Satoru let out a slightly annoyed sigh, his eyes fixated on his palm as he made his way back to the tavern.
I failed Reversal Red again... and let that lady get away. Mmm... what is it going to take for me to understand this? I've got Blue down to a T, but I still don't get it!
"Well..." He glanced up from his palm and surveyed the slums surrounding him. It probably would've been really annoying to explain the property damage if it had actually worked, so maybe it's for the best.
Sitting over the unconscious, large body of Old Man Rom, Subaru watched in awe as the spectral haze of mana surrounding Emilia's palms slowly mended the torn flesh, knitting it back together and closing it at impressive speeds—unlike anything the Japanese boy had ever seen before.
That's seriously cool. Surely, whenever my training arc hits, I'll learn stuff like that too...
He then tilted his head to the side, toward Reinhard.
"So, your friend—will he be alright?"
The Sword Saint peered toward Subaru, nodding serenely.
"Satoru...?" He paused, brow furrowing.
"Ah... there's something different about him for sure. Though I can't quite put my finger on it, I am certain he'll be fine."
As if on cue, an otherworldly red hue flooded through the open gaps in the wall, lighting up the night sky with vermilion before vanishing not a moment later.
"W-What was that?!"
It seemed Subaru wasn't the only one shocked by the spectacle. Emilia's eyes were wide, Felt's were wider—though, surprisingly, the one with the widest eyes was the Sword Saint himself.
"That... magic... that's... that's not—" He paused, closing his eyes to regain his composure.
Huh, it must've been seriously cool if it's got this guy gawking over it...
Little did Subaru know, Reinhard wasn't gawking over its power—which, albeit immense—he was reacting to something else. Something different.
A few moments passed.
Satoru appeared once more, standing atop a pile of rubble that had collapsed when Elsa was launched through the wall.
"Yo. I'm back. She sorta got away, so that's my bad..."
Watching as the white-haired man slid down the rubble with his hands in his pockets, Reinhard spoke.
"Worry not, Satoru. I imagine the outcome would've been no different had I traded blows with her."
Jeez. Humble, much?
"So... it's all over now?" Subaru muttered, his gaze fixated on Emilia as he reached out to catch her when she stumbled from exhaustion.
Emilia seemed to notice this and blinked.
"W-Why are you staring at me?"
"A-Ah." He coughed. "Well, it's just... you still have your arms, legs, and head!"
"Eh? Of course I do... don't say such scary things."
Clasping his hands together, Subaru nodded.
"Right! I also have my arms, and I haven't been stabbed in the back—nor is there a hole in my gut!"
Emilia raised a brow, tilting her head. "You talk like you've experienced those things before?"
"Agh... my manners!" Subaru hummed, shifting into a peculiar stance with a finger pointed toward the gaping hole in the ceiling.
"Natsuki Subaru is my name! The one who tried to get back your Insignia and then fought against a heinous villain to help you. Wouldn't this mean you should repay me in kind?"
Emilia recoiled, stepping back in confusion, though his words were fair.
"A-Alright! I understand. If it's within my power, then..."
"Then in that case... I have one request. I'd like to know your name." His tone deepened.
This resulted in Emilia almost bursting into laughter before eventually nodding.
"Emilia. My name is Emilia. Thank you for helping me, Subaru."
Eesh... what kind of world have I been summoned into...? Satoru thought to himself, though he found his gaze fixed on Subaru for a while longer than expected.
A blush crept up Subaru's cheeks before he coughed and turned away from Emilia, peering toward Satoru and Reinhard.
"Thanks, you two! You really, like, saved our skin... like—literally!"
Reinhard just chuckled at his straightforwardness.
"I stumbled across Satoru here and felt something happening at the slums, so we came as fast as we could."
Satoru, however, didn't respond. Instead, his eyes were wide—not that anyone could see that.
Eh... I mean, I already got the vibe that this guy was from Japan, but...
Like the wind, Satoru flickered, vanishing from Subaru's vision one moment and reappearing only a few inches away the next.
"Huh... that's funny..."
This guy... he's got a ton of Cursed Energy...!!
"Eh...? What—something on my face?" Subaru replied, caught off guard and flustered.
"Mmm... well, something like that. I'll talk to you about it later."
With a nod, Satoru's index finger tapped against the center of Subaru's forehead.
In the next moment...
There was darkness.
Catching his unconscious body as it slumped forward, Satoru glanced toward the shocked Emilia.
"He's pretty injured, right? Look at him. And you probably can't properly heal him right now either, I imagine."
Emilia gave a small, hesitant nod.
"It's for his own good. He'll be in a hell of a lot of pain as soon as he calms down."
Satoru said swiftly, picking up Subaru's body and hoisting it over his shoulder.
"'Hell of a'?" Emilia muttered, raising a brow.
"Eh? Oh... don't worry about it..." Satoru coughed, glancing over to Reinhard, who stepped forward.
"Emilia-sama, may I ask... what is your relationship with Subaru?"
Emilia tilted her head. "An... acquaintance. I don't believe I've met him before."
Reinhard peered over at the unconscious Subaru. "He said he was looking for you and that he had something to give you."
"Ah, well... I don't actually have a place to live, you know? Real new around these parts... Could I bring Subaru along with me to one of your places?" Satoru asked casually.
