Yo! It's Starmegalo.

I welcome everyone who sticks with this story.

I will publish a new fic soon but I don't know which one it will be.

Let's begin, I read all the reviews (2). And I have no comments this time. Thanks for making them. I also read all the comments in AO3. Though no need to put them here as there is a reply function in that site.

'Thought'

"Speaking"

English in story


Things aren't simple as it looks from the outside for Emilia camp, this was not something Otto predicted at all. The problems that he could not foresee appeared throughout the year. And again, this was unexpected for Otto.

After all, from the moment he met with Subaru, from the moment he met with Emilia. The same thought appeared instantly in his mind: They are simple people.

Subaru was a man who was reckless and problematic, he would react to everything too much and didn't know his place like other people. He was very unique so people couldn't take their eyes off of him. The way he forced himself on other people's hearts would only work for him. Natsuki Subaru was this kind of person.

Emilia...Otto would've been interested in her and would've supported her even if there was no meeting with Subaru in his life. Surely...it was unknown if he could survive without Subaru but what he was thinking about is a scenario where he wasn't dying and learning about Emilia. He was sure he would've joined to support her regardless of Subaru's existence.

The way she was disliked by others and disconnected from other people forcefully, yet remained herself like how she always was. That interested Otto. He was curious about her journey. And exactly as he thought, it was interesting.

He became the Internal affairs guy...it wasn't a well-defined job, about what he would do, tasks or whether there was anyone ordering him around. But the pay was good...really good.

He would do a lot of paperwork, and include himself in meetings...but most of the time he would give some sort of guidance to others.

As time passed, before he realized it, he became the guy that everyone asked things about. And mostly they weren't about politics or anything like that...it was just daily curiosities of Emilia Camp members.

Circumstances that cause people to open up to him. It happened a lot.

And then the regular talks with Emilia when she feels insecure about something, about the election and many more things, source of the problems were mostly Subaru. Subaru would be greatly bothered. If he knew it, that is. Actually he would be pissed at the fact that Emilia was opening up to someone else, that alone would be enough to make him pissed let alone content with the talks.

Since even Emilia was conscious that Subaru would cause a lot of problems for no reason by misunderstanding things. They just didn't tell him.

This was one of the many problems sourced by his friend. He was incredibly useful when something happens, a problem occurs..

However, when nothing happened, he was incredibly problematic in his natural state.

Since nothing happened for a year, Subaru was outright annoying.

He would worry others a lot. One of the core reasons for this was Rem.

Otto searched for so long with unbelief, he searched and searched but it was the truth after all. Subaru was the sole person that could remember people even if the world forgets them.

This caused many uncomfortable situations...no, not just the fact that no one could remember Rem. It was also that Subaru's love for Rem was truly a new extreme.

If the Witch of Envy was insane because of the intensity of her love, then even she couldn't match Subaru's Rem obsession.

There was a time when he listened to Subaru...one of the times that he was opened up. It was a rarity.

He talked about how Rem and Subaru weren't close at all. But things changed when Subaru was willing to save her. Subaru also talked about trying to make Rem move on from things.

It seemed he was more than successful, according to what he said the next day Rem made sure that the first person he would see in the morning was her.

Same with the day after that, and the day after that, the day after that...basically every single morning.

As Subaru talked more and more about Rem. He understood many things.

Rem could see Subaru as he is like every single person did the first time they met him. But with his show of fake charisma and the fact that he saved her life met. Rem was infatuated with Subaru.

Subaru was an average man with problems and weird skills. He was exceptional at nothing useful and it was a wonder that he survived until this day.

So he was certainly not received well by the opposite gender. So Otto understands why Subaru would accept everything that came out of Rem's mouth. After all, he was who he is, and didn't want to accept that.

Probably because of the same reason Subaru was latching on to Emilia. After all, Emilia was not as conscious as things like other females are. Adding to the fact that many people hate her because of how she looks...

Subaru was very lucky to meet with her. If only Emilia could understand that. Well, she will do that when she gets mature enough. Otto is scared of what will happen when she rejects Subaru…

The selfishness of this sort was the problem with Subaru. If he even considered the possibility of getting rejected like a normal person perhaps he would be ready for it but from the way he acts, it was obvious he didn't.

