Chapter 11: No Time Left
Thrown roughly to the ground, Subaru Natsuki clutched his butt, brushed off the dirt, and stood up.
He looked slightly upward at Old Man Rom in front of him.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
What he had just experienced made it clear—this place was not like when he was inside the game.
This ability wasn't something he could tell others about.
That hand that had just touched his heart hadn't even applied pressure, yet it made him clearly feel how close death was.
"You brat! Before I smash you into minced meat, explain what you just said!"
Hearing Old Man Rom's blunt words, seeing the look in his eyes toward a stranger like him, Subaru wasn't exactly surprised, but it still hurt.
However, that discomfort was soon overtaken by urgency.
What he had already experienced wouldn't be enough to knock him down again!
"Old Man Rom, whether you believe me or not, it's going to get really dangerous soon. We have to leave here as soon as Felt gets back."
"What nonsense are you spewing? A guy like you, clearly a foreigner with unknown background—you think I'd trust someone like that?!"
Old Man Rom reached out and grabbed Subaru's collar.
His massive strength lifted Subaru off the ground.
Facing someone who could kill him at any moment, Subaru wasn't the least bit flustered.
He had already learned what kind of person Old Man Rom was last time.
He knew what was important to him.
That's why—just by describing a cruel future, he could plant the idea of escaping with Felt into Rom's mind.
Even if the man didn't want to believe him, if the future he described was real enough, it could still accomplish that goal.
"Yeah, I know very well that you won't just believe me like that.
But to you, whether I live or die doesn't really matter, right? You only brought me here to question me because I knew Felt's name and said she would die.
You just wanted to get information out of me, right?"
Before Old Man Rom could respond, Subaru continued.
He didn't need confirmation.
He raised his hand and grabbed the wrist holding him up, gripping it tightly even though it was far too thick for him to hold properly.
"Felt's customer is definitely no good. That person is a kingdom-wanted criminal—the Bowel Hunter! You should know who that is! No matter how things might turn out, you shouldn't take that risk—because it could get someone you care about killed!"
After hearing Subaru's words, Old Man Rom loosened his grip and tried to pull his hand back. But the hand Subaru had grabbed held him in place.
"There's still time! Make a decision. Even if you kill me right here, I won't have any complaints. Will you gamble that Felt's customer isn't the Bowel Hunter? Will you bet that her customer won't slaughter all of you once the deal is done? Or will you choose to avoid that tragic future by getting Felt out of here?"
Old Man Rom forcefully pried Subaru's hand off, stepped back a few steps, and looked at the boy standing before him.
His eyes weren't lying. His expression was sincere and serious.
There was even concern and worry in his voice. His words had hit Rom's weak spot precisely. It even made him wonder if he'd met Subaru somewhere before.
"Kid, your name...?"
" Natsuki Subaru. That's my name. So now, could you say the name I already know?"
"Rom... Kid, when Felt gets back, you're coming with us. But if things don't turn out the way you said, you know what's going to happen to you, right?"
"More than happy to accept."
Old Man Rom was stunned again. He saw that Subaru showed no fear of death, nor any hesitation at the idea of leaving with them.
"Then go sit over there and wait. Felt should be back soon."
Saying that, the hostility in Rom's eyes faded.
It looked like he had accepted Subaru's words.
The two of them sat down at the counter, with Rom's massive club resting by his side.
It wasn't there to guard against Subaru—Rom saw Subaru as a weakling with no combat ability.
The more he looked at Subaru, the more he felt the boy might be a merchant or noble's son.
But neither seemed to fit.
Merchants always put money first—they'd demand all kinds of conditions to sell information. Someone like Subaru didn't have any "juicy profits" to be had.
And nobles? They were proud, extravagant folks who would never step foot into a slum, which to them was nothing but filth.
Even if they did come, they would never do something so foolish for someone like him.
Rom turned away and looked toward the entrance, quietly waiting for Felt to return.
Only a minute passed before all kinds of scenes flashed through his mind—all born from Subaru's words.
"Old Man Rom, you look nervous."
Rom turned to look at Subaru sitting beside him and said with irritation, "Isn't it because everything you said sounds so damn believable?"
"Don't worry. Felt won't be in danger before she gets back. And she should be back soon." Subaru glanced out the window.
The outside world had turned crimson—it was clear that night would fall soon.
Just then, a knock came at the door. Old Man Rom rushed to the door and opened it. The sight of him in such a hurry stunned Felt, who stood outside.
"Old Man Rom, what's up? Why do you look so panicked?"
Hearing the conversation at the door, Subaru left his chair and walked to stand beside Rom.
"Let's go. If we don't leave now, it'll be too late."
"Old Man Rom, who is he? Your guest? And where are we going?"
Rom placed a firm hand on Felt's shoulder, asking seriously:
"Felt! The job you took this time—who gave it to you?! Was it a woman? A black-haired woman with purple eyes?!"
"Ouch, Old Man Rom! Yeah, the client was a woman and looked like that. But how do you know?"
Upon hearing Felt confirm it, Rom didn't say a word.
He rushed back to the counter, grabbed his club, returned to the door, exchanged a glance with Subaru, and looked at Felt.
"The customer you took on is likely the Bowel Hunter—a wanted criminal of the kingdom. We need to lay low."
"Huh?! Old Man Rom! Wait!"
Without answering, Rom grabbed Felt and rushed toward a backup hideout he had prepared. Subaru quickly followed.
But they had only taken a few steps when they heard Felt's voice:
"How did she follow us here?!"
Hearing this, Subaru and Rom both looked toward the direction Felt was staring.
A white-haired girl stood there, watching them—or more precisely, watching Felt, whose hand Rom still held.
After taking a careful look at the white-haired girl, Rom's expression turned grim.
"White hair... half-elf... Felt, she's the owner, right?"
"Yeah, I didn't think she'd actually find this place."
Rom regretted it deeply at that moment.
He should have told Felt more about this!
A girl who looked so similar to the Witch—there was no way anything peaceful would be near her!
Whoever had hired Felt to steal from a white-haired girl had to have had a reason.
Felt should never have taken that job!
But it was too late to say anything now. The white-haired girl had already walked up to them and spoke:
"You're that child's accomplices, right? Return the insignia. It's a very important item."
Just as Rom was about to tell Felt to return it, Subaru's voice rang out:
"Old Man Rom, there's no time. Get ready. I should've brought some weapons."
Rom let go of Felt's hand and turned to face the direction Subaru was watching.
The Bowel Hunter had arrived.
She hadn't approached yet, but she had already seen them—and now held a curved blade in her hand.
Chapter 12 – It's a Promise
"Isn't that my employer? Why are you and Rom-ji being so cautious, little guy? Shouldn't you be wary of the owner instead?"
However, neither Rom-ji nor Natsuki Subaru responded to Felt's question.
Since Subaru hadn't brought a proper weapon this time, he stepped to the side, extended his arm to block Felt, and forced her to retreat, putting distance between her and the Bowel Hunter.
For Rom-ji, Felt's importance went without saying.
He had to be assured of her safety in order to fight freely.
Even if they weren't a match, holding on for a bit shouldn't be a problem.
As long as they could stall until the guards arrived, they might not have to die this time.
"What the hell are you doing?! You keep backing up! We're getting too close to the owner!"
But Felt, who had no idea what was really going on, couldn't understand Subaru's desperate intent.
