Y/N POV
I think I knew something was wrong the moment I heard a loud chatter enter my inn.
After the battle of Priestella, we decided to rent one of the inns nearby that have not been destroyed, and decided to renovate it to make it look better in general while also being more comfortable in general. So in that sense, it was more popular than usual, and their business was booming. So it was only natural for the people in the first floor to be loud.
But not this loud.
"NII-CHAN!" A loud yell came from outside my door, and I immediately recognized my imouto's voice.
"Felt?" I muttered to myself, stretching and walking groggily to open the door. However, before I did so, I realized the extra weight on my body.
Ah.
AH.
...
Sphinx was already bad enough due to her clinginess, but at least she wasn't heavy, so I could walk around and finish my entire morning routine before she wakes up. However, now that Capella was an addition to the Y/N human tree, it was a bit of an issue.
That, and the fact that Felt would see me like this.
While I pondered how to get rid of those two, another large yell came from outside.
"NII-CHAN! I know you're in there. Now open the door, or I'll call Reinhard to cut it down!"
I would like to state that if Reinhard tried, his public image would be severely damaged, and you would be charged of breaking in. Sighing, I decided to open the door before she could cause any further ruckus.
"Okay, Felt. I'm here. It's 8 in the morning, and there is no work today, so why are you here this early?"
"You know, I'm actually here to settle our bet, but..." Felt's gaze drifted towards Capella and Sphinx, both somehow still hanging from my shoulder and arm with iron grips. "Mind explaining what those are?"
Ah, shit.
I unknowingly walked out of the door, and forgot to resolve my previous issue.
Subaru was walking down the streets of Priestella, ready to begin another day after the harsh battle everyone went through, that just ended the previous day. Holding his contracted Great Spirit, Beatrice's hand, he strolled through the roads until he saw a familiar face running at him at immense speed.
"Out of the way Out of the way Out of the waaaaaaay!"
"Y/N!? What are you doing, running like you are about to be executed or something?"
"The inn I renovated is already damaged! ARGH, and I have to deal with that mess behind me!" Y/N pointed to the incoming dust cloud behind him, a certain blonde girl who was also running at high speeds.
"Gotta go!" Y/N then dashed off into the distance, Akra enhanced and Authorities activated.
"GET BACK HERE NII-CHAN! WE'RE NOT FINISHED WITH YOUR CRIME YET!"
Subaru watched as Felt soared past him, stepping on the invisible wind blades that she generated thanks to the copied ability of Gluttony's stolen Memories, and ascended upon the invisible staircase that faded soon after their activation.
"Y/N is being stupid, I suppose." Beatrice commented as Subaru scratched his head in confusion about what just happened. Y/N probably somehow made Felt mad, considering that she is quite feisty in contradiction to the other candidates.
"He needs to get his...'people', under control, in fact."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Okay... I give up."
I lied down on top of a building, my stamina exhausted. I haven't even eaten breakfast yet, and I was already chased down by my adoptive little sister due to a misunderstanding that could've been easily resolved if all the three other people involved in this situation could be a bit less stubborn.
Felt sat on my back to pin me down onto the floor, which I reluctantly agreed to, due to the fact that my magic and stamina has both ran out. Using authorities on her seemed like an overkill, so I refrained myself. Next question: How is she still fine after all this running?
Oh, yeah.
She used to be a thief, after all.
"Okay, nii-chan, you mind explaining that incident in the morning?" Felt glared at me menacingly, cracking her knuckles, which was something even I couldn't do.
A/N: Ya, I really can't...
"You see, uh, it's quite a normal thing for me, so I kinda just forgot?"
"You...!" I dodged another swing from Felt, and felt my body slam into a wall of wind, only to realize I've been boxed in by the Samurai's Wind Blade.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! I promise not to do it again!" I raised my hands in defeat, not willing to receive any more of her wrath. She sighed before giving me a smile at the apology, and sat down beside me on the roof.
"You know, I was going to discuss the bet we made several months ago."
"I kinda figured that was the case. But I haven't done any fantastic feats yet, so what-?"
"What do you mean, you haven't done anything? You drove an Archbishop away by yourself, and saved people from getting their name eaten!"
"That was... uh, majorly Beatrice and Omega's work, and a lot of yours. You should be proud of yourself. At least, I am proud of you."
"That's what I'm supposed to say! You reformed an Archbishop, and now even has her following you around like a devotee from a church! That is not something that anyone could just go and perform, so take credit for your own actions!" Felt snapped, and I jolted back in realization of what I did do during the battle of Priestella.
That's true. I did accomplish a lot, although I thought I didn't. It can definitely be said that I was one of the people who contributed the most. An informer with knowledge of the future, I saved people from Wrath's authority using my Scindo, saved Subaru from Greed and made Regulus back off, fought Lye Baitenkaitos to the point where Louis had to take over, and even managed to subdue and reform Capella in the end. If you put it that way, then yes, I did do a lot of heroic deeds.
Wait... does that mean I have to become Felt's knight now?
"So, are you going to fulfill your end of the deal, or not?" Felt stared at me, eagerly waiting for an answer.
