, distant expression. Behind her came another figure nearly identical to Ram in physical features, but with blue hair and blue irises, her demeanor more neutral, yet carrying something kind behind her gaze.

“Ram and Rem, the twin maids,” Roswaal called out with a soft, almost affectionate voice, “I’d like you to show our new residents around the mansion. Everything… or almost everything, hmm?” Both bowed at the same time in perfect sync, their voices nearly becoming one as they spoke with matching tones.

“Understood, Roswaal-sama.”

Subaru stood, adjusting his jacket. “Yeah, I guess getting to know the place won’t hurt. Just hope there’s nothing cursed along the way…”

Felt crossed her arms, eyeing the two with suspicion. “They look the same… but they’re not the same. That’s weird. But fine, whatever… just show us around this giant castle already.”

Roswaal watched the four of them leave with a curious gleam in his eyes, resting his chin on one hand. “Hmmm… and so the pieces begin to move, slowly and gently, yet always… toward the center of the board.”

Before the heavy door to the room could close completely, Subaru took a step back, leaning slightly to glance over his shoulder. His eyes met Emilia’s—she remained seated at the table, her silver hair shimmering under the room’s light and her violet eyes still fixed on him, soft and curious.

With a sincere smile—one that mixed excitement with a touch of nervousness—Subaru brought a hand to the back of his neck and spoke. “We’ll see each other later, alright?”

Emilia blinked once, as if the phrase had caught her off guard, but soon returned the smile, gentle and serene, giving a small nod. “Yes… I’ll be around,” she replied in a delicate voice.

Subaru’s smile grew wider, and then he turned to follow the maid twins, rejoining Felt, Ram, and Rem, who had already started ahead down the mansion’s main corridor.

The doors closed behind them with a soft click, muffling the sounds from the room they had left. The walk through the corridors began, and with it, a new phase of that unlikely stay—one step closer to a different life, and perhaps, to new bonds yet to be formed.

Subaru’s footsteps echoed lightly across the polished floor of the mansion, alternating between the calm sound of leather shoes and the distant clicking of the maids’ heels. The air inside was colder than he had expected—not due to a lack of warmth, but because of the vastness of the corridors and the formal atmosphere of it all. Long velvet curtains fell from tall windows, tapestries decorated the walls with unfamiliar crests, and the silence was broken only by the group’s rhythmic march.

Ahead, Ram walked with calm steps and an upright posture, not once glancing back. Rem, on the other hand, stayed a few steps closer to Subaru and Felt, casting attentive looks to make sure no one got lost or lagged behind.

Felt grumbled barely a minute into the walk, eyeing the identical halls with annoyance. “Everything looks the same. Just like the alleys in the capital… only clean and… full of expensive curtains.”

Subaru chuckled, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, but at least it doesn’t smell like rotten fish or burnt bread. That’s already a win.”

Rem glanced at him with curiosity. “You’re from the capital?”

“She is,” Subaru replied, tilting his chin toward Felt. “Me… well, let’s just say I came from much farther away.”

Felt scoffed, narrowing her eyes. “You still haven’t explained properly where you’re from. Or that Max guy. Don’t start with that ‘other world’ nonsense again.”

Ram spoke for the first time since they had left the room, without even turning her head. “It’s not our place to question guests about their origins, Felt-san. If Roswaal-sama accepted them into the mansion, there must be a reason.”

“Roswaal this, Roswaal that,” the blonde muttered. “Are you always like this?”

“Yes,” Rem replied with a small bow of her head. “We are maids, and Roswaal-sama is our master.”

Subaru tried to ease the mood with a smile and a glance around. “This mansion looks like it’s hiding secrets. How many rooms are in this place?”

Ram answered flatly. “Thirty-two rooms in total. Not counting service quarters and restricted areas.”

“Restricted areas?” Subaru arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

Rem answered again, the explanation ready on her lips. “Roswaal-sama’s private chambers, the magical sanctuary, the contract chamber, and the library where Max-san is now. Some are protected by magical barriers and can only be accessed with permission.”

