Chapter 3: The Royal Candidates One Year Later
Ouch!
Subaru secretly pinched himself, then sighed and began to assess the current situation.
—Otto, are you not here yet?
Subaru sighed internally, confirming that their negotiation expert had not arrived, and then looked at the remaining people on his side.
—A loli who's been home for 400 years, a middle-aged man who is reckless with the possibility of saving his beloved wife, and a boss who hates negotiations and loves freedom.
As if noticing Subaru's anxiety, Reinhild took Subaru's hand and gave him a reassuring look. Subaru's fighting spirit was instantly reignited, and he began to observe the situation of Emilia's camp. The Emilia camp had brought four people this time: Emilia, Geuse, Roswaal and Ram.
"This is quite a surprise, I suppose. It seems three Royal Candidates have gathered here, and perhaps there are even more. Do you think such a surprise is possible, I wonder?"
Roswaal looked at Joshua, who was standing at the entrance, with a half-smile.
"That I do not know."
Joshua adjusted his monocular glasses while squinting slightly.
"Where is Anastasia-sama?"
Heinkel, a little impatient, cut into their conversation. Subaru could understand this, as the two of them had been searching for clues about the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony for nearly a year, and it was indeed difficult not to be anxious in this situation.
"My sincerest apologies. But Anastasia-sama is currently receiving a guest, so I hope you all can wait in the tea room for a while."
"Oh my, oh my! A guest, I suppose? A guest important enough to put Emilia-chan-sama and Felt-sama aside?"
Roswaal said with an exaggerated expression, while Heinkel also fixed him with a beast-like glare.
"Yes…"
But even while sweating profusely, Joshua did not budge.
—As expected of Julius's straight-laced younger brother! I guess I'll leave this to Heinkel!
"Emilia, why did you guys come here?"
Having made his decision, Subaru quietly moved to Emilia's side and asked in a low voice. Emilia quickly explained the entire situation.
Emilia's goal this time was the high-purity magic crystal held by a magic stone merchant in Priestella, and the main purpose for obtaining this magic crystal was to reawaken Puck.
"After all, I was rescued from my frozen state by Puck, so I thought Puck might have some way to solve everyone's frozen state. And even though Puck did a lot of bad things, he is still my most important family…"
"Roswaal? Actually, I've talked to Roswaal, and he has apologized, so I've forgiven him. Besides, Roswaal has been seriously helping me lately…"
Subaru subconsciously looked at Geuse, but considering Geuse's situation, he shook his head with resignation.
"Oh my, are you doubting me, Subaru-kun, I suppose? Don't worry, the contract has not been broken."
As if noticing the situation on Subaru's side, or perhaps feeling unable to get past Joshua, Roswaal also came to the back of the group.
Subaru was startled at first, but noticing Reinhild, who nodded a sign of assurance to him not far away, he relaxed.
"Speaking of which, I heard Emilia has been recruiting demi-human forces lately. Was that your suggestion, too?"
"No, I decided it myself. I want to fulfill Mother Fortuna's dream… so I hope to improve the status of demi-humans, so that when everyone is unfrozen, they can live freely and not have to hide only in the forest…!"
Emilia explained with a touch of urgency. Although Subaru understood her meaning, he still looked at Roswaal with a suspicious gaze, as Emilia had been misled once before.
"Don't worry, I suppose. It's just penance. Even for Ram, Garfiel, Rem… them, I must do this, I suppose. You can just take it as a small new goal I've set for myself, I suppose."
"B…"
"We have arrived. Please wait in this tea room until Anastasia-sama finishes receiving her guest."
Joshua's voice stopped Subaru's line of questioning. He looked around and saw that they had stopped in front of a small room.
"My apologies, guests. Until your companion returns, would you be able to wait with the other guest?"
Joshua inquired respectfully through the sliding door.
"Please come in. I was getting bored anyway."
An old yet authoritative voice came from inside the room. Heinkel's angry expression turned to surprise, and Roswaal's playful expression turned to one of nostalgia. Subaru also instantly identified the person from the voice.
Shhh~lat~
Completely unaware of the commotion behind him, Joshua slowly slid open the door. The paper sliding door moved to the side, revealing the small room called the tea room. The person inside was kneeling on a cushion. His gaze swept over them.
"Father."
"Heinkel, is that you."
.
.
.
Inside the banquet room of the Water Robe Inn, people from four Royal Candidate camps were gathered. Everyone was seated around the long table in the center of the room, with each camp sitting on cushions.
"But why did Anastasia-sama gather everyone here?"
Subaru broke the stalemate, ignoring Otto's subtle signal.
"Such deep suspicion, I suppose. My only purpose really is just to chat, you see? That's why I didn't invite the folks who can't hold a conversation, you see. However, I didn't expect all the invited guests to arrive on the same day. That really surprised me too, you see."
Anastasia said, showing a surprised expression.
"I see. The Royal Selection has been underway for a year, yet we are still unfamiliar with each other. Although we will compete someday, it is indeed necessary to gather around a table and drink together to personally assess everyone's character before then…"
Crusch, who was kneeling on a cushion, said with a serious expression. To her right, Ferris was sitting in a female W-sitting posture, and to his right was Wilhelm, who was kneeling.
"Folks who can't hold a conversation…?"
Emilia looked confused.
"Are you talking about Priscilla?"
"She's completely going her own way, I suppose. We couldn't find an excuse to invite them at all."
Anastasia spread her hands helplessly.
"How can you give us the information about the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony?"
Subaru silently gave a thumbs-up to Heinkel in his mind, then patted Otto, who was covering his face next to him.
"The information you want, you will receive in a tangible form tomorrow or the day after, I suppose. Bear with me until then, okay?
Anyway, thank you all for coming from so far away. You must be tired from the journey… Please rest well in your rooms first, and we can talk slowly tomorrow, I suppose. This inn actually has a hot spring, you see."
"Yay, a bath! I barely got to bathe in hot water when I was in the slums. I love it! Hey, the important stuff is over, right?"
Felt was the first to agree to the suggestion, her eyes sparkling.
"Mhm, okay, let's go take a bath. I'm also curious about what a hot spring is like."
"That's true. We are tired from the long journey. That might be a good idea."
Emilia was enthusiastic, and Crusch, who was smiling elegantly, also agreed. And so, the first day of the meeting concluded.