He worried everyone about how he would go see Rem every single day. He wasn't saying that it was a bad thing...but it did no good to Rem or anyone. It was just making other people anxious. Frederica talked to him about how every single night, without anything stopping him, he visits Rem. The timing was freaky too, at exactly the same time, he would open her door.

When he has to leave for somewhere, he would stay with her so long that he forgets when to eat. To make sure he is getting his fair share of time with Rem.

He also makes Emilia troubled by how different he is while talking about Rem. Likely, Emilia will never have romantic feelings for Subaru in Otto's opinion, but even so, she was used to his affection, that's why Subaru should be consistent at the very least. Cutting those actions would trouble Emilia after all.

He would go outside without telling anyone what he is doing. He would make Emilia worry and put a stop to her studies since she won't be able to focus because of him.

His inability to understand things bothered Otto and caused problems for everyone. Subaru was the person that connected many people in the camp, but he didn't understand that at all.

That responsibility should be something Subaru carries while gritting his teeth. Whether that be about Roswaal's advances to make Subaru angry or Emilia's lack of knowledge or interest in Subaru. But Subaru was more emotional than logical. So while he wanted to be with Emilia, he didn't try his very best to make her King as others do. Probably he wasn't even interested in the royal selection or the future Emilia might bring. He was just selfishly doing what satisfied him.

Things would be much swifter if Subaru worked for Emilia like an actual servant...

'Why am I wishing for things that will never happen?' Otto thought as he sighed.

"Welp. Wait for us here. They are bound to take good care of you."

"-" As he said that Frufoo happily agreed and also he said something else...

"Eh? Patrasche isn't here?" In his deep thoughts...Otto didn't realize Patrasche wasn't beside him.

He quickly walked to where others were, they were waiting for him to set ground dragons.

He reaches there quickly...only to see Patrasche never moved from her initial place, it seems that she never followed him.

"What is the problem?"

"..." She doesn't say anything. It's not that she was saying something and Otto wasn't understanding. It was in fact, she had nothing to say to Otto.

And of course, she didn't even acknowledge his presence. Her eyes were on one and only-

"It's all you again. One way or another..."

He could understand to a level how Subaru was important to everyone...Subaru even saved him, after all. But he couldn't understand why Patrasche was so adamant and fixated on Subaru. She was a remarkable ground dragon with excellent speed and power. Her intelligence...she was beyond smart. Actually, no one would believe Otto if he said Patrasche might be smarter than the average person in this world. He actually praised her so many times.

Yet...she didn't care.

No matter how much Otto knew about her, even if he was the only person she could communicate with cleanly in this world...Patrasche's pride didn't think Otto's words or anything about Otto was important. In fact, she wasn't even seeing him as a translator for her to speak with Subaru. Both Subaru and Patrasche had a supernatural belief that they understood each other perfectly…

Otto could praise Patrasche day and night with every word filled with true intent…she wouldn't care.

However Subaru could make a simple comment on how great she was or cool-and she would instantly nuzzle towards his hand.

"I don't understand" It bothered Otto greatly.

He thought all of this and more as he looked at the boy who was deep in his thoughts.


"So we are about to start huh?" Subaru mutters as they are slowly closing on to their destination.

In Priestella, boats had priority and there were hills too. Hence the slowness.

"Hmm? Start of what?" Emilia asks as she hears Subaru.

"Start of things Emilia. But who knows what? Doesn't the future excite you with its mystery?" Subaru says with a practiced smile and a charismatic wink.

Emilia nods happily and hums. "Yes! I wonder if they will let me pet their Ligar! I was missing the feeling of fur with Puck not being here..." Her sentence ends on a sad note.

However, Subaru cannot open his mouth to comfort her for some reason.

Yes, Subaru was expecting this answer in fact. To once again be reminded of how different their world is.

Subaru wasn't thinking about discovering the future or how much fun he will have now that he is riding in this carriage.