"I... cannot promise that just yet. But I will swear that when all of this is over, my end of the deal stands and I will definitely make the vow. However, I believe that going to the Pleiades Watchtower is actually something I need to help with, considering the fact that even Reinhard failed to get in by himself."
Felt's expression darkened in sadness, and I immediately brought up my second point. "However, this is probably the last time I will see you in a while, so how about I spend an entire day with you? I will go with you, wherever you want to go, just for one day. To make up for the broken promise."
"So, it's a date then?" Felt said as she happily took my hand, and led me towards the edge of the roof. "Then let's go!"
Without warning, she grabbed my arm and pulled me down the roof, and I yelped in surprise of her reckless action. Fortunately, I used my Imperceptible Extensions to slow our fall, and Felt gave me a smirk. "Knew nii-chan would find a way to get us out of danger."
"That said, you shouldn't throw ourselves into dangerous situations like that!"
"It's okay, I trust nii-chan."
"Again with the unconditional trust..."
And so, as a result of the events transpired, I ended up taking Felt out to a date, browsing shops and sampling food around the city. Occasionally, we helped out on some new shops and repairs, and I took an hour to give everyone some sandwiches ?, with me creating the ingredients out of the elements and Felt making the ingredients into the actual products.
As a result of our hard work, my reputation just grew even more, and people tried to offer me gifts. To be honest, I refused most of them, and just created things for them to take home, except for a feel clingy children because even Felt couldn't help me shake them off.
When the siding of citizens came to an end, I carried Felt on my back as she slept soundly. She deserved that rest, after all. She was working hard to prove that she's a better candidate.
"Hey, Y/N-San!" Kitia's voice rang out from behind me, and I saw her approaching with a familiar knight.
"Kitia and...Inkal?!" I said, recognizing the people.
"Ah, Liberator-san!" Inkal, the guard who kindly escorted me into the city upon my initial arrival, said as he hopped over along with Kitia. Now that I look at him, he's just a little older than me in age.
"So, how did you guys end up talking together?"
"We're actually on a date!" Kitia said, and my mind stopped working for a moment.
What-When-Why-How?
"I'm sorry, you mind... explaining how this..." I gestured to the two of them. "Happened?"
"Ah, you see..."
Kitia went on to explain how Inkal saved her from the demi-beasts in the city, and they fought their way out together. Eventually, they started talking about life, and found that they had quite a lot in common, and began... their relationship?!
If I was back in my original world, I would say this is some kind of poorly written love story and real life could never turn out that way.
But somehow, it did, and it's right before my eyes.
While I struggled to say some congratulatory words, Felt chose this moment to wake up and fill the awkward silence for me. Thank you.
"Hm...nii-chan? Where are we right now?" Felt muttered, rubbing her eyes as she yawned. Cute.
"We're heading back to your hotel, remember? Reinhard said he had some stuff to talk about with you, so we were heading back early..."
"No... I don't want to talk with Reinhard! All he makes me do is boring stuff that just stresses me out. Can I stay with you just for a little longer, pleeeease?"
"If you don't mind me asking," Kitia said as she regarded the blonde girl on my back with interest. "who exactly are you?"
"Heh? My name's Felt, and Y/N's my nii-chan."
"Felt?" Inkal suddenly bowed. "My apologies, Felt-sama, I did not realize that I was in the presence of a royal candidate."
"Ah, skip the boring etiquette stuff. It's not my style, just call me Felt. Reinhard's already bad enough."
"You're a royal candidate? My, Y/N-san, what a surprise. I knew you were somewhat close to the candidates, but not this much...?"
"Well, you know, she's the only clingy one. Emilia is Subaru's, Priscilla is just Priscilla, Anastasia is a scheming kitsune, while Crusch is a dignified noble. So each of them as their own traits, while Felt is the only one I'm this close to. We've been in each other's care at times, so I suppose it's only natural."
After exchanging a few more words with Inkal and Kitia, we left them, and I headed back to the Royal Candidates' hotel along with Felt. After a bit of whining and some promises about eating lunch and dinner tomorrow together, I left Felt in the hands of Rein.
Flying onto a clock tower, I stood on the edge of the wall as I gazed down into the city below, and the lake outside it. The moonlight shimmered as the cool breeze blew past me, making it a dazzling atmosphere. Letting out a deep sigh, I materialized a comfortable chair before putting on a jacket that I took from my Dimensional Storage.
I sat down as I entered the Castle of Dreams, and Echidna was waiting for me.
"So, what's the problem, Chid-chan?"
"We've had a bit of an issue in the Necropolis. The conflict's been quelled, but I think we would need you to intervene before the matter gets worse."
"What exactly is the problem?" I asked her, but Echidna only turned away, indicating that I should check it out for myself. I nodded in response, and she opened the gateway to enter the Necropolis.
I landed on the soft and slightly withered grass of the mysterious new pocket dimension, and found two figures crossing swords with each other. A fierce woman with burning red hair slashed her rapier to attack an eight-armed giant who wielded four Demon Cleavers.
Sighing, I shot an Al Jiwald in the direction of the fight, and both stepped back to avoid it as they noticed my presence.
"So, what are you guys doing here?"
I said, posing a serious question to those who were supposed to be deceased.