"Ram, I have something to tell you," Subaru said nervously.

Frankly, Subaru was scared to tell them that he was a werewolf. After all, he was in a medieval world - there was no modern medicine that could be used to prevent a werewolf transforming on the full moon, no werewolf rights, absolutely nothing. Werewolves were probably regarded as beastly murderers, as they had been not too far in Japan's own past.

Subaru understood. Despite only being half-werewolf on his father's side, which meant that his wolf form was generally weaker and calmer than that of a typical werewolf (and he could tell apart friends and enemies to some extent), Subaru could still be dangerous and unpredictable when he was in wolf form. Like a wild animal, it was always possible he would lash out even if not provoked. And without medication or a restricted governmental zone for werewolves to transform in safely, Subaru could present a danger to this mansion.

Subaru had already gotten his things packed in case they wanted to throw him out. But he hoped that they would be able to help him out with preparing for the full moon instead. If they could get him a safe place to transform, perhaps he wouldn't have to leave.

"And what is that, Barusu?" Ram asked.

Subaru exhaled, steading himself.

"-I'm a werewolf."

There was a long silence, and Subaru internally cringed, worst-case scenarios running through his mind.

And then Ram started laughing, a few small giggles at first, until she was practically bawling with laughter.

"Hey! I'm trying to be serious here!" Subaru protested.

"Hahhh…" Ram said, wiping away a tear. "Barusu, a wolfman? Ram couldn't think of anything else more ridiculous. You're as regular as they get, Barusu."

"I'm not joking! I'm a werewolf, really!" Subaru said. "Shouldn't you be concerned?"

"My only concern is the pitifulness of your lies. Just as pitiful as the rest of you."

"I can turn into a giant wolf beast, I mean it!" Subaru said, waving his arms in an attempt to demonstrate how big his wolf form was.

At that, Ram sobered up slightly, though amusement still shone in her eyes. "Ah, so Barusu has thin wolfman blood, but has retained his beast form, much like Garfiel or Frederica… I see. Now that you have informed me of this useless fact, you should return to cleaning."

"You don't… care?" Subaru asked, puzzled.

"Do you really think Ram is as small-minded as to judge someone for something such as that?" Ram said, with a touch of haughtiness. "That's ridiculous. I should be insulted."

"But…" Subaru found himself befuddled. "But, I can't control my wolf form. I'm dangerous."

"As if Barusu's beast form could pose a danger to any of the residents here given how weak you are," Ram said dismissively. "If it causes problems, Roswaal-sama will easily dispatch you and I'll scold you later. After all, Garfiel struggled to control his beast form as well, and Ram could handle him with ease."

"Oh," Subaru said. I guess, given how strong everyone here is… maybe my wolf form isn't a threat after all?

"Now, because you were consoled by the lovely and generous Ram, you should get groceries this evening as payment."

"Oh brother…"

Still, Subaru couldn't entirely shake his anxiety as the full moon grew nearer.

"Rem, what will I do for the full moon? Can I stay here?" Subaru asked.

"Why wouldn't you be able to stay during the full moon?" Rem asked.

"Because I'm a werewolf," Subaru said.

Rem's eyes softened. "We don't judge you for being a werewolf. Though, maybe you shouldn't go around telling everyone… there's still a lot of discrimination against wolf humans."

"Good to know," Subaru said. He kind of suspected as much. It was hard not to discriminate against werewolves without protections in place to stop accidental violent encounters.

"So you don't have to go anywhere. No one will make you leave," Rem said.

"I'll probably just go to the basement on the full moon then," Subaru noted. "You shouldn't bother me."

"Okay?" Rem said, sounding slightly unsure.

Subaru found a good spot during the full moon, a basement room with concrete walls and a good lock. On the day-of, he brought down some snacks and water and, after all his work was done and the sun was beginning to set, locked the door (he had the key, but werewolf paws wouldn't be able to operate it) and settled down, waiting for his transformation.

"Where's Barusu?" Ram wondered.

"I think he said he was going to the basement," Rem said.

