…
(Third-Person POV)
The journey to the capital was a peaceful one. The group of three—four if you counted Puck—rode comfortably in the carriage as they passed by the Flugel tree.
Rem was at the reins, expertly driving the carriage, while Emilia and Subaru sat in the back, quietly observing the scenery as it passed.
"Impressive. All of them have been promoted to quasi-spirits!" Puck remarked with genuine admiration as he looked over Subaru's four spirits, each now advanced to quasi-spirits.
"The spirits form contracts with humans for various reasons," Puck began to explain. "Depending on the spiritual affinity of the contractor, the spirits receive a significant boost in their growth rate and require much less time to advance to the next rank."
"Zero's spiritual talent is the highest I've ever seen. It's monstrous, if you ask me. So it's not unreasonable that in just one month, all of his lesser spirits evolved into quasi-spirits," Puck added.
"That's amazing, Zero!" Emilia's eyes sparkled with admiration. She could only feel respect and awe towards Subaru's rapid progress.
"Well, I guess this is something impressive indeed. Damn, I didn't know this before—otherwise, I would have contracted a lesser earth spirit from the very beginning," Subaru admitted, reflecting on his earlier choices.
He had realized roughly half a month ago that spirits grow faster when contracted and that the contractor's spiritual affinity greatly influences their growth speed. After this discovery, he quickly contracted a lesser earth spirit.
"Despite the forest next to the mansion, I couldn't find any earth quasi-spirits," Subaru sighed, summoning his spirits once more.
Five orbs of glowing mana appeared in his hands. They were the quasi-spirits of fire, wind, water, and yang, accompanied by a lesser earth spirit that shone less brightly.
"With the rate your spirits are evolving, I estimate it would take about a year for them to reach the rank of true spirits," Puck said, surprising everyone present.
'Master Zero is really strong,' Rem thought silently as she guided the carriage forward.
"Zero, you still don't have a yin spirit. Why haven't you contracted one yet?" Puck asked, hovering beside the carriage.
"Yes! Zero, why haven't you contracted a yin spirit? If you do, you'll become a spirit knight just like Sir Julius," Emilia added, curious.
Subaru sighed before replying, "There's a valid reason for that, but I can't tell you right now."
Puck remained silent, though he had an inkling of what Subaru meant. Emilia, however, looked puzzled.
Soon, they arrived at the capital. Subaru was dressed casually in a black T-shirt and blue pants. Around his waist was a belt with a sheath holding a fine sword.
As they walked towards their destination, he came across the Appa store and its owner—the same man he had met when he had just arrived.
Although in the latest loop he hadn't encountered the Appa store, in previous loops he had promised to buy Appas from him.
"Sir, can we get some Appas?" he asked, Emilia standing beside him while Rem had gone ahead to secure a place for them to stay.
"Oh! Indeed!" The owner of the Appa store smiled warmly. Soon, he was holding a bag full of Appas, casually eating one raw as he spoke.
"Apples are good, no matter which world you're in," he commented with a grin.
"Apples?" Emilia looked at him, confused.
"Oh, I mean Appas. From where I come from, they are known as apples," Subaru explained, and Emilia nodded in understanding.
"Emilia, you should try one Appa as well," he said, finishing the one he had been eating and handing it over to her.
"I've never eaten an Appa raw before… but I will try," she replied hesitantly, causing Subaru's eyebrows to twitch.
"Raw? Do you usually boil them before eating?" he asked, feigning surprise.
"No! I mean, I haven't eaten Appas that aren't peeled," she said quickly, shaking her head and blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"Haha, I was just joking," he said with a smile, though she pouted a little at his teasing.
Soon, they finally arrived at their destination, where he met the renowned 'Finest of Knights'—Julius Juukulius.
"Lady Emilia, it is a pleasure to meet you," Julius said respectfully, kneeling before her.
"You have grown even more beautiful," he added, gently taking her hand and planting a kiss on it.
"Ah! You must be the famed 'Finest of Knights,' Sir Julius," Subaru said, eyeing him carefully.
"And whom might you be?" Julius asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I am Emilia's bodyguard—sort of her unofficial knight for the time being. You can call me Zero," Subaru said confidently as he scrutinized Julius.
Julius' eyes sparkled with interest upon hearing Subaru call himself an unofficial knight. He said sharply, "As a bodyguard, you should know your place. Always address Lady Emilia with respect, and you must add a respectful title before her name."
"Man, chill. Don't take knightly customs so seriously," Subaru chuckled, but his tone seemed only to irritate the knight further.
"It is dishonorable for a knight to treat everything so lightly. Miss Emilia, I suggest you find someone else to be your bodyguard—preferably an official knight," Julius advised firmly.
Subaru's smile faded, and he muttered under his breath, "What's so great about being a knight anyway?"
Julius' anger flared, but before he could respond, Emilia stepped forward and interrupted, "Enough! There's no need for you to argue with him, Zero."
Subaru raised his hands in surrender. "Fine," he muttered.
Julius nodded curtly, giving Subaru a sharp glance before walking toward the mansion's door to open it for Emilia.
"Miss Emilia, I will prepare the conference mirrors. Although, I suggest you don't bring him inside," Julius said quietly.
Subaru stayed silent, looking at Emilia, who hesitated.
'Puck, what should I do?' she asked her ever-watchful spirit, silently hoping for guidance.
'Hmm, while Zero is a good bodyguard, he lacks etiquette, which could become a problem, as Roswaal suggested. But I don't think you'll be in any real danger with so many knights here—especially with Julius present,' Puck advised thoughtfully.
She turned toward Zero and said firmly, "Zero, I'm sorry, but you should stay back."
He looked at her in slight disbelief before nodding. "Fine."
To be continued...
(A/N: Guys, give me your powerstones!)