Heello! It's me again…
You ask why this chapter is late? Well, that's simply because I forgot to post it on sites after releasing on discord…haha!
That aside, I like this chapter, I hope you will too.
Now reviews!
Guest: But why did Al did that? No seriously. "Just go see Anastasia, don't fuck Pris". This is just weird.
Personally, I'm starting to think that Subaru is V, and Al, Urizen.
Another chapter of "The Camp make an ass of itself on their own, and Subaru look look at them like the morons they are", featuring Otto being an asshole, and Subaru being ready to ruin a life!
A: There will be an Al POV of things overall. Like, his goal is relatively simple, to make one event happen so that something can happen. But again, he isn't a good person and willing to do a lot.
As for Anastasia. To be honest, he actually searched for Subaru, but gave up after not finding him. But Subaru just happened to be at the place he stayed. After that he just started his rant, Subaru, with his loose screws, thought he shouldn't run away and goes straight to Anastasia.
I don't think we will get to see them fully embarrassing themselves for a while. Chapters ahead is Julius focused overall, after some long chapters(Unless I cut them for multiple ones) we begin. Though the invasion of Priestella won't be super long. The reason is simply that it will be near Subaru centric and the remaining spotlight belongs to Bishops as everyone turns into absolute NPCs when RbD is active.
AspfoltoBrHue: Excelente capítulo
Gostei da Priscila agindo dominante na frente dos outros
A: I like it too. I gotta write some simpler stuff when I finish with this story, I hope to write more Priscilla when that time comes.
BigSmokeYeet: So Subaru is finally given some pride. Nice.
A: Yeah. Finally.
Now, the chapter!
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
Characters using English word
'Are you still having doubts? It's weird...with how you acted, I thought you started to forgive him.' Echidna's foxy voice came from not outside but in her mind. Anastasia sighed loudly.
'I didn't think about it. I didn't decide on anything.'
'Oh...then why did you stop acting angry as before?' A few days passed since Priscilla caused chaos, and even when that happened, Anastasia lost her anger slowly.
'...'
'Ah...well it does make sense, that Priscilla came out of nowhere and started acting like that. Not to mention, it is truly incomprehensible, as she isn't doing it for political reasons as far as I see.'
'Yes, it is incomprehensible. It is very incomprehensible. It doesn't make sense whatsoever. What the hell is that guy thinking? Getting close with Priscilla of all people. Priscilla! PRISCILLA!'
'Ouch. Why are you shouting? Even if it's telepathy, it still gives me a head-ache. Well, it's normal to be surprised about her actions towards him. But is it really something to be surprised about? One should need to think about that. Being out of the ordinary, having weird quirks, and being a pain in the ass doesn't make a woman disliked by that guy. So there is a possibility they spent some time without anyone trying to kill each other.'
'You say that he doesn't dislike her for that reason...but didn't you hear how he talked about disliking her?' Anastasia questions.
'Oh yes...Especially 'You were married to 8 old men' haha. But again, it might be just that he was foreign to purely political marriages at that time,' Echidna explains.
'So you are saying it's simply 'So you are a virgin! That makes everything right!' really? That's not the only problem with Priscilla from a man's perspective.'
'Well, she does act differently around him. The attention that was only directed, specifically toward him right? When a woman like her does it, maybe the effect is simply too great.' Echidna points out the obvious.
But jealousy and other things make Anastasia change the subject.
'...All that aside, I'd like to remind you that you got choked by him...Why are you so casual, no, even fond while talking about him?'
Anastasia asks with wonder.
But the response takes her by surprise.
'Oh, I forgave him not much after that.'
Echidna says casually like nothing is wrong.
Nothing wrong ever happened.
...
"Oi? What's going on with that face? Are you okay?"
"Uu...A...Yeah?" Anastasia answers with an involuntary voice.
"You look...sick?" Ricardo asked.
"Ah..."
"Hey! You are worrying me!"
"Let's just continue."
Throughout the conversation, Anastasia did nothing but walk toward where the candidates stayed together. She didn't want to ride a carriage as the distance was close, so she just took Ricardo with her.