From her perspective, the white-haired girl was probably the enemy.
"You can't be this stupid! Just look at Rom-ji's attitude, can't you tell? It's so obvious, don't ask stupid questions, dumbass!"
Felt was about to snap back, but seeing Rom-ji's expression, she finally spoke again in an uncertain tone:
"She's the enemy?"
"Yeah, that woman hasn't had good intentions from the start.
She's a wanted criminal, and you were stupid enough to make a deal with her without knowing that? How have you even survived this long? Rom-ji's just been protecting you too well, huh?"
"My my, even though I haven't gotten close yet, I can feel your hostility from a distance. Can someone tell me why you're all so hostile toward me?"
The black-haired woman slowly approached, stopping at a distance that wasn't too close nor too far, her gaze shifting to the white-haired girl who also seemed unaware of the situation.
"I see, so you're on guard because I failed the mission? Well, a failure is a failure. I'm not that unreasonable, you know."
"Kingdom-wanted criminal, Bowel Hunter. Cut the act. If you're going to fight, then do it already. I'll fight to the end."
"Looks like I guessed wrong. I wonder how you found me out? I thought I'd hidden myself so well... Even that slum kid didn't notice."
The Bowel Hunter said this with a smile as she raised her curved blade and lowered her body into a fighting stance.
"Um... what exactly is going on?"
Hearing this, Subaru glanced at the white-haired girl, then turned to the stunned Felt and sighed as he said:
"Hey, beautiful girl over there, could I ask you to take care of this kid? I know she stole from you. We'll return the item, so could you look after her for a bit?"
"What are you saying, little guy?! I can fight too! I don't need her protection. And there's no way I'm giving that thing back! It's her fault for not keeping it safe!"
Subaru twitched at her words, then swiftly delivered a karate chop to Felt's head.
As she covered her head and was about to protest, Subaru cut her off:
"This isn't the time to fool around! Give the thing back to her, then stay out of this and keep yourself safe! This fight has nothing to do with a kid like you!"
"Why should I listen to you?! And you don't even look that much older than me!"
Hearing her complaint, Subaru placed a hand gently on Felt's head and spoke:
"Even if I'm not that much older, as long as I look older, I should protect you. Don't make things harder for Rom-ji and me. We won't lose."
Felt swatted his hand away, turned her head, and refused to look at him as she said:
"Hmph! Just because you say that doesn't mean I'll listen to you. This is our first meeting. I'm not going to accept your random kindness when I don't even know what it's about!"
"Is that so? I'm just a passerby who happened to learn a bit of information and wanted to play the hero. So as the beautiful girl being saved by the hero, could you please let this ordinary guy take the spotlight?"
"What kind of nonsense reason is that?! Who would believe that crap!"
"Felt! Listen to the boy!"
Hearing Rom-ji shout, Felt snorted in frustration but nodded and walked over to the white-haired girl.
"Wait, what about my opinion?" The white-haired girl flailed her hands nervously as Felt approached.
"Your opinion? Didn't you already agree silently? Besides, you seem like a good person, so please don't break my impression of you. I'm counting on you!"
"Little guy, I know you're complimenting my daughter, but don't you think dragging her into this is a bit much?" came the voice of the white cat Puck, emerging from the white-haired girl's long hair, sounding a little annoyed.
"Let's be honest, it was that girl who stole from my daughter. Now you're asking us to protect her and dragging us into your mess with that other girl. Aren't you underestimating me?"
"Puck, it's fine. I don't mind."
"Emilia, you stay quiet. Let me handle this. You're too kind, that's why this kid is taking advantage of you."
Subaru paused, then, facing Puck's unfriendly expression, opened his mouth and said:
"Sorry for acting on my own. But the one who hired Felt to steal your stuff was that woman.
She's a wanted criminal and wouldn't target you for no reason.
So, from the moment Felt stole from you, you were already dragged into this. Even with that in mind, I still shouldn't have forced Felt on you."
"But... she's strong. So strong we don't think we can protect her. Just like you want to protect your daughter, she's important to us too. So, I'm begging you. Take her and run. Rom-ji and I will hold that woman off."
Puck looked at the bowing Subaru in silence.
After a moment, the white-haired girl beside him spoke up:
"Puck..."
"Hmph, I'll let it slide this time, little guy. But don't expect a next time. We probably won't see each other again after this anyway. So for my daughter's sake, I'll agree."
After speaking, Puck turned to the girl named Emilia beside him.
"Let's go, Emilia. Leave this to them."
"But what about them?"
"Don't worry about it. That's what they want. We just need to take the girl and leave."
"But—"
As the girl and cat exchanged words, the Bowel Hunter finally made her move.
Rom-ji, who had been on guard the whole time, charged in to meet her.
"Here's your stuff back! I'm not leaving Rom-ji and you guys behind!" said Felt as she threw the stolen Insigna to Emilia and tried to leave, but Subaru stood in her way.
"Out of the way, little guy!"
Subaru didn't answer.
He looked at Puck, silently pleading.
When Puck nodded, Subaru looked guilty as he stroked Felt's golden hair and said:
"Sorry."
Before Felt could respond, Puck cast a spell, putting her to sleep.
Subaru caught her, carried her over to Emilia, and placed her legs gently on the ground in front of her.
"Please take care of her."
Saying that, Subaru turned around and ran in the direction of the battle.
"Let's go, Emilia."
"Puck!"
Emilia shouted Puck's name loudly again.
Puck placed his front paws on his forehead and shook his head helplessly.
"Alright, alright. But promise me this—if the girl isn't down by the time limit, you must leave them behind.
Though honestly, I'm just saying that. You can go to the royal capital and bring back reinforcements. So, it's a promise."
"Okay."
Hearing Emilia's response, Puck smiled.
His face carried a grin, but his eyes, serious and filled with danger, turned toward the Bowel Hunter who was fighting Rom-ji.
Chapter 13: Eat My Serious Punch
After resolving the matter with Felt, Natsuki Subaru quickly ran to within five meters of Old Man Rom and the Bowel Hunter.
In truth, this was a very dangerous distance—five meters could be crossed in just a second or two by a two-meter-tall man like Old Man Rom or a swift assassin like the Bowel Hunter.
Moreover, the battle between the two didn't resemble a brawl as much as it did the dance the Bowel Hunter often referred to.
It was just that this dance was fatal.
Subaru was acutely aware of his own weakness, and of the enemy's strength.
Precisely because he knew how powerful the opponent was, Subaru insisted on staying at a distance where he could rush in to save someone in a crisis.
Although he had no weapon, just adopting a fighting stance—even if the opponent saw through his weakness—would still force her to spare some attention on him.
This could help Old Man Rom hold out a bit longer.
But in the end, it was just a little trick. If the Bowel Hunter spotted a single opening and swung her deadly scimitar, Subaru's bluff would be exposed, and his life would hang by a thread.
Still, for now, the bluff worked somewhat.
Subaru could clearly see that part of the Bowel Hunter's focus was on him.
If he could just stall for time until the guards arrived, there was a high chance the Bowel Hunter would retreat, ensuring everyone's safety.
However, Subaru didn't know for sure if the guards would come at all.
If they didn't, the worst outcome would be dying and trying again.
There were no other possibilities, because Subaru would never abandon Old Man Rom to save himself.
Having watched his close friend fight repeatedly in the game, Subaru had run away for long enough—he no longer wanted to run.