Felt whistled, impressed for the first time. “Okay, that’s more interesting than I thought. Is there at least a place I can sleep without being poisoned by magic traps?” she said with ironic tone.

Ram finally stopped in front of a tall door, opening it with a precise motion. “This is the guest room corridor. Rem prepared two of them this morning, one for Subaru-san, one for Felt-san. They’re side by side.”

Rem stepped forward, motioning with her hand. “If you’d like, we can show them to you now. And after that, the kitchen, the training hall, and the inner garden.”

“Training hall?” Subaru’s eyes lit up with interest. “Does someone actually train here?”

“Yes,” Rem answered calmly. “Roswaal-sama trains in magic, and the two of us practice physical combat daily.”

Felt blinked, surprised. “You two? You look like porcelain dolls, but… you fight too?”

Ram looked back this time, a soft air of superiority in her gaze. “If necessary, we can demonstrate.”

Subaru immediately raised his hands. “No, no! I’m convinced! Let’s just continue the tour. I really want to see that garden. With luck, there’s a nice spot of shade for a nap after dinner.”

As the twins guided the group to the guest rooms, and from there to the other parts of the mansion, the estate slowly revealed its soul—not just in its refined architecture, but in the subtle scents drifting through the halls, the magical flowers in the garden that floated lightly in the breeze, and the way every space seemed to live, quietly, under the unseen watch of Roswaal.

Time seemed to move slower inside Roswaal’s mansion, as if the very minutes were being carefully folded between the veils of the tapestries and the colored stained glass. When Rem pushed open the large carved oak door at the mansion’s entrance and revealed the inner garden, the golden glow of late afternoon was already tinting the sky with shades of amber and ruby. The sun had begun to set on the horizon, casting its final rays over the world with the gentleness of a daily farewell.

“This is the Central Garden,” Rem announced softly, as the group stepped off the cold marble floors of the hallway and onto smooth stone paths, flanked by perfectly trimmed hedges and flowers in nearly surreal colors.

Subaru stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. The air there was different — moist, fresh, full of the scent of greenery and something vaguely magical, as if nature itself had been enchanted to never wither. From there, he had a full view of the garden up to the first entrance gate.

“Whoa… feels like I just stepped into one of those secret garden RPGs. There’re even butterflies floating in slow motion.” He pointed, amazed, at the small glowing creatures that seemed made of liquid light.

“They’re called siel, small beings that exist only in places with a high concentration of mana,” Rem explained. “They’re harmless, but avoid touching them.”

Felt crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the blooming trees and the small pond with a bench beside it, where magical petals floated atop the water’s surface. “This is… way too pretty. Looks like the kind of place where someone dies poetically or where two fools fall in love.”

Ram raised an eyebrow slightly. “Both events have occurred in this garden over the mansion’s history.”

Subaru choked a bit. “Wait, what do you mean have occurred!? Okay, scratch the napping plan.”

“Let’s finish the tour,” Ram said tiredly.

The walk continued, now under the golden light of twilight filtering through the tall windows and stained glass, casting colors on the floor like living paintings. The twins led them through the dining hall, a long room with a table that could easily seat twenty people, crystal chandeliers on the ceiling, and a massive fireplace at the far end — already lit, its flames crackling softly, warming the room with a cozy glow.

“You’ll have your meals here,” Rem said. “The dishes are made with fresh ingredients, many from our greenhouses or the nearby village. If you have any preferences, we can adjust the menu.”

“As long as there’s no raw fish or roasted bugs, we’re good,” Felt commented.

“I’ll… eat anything. Even grass, if it’s made by you two,” Subaru joked, laughing, which drew a bored sigh from Ram while Rem remained puzzled by the remark.

Moving on, they passed through a reading room, though it wasn’t the Forbidden Library. This one was decorated with tall bookshelves, velvet armchairs, and round windows offering a view of the distant forest. A night breeze had begun to drift in through one open window, gently rustling the pages of a forgotten book on a table.

