Okay, before I dive into this chapter, let me clear something up. I've been saying in the recent chapters that Arc 3 is drawing to a close—and you could say that it officially ends here.
Now, some of you might be thinking, "Wait a second, what about the White Whale fight? What about the Witch Cult?"
Fair point. But since those battles don't feature Tanaka as the main focus, there's no reason for me to drag things out with ten extra chapters repeating events you already know. Instead, I'll cut to the important parts and highlight what changed because of his presence.
Here's a quick rundown of the White Whale fight: it played out much the same as in the anime. The difference is that Tanaka was the one who figured out the clone trick. He also made key contributions that ensured nobody lost their life in this version of the battle—providing healing when it was needed most, and even dispersing the White Whale's mist once, which gave Rem and Wilhelm the opening to strike it down. And of course, Subaru still played a vital role as bait, drawing the monster into position.
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The dragon carriage rumbled softly, the faint clanging of its wheels melding with the rhythm of the road. Thanks to the divine protection etched into its frame, the usual jolts and buffeting winds were muted, leaving the interior almost unnaturally still.
Subaru leaned back against the wooden seat, surrendering himself to the rare silence. It struck him—this might be the first time he'd ever ridden in a dragon carriage so peacefully. His very first ride, leaving Roswaal's mansion for the capital, should have been the most relaxed, yet he'd ruined that with his own blunders, turning it into a harsh memory. Still, even that experience had taught him things, so he couldn't call it entirely bad.
Every ride after had been colored by urgency: rushing back and forth between the capital and Roswaal's territory, he had never once been able to sit still and simply ride.
This, though—this was different. For the first time, there was no reason to rush. No panic biting at his heels. Just the creaking of wood, the steady gait of the dragon, and the starlit road ahead.
"Subaru…" Emilia's voice broke the quiet. Her tone was gentle, hesitant, like she'd been holding back the words for a while. "I wanted to ask you something, but… I haven't had the chance until now."
"Hm? What is it, Emilia-tan?" Subaru turned toward her with an easy smile.
Though her expression told him this wasn't just idle chatter.
"Emm… I just want to be clear," she began softly, her fingers tightening on her lap. "I want you to stay with us and I just want to know this so I don't want to misunderstand on my own..."
"Wait! You'll stay with us at the mansion from now on… right?"
Subaru blinked, then chuckled. "Yeah, of course. I don't exactly have anywhere else to go. Besides, I promised I'd help you become queen, didn't I?"
Relief softened Emilia's features as she nodded, though her voice carried a quiet warmth when she added, "And… I'm thankful for that. Every time I'm in trouble, you always come to my rescue, Subaru."
Subaru's chest tightened at her words, but just as he prepared to bask in them, he noticed the faint hesitation in her eyes. He tensed. Here comes the "but."
"…But?" he prompted carefully.
"No, no buts!" Emilia waved her hands quickly, her cheeks tinged pink. Then, with a nervous breath, she let the real question slip. "…What about Tanaka?"
Subaru's eyebrow twitched.
The last thing a guy wants to hear after confessing his love to a girl, is to hear her mentioning another guy's name.
"Yeah," he muttered, irritation slipping into his tone despite himself. "That guy said he's coming back. We'll all be staying at the mansion from now on."
"Really?" Emilia's eyes lit up, her whole expression brightening.
Her joyful reaction made Subaru's annoyance deepen.
He understood why she worried about Tanaka—anyone would, after everything that had happened—but the way she reacted when he was mentioned irritated him.
"That's been our only option ever since we figured out it's impossible for us to go home," Subaru went on with a shrug. "Although… he did mention he needs to take Beatrice somewhere. A place called the Sacred Mountain of Paro or something, to meet a spirit."
Emilia's brow furrowed, surprise flickering across her face. "The Sacred Parochial Mountain? That's in Gutetsko… all the way in the north. Why would Tanaka go there?"
"I don't know," Subaru admitted. He leaned back against the carriage wall, his tone half-sullen, half-thoughtful. "He said he'd explain everything when we meet up again in the capital."
