His vision blurred as his eyelids cracked open. A dull ache throbbed in his mind as he struggled to recollect what happened.
Ow, what happened?
His right hand instinctively grabbed his forehead as he pulled himself up. I was in an alley and then…
Gluttony.
His heart slammed against his ribs as the memory hit like a sledgehammer. His body jerked into motion, leaping from the bed—only to trip pathetically onto the floor.
"Ow…"
A woman's voice echoed above him. "Are you okay, sir?"
Subaru blinked, looking up. A nurse, clad in white, stretched out a hand toward him. Although her mask concealed her lower face, he could feel her smile.
"T-thanks." Gripping her hand, he pulled himself up. He only now realized that he was wearing a thin white bathrobe, loosely clinging to his body.
What the hell happened to my clothes?
"It's no problem." The woman withdrew her hand, her voice kind. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine—wait, there's a bigger issue!" Subaru's voice shot up. "Gluttony is still in Priest—"
A sharp cough tore through his throat, the dryness burning his airways. How long have I been out?
The nurse's eyes widened in alarm. "An A-Archbishop…?" she whispered, as if merely saying it could summon death itself.
But Subaru wasn't listening. He turned and ran.
The hallway blurred as he sprinted through it. He needed to find Emilia.
"Wait!" the nurse's panicked voice called after him, but he didn't stop.
He burst into the main lobby. The wooden floor creaked underfoot as startled knights and healers turned to face him.
Where's the exit?
Then he saw them—the tall double doors leading outside. He barreled toward them.
Almost there—
A shadow blocked his path.
Subaru skidded to a stop, nearly crashing into the towering knight standing before the doors.
"Let me through," Subaru snapped, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
The knight didn't move. He simply stared, arms crossed, his bulk radiating quiet authority.
Subaru clenched his fists. "Gluttony is still here! I need to see Emilia!"
Still, the knight didn't react.
Subaru's frustration boiled over—until a heavy hand clamped onto his shoulder.
"Woah, woah. Calm down, buddy," a lazy-sounding voice cut in.
Subaru turned to see a middle-aged man with unkempt brown hair watching him with half-lidded eyes.
"What do you mean, 'Gluttony'?" the man asked.
Stopping in front of Subaru, his arms lay by his side. "After the battle, I got attacked by Gluttony," Subaru deliberated in bated breath, "He's probably still out there! We need to find Reinhardt. Is Felix still he—"
"Hey, hey calm down." Subaru's panic was cut short by the man, "If you're talking about the Sword Saint, then he's already left."
"What do you—"
"Let me finish," The man put his hand up as if asking for silence. "He left after confirming that there were no remaining Witch Cultist, Priestella is safe young man, so don't worry too much."
Subaru stared suspiciously, his eyes narrowing at the man, "But I just saw Gluttony."
Interrupting behind him, the nurse spoke up, "You've been asleep for two days, sir."
Subaru's eyes widened in shock. Two days?! His memories felt scrambled, disjointed, but he knew that was too long.
"Well, there you have it, son." Polle clapped a hand on his shoulder, his tone relaxed, almost mocking. "Take it easy. Anastasia-sama's footing the bill, so kick back and treat this place like your home." He stretched, his yawn barely covered by his palm as he turned to leave.
Subaru's mind buzzed, the pieces barely fitting together. He had to move.
"Wait." His voice came out sharper than intended.
Polle stopped mid-step, only half-turning back. His expression remained the same—dopey, unconcerned—but Subaru didn't miss the flicker of something in his gaze.
A knot tightened in his throat. His hands clenched at his sides. The question felt heavier than it should, like his body already knew the answer but refused to accept it.
"…Do you know who Emilia is?"
The silence that followed made his chest squeeze.
Polle's brows lifted slightly. "Who?"
The word struck like a hammer.
Subaru's vision blurred. His breath came in uneven bursts. No, no, no—this isn't happening. She was here. She was real. He saw her, heard her—felt her warmth.
Polle scratched his head. "Oh, wait. You mean the half-elf?"
Subaru staggered.
Polle blinked lazily. "That's her name, right?"
A cold flood of relief crashed over Subaru. He sucked in a sharp breath, his fingers trembling as he steadied himself. "Yeah. Yeah, that's her. Where is she? I need to see her."
