The pressure in the street became unbearable.
Not because anyone released killing intent.
Because two monsters stood in the same place.
Reinhard van Astrea.
And me.
The wind itself felt heavier.
Mana across the capital distorted strangely, almost like the world couldn't decide how it should behave around us.
Roswaal noticed it too.
Of course he did.
The clown's smile had returned, but his eyes remained sharp.
Calculating.
Observing.
Preparing.
Honestly?
Annoying.
Reinhard stepped closer calmly.
Yet every knight nearby unconsciously straightened their posture.
The Sword Saint naturally commanded respect.
Meanwhile—
People instinctively backed away from me instead.
Fear and admiration.
Interesting contrast.
Reinhard looked directly into my eyes.
"…You disappeared earlier."
"You noticed."
"You erased your presence completely."
"I didn't try very hard."
Silence.
Roswaal's smile twitched again.
Funny.
The more casually I answered, the more uncomfortable everyone became.
Reinhard suddenly glanced toward Yamato once more.
Then—
"…May I ask something?"
"You just did."
A faint smile appeared on Reinhard's face.
"…Your sword."
"Hm?"
"It resembles a divine weapon."
"It's stronger."
Roswaal immediately looked interested again.
Reinhard's expression sharpened slightly.
Not offended.
Excited.
Honestly, Reinhard was terrifying in his own way.
Most strong people feared stronger opponents.
Reinhard welcomed them.
Like a man searching endlessly for something capable of reaching him.
Then finally—
He found me.
"I would like to see its power someday," Reinhard admitted honestly.
"You already did."
"That wasn't serious."
"…Neither was mine."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
One nearby knight physically stumbled backward.
Roswaal's smile disappeared for half a second.
And Reinhard—
Reinhard laughed.
Not loudly.
Just genuinely.
"…Amazing."
The Sword Saint's eyes shined slightly now.
Like a child discovering something impossible.
Honestly?
I liked him.
Strong.
Honest.
No fake pride.
No cowardice.
Just someone standing at the peak trying to climb higher.
Then suddenly—
"Sir Reinhard!"
A knight rushed forward nervously.
"The council has requested your immediate presence!"
Of course they did.
The capital was probably panicking right now.
Reports of:
Reinhard drawing his sword
space splitting
Elsa appearing
an unknown swordsman rivaling the Sword Saint
Yeah.
The nobles were probably losing their minds.
Reinhard ignored the knight completely.
His eyes stayed on me.
"…Will you remain in Lugunica?"
"For now."
"…Good."
Roswaal immediately noticed Reinhard's mood.
Interest.
Excitement.
Respect.
Dangerous combination.
Because Reinhard almost never became emotionally invested in anything.
But now?
The Sword Saint had finally met someone beyond normal understanding.
Roswaal suddenly laughed softly.
"My myyyy…"
His gaze slowly moved between us.
"It seems Lugunica has gained quite the troublesome existence."
"Troublesome?" I repeated.
Roswaal smiled carefully.
"Oh yes."
The clown gestured dramatically toward Reinhard.
"The Sword Saint already destabilizes the balance of nations merely by existing."
Then his gaze returned to me.
"And now another monster has appeared."
Direct.
Accurate.
Reinhard frowned slightly.
"…Subaru is not our enemy."
Roswaal's smile widened.
"Not currently."
Interesting phrasing.
Reinhard noticed too.
His expression sharpened slightly toward Roswaal now.
Honestly?
These two already had annoying political tension in canon.
Now it felt even worse.
Then suddenly—
I sensed dozens of presences approaching nearby.
Knights.
Strong ones.
Royal guards.
Ah.
Looks like the kingdom finally mobilized.
A group wearing royal armor appeared at the end of the street moments later.
The moment they saw me—
They froze.
Fear spread instantly.
Because unlike normal civilians—
These men were trained warriors.
Meaning their instincts screamed even louder.
One older knight stepped forward cautiously.
"…Sir Reinhard…"
His eyes nervously moved toward me.
"…Is this individual hostile?"
Reinhard answered immediately.
"No."
The knights visibly relaxed slightly.
Then Reinhard continued.
"…But do not provoke him."
The relaxation disappeared instantly.
Funny.
The older knight swallowed hard.
"…Understood."
Meanwhile Roswaal looked way too entertained by all this.
Honestly, that man enjoyed chaos too much.
Then—
A small magical transmission crystal on one knight suddenly activated.
A nervous voice echoed out.
"Report immediately! Is it true Reinhard-sama engaged another Sword Saint?!"
Silence.
Every knight looked horrified.
Roswaal started laughing softly.
And Reinhard—
Actually looked embarrassed.
Interesting.
The older knight quickly grabbed the crystal.
"N-No! That information is inaccurate!"
Another voice immediately shouted back.
"Then why did the sky split?!"
Silence again.
Honestly?
Good question.
The knight visibly struggled for words.
Eventually—
"…We are still investigating."
The transmission ended instantly afterward.
Roswaal laughed harder.
"My myyyy… rumors spread quickly."
"Humans are dramatic," I said.
"…You split the heavens."
"Barely."
One knight physically looked like he might faint.
Reinhard stared at me quietly for a moment.
Then—
"…Subaru."
"Hm?"
"If you continue speaking like that, the kingdom may genuinely start worshipping or fearing you."
"Sounds annoying."
Roswaal smiled.
"Oh, I think it's already too late for that."
Honestly?
He was probably right.
Because even now—
People nearby stared at me less like a person…
And more like a disaster pretending to wear human skin.
Then suddenly—
I sensed something else.
A familiar overwhelming obsession wrapped around me briefly.
Cold.
Possessive.
Love.
Satella.
Interesting.
Her presence felt stronger now.
Almost excited.
Like she enjoyed the chaos forming around me.
Annoying witch.
Reinhard immediately noticed my expression change.
"…What is it?"
"Nothing important."
A lie.
But explaining "the world's strongest yandere shadow witch keeps sniffing me spiritually" sounded exhausting.
Then suddenly—
BOOM.
A distant explosion echoed somewhere across the capital.
Everyone turned instantly.
Smoke rose into the sky.
Panic spread immediately through nearby streets.
Knights grabbed weapons.
Reinhard's expression sharpened.
Roswaal sighed softly.
"…Troublesome timing."
I sensed it instantly.
Mana.
Twisted.
Corrupted.
Witch miasma.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because according to canon—
This shouldn't be happening yet.
Reinhard noticed too.
"…That presence…"
Roswaal's smile disappeared completely.
"The Witch Cult."
Silence fell.
Then slowly—
I smiled.
Because finally—
Something interesting was happening.