Influenced by his friend, he wanted to become someone like him.
He had made his friend's ideals part of his own—because an ideal where everyone returned smiling was so beautiful.
When he saw the smile on Felt's face last time, he fell deeply in love with that feeling.
"Step back, kid. Leave it to me now. You're just getting in the way."
As those words fell, an ice spear drove the Bowel Hunter back.
Subaru turned and saw Puck floating in the air, then looked toward the white-haired girl.
He was a bit annoyed that she hadn't run away, but it was true that Puck was the strongest presence on the battlefield, even if he couldn't last long.
So Subaru quickly shouted:
"Old Man Rom, fall back! Leave it to him now!"
Hearing Subaru's words, Old Man Rom immediately retreated, putting distance between himself and the Bowel Hunter.
Once that gap was established, countless ice spears shot toward her.
"Are you okay, Old Man Rom?"
"Yeah… I'm fine. Just tired..."
"Let's go back to Felt."
Having left the battlefield to Puck, Old Man Rom and Subaru ran over to the white-haired girl.
"What happened to Felt?"
"Don't worry. She tried to help you earlier, so I had the little cat knock her out so she could be taken away. But it seems they didn't want to leave."
As Subaru said this, he looked toward the white-haired girl, his gaze asking why she hadn't fled.
Emilia understood Subaru's look and replied with some irritation:
"I know this child is important to you. But if you'd abandoned her and died, she'd be heartbroken."
"Thank you, young lady. But can that spirit really beat the Bowel Hunter?"
"Puck is really strong!"
Subaru glanced at Old Man Rom, who was holding Felt in his arms, then looked back toward the battlefield.
This time, Puck had a serious expression.
He likely wouldn't hold back like last time.
"Be careful! That cloak she's wearing is a magical item that can block one magical attack!"
Subaru's warning reached both Puck and the Bowel Hunter.
Puck narrowed his eyes and intensified his attacks.
The Bowel Hunter shot a cold, harsh look at Subaru.
"You know far too much. Whose side are you on?"
"Young lady, looks like the boy was right. But is it wise to be distracted while fighting me?"
Under Puck's relentless attacks, the Bowel Hunter's feet were eventually trapped, just like last time.
But this time, she was surrounded by countless ice spears, making it impossible to escape even if she sliced off her own feet.
Reluctantly, she activated her magical cloak.
As smoke filled the air, she sliced off the soles of her feet to dodge Puck's second area-wide attack.
When the giant ice pillar struck the ground and shattered, sharp shards riddled her body with wounds.
The most severe injury was a gash on her abdomen caused by a fragment. When the smoke cleared, the Bowel Hunter was half-kneeling, clutching her stomach.
Puck, observing her condition, fired one last ice spear.
She shattered the ice spear, and Puck's voice reached everyone:
"Lia, it's time for you to leave. I'm sorry—I don't have any power left to deal with her."
Emilia caught Puck in her hand and said:
"Thank you, Puck. We'll take it from here."
"Leah, we made a promise. As a spirit arts user, you should know what to do."
"Old Man Rom, give Felt to her. It's our turn now."
Subaru said this as he stepped forward.
Old Man Rom, looking at Subaru's back, handed Felt to Emilia and said:
"I'm counting on you."
With that, Old Man Rom ran past Subaru, swinging his giant club at the Bowel Hunter.
Subaru also charged in, though a sense of dread filled his heart—the guards still hadn't arrived.
"Let's go, Lia. I'm going to rest now. That little girl's already badly injured. Even if they can't kill her, they can delay her for a long time. Let's go."
Watching Puck disappear from her palm, Emilia remained silent for a moment, then carried Felt and ran toward the royal capital.
The Bowel Hunter dodged Rom's strike, glanced at Emilia fleeing, and drew another scimitar. Her gaze turned cold and dangerous.
"You're all in the way."
With those words, she vanished from sight, shocking both Rom and Subaru.
She should have been seriously injured—why was she still so fast?
Both men looked around warily, when suddenly Subaru turned and sprinted toward Emilia.
"Old Man Rom! Her target is Felt and the others!"
"What!? Damn it! Hurry!"
Subaru saw Emilia's back—and also saw the Bowel Hunter rapidly closing in behind her.
He and Rom couldn't catch up in time.
The white-haired girl might be capable in combat, but carrying Felt meant she couldn't last long.
"Old Man Rom, throw me!"
Rom froze for a second, then grabbed Subaru by the collar, spun once, and hurled him toward the Bowel Hunter.
On the other side, Emilia heard something behind her. When she looked back, the Bowel Hunter had already closed the distance, scimitar raised to strike.
"You bastard! Eat my serious punch!"
The sudden shout made the Bowel Hunter turn in surprise.
A fist grew larger and larger in her vision.
At that moment, she showed just how formidable she was—twisting aside, she gave up the chance to kill Emilia to instead strike at Subaru.
An ice spear knocked her attack slightly off course, but her blade still slashed open Subaru's side.
Blood sprayed into the air.
Unable to stop himself, Subaru crashed into Emilia, sending all three of them tumbling.
Chapter 14: There's Still Hope
The three of them who collided rolled a considerable distance.
Emilia, lying on the ground, shook her head and looked at the people beside her.
There, Natsuki Subaru lay unconscious, his life or death uncertain.
Blood flowed from a wound on his side, and his body was covered in dust and mud.
Sand had even gotten into his wound.
Next to him lay the unconscious Felt, face down, showing no sign of waking.
Upon seeing the wound on Subaru, Emilia immediately came to a conclusion: if he wasn't treated quickly, he would surely die here.
Kind-hearted Emilia rushed to Subaru's side and reached out her hand to heal him, when a cold voice rang out from behind her.
"Have you forgotten about me?"
Hearing that divine-sounding voice, Emilia turned her head.
The Bowel Hunter stood there with a smile, raising her curved blade and swinging it down toward her.
In that critical moment, Emilia felt someone bump into her, knocking her to the side.
Her eyes widened as she saw the curved blade strike down mercilessly onto Subaru's body.
Blood sprayed, splattering onto the Bowel Hunter's face.
However, Subaru, who should have collapsed, reached out and grabbed her hand before she could pull it back.
With a weak voice, he muttered:
"Old man... Rom..."
The Bowel Hunter's pupils contracted, and she turned to look behind her—only to see a wooden club swinging at her with immense force. She quickly tried to sever Subaru's hand with her blade in order to escape.
But a powerful blow struck her in the abdomen, sending her flying.
The club that old man Rom had swung was caught effortlessly by a hand.
Reinhard frowned as he glanced at the unconscious Subaru and called out to Emilia:
"I leave him to you, Lady Emilia!"
"Yes!"
After receiving her reply, Reinhard looked at old man Rom and said:
"Leave the rest to me. Stay here and protect him."
Rom retracted his giant club and nodded.
Standing before Reinhard, who was even taller than him, he was at a loss for words.
Seeing Rom's nod, Reinhard turned and ran in the direction the Bowel Hunter had been sent flying.
Rom averted his gaze—there was no need to watch.
The Sword Saint Reinhard had arrived. The outcome was already decided.
What he now cared about more was Subaru's condition.
"How is he? Can he still be saved?"
"I don't know, but I'll do my best."
Hearing Emilia's reply, Rom's face could not hide his guilt.
He had fully accepted this mysterious young man.
