"Lia's decision is correct."
Subaru immediately expressed her support, turning her gaze toward Tsukasa. "So, Tsukasa, just stay here obediently with Rem."
"That's right."
Rem, who was standing nearby, nodded, her voice soft yet equally firm. "Tsukasa must stay here obediently."
The two voices entered Tsukasa's ears like surround sound.
He looked at Subaru's slightly serious expression, then at Emilia and Rem, who looked apologetic but unyielding, and finally just shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
In truth, what he was interested in were the novel and interesting things inside the Royal Capital, not some dull and serious meeting.
But looking at the current situation, he clearly had no room to bargain.
"In any case, Rem, I'm counting on you to look after Tsukasa."
—
After Emilia and Subaru had repeatedly given their instructions and finally set off for the Royal Castle, another hour quietly passed.
Left in the inn room, Tsukasa felt increasingly bored under Rem's what could be called 'meticulous' care—pouring tea, handing over snacks, and giving massages.
His whole body was like it had no bones, slumped on the not-so-soft sofa in the living room.
At this moment, the only thought occupying his mind was how to convince Rem to let him enter that 'interesting-looking' Royal Castle.
Subaru's parting instruction to "wait obediently for me to come back" was still echoing in his ears, but it didn't sway his thoughts in the slightest.
Though doing this might be a little bit dishonest?
This thought flashed for only a second before being suppressed by his stronger reasons.
He stared at the ceiling, thinking, 'Think about it, if some blind fool makes a big deal out of Emilia's half-elf status, with Subaru's impulsive personality, she'll definitely start a fight with them on the spot. When that time comes, if Roswaal does something else to take advantage of the situation...'
He paused and sat up straight on the sofa, the laziness on his face replaced by a trace of seriousness.
'Then that scene will be hard to clean up.'
Thinking of this, he seemed to make up his mind and let out a light sigh.
It's better to go check the situation, just in case some uncontrollable mess really happens.
"Rem."
He stood up and turned to the blue-haired maid who was quietly wiping the table nearby, his tone startlingly direct. "I'm going to the Royal Castle."
"Eh?"
Rem's wiping motion stopped instantly. She looked up, her blue eyes filled with shock.
Clearly, she hadn't expected Tsukasa to say it so bluntly.
"N-No, you can't!"
She immediately put down the rag and walked quickly to Tsukasa, her tone urgent but firm. "Rem promised Subaru and Emilia-sama that I would watch over Tsukasa. So absolutely not."
"Don't worry, this time it's serious business."
Tsukasa tried to make his tone sound more reliable. "I won't mess around like I did before."
"Still, no."
Rem shook her head vigorously, her hands unconsciously gripping the edge of her apron.
"Emilia-sama and the others will surely be able to handle everything themselves."
Tsukasa's gaze sharpened, and his voice lowered a few notches. "If they could really handle it easily, Emilia wouldn't have such a cautious personality now. Facing those sharp-tongued nobles, the two of them alone won't be able to cope."
These words clearly struck Rem's heart. She looked into Tsukasa's eyes—there was no usual laziness there, only a rare seriousness.
The two of them stared at each other for a moment.
"Haa..."
Rem let out a soft sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly, as she muttered in a near-whisper, "Honestly... I really can't do anything with Tsukasa, can I?"
Then, she raised a hand and put a finger to her lips, as if she had suddenly remembered something important.
"By the way, Rem just thought of a brand new way to cook appa dishes. Now, I must go to the kitchen to try it out immediately."
As she spoke, she cast a glance at Tsukasa, a look that contained tacit permission, worry, and a hint of 'you know what I mean'.
After leaving this "artistic" excuse and a glance, Rem turned around, her back to Tsukasa, and gave one last instruction.
"Tsukasa, you mustn't do anything strange. Also..."
Her voice softened. "After you return, you must properly taste the best appa dish Rem has prepared for Tsukasa."
From an angle Tsukasa couldn't see, a slightly indulgent smile appeared on Rem's face.
Having finished her instructions, she didn't stay any longer, briskly tied her apron, and walked into the kitchen without looking back, gently closing the door behind her.
Looking at the closed kitchen door, a knowing smile curled at the corner of Tsukasa's lips.
In the next moment, without making a sound or leaving a trace, he vanished from the spot just like that.
The kitchen door was tightly shut, separating Rem from the living room. She leaned against the cold door panel, the cooking knife still in her hand, but she didn't move for a long time.
Outside the window was the usual clamor of the Royal Capital, while inside the door there was only her own breathing and the silence left behind after Tsukasa's departure.
She raised her eyes, looking toward the empty living room, her light blue eyes filled with complex emotions.
Her lips wordlessly opened and closed a few times, and finally, an extremely soft sentence escaped from between her teeth.
"Please be sure to return safely."
Even though she didn't think anyone in this Royal Capital could easily hurt him, and even though she believed he wouldn't act rashly without a strategy, at this moment, all Rem could do seemed to be this.
Standing in a place he might pass by, and giving a little bit of help and understanding when he needed it.
Roswaal's warning from this morning still echoed in her ears. "It's best not to let him enter the Royal Castle."
However, recalling that night, that blue light that tore through the darkness, and the effortless manner in which he resolved the crisis...
If it's him...
This thought quietly surfaced.
Rem felt that he might, just like that night, properly handle all the chaos and trouble.
Taking a light breath, she no longer leaned against the door panel. She turned around, faced the kitchen counter again, and began to focus on processing the appas in her hand, as if she wanted to finely weave all her worries into the dessert that was about to be born.
[Host Status Panel]
Name: Tsukasa Tokito
Current Role: Satoru Gojo (Compatibility: 69%)
System Points: 320
[Abilities]
Core Technique: Limitless
Skills: Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue
Cursed Technique Reversal: Red, Reverse Cursed Technique, Spirit Form
[Permanent Buffs]
All Cursed Technique Power Increase: +20%
Total Mana Increase: +5%