But Echidna's words made her sick.
'Why...why?'
'Why? Ah...Hmm. You see, I am not a human. I just thought logically. From his perspective, I am not the most trustworthy person to just listen, and you are not that approachable either.'
'...'
'You are a really smart woman Anastasia. A great merchant. But being a great merchant means someone who can use everything. No matter how far-fetched it is, it's about the idea of seeing anything as an opportunity, right? Being greedy, forcing the limits, and then not getting consequences because people protect you.
You see, he was worried about you getting killed by Witch Cult after playing your hand like usual...is what I would say normally but I will be honest.
That guy doesn't trust you that much. Do you think he doesn't know what he would do if you were to take all that bizarre information you received and use it in a way that betrayed him?
He isn't even being kind as usual to his camp. I just want to remind you that he was ready for you to just declare war on his camp. Despite much of their force, including that magician not being here, he was ready.
Let's accept reality as it is. Even I see what he did to me as the consequence of ignoring my origins. Now that I think about it, it was quite obvious that my origins come from dark powers. In fact...I believe he kept some information from me. But I don't know anything about it. And I can't do anything either.'
Echidna giggled as she talked about not knowing what Subaru knew.
'...What the hell? You are saying this is the right thing to do?'
'I am not one to decide that. I just don't think he did the wrong thing, he is feeling sorry for no reason. After he touched me, I think something happened. I can feel his emotions when I am close to him that is... And it's insane how strong it is, this connection...I wonder if it means something. Ehem...That's-well, forget what I said there.
You should just realize that your relationship can be stronger now. As you are actually conscious of the boundaries you shouldn't cross, you actually respect him after everything happened.'
'Echidna...Echidna.' Anastasia desperately called Echidna in her mind. Somewhat keeping a straight face outside. Yet her eyes are tired.
'What is it?'
'You are a Witch.' A declaration towards the closest person to her, yet Anastasia had no doubts whatsoever.
'I guess I am...I wasn't like this. But then I saw him.'
'You saw him?'
'He is just different Ana. When he negotiated with Russel and you. He wasn't even there. He wasn't present. He acted like he figured everything out, and I understood absolutely nothing. It was almost as if my being was rejected. And that made me feel alive.'
'This is insane...I can't believe it.'
'I think this is what you signed up for when you joined the royal selection. There isn't a single camp that is normal, maybe except Crusch Camp but they have Felix. Everyone is suspicious and it feels like all of this is just the beginning of something greater. Something so great that it even undermines the Sword Saint. Everyone is so confident in this competition Ana...Everyone has a trick. Everyone hides some talent.
Faceless man with suspicious actions.
Silver-haired half-elf with Witch-like powers.
Vollachian Princess.
Sword Saint.
Everyone does their very best, but he just feels like he isn't even present, lives somewhere far away.'
'That's enough. I get it. Aghh.'
'Does this shake your resolve? Do you still want this country?'
'Do you still want to stick to my neck? What about if I give you to that guy? I think you might be happier that way.' Anastasia jokes around as she doesn't even entertain the idea of giving up.
'Anastasia...don't ever joke about that. If you still have a use for me.'
Echidna says with absolute seriousness.
'What?' Surprised, Anastasia actually starts to think if she would actually leave her after all those years they spent...for that guy.
The thought made her sick inside.
'You are thinking wrongly if you think I don't value our bond. It's just that, the feeling. That attraction. Both my being as a spirit and my personality, no, perhaps even my origin and who my creator is...Taking all that into account. I don't think I would have free will to choose you if you gave me to him.'
'Are...you serious?'
'I am. I am not the only one who is like this...There is this weird red girl, the red minute spirit, she just doesn't leave him no matter what. There is no contract and yet, I think even her life force feels ready to be used by him. That's some sick, disgusting devotion. It even makes me feel ill.'
'I just called you a Witch, if you react like this, it must be weird.'
Echidna affirms that.
Despite her statement about Echidna, despite her change because of Subaru, Anastasia wasn't going to hate or discard her friend.
But...Will I always be with her?
