"Wow, how can a place be so belly-aching and ...depressing at the same time heh?"

Subaru remarked sarcastically and also apparently disgusted by the state of the place he'd been trying to reach since noon, but he wasn't surprised because he expected worse from a place called slums in a medieval like civilization However, the reality is still somewhat shocking.

_'_Every psychological gap between the ruler and the ruled inevitably leads to revolution unless it is eradicated soon ... this kingdom indeed need a strong ruler because at this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if some war broke out, since this kingdom must be in an unstable state... '_ .Subaru was so deeply immersed in his thoughts as he yet again realized that thers is a high possibility that he had been summoned to To a dark and chaotic era _' such a mess'_

"Subaru?, are you okay?."

Interrupting his thoughts, a worried voice came out from Riful, but before the voice could come, it was the tap on his shoulder that woke him up from his thoughts.

[It's no use thinking about it now first, let's see if your hunch is right this time too S-u-b-a-r-u~_

_'Yes I agree'_

-Back to the real world.

"yes i'm fine i was just thinking of something"

Subaru smiled a light smile at Riful, who sighed in relief as she walked beside him. If it weren't for the difference in height between them, their hands would have touched a long time ago from the intensity of their closeness.

"Good. You made me worry for a while. The expression on your face, especially at that moment, was terrifying~".She said puffing out her cheeks while pushing him lightly with her shoulder.

_'Again, this girl, is amazing. I've never known someone who would treat me so nicely after only knowing me for a few hours'_ Subaru thought, as he smiled lightly embarrassed at her remark about his face.

.

.

.

.

And Of course Thanks to her, their arrival here only took them about a quarter of an hour, but not before they took several tiring alleys, some of which were disgusting, full of human and non-human excrement and rubbish.

Subaru shook his head to wipe the thought from his head deciding to think of something else.

"And people here are surprisingly nice to me, despite the pitifulness of their condition...how odd".

Subaru had very lovely features as a child, and his hair was as long or maybe longer but it's sure was softer than Now, as well which caused him to be mistaken for a girl rather frequently. ― wish lead to a lot of bullying and ill-treatment, and on one occasion he was harassed by some adults, which caused him a lasting trauma until. _'Their death and torture at my hands was satisfying, and my vengeance against them cured all the trauma they had caused me, heh'_

[Will you stop thinking about that dreary past_

Nats said as she was very disturbed by his apparently bleak memories of the past.

_' Memories are what our reason is based upon. If we can't face them, we deny reason itself nats .but... i apologise sincerely i know its no time for recollection of the past_!'he replayed sincerely.

-Back to the real world.

"Teheh~ I think I know why people here treat you nice~".Riful suddenly said after a little giggle as she suddenly latched on his arm hugging it.

_'_This girl does not have any concept of personal space in her dictionary, if they had one in the first place'_ Despite his thoughts, it seems that he does not mind the physical contact, or maybe he just doesn't care anymore as he did not make any attempt to distance himself from her.

" oh really?, Let's hear it than!" He responded to her with a thoughtful expression.

"it's probably because of your appearance. You're kind of filthy and you've got traces of blood all over your body, in wish the people here seem to be struggling, so my finest judgment is..."

She extended her speech dramatically in an attempt to tease Subaru who wasn't having it.

"Would you just say it already ?." He replayed with some anger in his voice.

" Yeah yeah... what I wanted to say is they probably find you relatable tehe~."

She giggled while answering back to Subaru who's facial expression turned thoughtful.

"Now I understand ... thanks Riful".

"No thanks for duty subaru~". As she replayed squizing his arm tightly in a hug Subaru could only sigh in resignation '_yup no sense of personal space at all'_ he thought.

