Chapter 123: Can You Sit Down for a Moment?
"Why did you come here? Have things over there been settled?"
Turning his head away to avoid looking at Crusch, Subaru Natsuki still didn't know what kind of expression he should wear when facing her.
The negotiation earlier had been too forceful. He wasn't sure whether she was harboring any resentment in her heart.
"Not yet. But everything's mostly arranged. Once all personnel are assembled, we'll be ready to depart."
"I see."
Crusch glanced at Subaru, who still wouldn't look her way. After a brief silence, she finally spoke. "You were lying earlier, weren't you?"
Hearing this, Subaru responded without turning around. "Lying? Everything I said earlier was the truth. Why would you think I was lying?"
"You were lying. Count Roswaal didn't give you full authority to handle this matter, did he? And you also lied about that magical device. Most of what you said was true— The thing about your friend, your knowledge about the White Whale, and your attitude toward it. But my divine protection told me— You lied when you mentioned Roswaal and that magic tool."
Divine protection… So there's a divine protection that can detect lies...
"Divine Protection of Wind Indication. When someone lies, their emotional flow changes. I can see that. So I know exactly when you lied."
Subaru stood up in silence, turned to face Crusch, and asked, "Then why, Crusch, why did you still agree to the deal? If you knew where I lied, you should have realized I don't even have the authority to give you the mining rights for the magic ore. That magical device really can't tell me the time and place of the White Whale's appearance, though I do know when and where it'll appear… Why would you still agree to this alliance?"
Crusch didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stared intently into Subaru's eyes. That unusually vivid dream surfaced in her mind again.
"At first, I was suspicious of you. You revealed information that few would know. But if you were someone from the Witch Cult, it would explain everything.
Still… I chose to believe you're not part of the Witch Cult. Even if Count Roswaal didn't fully entrust you with this, the contract is already signed.
With his wisdom, he'll accept it. That's why I agreed to this alliance.
Subaru recalled Wilhelm kneeling in front of him after the negotiation, expressing his gratitude.
"So, Crusch, did you come looking for me just to say that?"
Crusch shook her head slightly, her expression becoming serious. She extended her hand and said, "I came here to ask—would you be willing to join my side?"
"Recruiting me, huh… Sorry, I've already said this before— I won't join anyone's camp. If you need my help, Crusch, you don't need me to be in your camp. Just ask for my help, and I will."
"I see… That's a shame. But is it because of that friend, Felix, that you're saying this?"
"Well, he's part of it. But you're also my friend, Crusch."
Hearing this, Crusch turned her back to Subaru and said, "Then let's go, friend. Now it's time to choose your ground dragon. After all, your plan won't work without a good one."
"Choosing a dragon, huh… I know nothing about ground dragons, though."
As Subaru walked past one dragon after another, he studied them carefully. But, as he said, he wasn't someone who could judge dragons well. In the end, he would probably just pick one based on personal taste.
Until he saw a particular dragon— Their eyes met. When Subaru reached out to pet it, the dragon willingly lowered its head toward him. That settled it.
"This one's the one."
"Wow, that's surprising. Didn't expect you two to get along so easily, meow."
"Yeah, I thought this dragon would have a nasty temperament at first," said Rem.
"Really? It looks so well-behaved. I don't care, this is the one. Love at first sight."
"Ara ara, Subaru, you shouldn't say 'love at first sight' like that. Rem will get jealous, you know?"
"No way, Rem's confident she'll get along well with it."
Subaru looked on in confusion as the dragon and the demon maid stared at each other like rivals. Still puzzled, he turned to Felix and asked the name of the dragon.
And… this will also help Wilhelm's revenge."
Its name was Patrasche.
After choosing the dragon, Subaru and the others gathered in the main hall. Seeing the assembled crowd, Subaru's heart filled with confidence. This time, they wouldn't fail again.
Once everyone was assembled, Crusch appeared in armor and addressed the group.
After her passionate speech, they all departed for the site of the White Whale's appearance— After all, the White Whale was due to appear tonight.
If they didn't set out early and prepare, they'd lose the element of surprise.
Lying in the dragon carriage, Subaru closed his eyes, trying to recover physically. Though he had mostly recovered, facing the White Whale without perfect readiness left him uneasy.
The sounds from outside the carriage rumbled like thousands of galloping horses. Subaru, wanting to nap, found sleep impossible with so much noise and tension.
It wasn't until nightfall, when they arrived under the giant tree on the plain, that Subaru finally felt mentally at ease.
Jumping out of the carriage, he looked around at the people quickly setting up their gear. After a moment of silence, and accompanied by Rem, he walked up to the tree and looked up at its towering trunk. After multiple "checkpoints," he had never really gotten to admire it.
Finally, he had the time to appreciate this surreal sight of another world.
"Subaru-kun, have you rested enough?"
"Yeah, more or less."
With his back to Rem, Subaru stared at the tree trunk, reflecting on the people and things he had encountered since arriving in this world.
"It feels like I've been here for such a long time already. But really, it's only been a few months."
As he said this, he suddenly felt someone hugging him.
"Rem?"
"Subaru-kun… can you sit down for a bit?"
"Uh… well, Rem, you'll need to let go of me first."