Good News And Bad News
Subaru, bless her half-elf soul, sat in the carriage with legs so numb she could barely feel them. She gritted her teeth, her forced smile cracking as the ache settled into a dull throb.
Three hours.
Three hours of Kazuma using her lap as a pillow had left her limbs tingling and her pride thoroughly battered. She glared down at him.
Kazuma, the perpetual leech, was fast asleep—or at least pretending to be. Every now and then, he'd shift, rub his head against her like a cat, or—most infuriatingly—sniff her. Subaru wasn't entirely sure if he was awake, but the occasional, very deliberate attempt to grope her gave it away.
Megumin, meanwhile, rested her head on Aqua's lap, watching Subaru's torment with a smug expression, while Aqua herself snored loud enough to wake the dead.
"Oi, Kazuma," Subaru hissed through clenched teeth. "Are you awake or not?"
No response. Just another deliberate nuzzle.
She inhaled sharply, trying to keep her composure. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched the hem of her skirt.
Finally, Puck reached the limit of his patience. The little spirit materialised in a flash of light and, with a single sharp gesture, sent an icy blast straight into Kazuma's lower half.
Kazuma yelped, clutching his crotch as he rolled off her lap, groaning in pain.
"You didn't have to freeze Kazuma Jr.!" he whined, clutching himself.
"Well, maybe Kazuma Jr. should learn some manners," Puck snapped.
Aqua cracked one eye open, rubbing her temple. "Do you need healing? Let me see."
Kazuma recoiled, shaking his head. "No way! You're not looking at anything!"
"Is it that small?" Subaru mused absentmindedly, rubbing her aching legs. "Probably smaller than my pinky finger."
The carriage went silent. All eyes turned to her.
Kazuma opened his mouth to retort, but Puck raised a tiny paw, glowing with frosty energy. "Don't even think about it," he warned.
Before the argument could escalate further, the carriage jolted to a halt.
"We're here," Ram's curt voice called from outside.
Subaru exhaled in relief, dragging herself upright to peer out the window. The massive gates of Lugnicia loomed before them, creaking open with grandeur.
The city beyond was a buzz of activity. Merchants, knights, civilians—all bustling with their usual routines—froze in place as their eyes fell upon the peculiar spectacle above the carriage.
Some people dropped their wares. A few tripped and fell, and one unfortunate merchant tipped his cart, sending fruit rolling into the streets. Others simply stared, slack-jawed and too stunned to move.
The reason? Floating above their carriage was a colossal, roasted chunk of meat—the White Whale itself.
Rosewall, perched atop the whale with his usual theatrical flair, used his magic to keep the monstrous trophy suspended in the air. Darkness, atop the whale like a self-appointed guardian, gnawed on a chunk of its flesh with zero decorum, her moans of delight carrying down to the stunned onlookers.
Subaru groaned, rubbing her temples. She wasn't sure what was worse—Darkness openly munching on the whale or the gawking crowd that had begun to swarm around them.
Rosewall glanced down at her with a smirk. "Emilia-samaaaa~ Perhaps a royal wave is in order?"
Subaru gulped, muttering, "Why me…" before clambering onto the roof of the carriage. She adjusted her dress, tried to put on her most regal expression, and waved awkwardly.
"I am Na—uh, Emilia the half-elf!" she called out, her voice wobbling slightly. "And as the future king—or queen—of this kingdom, I present to you… the White Whale fry!"
The crowd remained silent, their stunned expressions unchanged.
Subaru floundered, her face turning red. "Um… You can eat it?"
That did the trick.
A roar of cheers erupted, spreading like wildfire through the city. Knights and civilians alike hollered in celebration, their voices mingling with cries of joy and disbelief. Some began clapping, others shouted Emilia's name, and a few adventurous merchants were already hawking White Whale meat by the kilogram.