That also makes her think, if it's possible, without waiting for the Dragon Blood that she will receive when she wins the election. She should fix her gate, somewhat. She can't depend on Echidna forever.
'Should I ask for his help? He is also suffering from the same problem but it feels like he got pretty knowledgeable in one year.'
There was no doubt that Subaru was quite smart even if goofy acts and out-of-place jokes made people heavily question that.
Anastasia shrugs everything out as she takes a deep breath and gets inside the lodge where everyone stays.
Priscilla stopped going to her own place after the day she interacted with Subaru.
'What a coincidence...' Anastasia mockingly thinks.
As she walked in with Ricardo, they both met with Priscilla's back.
"Hello there. I see that you are quite unresponsive."
Normally not letting anyone get close to her this much, Priscilla gets called out by Anastasia.
But she does not react.
"Did someone put something in the candidates's water?" Ricardo says, without anyone reacting to him.
Anastasia gets even closer to Priscilla and looks at her face.
She had a weird face as if she saw something so ridiculous that it was depressing.
"Fox...pinch me."
"What? Why?"
"I have no idea."
Not willing to question further, Anastasia doesn't mind that request and brings her hand near.
"OUCH!?" As she did that, Priscilla slapped her hand.
"Actually never mind, that man is wrong in the head, I am not sure how his possessiveness will react towards the idea of me being touched by a woman. There is no need to take risks."
"You are so annoyin' you know?"
"Stop with the fake accent."
Their regular, intense banter happened just as usual, but not once Priscilla stopped looking in front of her.
"What's so interesting?" Anastasia asks.
"He made an interesting game...but then, why did he have to make it absolutely ridiculous and heretical?" Priscilla asks with a dead voice.
Before observing what is in front of her, Anastasia takes a look at Julius, who was...
Crouching in the corner?
"This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real.
This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real."
'I will just ignore that, I think the fact that I saw him like that will hurt him more.'
Anastasia finally sees what made everyone like that.
Felt and Subaru, together, looked very serious about...something?
With weird pointy things in their hand, they were focusing on someone, Reinhard, who had his arms tied, something really unnecessary as he could easily rip those ropes like they were, absolutely nothing.
"OI! Next time you rip those ropes, you are getting grounded." Felt says with a deadly serious voice.
"This isn't happening." Reinhard, in a similar voice of disbelief, rejects reality with a dead voice.
"It is happening. This is absolutely genius. This was your real purpose all along. Nii-chan finally figured out what I could not."
"Ah...Uh..." The Strongest Man in this world whined like a little boy as he heard Felt's words.
Subaru looked back at Priscilla and smiled.
"This is going to work! And I shall win!" It was almost as if he waited for her to cheerleader for him.
But...
"Oh mighty Observers, let the demon lose this battle, let this heretic be chained by the unchangeable writings, let the stars be his prison. Oh world, do work for mine benefit."
"What the hell..." In an insanely out-of-character manner, Priscilla was clenching her fist and focused on her prayers.
'Did I just see a Vollachian Royalty pray to their imaginary enemy?'
Observers, what Vollachian Royalty believed to be unknown forces that dictated the world's future.
Priscilla saying those words...was insane.
"Subaru! That's...Please, think again...reconsider this. I understand no one will be in danger, but even so..." Emilia pleaded with her hands clenched in front of her chest. Praying to spirits with whispers. Unlike Priscilla who was disturbed by the sheer stupidity, Emilia seemed like she was actually disturbed by a sin being committed.
"Nee-san! Didn't you promise to go upstairs! I had enough of you trying to destroy our fun! You are no good! No wonder Nii-san is flirting with other women..."
"Other women? Who?!"
"You'll never know if you are not in your room at 10, 9, 8, 7..."
"AaaaAa! Stop counting. I'll be a good girl!" Emilia shouts as she dashes at full speed.
Subaru didn't stay silent about that...for different reasons than what might expect.
""Flirting"...Who were you talking about?" Subaru asks Felt. He was more curious about that than seeing Emilia bullied. Well, to him it was also pleasurable to see her airheadedness being exploited.
He wasn't sure what that meant for him though, probably nothing good.
"No one in particular?"