“This place smells like a dream,” Subaru murmured, his eyes wandering among the books. “If I were smarter, I’d probably live in here.”

Ram, on the other hand, turned her back. “Wit doesn’t replace discipline.”

Felt leaned against the doorframe, exhausted. “Is this tour ever going to end, or are we still heading to the watchtower, the underground dungeon, and the pet dragon nursery?”

Rem approached. “We don’t have dragons… yet. But if you wish, I can show you your rooms now. Night falls quickly here, and dinner will be served soon.”

In the distance, the soft bells of the main tower echoed four low chimes — not to mark the hour, but to signal the shift change among the mansion’s invisible staff.

Outside, the sky deepened, blue turning to violet and then black. Night arrived with silent elegance, spreading long shadows through the corridors and transforming the mansion into a different kind of place — less sunlit, more introspective, almost dreamlike.

Rem finally stopped in front of two nearby doors. “These are your rooms. They’ve been cleaned and organized, with rest clothes prepared. If you need anything, just ring the small bell on the nightstand.”

Felt opened her door with her shoulder, half-lazy, half-grumpy. “Good. If anyone sneaks into my room at night, I’m kicking first.”

Subaru looked at his door and sighed with a calm smile. “A room just for me, in a place like this… This is really happening. It’s… surreal.”

Ram walked away with light steps. “Have a good night. Dinner will be served soon, don’t take too long.”

Rem remained a moment longer and looked at Subaru. “Rest a little, Subaru-sama. It seems you’ve had a… heavy day.”

Subaru laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “You don’t say. I just hope tomorrow’s a bit calmer.”

She gave a slight bow before leaving, making the hallway quieter and the air gentler, as if the night itself respected the rest of those who carried too heavy a burden.

And so, with the last vestiges of the sun disappearing behind the forests of Lugnica, the new residents of the mansion brought their first day to a close — unaware that this calm, like so many others, was merely the surface of much deeper waters.

Subaru walked through the large double doors that led to the dining hall, his hair still a bit tousled from a brief nap and his eyes half-lidded under the golden glow of the candles. The atmosphere was even cozier than before, with the soft flames of the fireplace dancing under the light of chandeliers and crystal candelabras. The long dark wooden table gleamed with the reflection of the lights and the twilight still clinging to the tall windows.

Seated at the table, Emilia was already dressed more modestly — a light lilac dress made of fine and comfortable fabric, with loose sleeves and her hair now tied into a simple bun, held in place by a silver ribbon that left a few strands framing her face. She looked even more ethereal that way, as if she'd stepped out of a peaceful dream.

She looked at Subaru with a gentle, friendly smile. "Good evening, Subaru. Did you get some rest?"

Subaru scratched his head and forced a sleepy smile. "Sort of… I think I dozed off fully dressed. But I didn’t dream of dragons, so it’s all good."

On the other side of the table, Roswaal remained exactly as he had earlier — lavish clothes, theatrical smile, impeccable posture. In a way, he seemed like part of the mansion’s architecture itself, a fixed and unchanging piece.

"No, you're not late," the count said, tilting his head gently. "Dinner hasn’t been served yet, lucky for you. But everyone’s presence is important. A dinner among allies… is always a ritual of introduction and rapport."

Soon after, firm footsteps approached. The doors opened again and Felt entered, still a bit wary, now in clean, more casual clothes — a simple set of dark shirt and fitted linen pants, clearly chosen with reluctance.

"Are you gonna make me have dinner with nobles like this every day?" she grumbled, crossing her arms.

Roswaal let out a light chuckle. "If you prefer, I could arrange for a more… popular banquet. But it would be a shame to waste the opportunity to broaden your palate."

"I prefer good food, not stuff with weird names," she retorted, dragging a chair and sitting down with an impatient thump.

Rem appeared shortly after, poised as ever, carrying a silver tray with small appetizers arranged on individual plates: warm artisanal bread, small servings of creamy soup, and dried fruits seasoned with spices.

"We are serving the first course. Dinner will be in three stages. Should you need anything else, I am at your service," she said softly.