Rosewall gracefully lowered the whale to the ground, and the crowd surged forward to get a closer look. Puck floated up to give Subaru a proud pat on the head, while Ram rolled her eyes from her spot at the reins.
Darkness, undeterred by the public eye, tore into another piece of meat like an animal. Inside the carriage, Kazuma yelled about his frozen "Kazuma Jr.," Megumin groaned too tired to demand her credit, and Aqua's eyes gleamed with the promise of coin.
Subaru slumped back into her seat, scratching the back of her head. At least it worked.
Far above, in a tower overlooking the city, Crusch sat with wide eyes fixed on the scene. She raised her binoculars, scanning the crowd as they swarmed the roasted whale.
"Is this for real…?" she murmured to herself.
Ferris, standing beside her, tilted his head curiously. "What's wrong, Crusch-sama? Nyaa?"
Crusch lowered the binoculars, her lips pressed into a thin line. "The White Whale… They actually killed it."
"No army, no elaborate strategy," Ferris muttered, his tail swishing. "Just a great spirit, a magician, a maid, and… a group of lunatics."
Crusch didn't respond. Her gaze shifted to Wilhelm, who stood on the opposite side of the balcony. The old swordsman's fists were clenched tightly, his eyes burning with barely contained emotion.
She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated.
Wilhelm's voice cut through the silence, low and firm. "I am alright, Crusch-sama."
But she knew he wasn't.
For Wilhelm, the White Whale was no mere trophy. It was a spectre of his past—a creature tied to the loss of his beloved wife. To see it defeated, not by his blade but by a group of strangers, must have been unbearable.
Yet there it was, roasted like any other fish, its remains celebrated as a meal rather than a victory.
Crusch turned back to the window, watching the chaotic scene unfold below. Subaru's awkward waving, the crowd's cheers, and the sight of people tearing into the whale's meat.
It was a victory, yes—but not for Wilhelm.
She sighed, gripping the edge of the balcony. "This changes everything."
As the crowd swarmed around the roasted White Whale, a group of knights approached Emilia—or rather, Subaru, masquerading as Emilia. Their polished armour reflected the sunlight, but their expressions betrayed hesitation and disbelief.
One of the knights, his helmet tucked under his arm, stepped forward, his voice tinged with awe. "Lady Emilia… Did you truly defeat the White Whale?"
Subaru straightened her posture, putting on her best noble demeanor. "Of course, I did!" she declared, her voice ringing with confidence she didn't entirely feel. "I'm your future king, after all! Don't just stand there drooling—go feast on the beast!"
The knight blinked, caught off guard by her casual tone, but he quickly bowed. "A remarkable feat, my lady."
Subaru gave him a stiff nod, trying to suppress the urge to laugh at how easily they bought her act. She glanced around, spotting Reinhard van Astrea standing at the edge of the crowd. His crimson hair glinted in the sunlight, and his piercing blue eyes were locked on her.
He didn't look triumphant or celebratory like the others. No, he looked… shocked.
Subaru smirked, raising her hand to wave at him. "Oi, Reiny!" she called out, her voice cutting through the din of the crowd. "You think I'm crazy? Take a good look at this!" She gestured dramatically at the massive, roasted remains of the White Whale.
Reinhard flinched, his expression tightening.
Subaru's smirk faded, her annoyance bubbling to the surface. She was still sore over the fact that Reinhard had called her crazy to the Sage Council. Sure, her plans were unconventional—okay, downright insane—but they worked, didn't they?
She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "What's wrong, Sword Saint? Cat got your tongue?"
Reinhard met her gaze briefly, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something. Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and walked away, his red cloak billowing behind him.
Subaru's shoulders sagged as she watched him go, her triumphant mood dampened. "Tch. Coward," she muttered under her breath.
Puck floated up to perch on her shoulder, his tiny paw patting her cheek. "Don't let it get to you, kiddo. You've got a whole crowd cheering for you. Isn't that enough?"
Subaru exhaled sharply, forcing a smile. "Yeah… Yeah, it is."