"Eh...Little sis...lying isn't good. She will actually expect an answer you know?"
"Lying? Not at all, I'll just give a random woman's name depending on what kind of drama I want to watch from your interactions. Liliana is annoying so probably not her. Though If I want to see some out-of-characterness then I'll give Anastasia-san's name. If I actually want to see some fire I'll say you were trying to see bitch Priscilla's panties."
"That...is awful." Subaru gave his honest opinion.
"Hmph. Why is it that you have to be so boring, not to mention you ask about the color all the time, isn't that correct?"
"Tch. When did you guys become a team? Also, since when did you stop reacting to being called a bitch?" Subaru questions with wide eyes.
"Hmm? I do not care about how she calls me or what others think of me. It might even be beneficial if it stimulates your imagination or awakens some of that protectiveness."
"Wow...Well, you do fit as a gyaru type now I think about it...OH WAIT NO! Do I actually have a weakness for gyaru that are bitchy with me? Ugh."
Subaru would dislike a girl who is easy for all men, but what if the girl is only easy for him? Subaru discovers a new him.
Priscilla asks what that word means, but Felt interferes.
"Nii-chan, keep it together."
"Ehem. Oh yes, indeed."
With the help of Felt, Subaru gets it together, regaining his focus on their sacred purpose.
"I'll let you go first since you had the idea," Felt says, showing her endless generosity.
"I would normally say 'ladies first' or 'girl's first' in your case. But yes, I want this too much to say that."
Subaru ignores the death gaze sent by Felt and takes his position.
"Oh, please. Please work." He takes a breath and...throws the item in his hand to Reinhard with experience. Showing how it's done to Felt also.
Everyone watched the dart go towards Reinhard, however...
It momentarily stopped in front of him, as if a barrier stopped it, the invisible force made ripples in the air as if it was calm water...after that as if the dart never lost any momentum, it changed its direction as he turned left.
With that force, it hit and stuck on the wall...missing the Dartboard.
"It...worked. Onii-chan...you are the devil." Felt, who was in awe with her open mouth, couldn't help but say despite her support of Subaru.
Using one of the sacred blessings bestowed upon the hero, to play Dart. Subaru might've been the devil just for that reason.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH IT WORKED! Felt we just invented the best game in the world!"
"That's right! I WON'T EVER STOP PLAYING!"
With that, as they created the most heretic game in existence they made a high five.
"They say love is blind. Blindness alone doesn't explain it. I must've been thoroughly corrupted by this man." Priscilla muttered with her fan, unlike other times, covering all of her face.
Despite her seeming dislike and attitude, the truth was different.
It's not like Priscilla wouldn't enjoy the idea of treating one of the sacred blessings of the world as nothing more than a child's play. Her problem was that it involved Reinhard.
Reinhard was more humble and kind about it, but Priscilla didn't hold back her dislike and distaste towards Reinhard.
Just like Reinhard thought of Priscilla as a problem and a bad influence on Subaru, Priscilla thought of him just like that. An idealistic man who has no idea what life is for lives with his warped delusions without any shred of logic. Everything he is, the exact opposite of Subaru. If he ever messed up with Subaru's extreme sense of self, it would be beyond distasteful.
That man would even pick his wife according to people's wishes. Subaru was the exact opposite of that.
There was leaving one person behind for the greater good.
There was the following someone to hell willingly, even if it's against the whole world.
Reinhard was the former, and Subaru was the latter.
"Anastasia-sama. Tell me that it didn't happen."
"I am sorry Julius."
"No..."
Priscilla leaves her thoughts to watch the interactions of others.
She also sees something interesting, the Valkyrie watching from far away. Her gaze was unmistakably on Subaru, though Priscilla made sure she was right about that, after all, her way of seeing things isn't precise and reliable when it concerns Subaru.
She had a bittersweet expression. Obviously, she wasn't concerned about their little game.
Priscilla looked at Subaru, who was looking at Felt.
She too, realized something, but she had no idea what it was.
"Oh? It went into, right? WHY?"
"Wait...I think it goes towards the closer side."
It looked absolutely normal, but indeed, sometimes when he looked at Felt, there was something.