Ram followed close behind, arranging the cutlery with precision, without uttering a single word. She only cast a discreet glance at Subaru and Felt, as if assessing their table manners.

Subaru pulled out his chair and looked at the plate, his eyes widening slightly. "Whoa… this is making me feel like a background character at some rich fantasy anime banquet."

Emilia chuckled, gently and restrained. "This is just the beginning, Subaru."

Roswaal interlaced his fingers and rested his chin on them. "While we dine, it might be a good opportunity to discuss the future… of the three of you. After all, this is no mere shelter, but a stage of intentions and paths. Each of you has a role to play. Including… Max."

Everyone at the table fell silent for a moment, as if the name summoned a weight no candlelight could fully dispel.

"He’s still in the Library, right?" Emilia asked, glancing toward the closed windows, beyond which night had fully fallen.

Rem nodded slightly. "He hasn't returned yet, but we left instructions with Beatrice. When he wishes, he may come to dine."

Subaru sighed. "Knowing him, he’s probably flipping through every page in that place. Bet he hasn’t even noticed it’s night already."

Roswaal kept his smile, though his gaze was sharper now. "Even so… he’ll have to join us. Eventually, everything connects. Every piece… finds its place."

Dinner continued with gentle aromas and complex flavors, but beneath the surface of polite conversation and laughter, a subtle feeling began to grow — that peaceful days would be short-lived. And that the calm around the table might be the prelude to something far greater.

That peace was slightly interrupted by a high-pitched voice, somewhat childish and unfamiliar to some at the table.

"You can’t just enter my library, ‘arrange’ the books in random places, not give a single answer that actually answers my questions, and then leave!"

A cold, neutral voice followed — emotionless and recognized by all present.

"I already told you that you’ll have to endure me without understanding me. Your books were disorganized by any formal system of subject, title, author, or the like. Now, part of them is properly ordered."

Everyone froze, as if time itself had stopped with the words echoing from the hallway. The cutlery stopped clinking, Subaru’s spoon hovered midair, halfway to his mouth. Rem looked toward the door. Roswaal, for the first time that evening, tilted his head slightly with genuine interest.

The childish and irritated voice rang out once more, now closer, piercing through the walls with clarity: "Put up with you? That’s a punishment! You… you’re a disaster in a suit!"

Then, appearing through the dining room door, Beatrice stormed in with short, quick steps, her long blonde hair bouncing with each stride. Her braids were slightly messy, likely from frustration. She wore the same frilly, ribbon-adorned pink dress as always, but her eyes were more narrowed than usual—indignant. "You didn’t give me a single logical explanation! Not one! And you messed up the grimoires and magical treatise sections!"

Behind her, with firm steps and impeccable posture, Max entered. The tall, imposing man, still wearing his ever-present dark sunglasses, walked in like a methodical shadow. His suit was immaculate—flawless and wrinkle-free, just as it had been since the beginning of their journey and battles. "Your classifications were based on emotional criteria. There was no standardization among magical, historical, or technical topics. I corrected part of it using encyclopedic logic. I haven’t finished."

Beatrice spun around abruptly, pointing a finger at Max as if accusing him of a capital crime. "You don’t even know the difference between an emotional tome and a spiritual magical treatise, I bet! A library isn’t a place for cold order! It’s a home, a heart, living history!"

Roswaal observed the scene with a disguised expression of amusement, as if watching an entertaining play. He let out a low chuckle and laced his fingers beneath his chin. "It seems our little Beatrice has found… a philosophical rival."

Subaru tried to intervene, raising his hand slightly. "Hey, hey, take it easy… Max, you messed with Beatrice’s books? Dude, that’s like… going into someone’s room and reorganizing their clothes by color. Even if it makes sense, it’s still weird!"

"She didn’t complain about the disorder," Max replied simply. "Only about the logic applied. Emotional logic is not a valid method for sorting informational archives."

Felt stifled a laugh. "This guy’s nuts. He’s arguing with a thousand-year-old girl about organizing magic books."