The chances are, something bad will happen. Chances are, Subaru will have to walk the path of unrelenting, unaccepting, fate-defying victory. But it was never fun.

It could be fun...if Subaru wasn't scared of losing something about himself. After all, every time an enemy was defeated, a future was acquired and how he came out unbelievably victorious...it was a feeling that was more satiating than fun.

But as things they are. Subaru wasn't receiving much after his victories. And his reality was brutal and cruel. Hence he cannot share any feelings with Emilia.

'Who is eager to see the future'

Subaru would want that too...but it was impossible.

And Subaru couldn't put his hand on her shoulder and comfort her about Puck...that was impossible too.

It became impossible as time passed. If it was old Natsuki Subaru, it would work...perhaps.

'I changed now...so I won't put my hand on her shoulder...it's not like she will die if I don't.' She will breathe. That's what mattered in the end. Subaru's wish for others was for them to avoid the absolute end by saying not yet.

'The end of the story...It will come for all of us. Death is absolute.' And that was okay. One day Natsuki Subaru would take the hand of Death as well. To begin with, he had no disrespect or hate for the concept of death. He never wanted to avoid it. He just couldn't accept any end but where he is satisfied.

"We are here now," Otto says and Subaru wakes up from his thoughts.

"Oh...let's go in then, I can't wait to see the place Anastasia chose after all," Emilia says with an excited voice, Subaru agrees with her in his mind.

'If I know her, it will be pricey and luxurious. She gives sugar-mommy vibes too...' Subaru thinks that it wouldn't be bad at all if he got pampered by someone like Anastasia.

Bad thoughts go away!

"Well...we will wait for you. You need to accompany Patrasche to her place first." Otto states with a bothered tone.

"Ah...she doesn't want to go with you? Ah...it can't be helped. I'll give her some time. I cannot be helped at all!" While Subaru understood Otto was bothered...bothered a bit too much because of Patrasche's actions. He just didn't dislike the special treatment she gave him. He just couldn't.

In fact, he appreciated it. He was sure Patrasche knew that too.

Sometimes it was incredible how much she understood him.

They walked towards her place. He would make sure to visit her regularly regardless of what kind of royal business might happen with all candidates.

"Well, Anastasia said nothing about inviting others so, it's not like I can know that." He wasn't supposed to know that, but it was so predictable anyway. And then…hints of Subaru being correct appeared as the journey progressed.

The same things coincidentally happened with other camps.

Merchants that visited Emilia camp.

Russel Fellow.

The way guards looked at them.

"There are surely many signs that others might be here too...but it's not like Natsuki Subaru is someone who can figure that out, isn't that right Patrasche?"

She stays silent, not bothering to answer that rhetorical question.

However, she glares at Subaru nonetheless. It was a glare that screamed, "It doesn't matter what they think."

'It's my fault for saying retarded things besides Patrasche.' Subaru did not have the right to whine because of how others perceived him to Patrasche.

Patrasche had confidence in Subaru and unlike everyone else, she had chosen him without needing to be saved.

She understood him. Saved him so many times. When Subaru wanted to stay alone...he wouldn't be bothered when Patrasche would forcibly stay with him. He got used to that. He also didn't need to act differently beside her.

...Wait.

Patrasche chose me, liked me, supported me...from the start.

Without getting saved.

...That thought repeated in Subaru's head many times. The conclusion was:

'Impossible.'

"Patrasche," Subaru calls out to her, the air around the two gets thicker.

She turns her head to look at him with her orange eyes. He liked the color of her eyes.

"...Did you know who I was?" He started without filling anything. Explaining absolutely nothing.

"-" A silence. It felt unnatural to Subaru. That's right, it was incredibly paranoid to think what he was thinking right now. However... it was a miracle, an impossibility that anyone would choose Natsuki Subaru as he is.

"Did you expect me? That I would be there, that we would meet. How?"

"-" Another silence. Yet Subaru would accept it as a confirmation anyway. But no matter how determined he looked, Patrasche's gaze also did not back down.