Tanaka kept many secrets from them which was odd knowing the fact that he was the same as him, a person who got transported from his earth to this new world.
Yet, despite that. He was deeply knowledgeable about many things that weren't common knowledge.
'Well, he did say he was going to explain himself when we meet again in the capital.'
Subaru's thoughts spiraled deeper, but a sudden touch on his arm yanked him back to reality.
"Something...Petra, aren't you close?"
"Of course not. Is something the matter, Subaru?"
Looking up at him with big round eyes was a girl with reddish-brown hair swaying—Petra. She was sitting to Subaru's left, suddenly clinging to him and holding his hand.
At first, he figured it must be because she'd been scared.
"…Like I'm her dad. This fatherly instinct I shouldn't even have is bubbling up inside me…!"
"It's not fair, you know? Until just a while ago, it was all big sis this, big sis that. I get a turn too. And besides, they said we've still got time before we reach the capital."
"Petra, that wasn't it, um… It's just, Subaru and I had some really important things to talk about. I wasn't trying to hog him for myself or anything."
"Bleh. I'm never gonna lose to you, big sis."
Petra's remark only made Emilia fluster even more. Subaru didn't quite grasp the situation, but Petra didn't seem genuinely hostile—it was more like playful banter. Still, for Emilia, who wasn't used to children, the stress wasn't exactly laughable.
"Emilia-tan, don't take it so seriously. She's just a kid. You've gotta laugh it off, smile, and let it roll right over you."
"Just because she's a child, that doesn't mean I can get away with such trickery."
"'Trickery'—who even says that anymore…?"
"Mmh, there you go teasing again."
Emilia pouted unhappily, and Subaru chuckled, apologizing lightly with a "sorry, sorry." Then Petra tugged on his sleeve in protest, so he had to give her attention too.
Normally, Subaru might have complained about having his precious time with Emilia interrupted—but in truth, Petra's intrusion had saved him.
At worst, he might've made a fool of himself by demanding some "advance payment" from Emilia, something more than a lap pillow.
"Man, that was seriously close. After acting so cool, that would've been way too lame."
"What would've?"
"That Petra saved me, is what. Oh—and you even kept your promise not to leave Emilia-tan alone. Good job, good job."
"Heehee."
"There's still a mountain of things I've gotta think about."
For starters, he had to confront Roswaal about this incident. Then there was deciding how much of the victories over the White Whale and the Witch Cult's "Sloth" to share with Crusch and Anastasia in the negotiations. Crusch had said Subaru's contributions would be recognized, at least for the White Whale.
He didn't care much for honor itself, but if recognition fell on him as part of Emilia's camp, it would surely help her. Even if it made him seem shameless, he wanted to push for that.
Once those matters were settled, there would still be compensation and recovery for the village. The road ahead was daunting. —And before all that, Subaru had another mountain to climb.
"Uh, hey, Emilia-tan… I've got something really important to tell you."
"Mm? What is it?"
Until now, Subaru had believed he could only ever devote his heart to one person. And indeed, the only one he'd ever loved was Emilia.
But Rem's presence didn't diminish that love at all. Instead, it grew into something just as big—something that remained alongside it in his heart.
So Subaru had already decided. It might be shameless, but since he couldn't possibly give up either one—
—he would have both Emilia and Rem.
Rem had already granted him permission for such a selfish wish. The only problem left was convincing Emilia. Rem had said they should do that together, but—
"If I leave all of that up to Rem, I'd be the worst kind of man…"
"This is something that is extremely difficult to say, but please hear me out. Of course, I will have to tell big sister about it eventually… but first, I want to tell Emilia-Tan."
"...Yeah?"
Emilia looked confused as Subaru stammered and made unnecessary preambles. Subaru was troubled by his own weakness in putting things off like that, and he desperately tried to think things through.
This is the most brain-busting thing you've ever done in days. Heat up your synapses to the point of sparks and come up with the best answer!
"Actually, it's about Rem. Rem, you know, about me… you know, kind of, right? So, after confessing like that, it's a bit selfish of me, but..."
His excuses trailed into silence.
Because suddenly—everything stopped.