The resolve in Subaru's cry earlier was what made him want to bash both the Bowel Hunter and Subaru into pulp.
At that moment, he had no other choice and felt guilty toward Subaru.
He knew very well that he had no chance against the Bowel Hunter.
Fortunately, Reinhard's arrival meant he didn't need to make that tragic choice.
For that, he felt deeply grateful to Reinhard.
But looking at Subaru's condition, he thought Subaru probably wouldn't make it.
"Subaru, can you hear me? If you're going to die, at least leave a final word."
"Oh, be quiet! If you can't help, don't interfere with my healing! He can be saved!"
"But just now you said..."
"Yes, earlier I thought he was beyond saving. But now, there's a good chance he'll survive." Emilia said this as she looked down at Subaru, unconscious on the ground, her eyes full of complex emotions.
She realized that although his wounds looked terrible, it was not as bad as it seemed.
The slash across his chest hadn't reached the bone, sparing his internal organs.
The most serious injury was to his side, which, lacking bone protection, had damaged his organs.
But what puzzled her was that, given the Bowel Hunter's strength, the strike should have destroyed his insides completely—but it only partially did.
She didn't understand why, but it was a good thing.
With some effort, the wounds could heal.
The key now was whether Subaru could hold on long enough.
Sometimes, even if the injuries are severe, if the person doesn't give up hope, there's still a good chance to survive.
She truly hoped that this person who had saved her wouldn't die.
She really wanted to know: why did he save her? Why did he treat her differently from everyone else? And why, at that moment when he pushed her away, did he have a faint smile on his face, eyes full of satisfaction and completely devoid of fear?
"You're such a strange person..."
On the side, old man Rom finally relaxed upon hearing that Subaru still had hope.
A smile appeared on his face as he shifted his gaze to Felt.
He walked over, picked her up, and brought her to Subaru's side.
Looking at Subaru's sleeping face, still faintly smiling, Rom felt more and more that this was someone who could be trusted.
He even wondered if he should keep Subaru by his side, so that if anything happened to him in the future, there would be someone reliable to protect Felt.
As if sensing Rom's thoughts, Felt—who had been unconscious—fluttered her eyelashes and opened her eyes. When she saw Rom's face, she cried out:
"Old man Rom! You're okay!"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Rom gently patted Felt's back as she clung to his neck, comforting her as she sobbed.
"Thank goodness you're safe. If anything had happened to you, I would never forgive that bastard!"
"Felt, look over there first..."
Hearing Rom's words, Felt let go and wiped her tears, following the direction he indicated. There, lay someone who looked like he was on the verge of death.
"Him..."
"Felt, it was Subaru who saved you..." Rom didn't finish the sentence, but Felt understood what he meant.
Though she grew up in the slums, under Rom's care, she remained a kind girl.
She knew well who treated her kindly and who didn't.
Subaru, who told her to run and then let her pass out, had ultimately done it for her sake.
Though she had been annoyed at his actions at the time, upon seeing his injuries, that irritation had long faded.
"Can he still be saved?"
"With this girl here, he'll be fine."
"Really? That's great... Then maybe one day I'll be able to return the favor."
Chapter 15: A Member of the Royal Family
Reinhard was feeling a little angry—not at the Bowel Hunter, but at himself.
It had been a rare day with no duties, so he had decided to take a walk.
In the evening, he had seen a strangely dressed person talking with a guard.
After the conversation ended, he called the guard over to ask what had happened.
Once he heard the details, he told the guard he would take care of it himself.
However, at that time, Reinhard didn't rush over immediately.
Instead, he strolled along, helping some people along the way, and only after that did he arrive at the slums.
That was when he saw Subaru Natsuki pushing Emilia out of the way and grappling with the Bowel Hunter in a desperate attempt to bring her down with him.
He had thought the oddly dressed young man had fled, but instead, he was risking his life to save others, trying to die alongside the Bowel Hunter.
Reinhard saved him, and when he saw the wounds on Subaru's body and the faint smile on his face, he felt ashamed for not taking the matter more seriously from the start.
Fighting the Bowel Hunter barehanded was no challenge for him.
If he wished, he could defeat her at any moment.
His earlier strike had already left her gravely wounded, slowing her movements significantly.
However, Reinhard couldn't go all out—not until Emilia had finished treating Subaru.
Though he considered drawing the battle away, the Bowel Hunter refused to cooperate.
She stayed close and kept pressing the attack, clearly aware of Reinhard's reservations.
So, the fight became a standoff in one spot.
Then suddenly, the Bowel Hunter stopped her attacks.
She glanced behind Reinhard, then looked directly at him and said:
"Looks like I failed this mission. Give them a message for me—tell them to take good care of their intestines. I'll be back to rip them out one day."
With that, she vanished before Reinhard's eyes.
Though he wanted to pursue her, he stopped.
He still couldn't be sure whether she had accomplices or traps waiting.
So, he gave up the chase and returned to check on the others.
As long as he was present, no one would be able to harm them.
.
.
.
"How is he, Lady Emilia?"
"His condition is stable now, but the wounds will still take time to heal."
"I see… I'm relieved. If something had happened to him, I don't think I could've forgiven myself."
Reinhard stared at Subaru's face and silently apologized in his heart.
If only he had arrived sooner. He resolved to apologize properly once Subaru woke up.
Everyone fell silent, quietly waiting while Emilia continued to treat Subaru.
After a while, she pulled her hand back and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"He's going to be fine now. But he'll need to rest for some time."
"Thank you… If it weren't for you, Felt, and Subaru would all be dead."
"It's alright. He saved my life too."
Grandpa Rom didn't say anything more and was just about to carry Subaru away when two voices spoke up.
"Do you know him?"
Rom looked curiously at the white-haired girl and the Sword Saint, then shook his head.
"No, I don't. This is the first time I've met him. All I know is his name: Natsuki Subaru. If there's nothing else, may I take him with me?"
"Um… I know it's a bit impolite to say this, but your conditions probably won't allow him the quiet rest he needs. Would you let me take him instead? I'd like to repay him properly."
"Lady Emilia, if you don't mind, I'd like to take on that responsibility."
"No, it's alright. He saved my life—it should be me who takes care of him."
"I see. Then I'll leave it to you, Lady Emilia.
But once he wakes up and is ready to leave, please bring him to the royal capital. There are things I'd like to say to him."
"Understood."
Rom looked at the two and realized it would be best to entrust Subaru to them.
Their status and resources would ensure he received proper care.
And since the white-haired girl had agreed to bring him to Reinhard later, Rom didn't have to worry about never seeing Subaru again.
"Please, I'm counting on you. Once he wakes up, tell him to come visit me."
"Of course. I will."
With everything settled, Felt walked over holding a dust-covered insignia.
"This is important to you, right? You dropped it over there. If it's that valuable, be more careful next time."
Felt extended her hand to return the insignia to Emilia.
Emilia patted her pockets and realized it was indeed missing—she must've dropped it when Subaru knocked her away and they both rolled across the ground.
"Thank you. I'll be more careful."
Just as Emilia reached out to take the insignia, a hand suddenly grabbed Felt's wrist.
"Ouch! What the hell are you doing?! Let go!"
"No way…"
Rom's expression froze.
He quickly reached out and grabbed Reinhard's hand.
"Sir Sword Saint, don't you think this is a bit much—grabbing my granddaughter like that?"
Reinhard, realizing his blunder, let go.