But deep down, she couldn't shake the sting of Reinhard's rejection. He didn't believe in her, not really. And that hurt more than she cared to admit.
As Subaru scanned the crowd, her eyes landed on a familiar face—Otto Suwen. The merchant was standing off to the side, his jaw practically unhinged in shock. His normally composed demeanor had been replaced by wide eyes and a gob-smacked expression.
"Otto!" Subaru called, weaving her way through the crowd to reach him.
Otto snapped out of his stupor, his head jerking towards her. "E-Emilia-sama… Is that really the White Whale? And you… You defeated it?"
Subaru placed her hands on her hips, smirking. "Surprised? You shouldn't be. I told you I'd take care of it!"
Otto's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "But… how? That thing terrorized the world for centuries! Armies have fallen to it, and you—"
"—had a great team." Subaru interrupted, throwing him a cheeky grin. "And speaking of which, I wanted to thank you for sending Team Kazuma my way."
"Team… Kazuma?" Otto echoed, still looking like he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.
Subaru tilted her head towards the commotion nearby. Kazuma, Megumin, Aqua, and Darkness were bickering loudly over the White Whale's meat.
"I called dibs on the tail!" Aqua yelled, waving a fork threateningly.
"You did no such thing!" Megumin shot back, holding a suspiciously large piece of meat. "Besides, the tail's probably not even edible. It's cursed!"
"Cursed?! It's just crispy!"
"Everyone, stop!" Kazuma groaned, rubbing his temples. "How about we all agree that Darkness gets the bones since she'll probably eat those too?"
Darkness, true to form, flushed a deep shade of red and clutched her hands together. "Bones… Oh, Kazuma… how thoughtful of you!"
Otto blinked, his gaze shifting back to Subaru. "That… That's your team?"
Subaru gave him a wry smile. "Yep. That's Team Kazuma. Sure, they're chaotic, loud, and occasionally unhinged, but…" She glanced fondly at the group, who were now wrestling over a particularly juicy piece of whale. "…they're useful. When it matters, they come through."
Otto looked at her as if she had grown another head. "You call that useful?"
Subaru laughed, patting him on the shoulder. "You'd be surprised. Sometimes, the best results come from the unlikeliest of allies."
Subaru basked in the glory of her recent triumph, her heart swelling with pride as she glanced around at the cheering crowd. For once, everything felt like it was falling into place. The people's adoration, the shocked expressions of her rivals, and even the begrudging nods from the knights made all the struggles feel worth it.
But amidst the applause, a sobering thought crept in. Her gaze drifted to Team Kazuma, who were still bickering over the last chunk of White Whale meat. For all their absurdity, they had been undeniably instrumental in the battle. Especially Aqua and Megumin.
Steeling herself, she walked over and grabbed the two by their collars, dragging them out of the squabble.
"Hey!" Aqua yelped, clutching her precious meat. "What's the big idea?"
"Yeah, Emilia-sama, we earned this!" Megumin added, struggling against Emilia's grip.
"Enough with the meat," Subaru said firmly. "I need to talk to you two about something important."
Aqua tilted her head, still clutching her meal. "Important? Is it about money? Because if it's not, I'm busy."
Megumin, however, perked up, puffing out her chest. "If you're here to acknowledge my Explosion magic as the most powerful weapon in your arsenal, I'll accept your praise graciously."
Subaru sighed but smiled faintly. "Actually, I want you both to join my campaign."
The two stared at her, blinking. "Campaign?" Aqua repeated.
Megumin's crimson eyes sparkled with excitement. "You're asking me to join your inner circle? To fight alongside you as a trusted ally?"
"Yes," Subaru replied. "Both of you were incredible during the fight. Your magic was a game-changer."
Aqua grinned widely. "Well, I am the best, aren't I? Fine, I'll join!"
"I accept as well!" Megumin declared dramatically, raising a fist.