The mask of the trickster was down, and Subaru was all open with his corpse-like eyes with a dangerous glint of his determination, the man who could see the world and its contents as a story and something to be fulfilled and would do everything to get that done. It was the eyes of a monster.

Yet her gaze did not back down. She only looked at Subaru more intently. It was almost as if she was seeing something he didn't. Knowing something he didn't...that was unacceptable.

But even so, she looked at him as if she was familiar with Subaru's eyes.

People from the past or whatever could assume things about Subaru. Yet there was something in that gaze that was more horrifying than a delusional witch's gaze. It almost made Subaru acknowledge whatever Patrasche was seeing...

That cannot be allowed. That one thought appeared inside of his mind yet his eyes betrayed that intent. He couldn't avert his gaze from Patrasche... he couldn't stop the feeling that rose inside of him.

The world was lost. Time was unable to catch up with his perception. He escaped to the void where he would always be alone. Yet Patrasche could be seen regardless.

Any person who saw this interaction would think Subaru is a madman for getting suspicious of a ground dragon and asking it very clear questions and how he was looking at her right now.

They were incorrect. Subaru was a madman but he was sure about one thing, he was disliked, got a low opinion, lied, attacked, suspected, and so on by others the first time.

Patrasche though... chose him.

If he had an incredible affinity with ground dragons similar to his spirit affinity he could accept it. Because that would also mean Natsuki Subaru's force destroyed the natural occurrence of things.

He would not be loved for who he was, yet that doesn't mean his presence couldn't break that. It always did, regardless of who disliked him.

"Hey...Everyone is gathering in this city. Something bad might happen..." Subaru said with hostility. Something inside him showed that hostility and yet his heart rejected it.

It was extremely weird. Because even though the present Natsuki Subaru falls in love with Satella, who was someone from the times that he let it go. The Natsuki Subaru that remembered everything covered her face and despised her. There was an incredible disgust.

Before Subaru thought that it was Natsuki Subaru loved her for his past experiences. But no, it was him, the Natsuki Subaru in the present. And he didn't understand why.

The current Natsuki Subaru had no memories of Satella other than what happened at the tea party. Perhaps she really did manipulate his heart... but he also wasn't sure that was the case.

Either way...the true anomaly was Patrasche, who supposedly knew much more than anyone else and yet there were no negative feelings in him for her.

"I might die," Subaru said like it was a matter of fact.

"-" Subaru implied things... attempted to read Patrasche, trying to see how far her knowledge reached, and yet...he couldn't read her any further.

Sigh.

He just petted her and walked towards their destination.

"Just...act as if nothing happened. Ignore it," Subaru says to himself. He had no interest in the past events, nothing inside of him wanted to know about them. He didn't know why but he believed there was a good reason for that.

But he couldn't help but have a single thought...

It was incredible that he got suspicious of Patrasche because she liked him from the beginning...without any interference on Subaru's part.

Depressing. Melancholic. It was despair-inducing. The idea is that everyone would dislike him, be suspicious of him, and have a low opinion of him from the start. No matter who they are.

No matter who they are.


"I see that there are faces in your group, but where is Natsuki-kun? Don't tell me he didn't come..." Anastasia said with a questioning voice. Of course, it was unthinkable that a candidate would come without her knight...especially one with that kind of popularity. But this was Natsuki Subaru, the guy didn't even bother to act like a knight after officially becoming one with so much work..

So the absence of this unpredictable person bothered her more than the new faces who joined Emilia camp...especially another person without any background. The tiger boy that Mimi liked a lot.

'For some reason, his smile pisses me off' Boy with a big grin also invoked some negative feelings in her...Who knows why.

"Big apologies, he was just supposed to make sure our ground dragon was fine," Otto said with a bow, it was obvious to Anastasia that he was really ashamed.

"No, no. It's not a problem. Actually...it should be a problem. But when Natsuki-kun does it...I couldn't care less." Anastasia was a candidate who came to greet a fellow rival. It was a problem that her knight wasn't around.

But Natsuki Subaru was such a person, so it couldn't be helped. Not to mention he wasn't bad because of his unique features and mannerism. There were far more positives dominating little inconveniences he made.

