I had thought that by the time I dealt with Natsuki's problem, I would've had time to sit back and properly do my experiments. As with everything in this world, I was completely wrong.

It was the very next day, before even breakfast was served, that Mathers had come back, a sonic boom announcing his arrival. At an unknown signal, I watched as Ram left to go and meet with him, even as we had been waiting for her to serve us some food, which were thankfully not just potatoes this time around.

It was a few minutes later, with Natsuki and Emilia engaging in some small talk while I kept an eye on Rem that the master of the mansion entered.

I should've had a clue when I noticed that the man's relaxed smile was anything but. Normally, the margrave was a difficult read, even for someone like me who prides himself in knowing what other people felt.

It was a given that politicians would know to mask their emotions, and for Mathers, that was doubly true. Him being the Court Mage, holding an entire domain, and sponsoring a girl who attracted contempt in the masses would make such a skill a necessity.

Right then, I could read the man like an open book.

Nervous, but not enough to break that trained mask of his. It had something to do with that meeting of his in the capital, no doubt. And by the way he was motioning for us to sit down while not doing so himself, he was going to tell us exactly why.

"Yesterday, as you all know, I was called into the capital for an important meeting."

I sat upright as I noticed the distinct lack of his verbal tic. Whatever this was, this was important important. I stayed quiet as the mage continued.

"I wish to inform you all of what happened, as this affects all of the domain equally." He stared at us one by one, looking at Natsuki just a bit longer than anyone else.

"The White Whale has been spotted moving across the countryside."

Whatever words I could've come up with died on the spot.

"Specifically, it was spotted moving just south of the Mathers Domain, near Flugel's Tree."

Shit. That meant that any travel to and from the capital from the east could be intercepted by the Whale.

"Do we know where it's headed?" I had a distinct feeling I already knew the answer, but I asked nonetheless. I would rather ask and have my suspicions confirmed than not ask at all, at this point.

Mathers gave me a dead stare as he answered, "Yes. Here."

This time, I could hear just about everyone in the room, minus Natsuki, inhale sharply. The kid just looked confused, not that I could hold it against him.

"Hey, what's even this White Whale thing anyway?" When he had first come into the dining room earlier, he had looked happier than normal, the air of nervousness that hung around him for a while disappearing, only making a brief comeback when he had seen Rem in the corner.

His question, asked as innocent as could be, was met with shock and confusion by everyone else. Everyone but me. It was sometimes hard to remember that, despite his skill in the language, his familiarity with some customs that had taken me a couple of weeks to learn, Natsuki was very much new to this world.

He hadn't been exposed to the true horrors of this world yet. The horrors that we, as people belonging to a world without magic, would never be privy to.

"It's one of the Three Great Mabeasts, alongside the Great Rabbit and the Black Serpent." I interrupted Ram as she was about to speak up. No doubt, it would've been an insult to Natsuki's intelligence. We didn't have time for that.

"It's a flying, white whale that goes around causing destruction wherever it goes. I'm guessing that you can't do anything about it, then?"

I directed the last part to Mathers, a raised eyebrow. The man shook his head in negative, "Had it been the Great Rabbit, I would've been able to at least drive it off. It certainly wouldn't be the first time." The Court Mage spoke casually, as if driving off the Rabbit was a regular occurrence, "Unfortunately, the Whale is highly resistant to any form of magic. If I were to even attempt to cast anything, my spells would likely bounce off its hairs."

"I see."

"Crusch Karsten has offered to deal with the Whale." Mathers continued, "I've accepted the deal, and last I heard, they would be heading out to deal with it later today."

I closed my eyes as the implications settled in my head.

There had been an increase in weapon orders in recent weeks. I had thought nothing of them at the time, though I had noted the uniformity of such orders. They would come every three or so days, most of which were the exact same. In hindsight, it was likely Karsten ordering weapons through proxies in order to prepare to fight the Whale. None of which mattered, I would think.

Karsten, Argyle, and everyone in that assault group will die.

The Whale, the Rabbit, and the Serpent had been around for centuries. If it were that easy to deal with, then someone in the intervening years would've done so already. That they haven't, and that Karsten thinks that she's the one that would break that mold was a fool's errand.

WIth that in mind, I opened a portal to the library. I had lost my appetite, and I needed to get my materials out of here as fast as I could. I turned to look back at the others, specifically at Natsuki, who was still trying to wrap his head around the existence of the Whale.

At this point, a protagonist with my abilities would offer to help them. To evacuate people with my portals would be trivial. But I also knew that it would be a political nightmare. To recommend my 'services' would imply that I was part of this faction, of which I certainly am not. Similarly, Mathers and the elf couldn't ask for my help without due compensation, none of which was even remotely good enough for me to risk my own life.

"I'd recommend getting out of here as fast as you can."

Still, I knew that Mathers was resourceful. Not only that, but he also has Beatrice, who was more than capable enough to create portals to wherever they needed. My presence here wasn't as needed as it could've been.

Almost hesitantly, I watched as Emilia stepped forward and shook her head negatively, "Thank you for the advice, Hikigaya-san, but I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we can't just ask the people here to abandon their livelihoods."

