The man who now called himself "Cain" had spent the last three days wandering Lugunica with one goal: survival. His memories of his past life were intact, but they provided little comfort here. The only thing keeping him going was his knowledge of this world, knowledge he was determined to leverage to stay alive.

He didn't know if he would come back to life like Subaru if he died, and he had no intention of testing that theory. Food was scarce, and shelter even scarcer. And so, Cain had stayed near Subaru's "spawn point," in the hope of encountering someone powerful enough to provide him with a path forward.

And then, on the evening of the third day, he saw him: Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint.

Reinhard had just emerged from a dark alleyway, his expression thoughtful. Cain knew what had happened—Subaru had rejected Reinhard's offer of assistance, naively thinking he could handle the coming danger on his own. Cain let out a sigh. Subaru meant well, but he wasn't equipped to understand the stakes in this world yet.

This was Cain's chance.

"Sir Reinhard!" he called, adopting a tone of respectful urgency. He approached with deliberate steps, his face a mask of worry.

Reinhard turned, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Cain. Despite the warmth in Reinhard's gaze, there was a caution there, a sense that he was evaluating Cain even before he'd spoken.

"Yes? Can I help you?" Reinhard asked, his tone calm and polite.

Cain inclined his head, playing the part of a concerned citizen. "There's trouble nearby. I… I think someone very dangerous is about to attack a young woman. A silver-haired half-elf." He let his voice waver, just enough to appear anxious. "I don't know how I know this… I just do. Please, if you value the safety of Lugunica, you must intervene."

Reinhard's eyes narrowed slightly. "And how is it that you know of this danger?"

Cain hesitated, as if struggling to find the right words. "I… I've had visions, you could say. Ever since I arrived here, I've had glimpses of things that are about to happen. Events of… significance." He let his words hang, allowing Reinhard to fill in the blanks.

Reinhard studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll investigate immediately."

Cain felt a thrill of satisfaction as he followed Reinhard through the twisting streets toward Old Man Rom's loot house. They reached the entrance just as Reinhard paused, glancing back at Cain with a small, respectful nod. "You should remain here. I'll handle whatever danger lies inside."

Cain nodded, stepping back into the shadows, but keeping his eyes on the scene. He knew what was coming: the assassin Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Hunter, had been hired to retrieve the insignia from Felt and to eliminate anyone who stood in her way. Emilia, Subaru, Old Man Rom—none of them stood a chance against her. But Reinhard…

The Sword Saint moved into the building with quiet, composed grace, and then chaos erupted.

A sharp clash of steel rang out, followed by the dull thud of footsteps and a flurry of movement. Though Cain couldn't see the battle directly, he could feel the intensity from where he stood outside. The building itself shuddered as Reinhard moved with overwhelming precision, effortlessly countering Elsa's strikes. Each of her attacks, vicious and deadly, was met with Reinhard's calm, almost effortless defense. He didn't even bother drawing his sword; his movements alone were enough to disarm and overwhelm her.

Within moments, Elsa was forced into retreat, slipping into the shadows with a look of frustrated glee as she slinked out of the building. Her bloodlust had been stymied, but she was still alive.

Reinhard emerged from the loot house, his expression as composed as ever. Subaru, Emilia, and Felt followed behind him, all visibly shaken by the encounter. Subaru, in particular, looked awestruck, glancing at Reinhard with a mixture of admiration and disbelief.

"Thank you, Sir Reinhard," Emilia said softly, her voice tinged with relief. "If you hadn't come…"

Reinhard nodded, offering her a gentle smile. "I'm glad I could be of help. Protecting the people of Lugunica is my duty, after all."

At that moment, Cain stepped forward from the shadows, drawing their attention. Reinhard looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

"You were right," Reinhard said to Cain, his voice calm but edged with suspicion. "The danger was real, and you knew precisely when and where it would happen. I would like to know how."

Subaru turned to Cain as well, eyebrows raised. "Yeah, how did you know? You're not from around here, right?"

Cain took a steadying breath, choosing his words carefully. "I'm… not entirely sure myself. But ever since I arrived here, I've been plagued by a strange knowledge of certain events—important events that seem tied to the fate of this kingdom." He looked down, as if burdened by this knowledge. "It's as if I'm being guided by something… larger than myself."

Emilia frowned, her gaze softening with curiosity. "So… you can see the future?"

Cain shook his head. "Not exactly. I don't see events clearly. It's more like I can sense when… threads are about to intertwine. When people's lives are about to be changed."

Subaru scoffed, crossing his arms. "That sounds a lot like an authority to me."

Cain smiled faintly, allowing the ambiguity to linger. "Perhaps. But I am only a man, doing what I can with what little I know." He paused, looking around at the group with a somber expression. "That's why I involved Sir Reinhard. If I hadn't… well, I doubt any of us would still be standing here."

Reinhard's expression remained cautious. "And what else do you know, Cain? If you're aware of events that threaten the kingdom, then you have an obligation to share them."

Cain nodded. "Of course." He looked over at Emilia and Subaru, then at the young thief, Felt. "One thing I do know… is that there's something happening in this kingdom. Something called the Royal Selection. Four candidates, chosen to compete for the throne."

Felt let out a short laugh, shaking her head as if he'd lost his mind. "Four candidates? You're off your rocker, buddy. There are only three candidates for the throne."

Cain held her gaze, his expression unflinching. "No. There are four." He lifted his hand, pointing directly at her. "And you, Felt, are the fourth candidate."

The room fell silent. Felt stared at him, then barked out a laugh. "What are you talking about? I'm just a street rat!" She reached into her pocket, pulling out the stolen insignia and holding it up. "See? This is nothing but loot. I took it off her," she said, jerking her thumb at Emilia.

But as the insignia caught the light, a faint glow began to emanate from it, shimmering in her hand. The glow grew brighter, casting a soft, ethereal light that filled the room. Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at the insignia, realizing the truth of Cain's words.

Emilia gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. "The insignia… it's resonating. That only happens with the royal candidates."

Felt looked down at the insignia, her face pale with shock. "No… this can't be… I'm no royal!"

Cain watched her with a calm, knowing smile. "Whether you believe it or not, it's true. Fate has chosen you to be a candidate for the throne."

Subaru turned to Cain, his gaze sharp and suspicious. "So, let me get this straight. You knew about Elsa, you knew about Felt being a royal candidate… What exactly are you? Some kind of prophet?"

Cain shrugged, offering a faint, mysterious smile. "I'm just a man trying to survive. I know things—things I can't fully explain. But I thought that if I could help… perhaps I'd earn a place to stay. Somewhere safe."

Reinhard crossed his arms, regarding Cain with an unreadable expression. "If you possess this knowledge, then you may indeed be valuable to Lugunica. But know this, Cain," he said, his tone respectful yet firm. "Should you use your knowledge in a way that endangers the kingdom, I will be the first to stop you."

Cain inclined his head, acknowledging the warning. "I understand, Sir Reinhard. I have no intention of causing harm. I only wish to help… and perhaps find a place for myself here."

Reinhard gave a thoughtful nod. "Then I will see to it that you are provided for. But remember, I will be watching closely."

Cain offered a humble smile, bowing slightly. "Thank you. I would expect nothing less."

As the group began to process this strange new revelation, Cain felt a surge of satisfaction. He'd successfully positioned himself to somewhere safe.