Kazuma, who had been standing nearby, frowned. "What about me? You're not just going to leave me out, are you?"
Subaru turned to him with a teasing smile. "What do you say, Kazuma? Want to join?"
Kazuma scratched his chin, considering it. Before he could answer, Darkness interrupted with her usual enthusiasm.
"Joining Emilia-sama's campaign would mean constant danger!" she said, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Protecting her from assassination attempts, battling against those who oppose her claim to the throne—there would be no end to the threats!"
Kazuma froze. "…Assassination attempts?"
Darkness nodded solemnly. "Of course. Emilia-sama is a silver-haired half-elf, resembling the Witch of Envy. Many people distrust her because of that. Some would even go as far as to try to kill her."
Kazuma turned to Subaru, his face pale. "Is… is that true?"
Subaru waved her hands defensively. "It's not as bad as it sounds! Just a few misguided people with old prejudices—"
Before she could finish, Otto came running toward her, his face pale and frantic.
"Emilia-sama!" he called, his voice trembling.
Subaru frowned, immediately sensing something was wrong. "Otto? What happened?"
Otto hesitated, his eyes darting around as though searching for the right words. "I… I don't know how to say this…"
"Just tell me," Subaru urged, her voice steady but laced with worry.
Otto swallowed hard, his hands trembling. "The Mathers Domain… It's been attacked."
The blood drained from Subaru's face. "Attacked? By who?"
"The Witch Cult," Otto said, his voice barely above a whisper. "They raided the villages. Burned everything. And…" He hesitated again, his expression growing darker.
"And?" Subaru prompted, her voice breaking slightly.
"They slaughtered everyone," Otto said, his voice cracking. "Men, women, children, the elderly… The entire domain is in ruins. No one was spared."
Subaru staggered back, her legs threatening to give out. "No… That can't be true…"
Otto's gaze fell to the ground. "I'm sorry, Emilia-sama. I came as soon as I heard."
"But… why?"
"As far as I know, they came looking for you and killed everyone…"
"For me…"
"Yes, um, uh…"
The weight of his words crushed her. The people she had fought so hard to protect, the lives she had risked everything for—they were gone. All of them.
Kazuma, for once, was silent. He stepped forward, placing a hand on Subaru's shoulder. "I'm… I'm sorry," he said softly, his usual sarcasm nowhere to be found. "You're cool and fun, having a fellow iseakai'd person is nice too, but… I'd rather not die so soon."
Subaru didn't respond. Her mind was spinning, her heart shattering under the weight of her failure.
Kazuma glanced back at his team. "Alright, let's go," he said quietly.
Aqua and Megumin looked hesitant, their gazes flicking between Emilia and Kazuma. Darkness, too, lingered for a moment before reluctantly following the others.
As they walked away, Subaru remained frozen in place, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The cheers of the crowd, the warmth of their earlier victory, felt like a distant memory now.
Puck floated over, placing a tiny paw on her shoulder. "Lia," he said gently. "Talk to me..."
But Subaru couldn't move, couldn't speak. The world around her felt as though it had crumbled into ash.
Subaru's mind was in chaos, a storm of guilt, panic, and desperation swirling within her. The weight of Otto's words bore down on her like a mountain, leaving her knees trembling. She wanted to scream, cry, do anything to escape this suffocating reality. But no amount of tears or protests would change what had happened.
The Mathers Domain—her domain—was gone. The villagers she had spoken with, the children who had laughed and played, the elderly who had trusted her to protect them—they were all gone. Slaughtered. All because she wasn't there to stop it.
Her breaths came in short gasps, her chest tightening as dread wrapped its cold fingers around her heart. She wanted to deny it, to scream that Otto was lying, but the look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.
This was real.
"I… I can fix this," she whispered to herself, her voice shaky. "I can undo this."
"Lia?" Puck's voice, soft and full of concern, broke through the fog in her mind. He floated closer, his small, furry form radiating warmth. "What are you talking about? Undo what?"