He looked at Felt—now hiding behind Rom, glaring warily at him—and apologized.
"Sorry, that was rude. But I have a few questions. Would you answer them?"
"Um… as long as it's not too personal."
"How old is your granddaughter?"
"Ah, she's thirteen. Still not of age."
Hearing this, Reinhard frowned. A giant like Rom having a granddaughter like Felt didn't add up. His tone became sharper.
"Please stop lying. How old is she really? And what's her connection to the royal family?!"
Rom was silent for a moment.
Then suddenly he lunged at Reinhard, shouting:
"Felt! Run!"
But he was facing Reinhard. With just one punch, Rom fell unconscious.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"I believe she's a lost member of the royal family who was kidnapped fifteen years ago. So I need to take you both in for questioning."
"Royal family?! I'm no royal! Ever since I can remember, I've been with Grandpa Rom!"
"Reinhard, are you sure about this?"
"There's no mistake. Her features match, and earlier the insignia glowed in her hands. She's definitely a member of the royal family."
With that, Reinhard hoisted Rom onto his shoulder and prepared to take Felt by force.
But she shouted:
"Put Grandpa Rom down! Didn't you say I'm a royal? Then I order you—put him down! If you want to verify anything, I'll go with you alone!"
Chapter 16: Twins?
"A ceiling I don't recognize... Am I not dead?"
Rubbing his eyes, Natsuki Subaru sat up and looked around the lavish room.
His clothes had been changed, and when he pulled open the pajamas and looked at his abdomen and chest, there wasn't a single wound.
"I've been healed... it was probably her. But where am I now? Felt and Old Man Rom should be okay, right?"
With a flood of unanswered questions, Subaru got out of bed, barefoot, and opened the room door.
Stepping into the hallway, he was stunned by the long, grand corridor.
He'd never stayed in such a massive house before.
Only someone like Reinhard the Sword Saint could afford to live in a place like this.
'So Reinhard saved us? I've gotta thank him when I see him.'
As Subaru walked, he took in his surroundings.
The grandeur of the place reaffirmed Reinhard's prestige.
However, something felt a little off — Reinhard didn't seem like the flashy type, so why live in such a lavish house?
"Is anyone here?!"
Subaru stopped and called out, but there was no response.
Though he knew it wasn't polite to wander around someone else's house, he desperately wanted to know what happened after he lost consciousness.
Did his efforts pay off? Did the people he tried to save survive? That thought made Subaru anxious.
The sun was already up, which meant his save-point ability couldn't rewind to that moment anymore.
If the ones he tried to save had died, he would be devastated.
Failing his first attempt at saving someone would be a crushing blow to someone chasing after the back of his close friend.
In a rush to find someone, Subaru randomly chose a door, opened it, and found a library filled with bookshelves.
Sitting in the center, directly facing the door, was a blonde girl dressed in gothic clothes, holding a book and staring at him.
Seeing someone, Subaru smiled and quickly stepped in.
"Hey, do you live here? Do you know where Reinhard is?"
"What a rude person. Betty does live here. But if you're looking for Reinhard, you should go to the royal capital, not here. If you've got no business, please leave."
"Wait, I've got a lot of questions! Isn't this Reinhard's place?"
"No, this is the residence of a clown."
Subaru froze.
A clown? Could someone like that live in a place like this? Clearly not.
That meant the girl must be familiar with the homeowner, someone who could be described as a clown.
But Subaru couldn't recall anyone matching that description—let alone someone who'd live in such a grand house.
After thinking a bit, Subaru remembered the silver-haired girl who likely healed his wounds.
Of all the people he'd met since arriving in this world, she was the second most likely person to live in a place like this.
"Then do you know where the others are? There's something really urgent I need to ask."
The blonde girl, who called herself Betty, frowned, clearly annoyed by Subaru's endless questions.
"If you'd stayed in your original room, someone would have come to see you. Now, please leave Betty's library!"
Hearing the irritation in her voice, Subaru quickly apologized.
"Sorry, I got a little impatient. I'm really sorry for bothering you. I'll leave now."
Turning to leave, Subaru walked toward the door, which had been closed at some point.
Just as he was about to open it, he glanced back at the girl—and caught a fleeting glimpse of disappointment and loneliness on her face.
But before he could get a better look, the girl noticed he hadn't left and raised her head.
"Don't tell me you can't even open the door. What a useless person."
"It's not that... I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for answering my questions. Goodbye."
As he finished speaking, Subaru opened the door—only to find the hallway replaced by the very room he had just been in.
Standing there stunned, Subaru turned back, ready to ask a question, but a sudden force pushed him through the door, which immediately glowed.
Now back in his room, Subaru blinked at the sudden change.
Curiously, he opened the door again—but this time it led to a regular hallway, not the library.
'Magic, huh? Pretty convenient.'
With that thought, Subaru peeked out into the hallway—still no one in sight.
Remembering what the blonde girl said, he resisted the urge to go back and ask what kind of magic that was.
Instead, he closed the door and sat on the bed alone.
However, his mind couldn't settle.
Anxious to know what happened next, Subaru, restless and jittery, finally spoke to himself:
"If I don't do something, I'm going to go crazy. I guess I'll get in some training."
He then got down and started doing push-ups.
Sweat soon covered his forehead with each repetition.
"Thirty-two... thirty-three... thirty-four... thir—"
"Big sister, big sister, the guest is doing something weird."
"Little sister, little sister, the guest is doing something indecent."
Startled by the sudden voices, Subaru lost his breath and collapsed face-first on the floor.
As he got up, he saw two girls in maid outfits standing at the door—identical twins, or so it seemed, except their hair and eye colors were different.
"You're finally here! Can you tell me where I am? Is this the royal capital? Are Felt and Old Man Rom okay?!"
"Guest, guest, we don't know what you're talking about."
"Guest, guest, we don't know what you're talking about."
Hearing the twin maids speak in unison, Subaru felt a headache coming on.
Normally, he might be excited to see two cute maids—but right now, he just wanted answers. And on top of that, the idea of maids gave him a bit of PTSD…
After all, there was that terrifying maid with throwing knives from the game… He and his best friend had died five times at her hands...
"Hey, can you please stop talking like that? And could you take me to the person who saved me? I really need to ask something important!"
Chapter 17: Natsuki Subaru Gets Closer
Upon hearing Subaru Natsuki's words, the two maids exchanged a glance and then respectfully bowed in unison.
"Guest, please change your clothes and join us for breakfast. Lord Roswaal has prepared a sumptuous meal."
The blue-haired maid stepped forward and handed Subaru his tracksuit, then both she and the pink-haired maid turned and left the room.
Subaru glanced at the tracksuit in his hands, then at the closed door.
He walked to the bed and began putting on his familiar outfit. It didn't take long.
Once changed, he looked over the tracksuit again.
Technically, this outfit had two large tears in it before.
But now, unless one looked very closely, there was no sign of damage. If examined carefully, a few traces of stitching could still be seen.
'Such great workmanship… I thought I'd have to fix it myself.' Subaru smiled with satisfaction, feeling fortunate that the person who saved him hadn't discarded his clothes.
This outfit was one of his few mementos from his original world.
Compared to his basically useless cell phone, the tracksuit held far greater significance.
He had worn it through an unfriendly game-like world and into this fantasy realm.
Until the god who sent him here returned him home, this outfit served as proof that he didn't belong to this world.