Beatrice puffed out her cheeks in offense. "Not a thousand! Four hundred! And I’m not a little girl, I’m the guardian of the Forbidden Library! And you, soulless creature, shouldn’t even be allowed to touch the books!”

Emilia, concerned, tried to soften the tension. "Beatrice, Max… we’re at dinner. How about sitting down and talking it out later? Maybe… calmly?”

Max merely walked to the empty chair and sat down without another word. Beatrice crossed her arms, remained standing, huffing with a red face. Finally, she walked to an armchair at the back of the room, away from the table, and sank into it with a grumble. "Hmph. I’m only staying here because you’re here, Emilia."

The atmosphere slowly calmed down again. Roswaal leaned back, clearly delighted by the subtle chaos. "Ahh… nothing like a little tension to spice up a dinner, don’t you think? With that, we’re all gathered."

Rem reappeared with the main course, as if everything had happened within the bounds of absolute normalcy. And the dinner—strange as it might have been—continued. But now, with Max present and Beatrice keeping a sharp eye on his every breath, a new kind of atmosphere formed — like the charged breeze before a storm.

The meal was served in a sequence of well-prepared dishes, despite the mansion's rural surroundings. Rem, flawless in her service, ensured every guest was comfortable, while Ram, with her distant attitude, simply observed and responded tersely to interactions. The air was filled with the aroma of cooked herbs, refined broths, and freshly baked bread.

Subaru, seated next to Felt, leaned enthusiastically over the table, scooping a spoonful of stew. "This looks amazing, seriously… it’s been a while since I’ve had anything this good!"

"Just shut up and eat it already instead of praising it," Felt snapped back with a half-smile, earning a soft laugh from Emilia, seated across from them.

Beatrice, in the armchair further back, was still watching Max with suspicion but slowly accepted a slice of pie placed beside her by Rem.
"Hm… at least the pie still tastes like pie. Not like logic."

Max remained seated, upright, unmoving—like a statue. Before him, the untouched plate. Roswaal didn’t seem to mind, but Subaru, of course, noticed. "Hey, Max… aren’t you gonna eat?"

The dark glasses turned slowly toward Subaru. "I currently have no physiological need for nourishment at this time of night."

Subaru blinked. "Huh? Like, you already ate, or… doing some kind of fasting, or—?"

Max simply responded: "It’s not necessary."

Felt chewed slowly, eyeing him sideways. "You’re telling me that giant body runs without fuel? That sounds fishy…"

Roswaal cut in with a more theatrical tone. "Oh, perhaps our dear Max is simply… eccentric, my dear Felt. Some people have… peculiar habits. Don’t they?” He flashed a smiling glance.

Emilia looked briefly at Max, but chose not to press the issue. "Maybe he’s just not hungry. We don’t have to force anyone, right?"

The conversation continued. Ram, despite her reluctance, ended up being nudged by Subaru into commenting on the food. "So, Ram, are you the one who cooks?"

She sighed, as if answering was a waste of time. “Rem cooks. I taste.”

“And she’s demanding,” Rem added with a slight smile. “If something falls below expectations, Ram will know. And she’ll say it.”

“With cruelty,” Felt added, biting into a chicken leg.

In the middle of it all, Beatrice finally stood up, walked over to the chair beside Emilia, and sat down. Her eyes were still half-closed, but now with less fury. “If he messes with my library again, I’ll lock it from the inside for a thousand years.”

“You’ve done that before,” Max replied without moving. “It was an ineffective security system. I can pass through doors.”

Everyone stared at Max, some in shock, others in fear, and Felt nearly spat out her drink. “You’re like… a superpowered book thief or what?! What kind of monster walks through doors?!”

Max simply replied, “One that doesn’t need to eat.”

Roswaal let out a loud and sincere laugh for the first time. “Oh-ho-ho! What a delicious evening. It’s like watching chess pieces clash on the board… I love it!”

Emilia finally sighed. “Please, nobody destroy the mansion this week. Not the library, and not the kitchen.”