Polle finally turned to face him fully, arms dropping to his waist. The half-lidded eyes stayed, but something about his stance shifted. His left hand now rested on his sword hilt.
"Oh? And why's that?" His voice was still casual, but the weight behind it had changed.
Subaru lifted his chin, forcing his posture straight. He wasn't about to falter now.
"I am Natsuki Subaru!" His voice rang with confidence, his hand gripping his hip. "Her one and only knight."
Polle let out a slow whistle. "Now that's an interesting thing to say." He grinned, revealing slightly yellowed teeth. "I'm Gilli Catalan Polle, captain of this fine establishment." He gave an exaggerated bow, voice dripping with amusement. "And I'd love to have a word with Sir Knight Subaru."
Subaru stiffened. The air between them had shifted again, subtle but undeniable. He was being tested.
"I think it'd be best if Sir Knight Subaru also got properly dressed," Polle added, his eyes flicking down to the white robe Subaru still wore.
Right. He was still half-naked. Damn it, I didn't embarrass Emilia right?!
Subaru coughed, face heating. "Y-yeah, I'll be right there, Sir Polle."
A low chuckle followed him as he turned away.
uided by the nurse, Subaru retraced his earlier steps. The adrenaline had dulled now, leaving his limbs heavy, his throat dry. The walls of the corridor felt colder.
"You're lucky," the nurse spoke as they walked, her tone neutral. "Your clothing was restored using magic, as per Blue-sama's request."
Subaru blinked. "Felix?"
She nodded. "He personally ensured all patients received proper care."
Subaru exhaled, relieved—but slightly disappointed. "Is he still here?"
"No. Blue-sama left Priestella."
Figures. Subaru frowned, regretting not being able to thank him personally.
Back in his room, his belongings were neatly folded on a chair. His whip rested atop the pile, alongside a sealed letter and a small leather pouch.
The nurse gestured to them. "This is your personal space for two days. After that, you'll need to vacate. However—" she fixed him with a firm stare "—you must come back daily for mana draining. Free of charge, courtesy of Anastasia-sama." She tapped the pouch. "She's also provided financial aid for all injured survivors."
Subaru's brows lifted. "Whoa, Anastasia! Talk about crushing it!" He grinned, impressed.
The nurse bowed. "Take care, sir."
As the door shut behind her, Subaru sat down, rubbing his temple. His head still buzzed with too many thoughts.
He grabbed the letter, breaking the seal. "Ooooh, maybe Emilia-tan finally wrote me a love letter!" His grin widened. "I mean, a letter's kinda weird, but hey, I'll take what I can get, haha—"
His voice trailed off as he read the contents.
Dear Patient-san, nya~
I hope this letter finds ya in better shape than when Ferri-chan last saw ya, nya! You were in pretty rough condition, but don't worry! Crusch-sama's camp made sure ya got the best treatment possible, nya. Under her leadership, we always take care of those in need, no matter who they are.
Now, I know healing magic does wonders, but don't go overestimating yourself, nya! Give your body time to rest properly, drink plenty of fluids, and don't push yourself too hard too soon. If you ever need help again, we will be in the capital, nya.
Crusch-sama believes in strength, honor, and responsibility, and that means helping people like ya when they need it most. Remember that, nya! The world could use more people with a strong heart and a clear purpose, just like her.
Stay safe and take care of yourself, nya~!
Felix Argyle
Knight of the Crusch Camp
Subaru blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…Did he really put 'nya' in a letter?" Subaru rubbed his forehead. "Man, that's dedication to the bit." He scanned the letter again, eyes narrowing.
Something felt… off.
His fingers traced the words. Dear Patient-san.
Not Subaru.
Just Patient-san.
A pit formed in his stomach.
"…Oh. Is this one of those generic letters they hand out to everyone?" He chuckled, trying to shake the weird feeling. Folding the letter, he slipped it into his pocket. His fingers brushed against the leather pouch.
Focus. He had more important things to do.
Strapping his whip to his hip and pocketing the money, he took a deep breath.
Time to get some answers.
Stepping into the lobby, Subaru barely had a moment to breathe before a knight approached. The man's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, mirroring Polle's earlier stance.
Subaru tensed, instincts flaring.
"Follow me," the knight commanded. No emotion. No hesitation.
Subaru glanced toward the exit, heart beating faster. Was he already under suspicion?