"Why?"

"I don't know, Nee-sama. I think it might be some kind of wolfman tradition."

Ram sighed. "I'm going to go check on him."

Rem didn't protest. While Subaru had mentioned not bothering him, she was a little concerned about Subaru. From what Ram said, he seemed to have a lot of internalized hatred for himself as a wolf human, calling himself dangerous and speaking negatively about his beast form, and in truth, Rem wanted to help him learn to love himself just as he had done for her.

As Ram walked down to the basement, Rem trailed after her. Soon enough, strange sounds became evident.

Growls, the sound of scratching and gnawing, and short pants.

"Subaru?" Rem asked.

The sounds stopped. Ram walked forward cautiously, and soon enough found a door which was nearly destroyed by scratching.

Visible through the panel which had been mostly torn to pieces, Rem and Ram could see on the other side was a ghastly creature, an emaciated-looking wolf creature with beady black eyes and long teeth. It growled and snuffled as they approached.

"Is that… Barusu's beast form?" Ram said, doubt creeping into her voice.

Whatever that was, it hardly looked like a beast form. It looked dreadful, like some kind of monster. If Ram didn't know Subaru was going to be down here, she would have mistaken it for a Mabeast.

"Subaru, can you turn back?" Rem asked sweetly. She brought her hand towards the door. Ram grabbed it before she could put it too close to the monster's mouth, but it still snapped at empty air in an attempt to bite Rem's hand.

"This is not normal," Ram said.

Subaru yawned and stretched. He looked around, and was a bit disappointed to find the room he'd stayed in during the full moon was completely destroyed. Most concerningly, the door was very torn up. While it seemed he hadn't escaped, it seemed like staying in basement rooms was potentially too risky despite the calm attitude of everyone about it.

Subaru walked up the stairs, ready to go get breakfast.

"Barusu! What was that!" Ram asked.

"What was what?"

"Your beast form!" Ram said. "It was all emaciated and sick! And you didn't turn back all night."

"Well, yeah," Subaru said. "That's normal. Werewolves' wolf forms tend to look all skinny and starving, but they're very strong despite that. And of course I was going to stay transformed the whole time, it was the night of the full moon."

"That is highly abnormal, Barusu, I think you are diseased," Ram said.

"Is this why you mentioned the full moon?" Rem asked. "Because you knew this would happen?"

"Yeah, that's why I was concerned," Subaru said.

"I think you should explain again, and we should listen more closely this time," Rem said.

"So you are a unique type of beast-person, and we'll need to make preparations for the full moon…" Rem said.

"We do have chains in storage," Ram said. "Perhaps it would be fitting to leash a dog like Barusu."

"Why do you have chains already on hand?! Also, is my welfare not a concern!?" Subaru said. "That sounds like you're going back to the dark ages, chaining werewolves up in basements!"

"Do you have a better idea?"

Subaru sighed. "No…"

"The collar shouldn't be made of chain so Subaru doesn't hurt himself," Rem said.

"A Collar of Submission would be the most practical, but Roswaal-sama's reputation could be hurt if it was found he was trying to acquire one," Ram said. "Perhaps one can be found for sale on the black market."

"That sounds concerning as well!"

"Don't worry, Rem will make sure you don't get hurt," Rem said, patting Subaru on the head.

Subaru trusted Rem, knowing she had his best interests at heart. "Okay, fine..."

Between both girls scheming, he trusted that whatever they came up with would work well.

Julius was sent to visit the Emilia Camp on a diplomatic trip around a month after the rumored defeat of the White Rabbit. His carriage was slightly delayed and so he arrived at night.

"Welcome into the Mathers Residence," Ram said. "Roswaal-sama will surely greet you in the morning to conduct business. Let me show you to your room."

"Of course, thank you very much," Julius said. His room was on the first floor and well-furnished. He wondered idly where Subaru was, before deciding he was probably sleeping. He would probably greet him in the morning as well, perhaps even more acidic than usual given the early hour. Julius smiled slightly at the thought.

