["A Half-Elf?"]
[Hachiman looks on, genuinely bewildered. He can't fathom why Emilia would lead with such a specific detail about her heritage. Just as he prepares to deflect with a vague remark, fragments of a memory flicker across his mind.]
The screen ripples, showing a hazy, fractured glimpse of Hachiman standing across from a black-haired girl—someone whose poise and sharp beauty rivaled Emilia's own. The memory of their cold, intellectual sparring matches flashes by before the feed snaps back to the sun-drenched streets of the Capital.
["I apologize. I've come from a very distant land. Does the term 'Half-Elf' carry some specific weight in this kingdom?"]
[It feels like a breakthrough. Watching the screen, one gets the sense that Hachiman is undergoing a quiet, internal trial. In this alien world, faced with a girl who offered him a hand without a single condition, his usual habit of hiding behind sarcasm and cryptic half-truths feels shameful. For the first time, he forces himself to be direct.]
"..."
Back in the convenience store, the real Hachiman was floored. He stared at his future self, unable to believe his own eyes. Since when did he value "straight talk"? He had spent years perfecting his role as the cynical outsider who spoke in riddles to keep people at arm's length.
And yet, it made a twisted kind of sense. Standing before a savior like Emilia, continuing his usual act would feel like an insult. He felt a sudden, sharp urge to kick his future self—not for being different, but for finally finding someone who made him want to be different.
"That really is... me."
Hachiman's thoughts were a tangled mess. He looked down and noticed a new development. Yukino was no longer just gripping his sleeve; her fingers had moved up, pressing firmly against his elbow through the fabric. Her gaze remained fixed on the silver-haired girl on the screen—a look of recognition mixed with a very sharp, very pointed vigilance.
Hachiman didn't dare assume this was anything romantic. It was likely just "club-mate solidarity," he told himself—a reflexive gesture of support now that his impending disappearance was common knowledge.
["Wait—what?!" Emilia stammers. Instead of the expected sneer or the familiar sting of an insult, she is met with genuine curiosity. Her violet eyes sparkle with a sudden, breathless joy.]
["Where on earth are you from to not know that? Lia's race and features... people see her and immediately think of the Witch of Envy, Satella. Those fools," Puck mutters, his tone dripping with disdain.]
[Puck doesn't bother with a history lesson, quickly shifting gears. "What about this plan to find the thief?"]
["So, you're saying Emilia isn't exactly high-status here?" Hachiman asks.]
["She has the rank to command commoners or even a few knights if she pushed, but it would only breed more resentment. That's a dead end."]
["I'm sorry," Emilia says, her face flushing a deep crimson. "I'm a bit of a burden, aren't I?"]
[Hachiman freezes for a moment, staring at the blushing girl. Even the most casual observer can see it—in that single heartbeat, he is completely captivated.]
Neither the Emilia on the screen nor the one currently in the Capital seemed to realize the weight of that look.
["In that case, Puck, I'll need your help for the next step. Emilia, stay out of sight for now. Just wait for the good news." Hachiman's demeanor shifts into a cold, executive focus. "Give me a description of the girl."]
["Golden hair, looks a bit malnourished, about fourteen. Very fast, very agile. Her clothes are—"]
[As Puck finishes, Hachiman nods. "I've seen her. Small world. She didn't strike me as a professional thief."]
["As long as the item is returned, that's enough. Please don't hurt the child," Emilia adds quickly, worrying that Hachiman or Puck might resort to something ruthless.]
In the slums, the real Felt slapped her forehead, her face burning.
"I can't believe this! Argh!" She ruffled her hair aggressively. "Stealing is one thing, but stealing from someone that nice? No, no way. This job is a bust!"
She had actually been prepping to make her move that very day. But with the whole continent watching her future self fail on a giant screen, her "career" felt effectively over.
Felt gnashed her teeth. "The next time that client shows up, I'm shaking her down for every cent! Because of her, I've got the Knights probably breathing down my neck already. Old Man Rom! Pack it up! We need a new hideout!"
Beside her, Giant Rom nodded solemnly. "I'll get the crates."
["My plan is simple... first, taste this. Your reaction will determine if this works."]
[Hachiman opens his bag, offering the modern snacks—the crackers and the processed sweets—to Puck and Emilia. Their reactions are immediate and overwhelmingly positive.]
["I see, I see~" Puck explains to his daughter. "You're going to use these exquisite, high-quality snacks as a bounty. You'll spread word that anyone who identifies the thief gets a taste. It's a direct, effective lure."]
["Exactly. The thugs from earlier were terrified of you. I take it mages are a feared upper class here? With you backing me, Puck, it removes the suspicion that the food is poisoned."]
["You think everyone is as soft as Lia? People might just fear the 'wrath' of a mage if they don't cooperate."]
["Precisely," Hachiman says, his voice flat and clinical. "Fear is as good a motivator as greed. Whether they want the food or not, they'll offer up information just to appease the 'angry mage' I'm traveling with. It's an Open Scheme—they'll see it coming and they'll still have to play along."]
"It's not complex, but it's devastatingly efficient. To analyze our social structure in minutes and weaponize it... Lia, my opinion of him just went up another notch!"
Puck applauded with his tiny paws.
"I can't wait to see what kind of asset he becomes for you."