It now seemed obvious why they were all so friendly. Among them was an old lady who offered him a small dry fruit, saying "Eat this and live strong." But he refused. He would not eat anything from a stranger, especially from a place like this. _'I have been poisoned before, and believe me, being poisoned is not pretty .'_ But Riful who sow his distrust intervened by explaining saying " don't worry Subaru its juat a Bocco fruit. It stimulates the mana within the person when he ate it, and accelerates healing and stuff. The effect varies by person, for most it's rather soothing tehe~…" .or something like that wish surprised Subaru _'There's no harm in keeping it for now, maybe I'll need it later '_ that's waht he thought back then as he decided to keep it after thanking the old women of course.

Suddenly, Subaru frowned, apparently in a bad mood, remembering what was going to happen tonight, based on his intuition, which he got after so many failures in the past, which in turn had never let him down in all his previous lives._'Damn we're running out of time I don't know where this place is I'm just following Riful after all'._ Subaru thought as he looked at the beautiful sunset in a pollution-free sky, usually, he would feel comfortable and reassured while looking at this beautiful view, but at this very moment, thanks to his strong intuition, this sunset does not portend anything but gloom and disaster, Usually he would just leave and run away from this place that gives him this ominous feeling, but according to his intuition, any attempt to run and hide would be futile, he could feel it from his very core the cold hand of death that he didn't encounter since more than a half year ago or so _'_I have to know who is the person who is causing me this feeling, I need to know, and when I find out who, I will make him pay dearly, whether it is that rate, or that girl with her silver hair, or another person, it doesn't matter because what matters is that I will not have mercy on any of them_ .His limbs felt heavy and his mouth was dry for reasons he doesn't know . He was repeatedly tormented by the feeling of the cold hand of death that was approaching him every minute passed as It was as if a black cloud existed in his heart which instead of dropping rainwater, the alternative was ice stones , and this was accompanied by shrill and annoying ringing in his ears._Damn you, whoever you are_

The answer is without a doubt is within that rat if not it's in the loot house he just need to find it.-

Subaru finally sighed deeply. '_It's fortunate that Riful used that spell on me. I honestly needed it, Otherwise my condition would have been worse especially since I didn't carry my pills with me, what a shame... I just wish they have medicine specialists in this world I really really hope so.'_ he thought, heaving almost his tenth sigh this time around.

He glanced up and down the road they where walking on... demolished homes, Rubbish dumped everywhere , and People staring at them strangely and some apparently waving at them "or maybe just me" as it seems that the knights are not welcome here finally he settled his gaze at Riful who was looking at him all the time while smiling.

Suppressing his grim thoughts about something that still didn't happen, Subaru thought of something, _if iam going to die here at least I need to collect some information_ .

"Do you happen to know, something about that, silver haired girl that was in the alley ?."

Staring at Riful, Subaru cautiously asked his question, hoping that she would at least know something about her_ _I mean, she's a knight, so she definitely might know something, especially since the girl with the silver hair, from what I concluded from my brief meeting with her, I certainly, and at least I think she's from the nobles.'_._

Riful put a finger to her full red lip and went "Umm," as she gazed at Subaru thoughtfully as he patently waited for her to answer.

"No... ".

Contrary to Subaru's expectations, which were based on strong foundations, Riful's negative answer demolished those foundations. '_Is it possible that I was wrong in assessing the value of the silver-haired girl?'_

"But, I think I heard some rumors being circulated by some nobles and knights alike... though i was not sure if the rumors was true, well at least until today ".

Snatching Subaru out of his thoughts, Riful's voice emitted, giving Subaru hope again that maybe he wasn't wrong after all.

"What kind of rumors?".

"Well" again with her finger in her lips And with a strange, uncharacteristic facial expression she went "um, According to what I heard... there seems to be a mysterious half-elf with... silver hair, under the care of the court wizard named... Roswaal L Mathers... or at least that's what the rumors stated... ." She concluded her words with an unusual frown, wish surprised Subaru.

[Riful frowned. Well, that was unexpected fufufuf ~_

_'_Yeah, I don't know exactly who made her frown like that, is it the silver-haired girl who suddenly turns out to be an elf or the... court wizard?'_

[I think it's the later . Her frown deepened when she mentioned his name and also seemed to hesitate a bit before saying it]._

_'Heh, he must be an interesting person to put Riful in a bad mood just by mentioning his name.'_

-Back to the real world.