It was also a guidepost—a reminder not to lose sight of his goal in this otherworld. Subaru genuinely hoped that god wouldn't wait until he grew old to send him back.
'I really do need to learn more about magic. Maybe there's a spell that could return me. This outfit might be the key to getting back.'
With that thought, Subaru gave his cheeks a few light slaps to focus, calmed his mind, then opened the door. Looking at the two maids standing on either side, he spoke:
"Thanks for waiting."
"Guest, this is our duty," said the pink-haired maid politely, and then she and the blue-haired maid began leading the way.
As Subaru followed, he asked,
"By the way, were you the ones who stitched up my clothes?"
"Rem was the one who repaired them," answered the pink-haired maid.
"I see. Thanks a lot. That really helped."
"This was just something Rem should do," Rem replied softly and humbly, then fell silent.
"Is this outfit really important to you?" Perhaps not wanting the silence to stretch, the pink-haired maid asked another question.
"Yeah, it's really important. It's one of the only two things I have from my hometown.
And even if you say it was your duty, I still want to thank you. If you'd thrown it away, I would've been really upset."
"I see…"
With that, the conversation ended.
The three of them walked in silence until they reached the dining room.
The décor was equally luxurious.
Several people were already seated along the long central table.
Subaru, standing in the doorway, watched as the two maids took up positions on either side of the head of the table, saying nothing. He couldn't help but admire them.
'Now this is what a real maid should be—adorable and dignified. And they don't look like they have much combat ability either.' Of course, that was just his impression.
"Don't judge a book by its cover"—a lesson he'd learned the hard way through the game.
Shifting his gaze from the maids, he looked toward the blonde girl.
She looked at him briefly, then turned her eyes away.
"Good morning. And thanks again for earlier," Subaru said, trying to greet her.
But she didn't respond. His raised hand slowly and awkwardly dropped.
"Find a seat. Don't block Beatrice while she's waiting for her brother."
Her cold tone made Subaru smile awkwardly.
He stepped out of the way and looked at all the available seats but wasn't sure where to sit.
So instead, he just stood there, looking toward the door, waiting for the person he wanted to see most.
He didn't have to wait long.
A silver-haired girl entered from the hallway. Subaru's eyes lit up, and he rushed over to her.
"Um, are you the one who saved me?"
Emilia stepped back, startled by Subaru's closeness.
Maybe sensing her discomfort, a small cat floated out from beneath her long hair and pushed Subaru back with its paw.
"Kid, I understand your eagerness. Even if you saved my daughter, that doesn't mean I approve of you. So could you back off a bit?"
"Ah, sorry—I got too excited." Subaru took a step back.
He stared at the floating white cat.
It was ridiculously cute—super, super fluffy. Subaru, who loved petting animals, had a strong urge to scoop it up and give it a good rub.
"Big brother!"
"Beatrice, it's been four days. Have you been a good, spirited little lady while I was gone?"
"I've been eagerly waiting for you to return, big brother. Can we spend today together?"
"Of course. Let's have a relaxing day together."
Watching the interaction between the golden-haired girl—Beatrice—and the eccentric cat, Subaru thought to himself that this was how a young-looking loli character should act.
As the two left, Subaru turned his attention back to Emilia.
"Um… After I passed out, are Felt and Old Man Rom okay? Did they survive?"
Perhaps Subaru's emotions were too intense—Emilia took another step back.
To her, he looked desperate and uneasy, his expression heavy and frightening.
Taking a breath, Emilia finally answered:
"They're fine. Thanks to your effort and determination, they're both safe."
Hearing this, Subaru's eyes lit up, and his gloomy expression turned to joy.
He couldn't hold it in—he jumped up and shouted:
"Yes! Yes! They're safe! I actually saved someone for the first time! This means I'm one step closer to him!"
Emilia looked at Subaru's radiant smile—so heartfelt and bright.
It was clear that, to him, saving someone he hadn't known for long was a huge achievement.
Clenching his fists, Subaru calmed down and looked at Emilia apologetically.
"Sorry for scaring you. And… thank you for saving us."
"I only healed your wounds. The one who saved you was the Kingdom's Sword Saint, Reinhard."
"Huh? Really? But… I don't think I know any Sword Saint..."
"Oohhh~~ is everyone here already? Beatrice too? It's been days—so happy you decided to join me for breakfast today~~"
The flamboyant voice behind Emilia made Subaru freeze.
He turned toward the speaker, whose over-the-top outfit made him look just like a clown.
At that moment, Subaru remembered what Beatrice had said about a "clown."
It wasn't hard to connect the dots—this man must be the owner of the mansion. And earlier, the pink-haired maid had called him "Lord Roswaal." So it had to be him.
Chapter 18: The Dragon-Friendly Kingdom
"Please don't flatter yourself. Maybe one day, if you change that ridiculous outfit, Betty might consider having a meal with you."
"Such harsh terms! Well, I'll give it a try someday~~~ So, is this the person who saved Lady Emilia? He really is quite the fine-looking man~~ ah."
Hearing this, Subaru Natsuki shuddered.
The person dressed like a clown and speaking in such a bizarre manner was unsettling.
"'Fine-looking' is far too generous. I'm just an ordinary, plain NEET."
The clown-like man, addressed as Roswaal by the pink-haired maid, looked deeply at Subaru and smiled.
"Since everyone is here, let's not just stand around chatting. Let's sit down and talk while we eat. Ram, Rem."
"Understood, Lord Roswaal."
"Please have a seat, honored guest."
"Oh…" Led by Roswaal, Subaru approached the dining table.
After watching Roswaal and Emilia take their seats, he hesitated for a moment, then moved to sit next to the blonde girl.
"Please don't sit next to Betty. You'll be disturbing my time with my brother."
Hearing the blonde girl's cold words, Subaru froze mid-motion.
She wouldn't even look at him, speaking with her eyes closed and a tone of complete indifference.
Her aura made it painfully clear she was not someone easy to approach.
"Sorry… It's just that I felt a bit of a sense of security sitting next to you…"
"Are you a newborn chick? Mistaking the first person you see as someone who gives you a sense of safety? You really are simple-minded."
"I'm not like that. It's just…" Subaru glanced at Emilia across the table, still reluctant to sit beside her.
Although she had saved him and seemed like a good and kind person, the feelings he had when they first met—truly met—still left him uneasy.
"Ma~, Betty, don't worry about it. We'll be together all day anyway, so there's plenty of time."
"If my brother says so, I'll allow it. But don't disturb our time together."
"Thanks… really."
Subaru exhaled in relief and sat down.
Once he did, the two maids placed food in front of him.
Having not eaten anything since yesterday, Subaru eagerly moved to begin eating.
"What a rude guest—you're already starting before Lord Roswaal has even touched his food."
"Ram, it's fine. He's a guest, after all."
"Yes, Lord Roswaal."
"It's no problem. Please go ahead, guest. Don't mind what Ram said."
Looking at the maid called Ram, then at the master of the mansion, Subaru hesitated before asking,
"Are you sure I can eat?"
"Yes, go right ahead."
Relieved, Subaru looked down at the knife and fork.
Having never used them before, he clumsily tried to imitate the dining manners he'd seen in movies and TV shows.
Compared to everyone else—who ate quietly without even the sound of utensils touching the plate—Subaru's clattering, though not loud, was painfully awkward in the silence.