Emilia was frozen, so was Petra, so was Otto, so was the dragon carriage and so was he.
The space began to warp and shadows started engulfing his surroundings.
It was dark.
Soundless.
Empty.
He experienced this before but over a month has passed and it was so abrupt that he couldn't make sense of that occurrence.
The numbness crept in, stripping away all senses. No breath. No weight. No form
Still, even if the terror no longer took hold, the discomfort gnawed at the edges of his mind. The
unnatural silence. The suffocating stillness. The weight of eternity compressed into a moment.
And without a warning, it ended...
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The silence ruptured—reality snapped back into place like a rubber band.
"Bah. I'll never lose to my big sister."
Petra's words made the already flustered Emilia even more flustered.
But to Subaru, the repetition of those words truly surpassed his understanding.
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Crusch, Tanaka, and Felix walked side by side across a vast field. Despite the battle that had unfolded here only hours ago, the grass still shimmered in shades of emerald, swaying gently under the afternoon breeze.
Soldiers dotted the ground, resting, their armor scuffed and their faces weary—but none of them carried the pallor of death. Their wounds, though painful, were shallow. No bodies lay strewn, no silence of lives lost.
"…No one died," Crusch murmured, her voice carrying both disbelief and awe. "It's truly a miracle."
They had slain a legendary beast that had terrorized the skies for centuries. An enemy spoken of only in fearful whispers—the White Whale—brought low without a single life lost.
"I wouldn't call it a miracle," Felix said, folding his arms, his cat-like tail flicking. "Tanaka-Kyun and his spirits were working nonstop, monitoring every single soldier."
It was true. Hundreds of minor spirits, flitting unseen like motes of light, had watched the soldiers' backs. Some had nudged blades off-course, others had dulled fatal blows, and still others had sealed wounds just enough to keep men alive until proper aid arrived. Not perfect healers, but lifelines in the chaos.
Crusch exhaled, her expression softening. "…You're right. I should not have dismissed their efforts as a miracle. Kazuki Tanaka, forgive me. I didn't mean to undermine your achievements."
Tanaka shook his head, his tone firm but not unkind. "There's nothing to apologize for. And don't exaggerate what I did. Our success came from everyone's effort—the soldiers, Subaru, Rem, Wilhelm… all of them. I was just doing my part."
Felix tilted his head, ears flicking. "Still, I can't wrap my head around it. How in the world were you able to command such a large number of spirits? Or how you were able to use magic in the first place?"
He was a person whom he personally diagnosed him as someone who had less than a month to live. With his condition, he wasn't supposed to wake up from his slumber, let alone walking around and using magic.
Tanaka gave a small shrug, his expression unreadable. "Command? No, that's not it. I don't think of them as subordinates. They're like friends—companions. I called, and they chose to follow. They've always had my back."
Crusch's gaze lingered on him, thoughtful, before she spoke again. "I am deeply grateful for your cooperation. Without you, I would not have been able to defeat the White Whale. My path… would have been cut short here." She paused, then added with quiet dignity, "I don't want to be so shameless as to take all of my family's credit for what was truly your achievement."
Tanaka winced slightly, a rare break in his calm façade. "…Please don't."
Her brow furrowed, puzzled. "What troubles you?"
"I don't like unnecessary attention," Tanaka admitted, eyes flicking away as if the air itself made him uneasy. "Let's keep my contributions listed as nothing more than a medic's. In terms of combat, I hardly played a role. It was Subaru, Rem, and Wilhelm who struck the decisive blows that brought the beast down. Not me."
Crusch studied him, surprised by his candor, while Felix tilted his head, faint amusement tugging at his lips.
"I see," Crusch said at last, her voice calm but firm. "Although I dislike the idea of you not receiving the credit you deserve, I will respect your wishes."
Tanaka exhaled, relieved that she didn't press further.
"So then," she continued, her eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity, "what do you plan to do after all of this is over?"
Rolling his shoulders as though the thought itself weighed on him. "I'd like to rest. These last few days were… well, hectic would be putting it lightly. I think I've earned a month of lying flat on my back. Maybe then I can finally find the time to study."