"Please, could you tell me more about this person...i mean more about Roswaal L Mathers in particular, if you don't mind of course ?."

Delivering his question with care and calmness to Riful who only frownd galring at him Defiantly as if saying "What's wrong with you all of a sudden ?". All Subaru could do in that situation was give her an apologetic smile, hoping she'd tell him what he wanted to know.

"You, really don't know anything huh ?" As if finally relenting she let out a deep sight " You are lucky that you met me, otherwise you would have ended up dead somewhere, because this place never has any mercy on strangers... especially in these current times of instability in the kingdom so you really should be more thankful to me subaru... do you understand?." She responded seriously looking at Subaru directly in the eyes who in smiled at her a smile that reached his Redich-Dark evil eyes.

_heh~ You weren't the first but you were the best I ever met since I came here...so_

"Well I present to you the most beautiful expressions of gratitude from a heart overflowing with respect, and appreciation for you and you only Riful."

So he kept saying with sincerity and honesty laced Every letter and word he uttered causing Riful to blush deep in her cheeks.

"I-I mea-n I would H-help you... Whatever the circumstances and the hour, so...you don't n-need to thank me for doing so tehehe~" she laughed bashfully as she scratched her redend Beautiful brown face.

[ow~What a kind and righteous girl she is fufuf~]._

_'I don't know about that but. she is sure an easy girl to please...exactly what I like'_

[But you love me right ?_

_'unlike riful or anyone else in both worlds and beyond you are the only one who understands me and knows exactly what I went through'_

[...].

_'Therefore, do not ever have any doubt about the sincerity of my feelings towards you, and if you had a body, I would wed you immediately.'_

Warmly and solemnly he is declared leaving not an iota of doubt.

[...You know I was just kidding ... right ?]._

_'Sorry,... it's just as you know, i get very serious when my love for you is tested or questioned'_

_'Plus dealing with someone who is simple and easy to please like her is a breath of fresh air... life is alraedy too hard anyway'_

[I apologize S-u-b-a-r-u~ . Let's talk about this later Okay?._

_'Understood'_

Back to the real world.

After Riful calmed herself down a bit from Subaru's embarrassing words of gratitude, not to mention, she still didn't let go of Subaru's arm all this time for some strange reason, which left Subaru wondering. '_I just hope she doesn't act like this with any other guy... because they might get the wrong idea about her'._ He looked at her with an unusual concern on his part.

As she put a finger to her lip and went "Umm," for a little while still with some redness on her cheeks Which makes her appear even cute and funny to look at. _'But her reaction to my words earlier made me doubt that she had been this close to any other man previously... which makes me ... reassured for some, reason.'_ He thought with strange relief.

"Alright ... I really don't know what you want to do with that information but I'll tell you anyway."

Finally she said after a slight sigh, drawing the attention of the boy from another world to her who in turn just nodded his head urging her to speak.

"the margrave, the demihumans lover, the court mage, the the count, the clown, the strongest magic user in the kingdom ," she stoped talking as if contemplating her next words " oh, and finally now he is... if what i sow back than is true he is going to be the sponsor and benefactor for the half-elf bid for the throne. " She said the last part with a strange and crooked smile Which only made Subaru wonder why.

_Now that's an expression I've never seen on her face before. Heh, I feel like I'm learning more and more about her every time I talk to her ... but more importantly_.

"What made you come to the conclusion that the girl with the silver hair had anything to do with the throne exactly?."

In a questioning tone he told Riful who shrugged her shoulders before responding.

"Well... the kingdom is in an unstable state because we don't have a king to rule now and this is due to a strange epidemic that killed all the Royal family... actually now or before it doesn't matter we already had weak kings and their death doesn't make a difference.."

_She certainly does not like this kingdom_ He thought before she continued.