Giving up, he put down the knife and fork and picked up a spoon, tears in his heart as he began to eat.
"Wow, this is really good!"
"It looks plain, but Rem's cooking is pretty good."
"This dish… the blue-haired girl… Can I call you Rem?"
"You may call me however you like, guest. Rem has no objections."
At that moment, Roswaal spoke up.
"By the way, guest, none of us have introduced ourselves yet. I'll start. My name is Roswaal L. Mathers. This is Ram, and that's Rem."
"Hello, guest. I am Ram."
"Hello, guest. I am Rem."
"The one beside you is Beatrice, and over here is Lady Emilia."
"And I'm Puck~! I'm Lia's father, you know!"
After hearing the introductions, Subaru mentally noted each of their names and said,
"Then I guess it's my turn. Um… I'm Subaru Natsuki. Just your average, commonplace shut-in."
After Subaru finished his introduction, Roswaal looked at him and said,
"Now that the introductions are done, let's get to the main topic."
"Main topic? Isn't eating the only important thing right now?"
Subaru took another sip of the food Rem made, growing more impressed by its flavor.
"While eating is important, there's something even more pressing. Before that, I'd like to ask—why did you come to Lugunica?"
"Lugunica? Is that the name of this country?"
Surprised by Subaru's question, Roswaal paused before replying.
"You really are a curious one—coming to the Mathers domain on the border of Lugunica without knowing a thing about it."
"Why? Is there something wrong with this country?"
Roswaal fell silent for a moment, then slowly answered,
"The nation is unstable. After all, Lugunica currently has no king."
Subaru blinked in surprise, then returned to a calm, flat expression.
"Oh, I see. Let me ask—this isn't some top-secret information, is it? If it is, I should probably start running."
"Don't worry. Everyone in the kingdom knows about this."
"Then I won't get silenced. That's a relief."
"You're quite the joker. You saved Lady Emilia. We'd never do such a thing."
"Good. Well, it doesn't really concern me anyway. These things have a way of sorting themselves out. I just need to live my life and stay out of trouble."
Saying this, Subaru picked up his breakfast and resumed eating.
As he saw it, he only saved someone because they were about to be killed.
What happened afterward in the kingdom had nothing to do with him.
His goals were to return home eventually and get some work experience in this other world—so when he got back, he wouldn't get fired for being clumsy.
"Just as you say—but I'm afraid you might not be able to stay uninvolved anymore."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Because the person sitting across from you, Lady Emilia, is one of the royal candidates."
"Eh????"
"Since there's no king, and a kingdom can't be kingless, it was decided that the Dragon Priestess recognized by the dragon would be chosen from among the candidates."
"Dragon?"
"Looks like you truly know nothing.
Lugunica is a dragon-friendly kingdom—founded under the dragon's protection.
So, when the royal family was wiped out by plague, naturally, the next ruler had to be chosen based on the dragon's will."
"I understand what you're saying… but what does any of this have to do with an ordinary shut-in like me?"
Chapter 19: Job Confirmation
"Because your origin is unknown, Natsuki Subaru."
The atmosphere in the living room grew heavy.
However, upon hearing this, Natsuki Subaru paid it no mind—or rather, he didn't notice the shift in atmosphere at all.
He was just a normal shut-in with absolutely no experience in matters involving royalty.
So, Subaru spoke up plainly:
"I know my identity is suspicious. From your point of view, I probably seem like someone who intentionally approached Emilia. But I didn't come to this place by choice.
If I could, I'd like to go back to my hometown. Besides, I didn't intentionally get close to Emilia. When it comes down to it, it's just because her stuff got stolen and I happened to run into her, Old Man Rom, and Felt."
"At that time, I just wanted to help someone. I came here entirely because you people brought me back."
"How surprising. You don't seem afraid at all."
Hearing this, Subaru looked straight into Roswaal's eyes, smiled, and said slowly:
"Because everything I did came from the heart. I just did what I wanted to do. I have no desire to get involved in your affairs."
"I see. I apologize for doubting you, Natsuki Subaru. Please forgive me.
After all, this is a crucial time. The Royal Selection is about to begin, so I had to be extra cautious."
"No worries. It's not like I lost anything. Honestly, anyone would be suspicious of me."
"Then, let's talk about your reward now."
"Reward?"
"Yes. To put it simply, you saved Lady Emilia and also recovered the insignia of the Dragon Priestess for her."
"The insignia of the Dragon Priestess? You mean that badge? I wouldn't say I recovered it, I just returned something that had been stolen. Wait—so that thing's really important?!"
The room went silent.
Subaru followed Roswaal's gaze toward Emilia, who had her head bowed like a child who had done something wrong. She spoke quietly:
"Yes… That insignia proves I'm eligible to participate in the Royal Selection. It's very important..."
"I mean, come on... You let something that important get stolen? Isn't that kind of careless?"
"..."
Subaru sighed, sorted out the information in his head, and spoke:
"If that thing is so important, then if people found out it had been stolen, they'd probably say she isn't qualified to participate in the Royal Selection, right? So this so-called reward is basically hush money to make sure I don't spread that information, isn't it?"
"Exactly~~ You're quite clever~~"
"Anyone could figure that out. Looks like this is one reward I can't refuse.
Just to be clear! I didn't know any of that back then, and I didn't save her expecting a reward."
"I understand. So, Natsuki S..."
"Just call me Subaru. In my hometown, that's more casual. Using my full name feels a little too stiff… Of course, if you prefer it, you can call me Natsuki."
"Then… Subaru..."
"Yeah, I'm here. What is it, Emilia?"
"You saved me and got the insignia back for me. So, if there's anything you want, just tell me. This isn't the same as Roswaal's reward—this is me thanking you personally for saving me."
Hearing this, Subaru thought for a moment and then said:
"Anything I want?"
"Yup! Anything at all."
Subaru grinned mischievously, and Emilia's eyes filled with unease.
"Then what I want is..."
"What I want is..."
"Help me find a job."
Subaru dropped the mischievous smile and said it calmly.
But because his request was so simple, everyone looked at him in surprise.
"Don't be so shocked. Sure, I'd love a huge sum of money and to live an easy life away from here. But I'm not ready for that kind of life yet.
Feels like it would rot me from the inside. So, I just want a job.
I'll work hard no matter what kind of job it is. So give me a job! That's the reward I want."
After hearing Subaru's words, everyone fell silent.
Then, the silence was broken by Puck:
"Subaru, you really are a good person. My opinion of you just went way up."
"I don't really care what you think of me.
Besides, this is probably the last time we'll see each other. Whether you like me or not doesn't matter. Of course, if you want to be friends, I'd be happy to raise your opinion of me."
"Friends, huh…" Puck glanced at Emilia. As someone who was always by her side, he knew what she was thinking and said:
"Then, do you have any conditions for becoming friends?"
"Do you need conditions to be friends? As long as we can laugh and chat about everyday stuff, that's enough."
"Then Subaru, would you be willing to become my daughter's friend? Due to various reasons, Lia doesn't have a single friend.
Since I think quite highly of you, I'm allowing you to become Lia's friend—even if you have ulterior motives."
"Puck!!"
"What ulterior motives?! It's wrong to be friends with a hidden agenda! And that doesn't even count as real friendship! But if it's just being friends, sure. Still, it's up to her to decide."
"Lia, you heard that~~"
"Um… Subaru, can I be your friend?"