Reinhard, ever-benevolent, was quick to answer,
"I'd be glad to take you both to my house as guests."
Emilia shook her head.
"No... I'll take you both with me, if that's alright. I have things I'd like to ask Subaru anyway. More importantly, what will become of those two?" she asked, clearly referring to Rom and Felt.
"I cannot overlook what they've done, officially speaking. But, well... I am off duty today."
Felt peered over at Emilia.
"I... I'm sorry. You saved my life, so I'll obviously return what I took from you."
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the shining Insignia and held it out to Emilia.
"Make sure to keep it hidden so something like this won't happen again."
Emilia reached out to take back her stolen Insignia, but her loose grip caused it to fall from her hand and slide to Satoru's feet.
"...R-Right..." Emilia muttered, slightly embarrassed.
Satoru didn't even bother reaching down, instead pulling the Insignia into his grasp with a light, pearlescent force that flowed around the outline of his hand.
Grasping it, he watched the way it dimly shone.
Neat little gem. Don't understand almost dying for it, though.
With a shrug, he reached out to give it back to Emilia. Then—
A hand clasped his forearm—yes, he had already turned off Infinity, though not to the point where it was painful, just firm.
"...Reinhard?" Satoru mused, a raised brow. What the hell's got him so shaken up...?
"How... Satoru... ahem, apologies, but I'll need you to come with me."
"Eh? Well... I guess that's fine. What's the big deal, though?" Satoru asked.
"That, I will explain soon."
Satoru just shrugged, glancing toward Subaru's unconscious body, which he still held, before sighing.
Then, he handed back the Insignia and placed Subaru's body down next to Emilia.
"I imagine he'd rather be with you than me," Satoru muttered.
Was excited to teach him how to use Cursed Energy. He's definitely got potential.
Reinhard nodded.
Hours later, inside a carriage...
Reinhard still had yet to explain what was going on. With every question Satoru asked, he merely insisted he keep following.
Could it be Reversal Red? Maybe he's just curious about what it is. Not that I can blame him—I am pretty amazing.
"Ahem..." Reinhard coughed, clearly purposefully.
"I do apologize for having to do this, Satoru-sama... it's just not something that can be spoken of in public."
"...Ah, so you're finally going to explain?—also, keep the honorifics to a minimum!" Satoru responded, raising a brow.
He nodded.
"You, Satoru-sa... Satoru, are the fifth and final candidate for the throne of Lugunica."
Ah. I see...
"..."
"...?"
"Wait, WHAT?!" he suddenly yelled out, almost jumping out of the seat and lunging toward Reinhard, who sat opposite him.
"H... How...?!"
Satoru let out a breath, returning to his seat before continuing.
"Firstly, I have literally... zero knowledge of this entire world. I know that we're in Lugunica, and that's about it."
"Secondly, I've been here for not even one day. I can't have done anything that should put me on such a pedestal—"
It's not like I wanna lay low or anything, not with all my power... but if I have to talk and please some stinkin' old ass men again, then count me the hell out!
Reinhard remained silent for a moment, a look of understanding coating his features before he spoke.
"Yes, but the red glow of the Insignia appeared as soon as you touched it. Which, in turn, means that you've been chosen by the dragon."
Oh, I might have to go find this dragon and give it a piece of my mind, alright...
He grimaced, leaning back on his seat and rubbing his crystalline eyes behind his sunglasses.
"So... I don't exactly have a choice, right?"
Reinhard shook his head.
"I apologize, but no."
Truthfully, the absolute last thing he wanted right now—probably behind straight-up dying—was to become king. Just the idea of having to uphold such dignity and speak in such a posh way was incredibly off-putting. All it did was remind him of his time in the Gojo clan.
Plus those annoying-ass elders in Jujutsu High constantly nagging me... Argh. It's not like I can just ruin my chances on purpose when he's giving me that look, either—!
Satoru sighed.
"Mmmm... alright, I guess... Firstly, we're friends from now on, Reinhard. So no honorifics, and stop apologizing. I can see how strong you are, and it's giving me eye burn, but acting like that'll just have people walk over you—even with that badass title of yours!"
He pointed, wagging his index finger toward the shocked Reinhard.
"Friends?"
"V... Very well, then. I shall do as you say, Satoru."
Satoru grinned, pleased with his words, before he closed his eyes.
"Though I'm literally on my own, so the chances aren't very good off rip..."
Then, they shot open from the sound of the rich wooden boards below subtly quaking from pressure.
"Eh?"
He wasn't expecting to lay eyes upon a bowing Reinhard, his head to the floor and one knee lowered.
"I may not be able to live up to your expectations... but if you'd be willing to have me, then... I, the Sword Saint of Lugunica, hereby swear fealty to the fifth candidate for the throne, Satoru Gojo, and I promise to stand alongside him until the day he succeeds."
What the fuck... I'd be lying if I didn't say this was seriously embarrassing. Well, it's not like I can say no after that...
"Argh... this is too weird... Then I, fifth candidate for the.... throne of Lugunica, Satoru Gojo, welcome Reinhard van Astrea with open arms as my knight."
I've never been fond of formality, but I never said I was bad at it.