"Inde~ed." Mathers spoke up once more, his tic coming back as his smile grew into one that was more familiar, "Evacuating everyone is an easy ta~sk. Getting them to do so of their o~wn volition? Another matter entirely."

"Welp! You heard them, Hikigaya!" It was Natsuki's turn to speak, his smile only slightly forced, his fear palpable. I had to admit, he was doing a good job hiding it, "Wherever Emilia-tan goes, I go!"

The maids were silent, their answers already evident.

I sighed as I stepped through the portal, "Suit yourselves."

I packed everything I had, which didn't amount to much. It was mostly clothes, and the various books and papers that I had accumulated that were the issue. The originals were all with Mathers, and I hadn't made copies for them initially. To that end, while I had already shoved most of the things I had brought to my shop, I had stayed behind as I worked to copy down everything I had done.

By midday, I was more or less ready to leave. I felt my stomach growl as the reminder that I hadn't eaten made itself known. I would eat once I was back in the capital.

I walked through the halls of the mansion for what was likely the last time, on my way to Mathers' study. With my notes taken care of, I had no reason to come back here, and with the White Whale possibly coming to this place, then the mansion would likely not even be here in the near future.

It was honestly just a bit frustrating. I had finally found a library that had furthered my goal of finally reaching home, and it was soon going to be taken away from me by this damn shitty world.

The unfairness of it all was just the tip of the iceberg. That there were monsters on the caliber of the Great Mabeasts just unattended, killing hundreds or thousands for centuries was another.

Those thoughts only cemented the fact that I needed to get back home.

I made it to Mathers' study soon enough. I knocked, and quickly opened the door. I wanted this done as soon as possible. I didn't know how much time I had left, and I certainly wasn't going to wait until the Whale was staring down at me.

In the study, I was mildly surprised to find Natsuki talking to Mathers. Or, I assumed they were talking before I entered, at least. I watched as Natsuki's eyes lit up as he quickly made his way towards me.

"Hikigaya! Come back me up here!"

"I have no idea, nor do I want to know, what you're thinking right now." I said in the flattest tone possible. Bad enough that I had to deal with Rem last night. I did not want to get in the middle of whatever protagonist plotline that Natsuki would inevitably drag himself into.

"I was just talking to Ros-chi," He nodded towards the unamused Mathers. Really, Ros-chi? You better thank whoever you believe in, Natsuki, that Ram wasn't in the same room, "That we should take the fight to the White Whale!"

Have you ever watched those scenes in shows or movies where someone just says something so stupid that the record scratch is audible? Yes, that's exactly what I experienced as I heard the words come out of Natsuki's mouth.

"Kid, are you fucking stupid?"

"A bit!" He was unashamed in admitting that, at least, "That's a conversation for another day. Anyway, I was thinking, if Crusch can't take down the Whale by herself, then shouldn't we help her? If the Whale is coming here, then if we just let another camp take the credit, then we'd just be losing face, right?"

That…was surprisingly thought out. True, if Mathers and Emilia were to let another group take down a threat to their domain, then the prestige hit may as well put the elf out of the running. Still, none of that took into account just how difficult it would truly be.

"You forget just how strong the White Whale is, Subaru-kun." It was Mathers that voiced my thoughts, "I've already told you of how my spells would be ineffective, correct." Natsuki nodded.

"I would like to clarify that it was not an exaggeration. The White Whale's hairs are capable of absorbing most forms of mana from just about any spell that hits it. It basically makes any spell useless against it. Couple that with its durability, then you'd have a recipe for disaster."

"Then…what do we do? Are we just going to wait here till the damn thing comes and kills us all?" Natsuki looked frustrated at the notion, though not afraid. That was…odd to say the least.

Was I right in thinking that he was suicidal? To not show fear was easy enough. I did it, and was still doing it. Any moment now, that thing could come and kill us all. I didn't let any of that fear creep into my face.

Natsuki was usually the opposite. He was an open book, who wore his feelings on his sleeve. That all I could see was frustration was an indicator that he really wasn't afraid.

No. That was wrong. It wasn't that he wasn't afraid. He was just too angry to let that fear out. I could see it now. Dilated pupils. A scowl on his face. Clenched fists.

What the hell happened to him?

I scoffed to myself as I dropped the papers in my hand onto the desk, "Whatever kid. If you know what's good for you, then you'd know that it would be better to try and convince these people to leave rather than fight it."

I left the room soon after, and through the door, I could hear Natsuki try to convince Mathers to do something. I made a discreet, one-way portal in the room. I have to admit, I was curious as to the margrave's plan.

Apparently, should the White Whale truly make its way over to Arlem or its surroundings, then Mathers would attempt to lead the mabeast away. It hinged on the idea that it would try and follow that strongest source of mana, that being Mathers himself.

A good plan, yet one with many problems. Not that they had a choice.

Honestly, what sort of moronic plan was it to go fight that thing head on? Whoever this Crusch that Natsuki was talking about helping was maybe just as suicidal as him.

A/N: If you like what I do and want to support me, check out my P-atreon at P-atreon•com(slash)Almistyor.

And a special thanks to: Oliver vazquez, brutalcrab, Tassimo and Bradley Wynters.