Priscilla didn't understand, but Crusch acted like she did.
It bothered her.
Something was wrong with Karsten, she didn't know what it was, but despite whatever problem she was facing, she was ahead of her at something when it came to observing him.
That bothered her.
"Hey...Now when I think about it, when that crazy gut-loving bitch Elsa threw her knife...didn't it move around Reinhard."
"Oh...that's right. Maybe it's because the knife was spinning?" Subaru proposes an idea as Felt remembers something interesting.
"Well...I am too curious to let this go! Let's try it." Felt says energetically.
"This isn't happening," Reinhard mutters.
Priscilla wonders if Subaru has some kind of closeness with all candidates...and then she wonders if he also has problems with all of them.
'I know he understands me very well, politically speaking. Yet, I never heard him support anyone's views.'
Did that mean he outright rejected all five?
"Hey...I wonder if it changes directions depending on the side it's closer to. What if we aim for the very middle?" Subaru asks Felt.
"That's interesting...however can you aim it like that?" She questions.
"Well, my aim isn't bad."
What was his view?
"WOAH?! IT WENT TO CEILING!" Subaru was successful on his first try.
"It did...Welp. I expected that it might've turned both sides, but I guess you can play it four sides, as well.
No one ever asked.
'Some assume it's just a blind support for the elf. Some assume he simply doesn't care about politics. But in the end, no one knows...'
While she was thinking to herself...
Felt asked a very curious question with her face turned serious.
"Hey Nii-chan...Can you hit him?"
...The room turned silent.
It wasn't a surface thought that anyone had in their mind. Well, except Priscilla and Reinhard, who questioned Subaru's capabilities against blessings. And it seems Felt just thought about it too.
But in the end, everyone deep down had that idea back in their head, the only reason it didn't surface was because it was labeled as ridiculous.
That blessing right there might've been a simple skill alone, but that didn't change it was a skill that wouldn't allow Reinhard to outright get hit unless the force was exceptional or there was some other trick.
After Felt's question, everyone wondered.
Right here, in this instance, can you do it?
It might've been the first time someone ever questioned Subaru's capabilities when it comes to Subaru's own way of fighting.
The room was indeed tense, even Emilia, who was peeking at everyone behind Crusch understood that.
No, truthfully, she wasn't behind anyone in that matter. She, too, felt curious after all.
With all that tenseness and prediction done inside of everyone's mind, there was one person who lacked that common sense.
"Sure thing. Let's try it. Reinhard...is that fine?" He might've lacked common sense, he simply lacked consideration for the mood in the room. But in the end, Subaru wouldn't try anything unless Reinhard allowed it.
Reinhard smiles at that fondly and feels relaxed. "Why not?"
In the end, it was a very random thing to ask.
Reinhard simply thought Subaru was genuinely curious and wanted to try something.
That was true, however.
'He is not going to joke around despite that.' Crusch thinks as she looks at Subaru's eyes.
There is no ill intention, there is no wish to harm.
But there is determination. And the curiosity, the greed to see what he can do, was burning hot enough to be visible.
Subaru took a dart from giant buckets around. All of the darts including dart boards were made by him. It was nothing but a game with benefits for Beatrice, Petra, and...Meili while they spent time.
Subaru had no tricks. He could try something with miasma, but that would likely be countered with some ridiculous blessing, and if it's not countered, that is a problem in itself. He isn't here to show that he can fuck up with Od Laguna.
'Until now...how blessings worked?'
He asks this question to himself.
And nothing should hit Reinhard thanks to this blessing.
'But is that true?'
Deep in thought, without feeling the gazes, Subaru drops all the masks and everything. It was an interesting sight to others.
In the end, he opens his eyes.
"Welp, I am gonna try it. I at least wanted to have an idea behind it so that it would be fun to explain even if I were to fail."
Subaru slowly takes a few steps back and starts to shake his shoulders while breathing slowly.
"Okay...let's bet. All types of hitting count as he hits, so even if it gets to Sword Boy's clothes, that's his win. If it misses obviously, that's a loss."
With that, an insane amount of money is being thrown around as if amounts were normal.