He was easy to communicate with and could be helpful more than people would guess. He knew how to appease a merchant and he did get the interest of many people like Russel Fellow with his clever thinking that counted for everyone's satisfaction, it was almost like he could read people without a problem. But it was likely that he was just desperate at that time, to make sure that everyone helped.

"Ehem. Well, I guess that's just Subaru. But I would be more satisfied if Anastasia-san was bothered by it." Surprisingly those words came out of Emilia's mouth. It surprised Anastasia...was Emilia becoming more strict?

"Wait...Really?" It seemed that Otto also shared her surprise with more hope on his face.

"Yes! So that I can lecture him to be a good boy!" Emilia says with a smug face as she closes her eyes to imagine the moment when Subaru becomes a 'good boy' while putting her hands on her hip.

That causes Anastasia to sigh and make Otto slap his forehead. Both were disappointed. Anastasia also disappointed herself for wanting her rival to become smarter.

"For some reason, many women have this fantasy of showing me manners...I'll admit sometimes I do not mind it but Emilia-tan is just too literal about this." A voice outside of the group gathered there appeared.

Who he was, couldn't be more obvious. The way of talking, the words used and how casual he was while talking to the royal candidates, couldn't be mistaken.

Anastasia turned her head towards Subaru with a mischievous smile, however-

'Huh? This is...' That smile and teasing expression disappeared instantly. She was witnessing a sight that she didn't quite expect.

It was a figure that adorned himself with the black color scheme, it gave a different feeling than his iconic outfit, his goofiness was still there from how he talked, but his clothes did not reflect that one bit. His shoes shined rather vibrantly, unbelievable but Anastasia couldn't make it out where he bought those from...

His pants, the same as the shoes, were pitch black and matched his equally luxurious white belt with some orange lines. It showed his height and how fit he was much better than before. It hugged his legs very tightly.

'Ana...you are staring at him too much.' A voice in her head said to Anastasia, but that was a voice that others could not hear.

"Actually, isn't he quite fit now?" As she unknowingly muttered that loudly, her eyes keenly observed his upper body after being satisfied with the lower parts.

The difference was incredible. The black shirt that is unknown to her, she couldn't assess the material, it also fit him really well, showed his muscle mass and also made him look stronger than before even though it wasn't comparable to Julius. Was someone training him?

It was an unexpected development that she had no idea even with how much she researched about him. There were things that she wanted-no, she would ask no matter what. Normally you can't just be pushy to learn something from your political rival...

'It might just work out if it's Natsuki-kun? Ah~ It should be...please tell me it would. I can't learn a single damn thing about him regardless of the method anyway. Whether his past or what he did for all this time...'

"Ah. It really does feel appropriate when a woman looks at you and even takes her time. But it is rather creepy when a non-handsome dude does it. Well, it does make sense in a way but it's still sad nonetheless." Natsuki Subaru talked as a Natsuki Subaru would. Anastasia wasn't surprised.

"Anastasia-sama, please do not mind him..." Otto said with a frustrated voice. His embarrassment levels reach a new high.

However, Anastasia ignored him for a bit, after all, Natsuki-kun in front of her said something she couldn't just let that slide.

"It's just that I was observing my rival's mysterious knight. A gal like me is greedy and I don't know much about you." Anastasia said it in a sweet way.

"You know quite a bit about me Anastasia-san, short as it was, the experiences our groups lived through is the kind that gives lots of ideas about personality and actions," Subaru said as he reminisced about past events.

As bad as things were when Subaru didn't know what to strive for. When he decided that he would save everyone after Rem touched his heart...it was really a source of pride for him to be able to negotiate with her and Russel. Not to mention his opinions and ideas on transportation ways and routes being taken into consideration and even changing how things worked...

It was precious. Sneaky as Anastasia was and an obviously dark look on Russel's eyes. They helped him and acknowledged him. It didn't matter if Anastasia was greedy or if Subaru was likely to be targeted by Russel. In the end, they weren't people that could affect him in any way.

So even though he should perhaps make a move on them or at least not be favorable to them. That doesn't happen. He can't help but respect them.