With Julius' advanced hearing, he could hear down in the basement some kind of breathing, scratching and growling. While at first he tried to ignore it as he set down his things, trying to convince himself it was probably just an unruly house dog or an animal that got in, it got progressively louder and harder to ignore.

It would only be right to ensure it's not an intruder, Julius decided, taking a course down to the basement.

What he found was shocking. A strange wolf-like beast, chained to the wall, surrounded by ripped-up fabrics and ruined pillows. It was thin and ragged, and Julius found himself pitying the strange creature, though it was likely dangerous.

But then, a few things clicked for Julius.

For one, just outside the room was Subaru's tracksuit, laid down on the ground. For two, the beast had on its neck a Collar of Submission, something someone would only put on a person, not an animal. And third, Julius recalled the information gathered by Anastasia's network, as an individual of Arlam village had overheard Subaru and Rem discussing his status as a werewolf, presumably one thin-blooded enough it wasn't immediately obvious by his appearance.

Is that… no, it can't be, Julius thought, but Subaru's hair and eye color matched the beast, despite the rarity of both. What other time would he see a wolf with black eyes?

For Subaru's beast form to reach this level of emaciation and raggedness, surely he'd have been kept down here for days, but no information had been sent out about Subaru being detained for any purpose. Probably because it was unlawful. The only situation that could justify this was blatant treason, something that the Mathers household would have reported and that Subaru never would have committed.

"Fear not, Subaru," Julius said, drawing his sword. "I will save you."

He cut through Subaru's chains.

Subaru sat up and gave Julius a curious look, wagging his tail.

Julius walked through the hallway, with Subaru's wolf form dogging his steps.

"I would have guessed you would have detransformed by now," Julius said. "But perhaps after days of captivity you don't feel secure enough to do so. After all, demihumans typically transform in combat situations, and transform back when safe. But regardless, I will protect you, so you can transform back on your own terms."

Subaru gave a happy bark, not comprehending any of Julius' words.

"What are you doing!?" Ram said. "Subaru shouldn't be-"

"So it is Subaru," Julius said, eyes flashing. "How dare you mistreat him like this. And after he went so far to help your master, too. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"It isn't what it looks like," Ram said. "Subaru can't control his beast form-"

"That is your excuse?! If he couldn't control it, Subaru would never enter his beast form except to defend himself, and so such words are nonsense!"

"If you would just quiet yourself instead of interrupting-"

As Ram and Julius continued to bicker, Roswaal appeared from out behind the corner. "My, my, what is all this yelling?" Roswaal asked.

"Are you responsible for this as well?!"

"Roswaal-sama, he refuses to listen!"

Meanwhile, Subaru's wolf form had noticed Roswaal, locking eyes on him. He bared his teeth, growled, and after a few short moments, pounced.

He sunk his teeth into Roswaal's hand with a mighty CHOMP.

"... I apologize," Julius said. "It seems I intervened in something I did not understand."

It took Subaru personally explaining to Julius his involuntary transformations, the uncontrollability of his wolf form, and the fact that his wolf form always looked like a horror show for Julius to fully accept the situation as it was.

"Well, no harm, no foooul, right?" Roswaal said cheerfully.

There will be harm if you turn into a werewolf, Subaru thought, shuddering at the thought. As a half-werewolf, the chance that his bite would transform someone was always low, but never zero. As his doctor had (weirdly) described it, it was like having unprotected sex with someone with fertility issues.

Subaru was PRAYING that Roswaal would not become a werewolf.

"Well, thanks anyway for trying to rescue me," Subaru said.

"It was only the knightly thing to do," Julius said. "I'll be sure to keep this information to myself, and only tell Anastasia-sama."

That's not keeping it to yourself, Subaru internally groused, but couldn't complain. He liked telling Emilia everything as well.

"And next time, listen to me," Ram said.

"I most certainly will, Ram-san," Julius said.

Despite everything that had gone wrong in Lugnica, being a werewolf in this new world… wasn't so bad.