Subaru sat next to Emilio, holding an Insignia in her hand as Roswaal smiled warmly.
Roswaal: [Natsuki Subaru-Sama, you have been deemed worthy of becoming a candidate to be the 42nd ruler of Lugunica.]
Subaru: [There's clearly something wrong with this thing.]
Emilio: [Eh? No. I think I took good care of it until I found you.]
Subaru: (I already messed up once. Should I really get involved in all this? But if I reject it, there's no way that I'll be able to save everyone in the village or Meili.)
Subaru sighed before putting on a bright smile.
Subaru: [If Emilio-Kun has been taking good care, then it must be working fine.]
Emilio: [Eh? Why do you have so much faith in me in particular?]
Subaru: [I think you're the type that would never let something that was entrusted to them break.]
Emilio: [I…]
Emilio sighed with a soft smile.
Roswaal: [So will you be participating in the Royal Selection?]
Subaru: [Yes. I will.]
Roswaal: [Excellent. I'm assuming you'll be accepting the backing of my house?]
Subaru: [Yeah, I will. Thanks, Ros-chi.]
Roswaal simply smiled.
Subaru: (He didn't comment about the nickname this time?)
Roswaal: [Subaru-sama. I believe we must learn about your background and political and educational level.]
Subaru: [I can read I-glyphs pretty well. I'm decent at Ro-Glyphs, but I have no idea about Ha-Glyphs.]
Ram: [So you have the educational level of a 10-year-old.]
Subaru felt an arrow pierce her heart.
Subaru: [You're right, but that hurts, you know.]
Roswaal: [Might I ask you to teach her what she needs to know, Ram?]
Ram: [Of course, Roswaal-sama.]
Ram bowed to Roswaal.
Subaru: [Ros-chi. Tell me about this place.]
Roswaal: [Oh? This estate includes this mansion and Arlam Village. They are under my protection. Since you are a Royal Candidate now, they are under your protection as well.]
Subaru sweated.
Subaru: (I failed that duty in the last loop.)
Subaru: [About the village. Is there anything about it that I should know?]
Ram: [The villagers are nice enough. They mind their own business.]
Emilio shifted a little in his seat, making it obvious that their friendliness did not extend to him. This bothered Subaru, but she held in her anger.
Subaru: [Any hazards?]
Roswaal raised an eyebrow. Subaru could have sworn there was a slight smirk on his face.
Roswaal: [There are teeerible beasts in the forest. I advise not taking a quiet waaalk in the forest.]
Subaru: (I have to play it like I don't know. Then I need to find a way to keep the barrier under watch.)
Subaru: [Terrible beasts? Are the villagers safe?]
Emilio: [Yes, they're fine. There's a barrier set up around the village. It will stop any of them from getting in.]
Subaru: [How sure are you that the barrier is secure? Is there any kind of schedule for checking that it's stable?]
Emilio: [Eh? Um… no, not really.]
Subaru: [Ros-chi. Don't you have any men to keep watch over the barrier?]
Roswaal: [I'm afraid my staff are all in this room. Except for one, however, she requested a leave of absence.]
Subaru: (It's strange though, isn't it? A Butler and his Nee-sama, who just "supervises" him doing all the work? Why are there only two people to clean the entire mansion? Shouldn't there be at least 5 people? Rem is pretty good at cleaning, but isn't that asking too much of him?)
Subaru shook off the thought.
Subaru: [So you don't have like a few men as guards or anything?]
Roswaal: [I'm afraaaid not.]
Subaru: [Then I'd like to go down there and check on the barrier.
Roswaal: [I'm afraaaid that a member of my staff. Rem is concerned with your heaaalth. He requests that you not leave the mansion for a feeew days.]
Subaru: (He wants to keep an eye on me. The only place I can go to avoid him is Beatrice's library.)
Subaru: [It's still important that the barrier is checked regularly. Emilio-Kun. Could you go down there and check it?]
Emilio: [Alright. I'll be back soon.]
Puck popped out.
Puck: [I'll ask Betty to teach you soon, alright?]
Subaru nods.
Subaru: [Thanks, Puck.]
Emilio and Puck leave as Roswaal smiles.
Roswaal: [Adapting to your role quickly, aren't you, Subaru-sama?]
Subaru: [Um, yeah, I guess. I'm responsible for all of them now, so I have to keep them safe.]
Ram: [Let's get you to the changing room, Subaru-sama.]
Subaru: (Her talking to me respectfully feels like a cardinal sin.)
Subaru: [Actually, I have a design I want to draw up for you.]
Ram: [Hm… very well. We'll start your lessons immediately then.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru was lying her head on the desk.
Subaru: [How much longer?]
Ram: [2 more hours.]
Subaru: [But it's been 3 hours.]
Ram: [And you claimed to know I-glyphs? Pathetic.]
Subaru: [Come on. I really thought I'd figured it out.]
Ram glared at Subaru.