Subaru blinked at him, her tear-filled eyes wide with a mix of determination and fear. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't tell anyone.
Her hands trembled as she reached for her chest, feeling the faint, familiar thrum of magic within her. It was her curse, her blessing, her secret—Return by Death. The one thing that could undo this nightmare.
But then, a new thought clawed its way into her mind, stopping her cold.
"What if…" she whispered, her voice barely audible, "what if all my achievements are reset too?"
The image of the White Whale, frozen in place and then obliterated by Megumin's explosions, flashed in her mind. The cheers of the crowd, the way they had looked at her with admiration, the pride she had felt—all of it could be erased.
Her gaze flicked to the roasted carcass of the White Whale, still sitting in the town square, a testament to their hard-won victory. She had done something incredible. She had proven herself. If she reset everything, would that victory vanish too?
"No," she muttered, shaking her head violently. "I can't be selfiiiish. I can't."
"Lia, you're scaring me," Puck said, his voice firm but tinged with worry.
Subaru ignored him, her mind racing. She reached out, conjuring an ice dagger in her hand. The blade shimmered in the light, its edges sharp enough to cut through bone. Her fingers trembled as she gripped it tightly.
"What are you doing?!" Puck yelled, darting in front of her.
"Emilia-sama, stop!" Otto's voice rang out, panicked.
She turned her back to them, clutching the dagger with both hands. Her breaths came faster, her chest heaving as tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry."
"Lia!" Puck shouted again, desperation evident in his voice. "Talk to me! Please, whatever you're planning—just stop!"
Subaru turned to look at him, her tear-streaked face full of anguish. "I have to do this," she said, her voice trembling. "I have to fix this."
"Fix what?" Puck demanded. "You're not making any sense!"
"I can't explain," Subaru said, her voice cracking. "I just… I just need to trust that this is the only way."
"Emilia-sama, no!" Otto cried, running toward her.
Subaru took a shaky step back, raising the dagger to her throat. The cold edge pressed against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Her hands shook so badly that the blade nicked her, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Stop her!" Otto yelled to anyone who would listen.
"No one can stop me," Subaru whispered, her voice hollow.
The world seemed to slow as she stared down at the dagger, her vision blurring with tears. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing like a drum in her ears.
"I'm sorry," she said again, her voice barely above a whisper.
With a trembling hand, she pressed the dagger harder against her throat.
"LIA, DON'T!" Puck screamed, his usually soft voice now sharp and panicked.
Subaru closed her eyes. The icy blade bit into her flesh, a sharp, searing pain unlike anything she'd felt before. Her body jerked instinctively, her mind screaming at her to stop, to pull away. But she didn't.
The pain intensified as blood gushed from the wound, warm and sticky against her cold skin. She choked, a guttural, desperate sound escaping her lips as her knees buckled. The world around her spun wildly, her senses overwhelmed by the sharp sting of the blade and the suffocating warmth of her own blood.
"LIA!" Puck's voice was distant now, muffled and faint.
Her vision darkened at the edges, the faces of those around her fading into shadows. She felt her body hit the ground, the cold stone beneath her a stark contrast to the heat of her life draining away.
"Emilia-sama!" Otto's voice cracked, full of anguish.
Subaru tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Her throat burned, her chest heaving as she struggled to take one last breath.
The pain was excruciating, a fire that consumed her from the inside out. But even as the agony threatened to consume her, a faint sense of relief washed over her.
She was doing this for them. For the villagers. For the people she had failed.
Her vision went completely black, her body growing numb. The sounds around her faded into silence, and the world seemed to fall away.
And just like that, Subaru died.
Û~Û
Author Note:
EmiBaru… best of luck.
Coincidentally, my other story: 'Stone-Faced But Friendly' is also in the same arc. Check it out. Dattebayo.
Thanks for reading this chapter. Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.
Till next time!