"That is certainly true, I saw many sides of Natsuki-kun, whether that be him getting beaten over and over and still getting up enough times that knights wanted it to stop, then coming out of nowhere as if nothing happen, and then doing so many things that changed a lot because Natsuki-kun worked hard. But it doesn't satisfy this gal since I do not get anything to use it, ya see?" She said something rather bold and dark but she winked it cutely anyway.

Emilia reacted with a little gasp. It seems that she was regretting her actions...well, it was understandable. But she wasn't targeting him...she was targeting Subaru and wanted that satisfying overly expressive reaction out of him. That was the reason she liked teasing him.

And the best way to tease Subaru was just honestly praising him. She knew she was right as she saw him blush. But what came next was-

"Well...I doubt the information you couldn't get from all those little spies and nobles will come out from my muscles or my body in general." Subaru smiled smugly while scratching his head a bit.

"Hieee!" A rather out-of-character voice came out of her involuntarily. It was really embarrassing, she wasn't looking at him like that! Why would she look at him like that!? He wasn't handsome! His eyes are too sharp!

'Ah...didn't I say that you were staring at him too much?' A foxy voice could be heard in her head.

'Hmph.'

'You are also blushing...Ah, he did get bolder, you learned something at least...right?' The voice in her head tried to console her with excuses...

"Shut up!" She walked towards Subaru and stepped on his toe.

"Ouch. I thought you were the type that only used words to strike." Subaru said, causing Anastasia to keep his foot on his shoe.

"I am making an exception for you!" Admittingly, Subaru genuinely finds that cute even though the source of that cute happy expression was sadistic pleasure and pettiness.

"..." Anastasia looked at his face without stopping the pressure. She was smiling at him.

"..." He just returned the smile. It was a rather sweet smile, Subaru was enjoying this.

"T-that's...enough!" Emilia said she didn't like the interaction between them for many reasons. But the reason she couldn't stand any longer was because Subaru's non-reactiveness to pain was bringing bad memories. That time when she pulled his ear...

The reaction from Emilia made Anastasia hesitant and she was ready to quit their little game.

But then she looked at Subaru, who was unresponsive to Emilia's rather serious reaction. It was almost...he was ignoring her.

Taking courage from that, she ignored her too. There was something exciting about doing this with her rival's knight in front of her...Natsuki Subaru was a sinful man.

"Why does it seem that you don't mind your foot getting crushed?" Anastasia asked with the same smile. It wasn't as if she was genuinely trying to hurt him...just enough to get a reaction but no matter the increase in pressure...Subaru didn't react.

"Well...dragon maidens do be pure, I suppose," Subaru said as he joked.

However, the joke was lost on Anastasia, and pretty much everyone there...Realizing that Subaru explains.

"My foot being stepped on might be the case here but it's also a truth that you are a beautiful woman, combination of those two makes things pleasant." Subaru said with a charming smile and closed his eyes. As if trying to feel the pressure on his foot more.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Cap'n is so different..." Garfiel looks at him with awe...His Cap'n managed to say something perverted and look cool...incredible.

"So...Subaru likes Anastasia's shoes?" Emilia says...and this time another silence falls.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"NO! No In fact! It's just Subaru being a pervert, I suppose!"

"...It's just...You actually said that aloud...Natsuki-kun." Anastasia says with amazement. There was a hint of pink on her cheeks and she was embarrassed as well. Because of the dirty joke and also because how the sentence felt way too real for a joke. She stops her antics with that, letting him win.

"It was a comeback. But that doesn't mean it was a lie."

"Yes! Yes! It's enough...Let's get inside." For some reason, Anastasia felt frustrated. She just led them inside and wanted this weird interaction to end. Even though she was the one who started it...It was so weird, he had this way of making you KNOW that you could act however you wished with him.

'It is...interesting, isn't it? He wasn't like this'

'You said that when he first came to negotiate with us too. But he lacks a lot.'

'Was I wrong?'

'...' Anastasia doesn't answer...yet she has her answer anyway.

Neither back then, nor now. Foxy inside of her head wasn't wrong, not at all.