The tension eased, and slowly, everyone returned to focusing on the meal. As the evening light disappeared completely, and the candles began to illuminate the hall, each person, in their own way, felt that this house would be… unusual. Noisy, strange, with confrontations and revelations. But in a way, that also made it feel alive.

As minutes passed, dinner gradually came to an end, and the once full plates now gave way to traces of the meal: empty bowls, utensils resting to the side, and crumpled napkins. The conversations slowed, the laughter no longer echoed as strongly, and the atmosphere was filled with a comforting tranquility — typical of homes where, even among strangers, a sense of togetherness begins to grow.

Rem, efficient as always, cleared the dishes with light and discreet gestures. Ram simply stood up, adjusted her uniform, and left the room without a single word, as if she had already fulfilled her role for the occasion. Subaru, leaning back in his chair, let out a satisfied sigh.

“Man… that was amazing. I wonder if every day is gonna be like this…” He looked around, a little drowsy but still cheerful.

“Don’t get used to it,” Felt retorted, already standing and stretching. “Just because the food’s good doesn’t mean life here’s gonna be easy. This place is still full of crazies.” She cast a brief glance at Max, who remained exactly as before: seated, upright, motionless. His sunglasses still hid his eyes.

Beatrice, next to Emilia, finished the last sip of her tea. “I’ve had enough company for a whole day, I suppose. I’m going back to the library, of course I am.” She hopped down from the chair, her small legs touching the floor lightly, and disappeared through the doorway.

Emilia stood next, adjusting her modest dress. Her tied-up hair gave her a simpler, almost domestic air. She looked at Subaru with a gentle smile. “It was a good dinner… I feel more at peace, at least for now.”

“Yeah,” he replied, standing up. “And like I said earlier… I want to see you more, if I can. However, let’s move it to tomorrow.”

“We’ll see,” Emilia answered sweetly before calmly walking out.

Roswaal was the last to rise, his theatrical movements still in perfect sync.
“The night falls, and with it, the veils of tomorrow begin to lift. I hope you all rest well… for the coming days will surely bring surprises.”

He vanished into the hallway shadows.

In the hall, only Subaru, Felt, and Max remained.

“So… bedtime, huh?” Subaru said, rubbing his eyes. “I need a bed before I pass out right here.” Felt was already ahead, mumbling something about “not trusting anyone, not even the pillows.” Subaru followed her, waving to Max. “Good night, man. Even if you don’t eat, I hope you at least sleep.”

Max didn’t respond. He remained motionless for a few moments until everyone was out of sight. Only then, in complete silence, did he stand up.
The sound of his footsteps echoing through the solitary corridor wasn’t heavy, but there was something precise, calculated — as if each step were an equation being solved in space.

The mansion was enveloped in silence, as if the building itself were breathing slowly during the night. The flames of the candles in the hallways flickered gently, casting elongated shadows on walls adorned with old tapestries and portraits from centuries past. The atmosphere, to most inhabitants, conveyed a sense of comfort… to Max, it was merely another space to be analyzed.

His footsteps were firm, yet absolutely silent on the polished marble floor. He slowly walked through the main corridors, analyzing every corner, every irregularity, every possible point of structural or security vulnerability. His internal processing, infinitely faster than any human reasoning, organized the data.

As he walked, his thoughts revisited the events of the day: 

‘Arrival in this world: no known pattern of dimensional transport detected. No record of technological capabilities for such a feat. Solution: spontaneous phenomenon, external manipulation, or undetected failure in potential dimensional systems.’

‘Initially encountered:Natsuki Subaru, disoriented human being. Assessment: impulsive, loyal, emotionally unstable. Potential: high to generate chaotic variations in social environments, mainly considering unnecessary comments and informational explanations unconventional to the primitive context of this world. Requires constant monitoring.’

Max ascended the stairs, his eyes hidden behind his glasses scanning the long hallway of the second floor. The soft breeze coming through the windows made the curtains dance in slow movements.