"Study?" Crusch tilted her head, giving him a puzzled look.
Tanaka chuckled awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "What's with that reaction? Ah—I suppose it does sound strange, doesn't it?"
His tone shifted, a wry edge creeping in. "Don't be fooled by recent events. I hate this kind of life-and-death chaos. Give me calm and peace any day. My motto's simple: If I don't have to do it, I won't. But if I have to, I'll make it quick. This was one of those cases… and unfortunately, the Witch Cult hasn't exactly agreed to take a holiday." He sighed heavily, a flicker of irritation crossing his face as he mentally ticked through the tasks ahead.
"Not to mention," he went on, "I still have to return to the capital and finalize my projects with Anastasia-San."
And beyond that—though he didn't voice it aloud—he had a promise to keep. He needed to take Beatrice to the Sacred Parochial Mountain, in a distant country, to meet Odglass.
He felt the heaviness by merely thinking of this long distance journey.
Crusch's expression softened slightly. "Well… it may not be much, but once we return to the capital, allow me to extend an offer. You may use a couch at the Karsten estate, and I will grant you access to my family's library."
Tanaka's eyes lit up instantly, his usually calm façade cracking. "Really?" The word slipped out with boyish eagerness, his composure forgotten.
Crusch chuckled quietly at his reaction. "Of course. Consider it the least I can do—hospitality in return for your contributions."
Realizing he'd let too much excitement show, Tanaka quickly straightened, clearing his throat. "Ahem. Then I shall gratefully accept your offer."
Felix gave an exaggerated sigh, flicking his tail. "Just say you wanna laze around, Tanaka-Kyun."
"I'm not lazy," Tanaka retorted, wagging a finger at him with mock indignation. "It's called conserving energy."
As the three of them walked across the recovering battlefield, Felix's ears twitched. His gaze drifted toward Subaru, who was helping Rem walk at her own slow pace. The sight made the healer's face sour.
"Honestly," Felix muttered in his usual sing-song lilt, "I told her to stay put in the dragon carriage until we returned to the capital. That girl went far beyond her limits—her gate's a mess. Anything other than resting is out of the question!"
Tanaka raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, relax. Don't worry—I'll talk her over."
As they approached them, Tanaka spoke up.
"Hey, you lovebirds! Maybe leave the flirting until after we finish saving everyone, huh?"
Subaru whipped his head around, his expression twisting in outrage. "Quit spreading false rumors! Rem just asked me to help her to the dragon carriage so she could rest on the way back to the mansion."
"Nope, that won't happen, Nya," Felix cut in sharply, ears twitching.
"Why?" Rem's voice was soft but insistent.
"Because you can't move, Nya!" Felix snapped back.
"That's not true…" Rem tried to push herself upright, determination flaring in her eyes. But the moment she took a step, her legs faltered. She pitched forward—only to be caught at once by Subaru, who tightened his grip on her shoulders.
"Don't be reckless," Subaru muttered, his voice tight with concern.
Click!
The sharp sound of a shutter echoed. A sudden flash bathed the two of them in light.
Blinking, Subaru looked up to see Tanaka holding his smartphone with a mischievous smirk. "Well I have proof that you two were flirting, now I can threaten to show this to Emilia whenever I want something from you."
"You're seriously blackmailing me right now?!" Subaru's voice cracked with outrage.
Ignoring him, Tanaka strolled over, placed a light karate-chop on Rem's head, and said, "Quit being stubborn. You burned yourself out far past your limits. Listen to your doctor, get back to the capital, rest, and leave the rest to us." His voice softened for just a moment before his usual grin returned.
Subaru, still supporting Rem, shot Tanaka a glare. "Oh, and you're going back with her, by the way."
"...Huh?" Tanaka froze, blinking as though the words had short-circuited his brain.
"What are you acting surprised about?" Subaru jabbed a finger at him, tone firm, as if he'd already anticipated Tanaka's protest. "We talked about this. You struck a deal with Anastasia—you've got to head back to the capital and seal it. And besides, you told me yourself—you can't see Betelgeuse's giant hands."
"Betelgeuse?" Crusch's brow arched, her voice cool and edged with curiosity.