"Anyway... after the ruling family was annihilated by the death of the last king whose name I unfortunately do not remember tehe ~"

she laughed bashfully as she tapped her head, but to Subaru this was no laughing matter. _How could she forget the name of her dead king... Damn I feel sorry for the poor bastard_ he thought ammused.

[He must have been a very weak ruler with a pathetic influence, otherwise she wouldn't have forgotten his name so easily._

nah, I'm pretty sure she remembers his name...it's just that she doesn't think he deserves to be mentioned_

_To be treated like this by one of the knights of your kingdom… the king must have been pitiable ... I just wonder if other's think the same_.

Back to the real world.

"Anyway, as I was saying earlier... After the death of the last king, it seems that the dragon finally communicated with the Senate via with what seemed to be the only means of communication that could be used with him, which was the Dragon Stone."

"And what did this ... dragon say ?" He asked in a hesitant tone but the sharp-witted Riful gave him a strange look as if she was saying "Seriously subaru Even the Dragon You Don't Know About ?" And All Subaru could do was shrugging his shoulders This only prompted Riful to shake her head tiredly.

"Anyway… what the dragon had said was that five candidates would be chosen to compete for the throne".

"And I believe that the candidates will be determined through the use of " she paused as she retrieved something from her leather pouch and gently placed it in his hand " this".

" A piece of jewelry ?" He said while looking at what it seems to be a wired piece of jewelary chapped after some kind of dragons In terms of size, it was like those Scout badges from his old world. He couldn't quite tell what it was made of, but his only guess is some kind of high quality gold, and As far as he knew, the design looked to be that of a winged dragon viewed from the front, and its core― The dragon's mouth held a red jewel within just a jewel nothing special ' _though i like its colour'_ he thought Impressed.

and also some confusion as he felt like he did sow this jewel before he just cant pin-point where and when.

"Yes and also no tehehe~"Riful chirped saying before her signature giggle prompting subaru to tilted his head slightly in confusion.

"That thing is called Insgnia and you can see that gem in the middle" she said pointing at the insignia on Subaru's hand who only noded his head in understanding" well, to put it simply that red gem usually glows bright red when in the hands of the maidens who have been chosen by the dragon, and also its the only tool that enables us to know who is chosen." .

" and Some of us knights... have been given the task of searching for, the chosen ones for the election to compete for the throne ... so yeah that sums it up.." She just shrugged her shoulders after the end of her sentence.

'WAIT ... she said insignia ?' He thought Suddenly, as his brain began to work excessively in order to retrieve the lost memory after obtaining the last puzzle, " insignia".Usually Subaru would not have forgotten something as simple as this because as a matter of fact he got a distinct memory better than the rest of the people from his world and it can also be considered a photographic memory or perhaps even a special skill among his other skills, which allows him to remember the details very accurately, but his tension, nervousness and bad mood at that time as a result of his sudden transfer to Another world, without his permission, affected his judgment, causing him to lose sight of some things, but thanks to the healing spell Riful applied to him, that was no longer a problem.

_'Now I can see everything...'_ He thought again that he obviously remembered seeing that the insignia with the blonde girl called Felt, but more than that, _I saw her shining a red light when she passed by me._ He could finally see his way to the heights of this servile world to rule and also dominate.

[We still need to get the girl s-u-b-a-r-u~ fu~fu~_

_'Yeah, thats my objective now heh'_

But suddenly something else came to his mind.' _If Riful had followed me all along from the start, it's wired that she didn't see the insignia too ... oh well i will just have to tell her myself since she will be needed in my plans .'_ He thought completely ignorantly that the reason why Riful didn't notice the Insgnia was because she was watching Subaru with her eyes on him the whole time without blinking with a clear infatuation in her eyes and her redend cheeks at that time, that if someone could have seen her they will surely think she is a teenager in love.

"What would happen if a maiden lost her Insgnia...or her identification badge?" Coming out of his thoughts He asked his question suddenly, remembering the silver-haired girl and what happened to her.

A strange and creepy smile was put on Riful's face upon hearing his question.

[That smile never bodes well fu~fu~_

_'agreed ... but I kinda like it'_