Chapter 104 - x

"What the—?! Mr. Natsuki! Please take care on the road!"

"Sorry, sorry! Beako was horsing around too much. I'll be careful.

Tickle-tickle!"

"Is it Betty's fault at all, I wonder?! Subaru decided all on his own to… Wait a moment, do not tickle me! Stop it… Pfft, hee-hee!"

Hearing the voices of the pair playing around on the driver's seat, Otto let out a heavy sigh inside the cabin. Seeing Otto so obviously worn out drew a little laugh from Emilia, seated directly opposite him.

"Those two really do get along well… Even though Subaru and Beatrice being on good terms like that was unimaginable not so long ago."

"In my case, I find it far harder to believe there was ever a time they were separable. Beatrice indulging Subaru and Subaru indulging Beatrice—it gives me a stomachache."

"You might have a point. But…I think it's a good thing. Everyone probably agrees that a smiling face suits Beatrice much better."

With a twinkle in her violet eyes, Emilia thought of the girl on the driver's seat. To Otto, her expression seemed like the one a loving older sister or mother might wear.

Though Otto was not uncivilized enough to say this out loud like a certain Subaru.

"Well, let us allow them to play while we engage in an important conversation. I have said this many times, but our preparations for the impending encounter with one of your fellow royal-selection candidates…is extremely lacking."

"So you're saying it won't just be a matter of repaying a debt."

"One year has passed in the royal selection, which is scheduled to be decided in three. Surely, each faction has largely finished shoring up its base by now. In our case, the assembly of the western lords shall secure us a good number of supporters. There's little doubt that the other camps are pursuing similar strategies."

"And that also goes for Lady Anastasia, I assume?"

The group had been intentionally keeping the fine details of what the other camps were up to away from Emilia. Developing Emilia into a proper statesman took priority over worrying about what their rivals might be up to —this was something agreed upon by the domestic policy team consisting of Roswaal and Otto.

Accordingly, after discussing the matter with Roswaal, Otto had been assigned the task of moving things to the next stage.

"First, let me speak of the present circumstances of the royal selection. In the beginning, it was viewed as a contest between Duchess Crusch Karsten, the favorite, and Anastasia Hoshin, the primary challenger. Including Lady Emilia, the three remaining candidates were viewed as…without mincing words, only there to fill in the other spaces."

"…Yeah, I don't think I can deny that. But based on how you phrased it, that means now…"

"Yes. At the very least, it is a fact that the public's opinion has gradually changed over this past year. The reason is that the three underdogs in this race have made notable achievements."

When it came to the Emilia camp, it was difficult to ignore the White Whale and Sloth.

The hunt of the White Whale was considered Crusch's achievement, but it was none other than Crusch herself who had stated that the contributions of Sir Subaru Natsuki had made it all possible. And though he had borrowed the strength of not one but two rival factions, the defeat of the Witch Cult that had followed had been achieved under Subaru's leadership.

These achievements had made Emilia's existence widely known among the people of the kingdom.

At the same time, this also spread the fact that Emilia had been born a half-elf, which for better or worse ensured that she was someone the people would keep an eye on for the royal selection.

And the other underdogs—Felt and Priscilla—had not been idle, either.

In particular, Priscilla's talent had flourished. She was the widow of Lyp Bariel, whose lands were on the border shared with the Empire of Volakia, with which the kingdom had engaged in skirmishes for many years. Priscilla had managed to make the most of this unfavorable situation, bringing the faltering and anxious regional power holders onto her side all at once.

With cunning that almost seemed to work like magic, she pacified the empire, made allies out of the local nobility, and proceeded to vigorously revitalize impoverished villages and otherwise strengthen her lands. Day by day, the people under her rule were regaining a sense of normalcy.

In addition to her ability to dance on any stage provided to her, she possessed beauty far beyond all norms. The south of the kingdom revered her as "The Sun Princess" with a fervor that seemed to increase with each day.

On the other hand, the Felt camp's one claim to fame was the knight under their banner, the Sword Saint Reinhard van Astrea; they had the most difficult starting position out of all the candidates.

Even with the overwhelming influence the Sword Saint held over the knights and the masses, his name alone wasn't enough to convince the kingdom's people that the master he served was worthy of the throne. Even in the Astrea domain, her base of operations, the regional lords regarded her with wariness when they weren't openly distrustful.

