"Alright. Then tell me once you've thought of it."
Reinhard was in good spirits as well. Although Shendu was mysterious, he firmly believed she was not a bad person.
As a knight of the kingdom, his duty was to protect it. As long as Shendu did not go too far, there were still things that could be understood. Reinhard was not rigid by nature. On the contrary, he could be remarkably tactful at times.
"Very well. Since everything is settled, I should be heading back."
Shendu glanced at Felt and crooked her finger. The adorable blonde girl immediately threw herself into her arms.
"Big Sister, remember to come see me often. If that what's-his-name knight dares to bully me, help me teach him a harsh lesson."
Felt had agreed to become a royal candidate entirely because of Shendu. As for the so-called strongest knight, her attitude toward him could hardly have been worse.
"Of course. Rest assured."
Shendu did not dislike the mischievous and lively Felt.
Although she regarded the girl as a chess piece deep down, Felt seemed to possess that awareness herself. Even being used by her did not bother her in the slightest.
"Uh... am I really that bad?"
Reinhard scratched his head. He was used to being praised and admired everywhere he went as a knight, yet in front of Felt, he seemed utterly worthless.
"Hmph. What do you think?"
Felt shot him a glare and could not even be bothered to say more.
After this brief interlude, Felt remained at her new residence—the Astrea family estate—becoming the candidate Reinhard supported.
As he saw her off, Reinhard chatted casually with Shendu. It could be said that a preliminary friendship had been formed between them.
"Hm? How strange. Where did Natsuki Subaru go?"
Upon reaching the gate, Shendu realized she could not spot Natsuki Subaru anywhere. A puzzled expression crossed her face.
"Perhaps your ordinary servant wandered off somewhere else."
After asking the nearby knights, Reinhard learned that Natsuki Subaru had gone alone to the shops ahead.
"That's possible. I'll go look for him myself."
Shendu thought for a moment and waved her hand as if in farewell.
"Wait. I'll go with you. I have nothing scheduled today anyway. You've done me a great favor, and I will remember it."
Reinhard spoke with a serious expression yet a gentle tone. Beneath the sunlight, his sense of justice seemed almost to radiate golden light.
"Is that alright? You're usually so busy."
Shendu asked softly, somewhat surprised that this man was willing to see things through to the end.
The strongest knight constantly exuded noble character. No wonder every faction in the royal capital acknowledged his status.
"It's no trouble. Helping a friend is only natural. You brought me the royal candidate I needed most, so naturally, you are my friend as well."
Reinhard spoke without distance, directly regarding Shendu as a friend.
"Heh. There's really nothing I can do about you. Then let's stroll around and find that fellow together."
Faced with someone who embodied such lofty knightly virtue, Shendu found herself unable to refuse and allowed him to accompany her.
However, the sight of the two walking side by side drew attention throughout the marketplace. People began speculating about the relationship between Shendu and Reinhard. Moreover, she possessed silver hair.
She did not resemble a half-elf, yet some people still seemed uneasy.
"The royal capital's security has always been my responsibility. If anything unpleasant happens, that would be my failure."
After making a round of the area, Reinhard paid no mind to the surrounding whispers and continued speaking politely to Shendu.
"It's nothing. Perhaps my servant is simply a bit too lively."
Shendu smiled faintly. Combined with her striking appearance and dark gothic attire, the expression left Reinhard momentarily stunned before he quickly regained his composure.
The fact that both of Shendu's arrangements had proceeded flawlessly today was truly thanks to Reinhard not probing too deeply.
Once they found Natsuki Subaru and had him complete the ceremony to become an officially invested knight, certain ambiguous rumors could begin spreading throughout the royal capital.
Do not mistake Shendu for being overly insidious. As a demon, she was utterly merciless.
Now that she had secured Reinhard, the greatest obstacle had already been resolved.
...
Meanwhile, in a scene strikingly similar to one from a month ago, Natsuki Subaru was wandering through the royal capital, spending gold coins to sample local snacks and experience the customs of this other world.
To his surprise, before long he discovered an orange-haired beauty cornered at the entrance of an alley by the same three thugs who had beaten him before.
Driven by the impulse to play the hero, Natsuki Subaru accelerated and appeared in front of the three men, pointing at them arrogantly as he spoke in a slightly threatening tone.
"In broad daylight, surrounding such a beautiful girl—what exactly do you think you're doing?"
His voice carried a note of accusation, as though he feared none of them. Recalling how badly they had been beaten by Lady Shendu, he felt even more smug.
"Tch. Trying to attract my attention with such ridiculous theatrics is truly foolish."
The orange-haired beauty raised a folding fan to cover her mouth, her eyes filled with disdain.
Whether toward the three thugs or toward Natsuki Subaru, she regarded them all as laughable, as though they were merely performing for her amusement.
"It's you again, brat. Where's your master?"
The thinner thug glanced around nervously before speaking to Natsuki Subaru.
"Lady Shendu isn't here today. I, Natsuki Subaru, will deal with you myself!"
With a proud clench of his fist, he activated the speed of the Rabbit Talisman and drove a fierce punch into the thin thug's face, sending him flying.
The other two quickly received their share of punishment as well. But just as things were going smoothly, the heavier thug launched a sneak attack, hooking his leg and tripping Natsuki Subaru to the ground.
The three of them then swarmed him, raining down punches and kicks while cursing loudly, clearly venting their anger on him.
"You brat, spouting nonsense again. Daring to mess with us? Then go die!"
"That woman beat us senseless last time. Now you'll pay the price!"
The three thugs were furious. After being tossed onto the street like trash by Shendu last time, they had been bedridden for nearly a month before recovering.
Their hatred toward Natsuki Subaru was obvious—they wished nothing more than to kill him outright.
"Ahhh! Stop hitting me! Lady Shendu, save me!"
Natsuki Subaru covered his head desperately and begged for mercy, while the orange-haired girl behind him burst into crisp laughter.
"Oh? As expected of you, Natsuki Subaru."
At the moment when Natsuki Subaru was drowning in despair, Shendu appeared before him once again—this time with Reinhard at her side.
Their simultaneous arrival immediately drew everyone's attention.
Shendu's silver hair, reminiscent of the Witch of Envy, was already enough to attract notice. Coupled with the legendary knight standing beside her, they became the undeniable focus of the scene.