As they communicated their thoughts through telepathy, Emilia camp followed Anastasia as they got inside the lodge.

While that was happening Emilia patted Subaru's shoulder, receiving his attention.

"Hey...why did you act like that...with Anastasia?" Emilia whispered, trying to make it so that no one else but Subaru hears it.

"Act like how?" Subaru asked with a confused expression. Emilia was conflicted.

"You know...rather, Subaru-like, but it is similar to how Subaru and Ram did a long time ago...but it's closer too, it's weird," Emilia said as she tried to convey it as best she can.

Yet. "I don't know what you are talking about, Emilia," Subaru said normally.

"..." Emilia just stopped talking without saying anything and sighed. Subaru wouldn't understand, of course he wouldn't.

But he actually did.

'There isn't any hidden intention. Or that it was something planned. It just felt natural, meeting with an old acquaintance, and feeling their respect. Anastasia relaxed me and I felt good. Hence, I just wanted to show appreciation.'

It was as simple as that...after all.

Relaxing, feeling happy, normally chatting.

These things became more precious as time passed.

It was ironic that he just happened to feel like that with Anastasia...

But it mattered not who made him feel like that...No matter if it was a rival or enemy.

He was just glad. For feeling like he was in a world that felt like 'new'.

This was supposed to be an adventure after all.

As he asserted that to himself, they got inside. And others already gave reactions to the inside of 'Ryokan'.

Now his suspicions were correct. This Hoshin wasn't a Japanese person nor was he like him or Al.

Hoshin just knew a Japanese person at most. If he was Japanese or had achieved that knowledge with magic, this feeling of not being able to properly carry over that knowledge and culture wouldn't happen.

He learned that much, just by taking a look at this 'Inn'. There were clear indications that Hoshin wasn't Japanese.

?: Long time no see, Emilia-sama. I sincerely apologize for being late. I should have been the first to welcome you. I will make sure to rectify that error next time."

A voice that stopped Subaru's thoughts...he was Julius Juukulius.

The Knight.

"Mm, it's been a while, Julius. You look like you're doing well. You look good as always."

Well, appearance wasn't something Subaru could change to a level that he would match with Julius.

"I am grateful for your consideration. Likewise, Emilia sama's kindness and beauty are ever more polished. It's as if the shade of your figure alone strengthens this kingdom, while the rest of the world suffers a loss."

And he couldn't...no, he could talk like this. But he just wouldn't. I guess that was a loss when you think about how Emilia takes most of his words as a joke.

Sigh.

And then Julius turns towards Subaru.

"It's been a while since we've met face to face. You seem lively as always, Natsuki Subaru-dono." He says it formally. Yet...

"No need for '-dono' it doesn't feel right. Not for me, it sends shivers down my spine. And definitely not for you, I can see through you after all. You are quite obvious, especially when it's compared to your tone towards Emilia..." Subaru says casually...joking, but there is no bite in his tone.

He really didn't want Julius to call him like that.

"I see. Even if you got what you wanted, even if a whole year passed with status and fame. You just don't change...what did I even expect—Well. I shall drop the courtesy." Julius was a bit conflicted yet it wasn't negative in the slightest.

It was more like acceptance. That Subaru wouldn't change position or power, and the amount of it was irrelevant.

Of course, part of him, even though he would never admit it, was glad.

'He is acting quite special with Natsuki-kun as always.' Anastasia said in her mind.

'Well...the guy is like a direct challenge to everything he stands for. He can stay as himself yet show excellence, be a knight, and act just like before albeit there are differences. And the worst part is, no one will judge Natsuki Subaru for acting like himself. It's quite scary actually. He slipped away from the expectation weight on Julius just like that.'

The voice in her head was right. The ideal of being a 'knight' Julius pursued dictated how he always acts. The ideal of being noble for this Kingdom made Julius come to her hands, making him choose her.

The pattern was the same and everything was transparent.

However, with Natsuki Subaru, not only did he act like nothing but himself. He also changed the definitions when it came to statuses like 'Knight' and 'Hero', making it impossible to see his actions through before he already does them. No one knew the 'Knight' Natsuki Subaru self-proclaimed to be like this.