Subaru: [It's not good to glare at Royal Candidates, you know.]
Subaru said this with a tired voice.
Ram: [Ram won't glare if you show something that is not worth glaring at.]
Subaru: (She's even more unforgiving in this loop. Is it cause she doesn't know I only started learning 8 days ago?)
Subaru sighed.
Subaru: [You're so harsh Nee-sama.]
Ram: [Nee-sama?]
Subaru: (I have to explain it again, huh?)
Ram: [Just focus on your studies, Barasu.]
Subaru: [You… dropped the sama.]
Subaru inwardly smiled.
Ram: [You will have to work hard to earn Ram's respect.]
Subaru smiled.
Subaru: [Alright. I promise to work hard.]
Subaru got her face off the table as she began writing.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru was in the dining room as Emilio had been waiting. Subaru looked embarrassed.
Subaru: [I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting.]
Emilio shook his head.
Emilio: [It's alright.]
Subaru: [So the barrier.]
Emilio: [It's fine.]
Subaru: (So Meili hasn't made her move yet. Or was it that Emilio arrived before she did? No. Meili only made her move on the fourth day. Everything should be alright for now.)
Subaru: [I hope it's alright if you can make regular checks.]
Emilio looked at Subaru.
Emilio: [You've been working hard, haven't you?]
Subaru: [Oh? Um yeah. I guess I have. Nee-sama is pretty strict.]
Emilio: [I'm guessing you mean Ram?]
Subaru nods.
Subaru: [Can I ask you something?]
Emilio: [Of course.]
Subaru: [Why are you involving yourself in the Royal Selection?]
Emilio: [Eh?]
Subaru: (People obviously don't like Emilio-Kun very much, so why does he bother?)
Emilio: [It's… a very selfish reason.]
Subaru: [That's fine. I really don't mind.]
Emilio looked shocked. He hesitated but spoke.
Emilio: [I… I need the Dragon's Blood to save my people.]
Subaru: [Dragon's blood? Your people?]
Emilio: [The elves in Ellior forest… they were frozen. Roswaal told me that the only way to unfreeze them was to use the Dragon's Blood. He told me that if I could find a candidate and make them queen, I could ask them for it. I… I'm sorry to ask you this soon but…]
Subaru: [Alright. You can have it. I'll make sure you get it.]
Emilio: [What? You've decided already?]
Subaru: [Yup.]
Emilio: [But that's the most precious treasure this nation…]
Subaru: [I don't really know much about this nation. Honestly, I don't know if I'm really cut out to be queen. After all, I'm not the type who can put in effort for myself. But if someone I care about needs me to do something, I'd like to believe that I can do that much.]
Subaru: (Otherwise I'd be completely worthless.)
Emilio: [Someone you… care about… I'm one of those people?]
Subaru blushed.
Subaru: [Um… uh… yes. That's right. I mean… we're friends, right?]
Emilio looked shocked but smiled.
Emilio: [If you're alright being friends with me.]
Emilio: (A friend. A genuine friend.)
Emilio could control the smile on his face as he realised this and became embarrassed. Subaru saw this and giggled.
Subaru: [You're so adorable.]
Emilio: [Huh?!!!]
Puck came out.
Puck: [You should have seen Lio when he was a kid.]
Emilio's face went red.
Puck: [Let me tell you about it. When Lio was a kid, he…]
Emilio: [Puck, please no!]
Subaru laughed, clutching her stomach as Emilio looked horrified.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru walked through the halls. She could feel Rem's gaze.
Subaru: (He's really obsessed with me, huh? And not in a good way… wait, there is no good way to be obsessed with a girl!)
Subaru sweated.
Subaru: (I need to escape even for a little bit. Might as well take some lessons from Beako.)
Subaru looked at a door.
Subaru: [Beako must be in this room!]
She opened the door to see the Library as Beatrice was sitting on a seat in the middle of the room.
Beatrice: [It's infuriating that you can break through my door-crossing so easily, I suppose.]
Subaru walked in and closed the door behind her as she took a deep breath.
Subaru: (It's over. His eyes aren't on me. At least for now.)
Beatrice: [You're here for your lesson, I suppose?]
Subaru: [Yep. I'm ready to be filled with knowledge.]
Beatrice: [Just know Betty is only doing this because Bubby asked, in fact.]
Subaru: [Yeah, I know, Baeko-Sensei]
Beatrice: [Good… wait, what is that name you referred to Betty as just now, I suppose?]
Subaru: [It's a sign of affection.]
Beatrice held her nose.
Beatrice: [How disgusting, I suppose.]
Subaru: [Huh?!!! Come on. We're friends, right, Beako-Sensei?]
Beatrice: [You're awfully presumptuous to presume you are Betty's friend, but that is not what Betty was referring to.]
Subaru: [Huh?]
Beatrice: [You reek of the『Warlock's Scent』, in fact. It's even worse than when Betty healed you, I suppose.]