‘Emilia: half-elf, magical in nature, high empathic capacity. Emotional connection with Subaru is clear, though masked by shyness. Possibly a central figure in something involving the insignia. Protecting her is strategically viable for initial stability and survival.’

He approached one of the large windows. Outside, beneath the dark starry sky, the mansion’s gardens stretched like a carpet of shadows and silver.

‘Puck: magical entity bonded to Emilia. Initial analysis indicates vast latent power. Potential significant threat if hostile. Maintain neutral and respectful posture.’

He turned on his heels and kept walking.

‘Felt: human, young, cunning. Rebellious and defiant behavior. Involuntarily tied to the current mission due to circumstances. Strategic value: unknown.’

His steps brought him to a smaller room, where an old piano rested beneath a white sheet. Max looked at it for a second before continuing.

‘Elsa: professional assassin. Attack pattern unpredictable, high lethality. Eliminated through direct intervention. Future consequences: possible repercussions from employers or hidden allies.’

‘Roswaal L. Mathers: mansion’s lord. High intelligence. Eccentric and theatrical behavior masks a strategic and potentially manipulative mind. Caution necessary in all interactions.’

A stone gargoyle watched him from atop a high shelf as Max passed by without altering his expression.

‘Ram and Rem: maids and guardians of the mansion. Common skills developed for all household tasks. High loyalty to Roswaal. Necessary to catalog specific capabilities through later observation.’

He descended a side staircase, returning to the first floor. There, the shadows were denser, and the wind's sound grew louder.

‘Beatrice: guardian of the Forbidden Library. Abrasive and distrustful personality. High magical power, but isolated in her space. Alliance unlikely, but knowledge in her domain holds critical value.’

He continued onto the subjects and information that still required further analysis: the world’s magic. During his brief time in the Forbidden Library, Max had absorbed more than Beatrice would like to admit. He now processed the data.

‘Magic, a vital energy present both in living beings and the environment—or any adequate definition or attribution—operates in this world through the manipulation of ‘Mana.’ The execution of spells is based on six primary elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Yin, and Yang.’

‘There are variants and derivatives, such as Spirit Magic, and exceptional abilities that transcend simple elemental manipulation. However, magic is limited by the user’s natural capacity to store and manipulate Mana. Overuse results in physical exhaustion, unconsciousness, or death.’

Max concluded that individuals with high magical capacity could drastically and unpredictably alter the balance of power in any given situation. This realization made every future interaction even more delicate and necessitated adjustments to his conduct.

As he moved through the empty hall, his thoughts turned to the words overheard from Emilia and Puck—small fragments of conversation about the “Royal Selection.”

‘The Selection will determine the next monarch of Lugnica. Five candidates. Each one represents a possible direction for the kingdom’s future.’

Max quickly deduced the implications:

‘The political stability or instability of Lugnica will directly affect the kingdom’s entire social, economic, and magical structure. Abrupt leadership changes could lead to internal conflict, civil war, or economic collapse.’

‘Controlling or influencing the outcome of the Selection may be the key to establishing Order within this nation and, by extension, the world around it. It is necessary to discover who the Royal Candidates are so that the selection can result in the best choice and Order may prevail over chaos.’

He stood still for a moment, then resumed walking under the serenity of the night. Max stopped in the center of the grand main hall, looking up at the golden chandelier, the chains holding it creaking lightly in the night wind.

His logic concluded with only one outcome:

‘This world is unstable. Hostile. Unpredictable. My objectives remain unchanged: observe and evaluate all elements, acquire information, and above all, bring Order to this world—destroying, eliminating, or exterminating all undesirable variables.’

In absolute silence, Max seemed to merge with the shadows. He would not sleep like the others; he would never rest for trivial matters, and his footsteps would remain ethereal to the end in this world unknown and full of illogical mysteries to common minds. Yet the presence of that man—forced to be here—would never overlook a single comma, for he calculated, persisted longer than heroes, and would adapt until someone forced him to stop.

The dawn was visible on the horizon, marking another new day, but also an unusual journey and surprises awaiting each of the household’s members.