He became a 'Knight', that was what he wanted, what he embarrassed himself for, and so on. Yet all he wanted, it seemed, was the title itself. He had no intention to change how he acted from the beginning.

And that was extremely -

'Greedy...so greedy. He is so interesting too. Anastasia, let us have him.'

Anastasia sighs in her head. 'That is impossible. And you know that.'

'I wouldn't think so...' Her conversation partner in her head says so mysteriously. But she doesn't understand. Nonetheless, she won't have any expectations because of those words.

"Then...Natsuki Subaru, do you work hard to be the best knight you can be?" Julius says firmly, cutting Anastasia off from talking about the topic of having a certain someone. She was glad that happened...for some reason.

"I did improve myself and I will continue doing so...but I doubt it's in a way that you think."

"I see...it matters not how you do it. If you bring results and achieve your duty to protect the ones around you...there is nothing more honorable than that." Julius says it without looking down at Subaru. Julius after all was a man that could grow when he saw his own mistakes.

He looked down on Subaru before. But that was only because he could not understand.

"Well...I can't believe I said this but I do appreciate it. Even then..."duty to protect the ones around you."?" As a knight, he was supposed to protect Emilia-

"It's the duty that you chose...isn't that right?" Julius says. Meaning that "You took a greater responsibility than protecting one and only."

"You understood me a little bit more," Subaru says while smiling.

And as they stopped interacting, Emilia and Anastasia started discussions about things...Emilia's pyroxene crystal and how Anastasia knew she needed it and so on.

Of course, she would keep it a secret. That didn't matter much to Subaru, after all, he was the one who leaked the information about it. He also knew about Kiritaka and knew his trick about it being a gift from his father.

Anastasia played a fair game. She didn't hurt anyone either. It was all fine. Subaru wasn't betraying his camp either. As far as he was concerned, he could very well make it impossible for Emilia to have Puck and not a single soul would know it.

It was just that Subaru had to be here. That's why he set the circumstances.

He just hoped that...there would be no conflict inside of him, so that he could run towards the victory without hesitations.

That was enough. The difficulty of the obstacle fate brought or how impossible to overcome...didn't matter.

It all ended up in him. He was what made things difficult for him, always.

But this time, things will change. He will change.


Welp. Otto is a bad friend. If he wasn't a bad friend in canon Subaru would be much better, in this story it's the same, so he is a bad friend hence why this plot exists. But read the side stories and you will see the red flags with him…He is in fact a Emilia fan btw even Tappei confirms that he would join the camp without Subaru. Which I don't approve since her statement is basically "Everyone should get along!"

Subaru is going darker. Yet it has benefits, he realized Patrasche knows Natsuki Subaru. And he revealed that the one who loves Satella is him and not old Natsuki Subaru. I thought it makes sense since there is gotta be a reason why her face is veiled in his mind.

Anastasia and Subaru's interaction was fun to write. Subaru being a pervert is the same. He enjoyed the fun they had, let's say. I also decided to write Echidna as an active character even though she is inside of Anastasia's head. Which is why the title has 'gals' in plural.

As you can see, there are no problems between Subaru and Julius. Subaru has no reason to be triggered by his praising words towards Emilia. Even if Emilia swooned at Julius right there, Subaru would just be empty then move on. Not like Julius has any intention to try anything with Emilia nor he would respect her if she were to act like that when Subaru exists. All in all, both of them matured quite well.

Some dark relationship stuff is incoming in chapters ahead. But again, conflict builds the character, which is why Emilia camp is so stagnant.

And yes, there was sexual tension between two greedy people. Because I felt like it fits. Both of them are bold and stuff like this are inevitable with Subaru being interesting and Ana is beautiful.

Emilia didn't like that stuff though. She even questions Subaru however this time it's Subaru who doesn't want to communicate lol. She has to be more insistent.

Anyways.

See you later if you stick with the story! Follow/Favorite if you liked it because man…numbers are bad with this story lol. (Gonna finish it, no worries.)

Have a good time.