Subaru: (It's worse? Why? Wait… is it… is it because I died?)
Subaru sweated.
Subaru: (Then doesn't that mean the more times I die, the less Beatrice and Rem will trust me? One more loop and Rem might kill me on sight.)
Subaru shivered at the thought.
Beatrice: [What is with that reaction, I suppose? I can sense your fear, in fact.]
Subaru: [Oh, it's nothing. Hm…『Warlock』… right. Nee-sama mentioned that Rem-Kun could smell it off me, too. Just who is this Warlock?]
Beatrice: [When someone refers to a『Warlock』they can only be referring to one person, I suppose. ]
Subaru: [The『Warlock Of Envy』?]
Beatrice: [The『Warlock Of Envy』, Luna. Long ago, he devoured the 6 『Witches Of Deadly Sin』and drained half the world dry. He's the worst of the worst, I suppose.]
Subaru sweated.
Subaru: (What? Luna? Why would he…)
Beatrice: [It's said he was starved for love.]
Subaru: (Starved for love?)
Beatrice: [It's said that he doesn't understand human language. It's said that his body never withers, weakens, or dies. It's said that though he was sealed by the powers of a dragon, a hero, and a sage, they were unable to destroy his flesh.]
Subaru: [What is he? Some kind of vampire?]
Subaru chuckled awkwardly to hide her nervousness.
Beatrice: [It's said that his body is that of a half-elf with silver hair.]
Subaru's eyes widened as she remembered the previous loop when Emilo had claimed to be Luna.
Subaru: [What would it take to make someone steal the name the『Warlock Of Envy』's name? Or maybe I should say borrow his name?]
Beatrice: [In either case, they must have no fear of death, I suppose. One who would steal her name can be called nothing but insane.]
Subaru remembered all those little moments with Emilio.
Subaru: [I think I understand now. If everyone thought he was a crazy freak, they wouldn't have to feel grateful to him. He's just… way too kind.]
Beatrice: [What are you talking about, I suppose? Weren't you here to learn magic from Betty, I suppose?]
Subaru: [Oh, right. I'm so sorry. You're absolutely right.]
Beatrice: [You should feel lucky to be Betty's first-ever disciple, I suppose.]
Subaru: [Oh? Is Beako Sensei feeling nervous on her first time teaching? Don't worry. You'll do great.]
Beatrice: [What?]
Subaru: [~Hora! Ganbare Ganbare Sensei! Beako Beako Sensei! Ganbare Ganbare Beako!~]
Beatrice: [Stop that right now, I suppose!]
Beatrice looked flushed red from embarrassment and indignant rage.
Beatrice: [Betty has no reason to feel nervous, I suppose! Betty can teach even a dunce such as yourself, in fact!]
Subaru: [Glad to hear it, Beako-Sensei.]
Beatrice sighed as she calmed down.
Beatrice: [Bubby described your gate to me, I suppose. No better than a newborn, in fact.]
Subaru: [Eh?!!!]
Subaru sagged in disappointment.
Subaru: [Sorry. This is going to be really difficult on you, isn't it?]
Beatrice: [Perhaps, but at the same time, you have no bad habits yet, so Betty can drill the basics into you properly, I suppose.]
Subaru: [I see. So, I have infinite potential!]
Subaru stood up, pointing her finger to the sky in excitement.
Beatrice: [Though you do have potential, it's hardly infinite, I suppose.]
Subaru sat back down.
Subaru: [So what spell are you going to teach me first, Beako-sensei?]
Beatrice: [Spell? Not yet. Absolutely not, in fact.]
Subaru: [Eh?!!!]
Beatrice: [You're gate is so unused there's no way your mana would obey you, I suppose.]
Subaru: [I see. I see. How can I change that, Beako-Sensei?]
Beatrice: [You must put your gate to use, I suppose.]
Subaru: [How can I do that without using spells?]
Beatrice walked over and touched Subaru's stomach.
Beatrice: [Imagine the flow of your own mana. Expel it through your gate. A small white orb. Feel your mana dripping from it slowly, I suppose.]
Subaru crossed her legs as she began focusing, and she felt it.
Subaru: [Whoa!!! That feels weird.]
Beatrice: [What a rude way to describe it, I suppose. Keep doing that for the rest of the day until it doesn't feel strange.]
Subaru: [Got it.]
Beatrice: [That's all for now, I suppose.]
Subaru nods and leaves the room.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru was in her room as she leaned back on her chair.
Subaru: (The barrier is still up, so those Mabeasts aren't going to just charge into the village like they did last time, but I still have to deal with Meili, and then there's Rem-Kun. If I don't get him to trust me, he'll kill me. I know it.)
Subaru sighed, lying down on her bed.
Subaru: (I need to rest properly today. Tomorrow things will be hectic. I'll have to study and practice non-stop. I need to help Rem and Ram here and there, too.)
Natsuki Subaru's eyes slowly closed.
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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