Chapter Text
A few days later...
It was late morning. Breakfast was over, and everyone had set about their tasks for the day.
Subaru entered his room carrying a tray. After closing the door behind him, he glanced around. He released the seal so he could enter the hidden space within.
There were two people imprisoned inside the seal. One was a girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, with blue hair and olive-green eyes. She was huddled close to the tall woman beside her, as if trying to shield herself from something.
The other was the tall woman—the one he had fought in that old loot cellar: Elsa Granhiert. She was glaring at Subaru with a look of pure irritation.
Subaru let out a deep sigh. "Come on, don't look at me like that; I’m not a monster. I just brought you some food. Here, eat," he said, placing the tray on the floor.
The two ladies looked at him with suspicion but began to eat.
Elsa spoke up: "Hey, Mr. Know-it-all. You mentioned you had a proposal for us before you locked us up. Let’s hear it."
Subaru remained silent for a moment. "My offer is this: Join me. A gut feeling tells me you’re running from something, and you’ll try anything to escape it. So, what do you say?"
Elsa and Meili couldn't hide their surprise at Subaru’s accurate guess.
"Explain yourself!" Elsa said in a threatening tone.
"Alright, it’s like this: You will join Emilia’s camp as my subordinates. I will provide you with safety, shelter, and everything in my power. In exchange, you will protect Emilia. What do you say?"
The two assassins fell silent. Meili looked at Elsa with curiosity. Elsa responded with a reassuring smile to the young girl.
***
It was midnight in Arlam Village. The barrier protecting the village from mabeasts had shattered, and the creatures had swarmed the area.
Subaru had arrived before the mabeasts could do too much damage.
Looking at the village and sighing, Subaru thought, "This is the second time I’ve turned back time."
Having arrived just minutes ago, he quickly began repelling the beasts.
"I need to slaughter these things before the others arrive; then, I’ll deal with the little brat who let them loose," Subaru said, his voice laced with slight exhaustion.
Just then, someone attacked him from behind. Subaru shifted to the side quickly, dodging the strike.
"Ah... I see you’ve dodged my attack again, Natsuki Subaru," a voice said excitedly.
Subaru recognized that voice; there was no way he could forget it. It belonged to the person who tried to kill him on his very first day in this world: Elsa Granhiert, the "Bowel Hunter."
"You again? Why won't you leave me alone, you damn bowel-obsessed psychopath?" Subaru shouted.
"Why, you ask? Because you are strong, Natsuki Subaru, and I want to see your insides," Elsa said, her voice dripping with pleasure.
Subaru sighed deeply. "You're not allowed to see my insides—at least, not unless I want you to."
In a flash, he teleported next to Elsa, grabbed her head, and hurled her toward the south. Elsa let out a strange "heek" sound as she went flying in the direction he threw her.
What Subaru didn't realize was that he had thrown Elsa exactly toward Meili. Knowing where Elsa would land, he teleported to her the moment she hit the ground and pinned her down with his leg on her stomach.
"Don't move, Elsa, or I'll riddle you with holes. Now stay here while I find the one who unleashed these beasts." Just as he turned away, he noticed the little girl.
He recognized her; she was with the other children when he first arrived at the village. But now, she was surrounded by mabeasts that weren't attacking her.
The girl looked at him in shock. The mabeasts were trembling slightly.
"Ah..." Subaru said. This was the person he was looking for. "What luck."
Sensing Meili was in danger, Elsa quickly freed herself from Subaru’s hold and rushed to Meili’s side, taking a protective stance.
Noticing Elsa’s protective behavior, Subaru raised an eyebrow.
"So, the girl is with you, Elsa?" Subaru asked.
Elsa simply smiled.
"I see... Elsa, I have a proposal for you and her. If you surrender, I won't hurt you," Subaru said.
Elsa chuckled. "If you want me to listen, you'll have to defeat me first, Natsuki Subaru!" she said, lunging at him.
***
"Since you've defeated me, I've decided to listen to you, Natsuki Subaru."
"Just call me Subaru, Elsa. Now, will you accept my offer?" Subaru asked, hands in his pockets.
Elsa remained silent, looking at Meili once more. "Fine, I accept your offer, Natsuki. But we expect you to keep your word when the time comes."
Subaru smiled. "Of course, Elsa. When the day comes, I will protect you and Meili with my life. Do we have a deal?" he said, extending his hand.
Without hesitation, Elsa shook Subaru’s hand.
And that was how Elsa joined Emilia’s camp.
Time had passed since that agreement; now they were on their way to the Royal Capital. They were nearly halfway there.
Since they had set off early, it didn't take long to reach the city center. After arriving, everything proceeded quite normally. Except for a few things...
Some people were looking at Emilia as if she were something disgusting, whispering behind her back. This was starting to make Subaru angry.
The other center of attention was Elsa. Those who knew her reputation looked at her with fear and fled.
Subaru made a mental note: "Don't take Elsa to the Royal Meeting."
Then came the awaited moment: a meeting between the royal candidates. If you could even call it a meeting... It was actually a spectacle, organized because everyone wanted to see who and what the fifth candidate was.
When the Emilia camp entered the ballroom, all eyes turned toward them, and the whispering started again. Subaru sighed. He was praying he wouldn't end up destroying this place along with the arrogant nobles inside.
Of course, if he did that, a fight would break out between him and Reinhard, and Subaru didn't want that. He didn't want to make an enemy of the first friend he had made in this world.
The candidates were quite extraordinary: A lady with green hair and her knight, who dressed like a half-cat girl but was actually a man...
Another short lady with pale purple hair and her arrogant-looking knight with the same hair color...
Then, a lady with orange hair who seemed quite egoistic, and her knight, who was missing an arm, wore a helmet, and was shirtless.
Subaru stared at the helmeted man for a while. He sensed something strange about him; a feeling called familiarity.