Emilia does not bet as gambling was forbidden by Puck.
As for Beatrice...
"I'll give everything! THIS IS EASY MONEY I SUPPOSE!" Beatrice says as she writes off the amount to Ricardo, who was...giving papers.
He decided to make amounts and bets anonymous in the end, though everyone was free to shout their amounts the writing would be the final decision.
Ricardo was also trustworthy enough that he wouldn't take sides. Everyone agreed to that without speaking.
"Hey...The reason you are not playing in this game to begin with is because you drank alcohol when I wasn't around. Now you gamble in front of me? That's not smart whatsoever, it seems I am not good at spanking."
"Spanking?!" Anastasia shouted.
With the hopes of getting back at the angry drunk Beatrice, Anastasia snitched on Subaru. While it was a stretch, Subaru was treating Beatrice like a normal child most of the time, even though he considered her nature properly.
When she told him about it, his face went serious instantly. He thanked Anastasia and left.
'But I didn't think he would actually discipline her like that?!' Subaru's words weren't a lie whatsoever, Anastasia sensed Beatrice's gaze on her...how did she know it was her?
"Subaru! This isn't betting! I am 100% sure!"
"That's what a soon-to-be homeless guy says after he sees a shooting star when he is about to stop gambling."
"Subaru, believe me!"
"If I see your name in any paper, spanking it is."
"Why, In fact! This is unfair, I suppose!"
With that, the betting was complete, and Subaru was ready.
"Welp, here it goes."
After rapidly taking a few steps forward Subaru...
Falls?
The dart leaves his hand at a random moment.
Everyone understood the intention. The idea was merely making the most bizarre movements so Od Laguna would be confused.
It was a simple idea done well, this wouldn't work but indeed, it was a genuine attempt.
Genuine attempt.
"Well, Subaru...I didn't expect you to do that. You have quite strong arms so I thought you would use them." Everyone had their eyes on Reinhard as he smiled and reassured Subaru.
"You guys wouldn't know, maybe, but from where I came from, Archery isn't just a battle thing. It's also a sport. Instead of releasing the arrow with decisions, there are people who just train their minds in a way that they themselves do not know when they release the arrow. To be honest, I wasn't sure since this is just a dart, but it worked quite well enough. Not that it would work in battle."
Subaru says as he gets up with a smile on his face.
'It worked quite well enough?' Reinhard tilted his head in confusion and then...
Very slowly, he looks below.
There was a dart.
Reinhard slowly picks it up with a blank expression, truthfully, there is absolutely no need for that. As his sight is the very best in the world.
However, he does it anyway, that's because as a human, he just needs to see it close. Perhaps to convince himself.
He looks at the dart and then looks at Subaru's face.
Indeed, it was nothing but a fun time for him.
Indeed, no hostility, no bad intentions, no lies, no motives.
He genuinely tried something.
But for Reinhard...
"I...In my life, this is the first time I bled."
The dart didn't even stick to his skin. The little harm it caused healed instantly by his natural healing.
Yet...He knew it.
Reinhard knew he wasn't making a normal face right now.
And what's worse.
'I didn't think I had this kind of emotion in me.' But no...that's not right.
'Wasn't I already told that I am capable of this? Why am I acting as if I am not taught already?
"Well...you find a new you, Reinhard! You can get angry."
'Yes, Subaru. I can get angry.'
Indeed.
Prisca Benedict, I want to wipe that sick smile out of your face.
Well, I will establish how Priscilla and Reinhard feel towards these events and to each other and we will be away from them for a while!
Reinhard is quite angry at Priscilla for progressing with Subaru in a certain way, from his POV her intentions cannot be good whatsoever. And of course, Priscilla has no intention whatsoever to fix that somewhat-misunderstanding.
As she doesn't want anything bad for Subaru but she also wouldn't mind (not at all) for Subaru to change in a more chaotic manner.
This and that aside, we are nearly coming to the end. We will have some long chapters at some point, and then closure.
Thanks for sticking up till now.
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And yes, that is THE Fire Spirit. From Ayamatsu, The Pride IF.