"Of course."
"Really...? You don't mind how I look?"
"Why would I? Do you need to look a certain way to be someone's friend? Shouldn't you be getting to know someone's personality and heart instead?"
"Ugh..."
Subaru tilted his head in confusion at Emilia, who looked down bashfully. Suddenly, he was punched in the face.
Turning his head, he saw Puck smiling happily.
"Subaru! You really are a great guy!"
"I'm not that amazing. Just an ordinary shut-in. And how dare you hit me? Time for some payback!"
With that, Subaru reached out and grabbed Puck, feeling around with both hands.
The more he touched, the more his eyes sparkled.
"Ooohhh! I've always wanted to touch this fluffy fur! It's so soft, I could pet it all day!"
"Hahaha, stop that! It tickles!"
Puck broke free from Subaru's hands and flicked his tail, smacking Subaru in the face. Subaru, pretending to be angry, reached out to continue petting, when a voice interrupted him:
"Subaru-kun~~~ Since you're looking for a job, how about staying here and working?"
"Stay and work?"
"Exactly~~~ You can see this place is huge.
Even though Ram and Rem manage things, it's still too much for them. If you work here, food and lodging are taken care of. And more importantly, as Emilia's first friend, I'm sure she'll be thrilled."
"I don't have a problem with that... Wait, I'm her first friend?! Seriously, what kind of father are you?!"
"Well, there are a lot of complicated reasons… So, Subaru, do you want to stay?"
"I've got nowhere else to go. If I get food, a place to sleep, and I can pet your fur every day, there's no way I'm turning that down. So please take care of me! I'll work hard for sure!"
Chapter 20: Starting Work
Subaru Natsuki stood inside a room—or rather, it was more like a closet.
The space was filled with luxurious clothes; it was a wardrobe room.
As for why Subaru was here, of course, it was because Ram and Rem had brought him.
From this moment on, he was officially a servant of this mansion.
His life of working in a different world was about to begin.
He couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
Though he had boldly claimed that he would take the job seriously, the truth was he had no prior work experience at all. So it was only natural to feel a little uneasy about the tasks ahead.
Still, that bit of anxiety was nothing serious.
As long as he kept moving forward, any difficulty could be overcome eventually.
Besides, it was supposed to be simple work—not some high-level task.
Subaru was confident he could adapt to it.
"Alright, Barusu, raise your arms," Ram said.
"Hey, big sis, since when did my name turn into some kind of cursed incantation? And weren't you calling me 'guest' just earlier?"
Subaru obediently raised his arms.
They were now taking his measurements.
They had searched for clothes that fit him just now, but... well, there were technically some that did—except they were all women's clothes.
"Because Barusu has now evolved from a guest into a servant, Ram no longer needs to call you 'guest.' Also, the things you say are completely incomprehensible," Ram replied.
"Well, whatever. Call me however you like, senpai."
"Mhm. At least you're self-aware. You've quickly accepted your place," Ram said with a smirk.
While chatting, Ram finished measuring Subaru's chest and other dimensions.
She picked up the butler uniform Subaru had tried on earlier and handed it to Rem.
"Of course. Self-awareness is the key to survival... This isn't a game anymore... although it's not all that different," Subaru muttered.
Ram glanced at Subaru but didn't say anything further, instead standing quietly to the side while Rem adjusted the clothes.
Subaru watched Rem work with the fabric.
"Whoa, Rem, your sewing skills are amazing. I thought sewing might be the one thing I'd be useful at."
"Subaru, you know how to sew?" Rem asked curiously.
Subaru nodded in response.
"Yeah, it's probably the one thing I'm relatively good at. But compared to you, it's not even close. Looks like I'll have to really work hard to be of any use around here."
After a little while, Subaru changed into the outfit Rem had tailored.
He looked himself over and moved around a bit—it fit perfectly, with nothing feeling off at all.
"Whoa!!! It fits perfectly! Rem, you're good at everything, aren't you?"
"No, if my sister wanted to, she could do it even better than me."
"Really?"
Subaru looked toward Ram, but she didn't respond to his question.
Instead, she said,
"Barusu, can you do something about your eyes?"
"Hey now, senpai, that's too much to ask! It's not like you can fix eyes with a needle and thread. Besides... these eyes were given to me by my mom. Even if I could change them, I wouldn't want to."
Subaru smiled wistfully, thinking of his parents.
He turned to face the mirror and murmured softly,
"If possible, I really wish my parents could see their son looking so cool."
"Subaru, may I come in?" came a voice from the door.
"Emilia? Yeah, you can."
Emilia walked in, looked at Subaru in his new outfit, and said,
"It fits really well... but somehow, it doesn't suit you."
"Eh? Really? I thought it looked pretty good on me."
"It does fit well, but your overall vibe doesn't match," Ram chimed in.
"Is that so? Well, I've never worked before, so I can't help it if I don't have the right aura."
"Honestly, Barusu, you seem more suited to being a gatekeeper. Those fierce eyes of yours could scare off a lot of people."
"Hey, hey, hey, senpai! I know my eyes look scary! But can you not say it like that? I may look fierce, but I'm actually a kind person!"
"That's great to hear. I was worried you might not fit in around here, but looking at how you're getting along with Ram, I guess I don't need to worry," Emilia said with a smile.
"You sound like an old lady or something. But don't worry, Emilia. No matter what, I'm going to work hard."
"Okay then, good luck. I'll leave you to it."
"Mhm."
Watching Emilia walk away, Subaru patted his cheeks with both hands and turned to Ram and Rem, standing up straight as he spoke earnestly:
"Alright, senpai! Please assign me my tasks! I'll carry them out even if it costs me my life!"
"Well then, Rem still has other things to do. I'll take you around the mansion to help you get familiar with the place," Ram said.
With that, Rem left, and Subaru followed Ram as she gave him a tour of the mansion.
Along the way, Subaru kept his brain in full gear, memorizing the layout and every explanation she gave.
If he didn't, he could easily get lost in such a huge mansion, and that would make him seem totally unreliable.
"This is the last stop—this is the bathroom. Once I finish explaining this, I'll take you to help prepare dinner."
"It's already that late?"
Subaru reached out and opened the bathroom door.
But what he saw wasn't the bathroom—it was the library he had visited before. And in the center of the room, Beatrice was playing with Puck but froze upon seeing him.
"Oh! It's still surprising the second time. What kind of magic is this?" Subaru said.
"..."
"And earlier this morning, I thought you and Puck seemed pretty close. Now I'm certain of it."
"Get out! Don't interrupt Betty and big brother's time together!"
"Eh—?"
Before Subaru could react, he was sent flying once again by the same force he had felt earlier that morning.
Compared to now, the morning push had been downright gentle.
"She's such a not-at-all-gentle loli," Subaru muttered.
Dusting himself off, he opened the door again.
This time, it really was the bathroom—though a little too fancy for Subaru's taste.
After a quick glance, he closed the door.
"Hey, Ram, what was that just now?"
"That was Lady Beatrice's room. It's also the mansion's library. Lady Beatrice usually stays inside."
"She doesn't come out often? Doesn't she have any friends?"
"She only comes out when Lady Emilia returns. Normally, we bring her meals to her."
"So... she has no friends... I wasn't imagining things earlier..."
"What are you mumbling about, Barusu?"
"Nothing. Anyway, senpai—let's start working!"