Subaru nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah. The Sin Archbishop of Sloth. Long story short, the guy can summon invisible hands—huge ones. Strong enough to crush a squad of soldiers in a heartbeat, even take out a skilled fighter if they're caught off guard."
"The two of us got lucky against the White Whale—we were both immune to some of the Authority of Gluttony. But when it comes to Sloth, I'm the only one who isn't affected."
The point he was trying, even though he haven't said it out loud. Tanaka was blind the authority of sloth, which makes him a liability.
The words were harsh, but they weren't cruel. They were the truth.
Tanaka opened his mouth, ready to argue. "I only used spirit arts for healing. It's not as taxing as offensive magic, so as long as I avoid direct combat, I should still be able to—"
"Tanaka-Kun."
Rem's voice cut through his protest.
Tanaka froze, his eyes snapping to her. She was staring straight at him, her expression calm but unyielding.
"When the fog surrounded us… and then it suddenly began to snow. That was you, wasn't it?"
The memory hung in the air like a vivid painting—the White Whale's suffocating mist rolling over the battlefield. Out of nowhere, snow. Heavy flakes that fell in sheets, clinging to the air, scattering the mist, washing the battlefield clear. A miracle… or so they thought.
Tanaka's heart skipped.
Crusch and Felix exchanged skeptical looks, the kind only seasoned veterans could share. Weather manipulation magic? Ridiculous. Even Roswaal, the most powerful mage in the kingdom, would need elaborate circles and immense preparation to alter the climate.
But Subaru didn't laugh. Rem didn't waver.
Because they'd seen it. With their own eyes.
Tanaka averted his gaze, scratching his cheek awkwardly. "I… don't know what you're talking about."
A faint breeze stirred—subtle, but unmistakable. Crusch's divine protection of the Wind of Truth whispered its verdict, brushing past her ears like a confession. Her eyes widened, disbelief breaking her usual composure.
And then—drip.
A thin trickle of blood slid from Tanaka's nostril.
"Oi!" Subaru barked, pointing furiously at the crimson streak. "That settles it! You're not coming with us. I'm not hauling your unconscious body around while we're fighting for our lives. End of discussion!"
"Augh!" Tanaka groaned, wiping at the blood with the back of his hand, glaring half-heartedly at Subaru.
But Subaru pressed on, his voice hard but steady. "Put some faith in me. We've got the manpower. We've got the strategy. We're going to make it."
It was true. Anastasia had traded a sizable force of mercenaries in return for Tanaka's partnership. With their numbers bolstering Crusch's knights, Subaru knew they had the strength to carry out the rescue mission.
And Tanaka? For all his power, for all his knowledge—he wasn't indispensable here. Not when he couldn't even see Betelgeuse's unseen hands. Not when the Witch Cult hated him enough to target him specifically. His presence would only increase the risk for everyone.
No—this time, Subaru would shoulder it.
Tanaka exhaled slowly, a long sigh escaping him as the tension drained from his shoulders.
There was no use arguing. Subaru was right—charging headfirst into danger without being able to see Betelgeuse's invisible hands would only endanger everyone else. Compared to the soldiers and mercenaries, his presence wouldn't tip the scales this time.
But still…
"Take this."
With a flick of his wrist, Tanaka tossed a small object through the air. Subaru caught it clumsily, nearly fumbling before realizing what it was.
"A mirror?" Subaru tilted his head.
Crusch's eyes narrowed with recognition. "That's no ordinary trinket. It's a Metia—a communication device."
Subaru's gaze darted back to Tanaka, curiosity warring with the weight of the moment.
"Anastasia-San gave me two of these. We'll meet again in a few days in the capital," Tanaka said, his voice calm, though his eyes betrayed the reluctance behind his words. "But when everything is over… when you've settled things—call me first. I want to hear it from you."
He extended his hand, palm steady. Subaru hesitated only a second before grasping it firmly. Their grips locked—not just in solidarity, but in unspoken trust.
Tanaka gave him the faintest of smiles, a tired curve of the lips. "Say hi to Emilia and Beatrice for me, will you?"