Swallowing hard, he fell into step behind the knight, his every sense on high alert.
They arrived at a metal door. Not wood like the others. Metal.
The knight knocked—three solid beats. The sound echoed.
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing Gilli Catalan Polle, still smiling.
"Welcome," he drawled, stepping aside. "Take a seat across from me."
Subaru's gut twisted. This wasn't just a conversation.
This was an interrogation.
And he was the suspect.
As Subaru stepped inside, an invisible weight pressed down on his shoulders.
The room was small. Empty.
A single wooden table sat in the center, with two chairs placed opposite each other. Polle's chair faced the door. Subaru's did not.
Behind Subaru's seat, high on the wall, a small metal grate let in a thin sliver of sunlight.
It barely illuminated the room.
His jaw clenched. Isn't this just an interrogation room?
The door thudded shut behind him. Subaru stiffened as the knight who escorted him stood just outside his line of sight. Still. Watching.
Polle leaned back in his chair, exhaling like this was just another boring day. "Now."
His voice was calm, slow—too casual.
He coughed into his fist, stretching his arms. "I know what you're thinking. But relax—this is just protocol. Fellow knights like us, I'm sure you understand."
Subaru let out a forced chuckle, leaning back slightly to mask his unease. "Ah, yeah, don't worry about it. Let's just wrap this up quick, alright?"
The dim light from the grate did little to ease his nerves. The air in here felt… thick. Stale. Like every breath carried a silent judgment.
"Yeah, yeah, no problem," Polle replied with an easy smile. He gestured toward the knight standing to his right. "This rookie here's just gonna observe. Training and all that."
Subaru stole a glance at the knight. Fully armored. No exposed skin. No expression.
The rookie's right hand rested on the pommel of his sword.
Ready.
Subaru swallowed. Scary.
He took his seat, muscles taut, heart pounding.
He was trapped.
Slightly slowly nodding at the captain's words, Subaru's gut couldn't help but twist at the situation.
The man's name was Gilli Catalan Polle—captain of this place. And right now, Subaru was stuck in his office, facing him across a wooden table.
"You've been asleep for two days," the nurse had told him. Two days.
And yet, he still remembered Gluttony.
"Priestella is safe, kid," Polle had said. "The Witch Cult is gone."
But I saw Gluttony.
Something wasn't adding up.
"Now," the captain's voice pulled Subaru back to the present. "Tell me again. Who are you?"
Subaru narrowed his eyes. "I already told you."
"Humor me."
Subaru sighed, pushing himself up. His signature grin slipped onto his face as he struck his familiar pose—one hand on his hip, the other pointing skyward.
"I am Natsuki Subaru! Half-elf knight of Emilia-tan, the future queen of Lugunica!"
Silence.
The captain's expression didn't change.
Then—he laughed. A slow, lazy chuckle. "Wow. That's quite the introduction."
Subaru lowered his arm, unease creeping in. "What? You don't believe me?"
Polle leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Oh, I believe you believe it."
Subaru's stomach twisted.
"Tell me something, Knight Subaru." The captain's tone was casual, but his gaze sharpened. "Where's your camp now?"
Subaru's breath hitched.
"They… They must be waiting for me."
The knight behind Polle shifted slightly.
Polle tapped a finger against his chin. "Interesting. Because all the royal candidates and their camps… have already left Priestella."
The air in Subaru's lungs vanished.
"Wh-what…?"
His mind spun. That couldn't be right.
No—there must have been a mistake. Beako wouldn't have left him. Otto wouldn't have—
Emilia wouldn't have.
Would she?
"Hey, rookie," Polle called lazily to the knight beside him. "What do you think of this kid?"
The armored knight responded without hesitation. "He's suspicious."
Polle grinned. "Why?"
"Because the knight of the half-elf… is Otto Suwen."
Subaru's heart stopped.
"No… No, no, no, no, no…!"
His mind screamed.
Images of Gluttony's eerie grin surfaced, the feeling of hands pressing against his chest, devouring his very existence.
They forgot me.
No—this wasn't happening.
This was a lie.
"I really am Emilia's knight! My name got eaten by Gluttony!" Subaru's voice cracked as he slammed the table. "I know you don't believe me, but it's true! I need to get to her!"
The words rang in the silent room.
For the first time, Polle's grin faded.
And for the first time since the interrogation began, he looked—serious.