However, the girl named Felt had broken past those unfavorable headwinds in a manner none had expected.

From the very beginning, the strong-willed girl hadn't planned on lobbying the indecisive and cautious weather-vane nobles. Instead, she'd set her eyes on the people who had fallen out of favor—in other words, outcasts and pariahs.

By taking in the talented who were sidelined due to personality issues and those who regretted their dark pasts, Felt was able to assemble a formidable group. Her flexible thinking and unique perspective had revolutionized her territory.

She had little reason or inclination to rely on the rumors that she was a long-lost child of the royal family. She had a discerning eye for character, and assigning people jobs they were best suited to came naturally to her. In that sense, she possessed one of the most crucial qualities needed in any ruler.

And with that tiny spark, the lands surrounding the Astrea domain quickly became a beacon of prosperity. Felt's influence had grown so great that the local lords, who had been sitting on the fence, could no longer ignore her.

As her small footsteps had made a tangible mark upon history, no one in the kingdom could make light of her claim to the throne any longer.

"That is how things currently look. At the very least, no candidates have fallen out of the running over this past year. Ahhh, it is just…"

"What is it?"

"The only place where things have deteriorated is the Duchy of Karsten."

The pitch of Otto's voice dropped a notch as he elaborated. The reply made Emilia harden her cheeks. Closing one eye in response to her reaction, Otto continued.

"Duchess Crusch Karsten was considered the favorite, but rumors say she has lost her way over the last year, as if she has become a different person somehow. Previously, she was relentlessly active in public and private, and with the support of His Lordship the prior duke, it was considered a matter of course for everyone to acknowledge her. However…"

Whether in the royal selection or politics at large, Crusch's character seemed to have changed a great deal.

Her past determination had been so firm that it made her current shortcomings stand out all the more. Though she had formally taken on the important title of a duke, there were some who claimed she had finally revealed her true colors as an incapable woman.

"Apparently, His Lordship the former duke has been brought out of retirement and rushed back into service. After successfully hunting down the White Whale, it initially seemed like the royal selection had practically been decided…but no one can ever know when calamity may strike. Lady Emilia, please take proper heed of this."

"—I guess that's true."

Otto's admonition made Emilia lower her gaze, her violet eyes filled with melancholy.

Otto noticed that she couldn't seem to help but sympathize with her political rival, and he considered it a sign of fragility. It was inevitable that someone would be defeated. It would only invite hesitation if she let that weigh on her excessively.

Otto's experiences over the last year had taught him that this applied to politics as much as it did to commerce.

"Please do not dwell on it too much. This is only the beginning of such tales."

"Mm, thank you. I understand you're being considerate, Otto."

"That is good to know, at least—also it would be remiss of me to not note that the complete lack of any decline in influence whatsoever since the very start of the royal selection should establish just how terrifying the Anastasia camp is."

"Lady Anastasia has the backing of that big Hoshin Company. Apparently, the company began in Kararagi, but it's expanding into the kingdom."

"Yes. In other words, their financial clout is their primary weapon—their strongest card is simply to crush any competition through pure economic force."

Otto hung his head as he ran through the implication, fear settling in his heart.

Under no circumstances was his evaluation of her strength biased because he was also a merchant by trade. Making an ally out of a major businessperson was synonymous with allying a pillar of the economy. And so long as the economy continued to maintain the livelihoods society depended on, economic power was simultaneously the strongest offense and defense one could wield.

"Therefore, I believe that the Anastasia camp is the one we should be most wary of at the present. So for them to be putting us in their debt with that invitation… Do you understand just how much pain my stomach has endured?"

"…Finally, it's really sinking in. I am sorry for deciding all this on my own."

"If you understand, that is fine for the time being. If you can refrain from such rash moves in the future… I'll believe that you really do understand, so…!"

As Emilia bowed her head, Otto stroked his stomach and sighed. Thanks to the way that explanation broke everything down for her, Emilia, too, realized what kind of position she was in.

Of course, various things about the world of politics were difficult and complex.

She'd long understood that bracing her heart with phrases like I'll try my best! and Let's do it together! wasn't nearly enough to get by, but her eyes were spinning at the sheer amount she had to be concerned with.

She was happy to finally know what had been kept secret from her for so long, but in turn, her worries loomed larger.

"—It is not necessary to try to take it on all by yourself."

Reading what was in Emilia's heart from the look on her face, Otto flashed a pained smile.

"You might be the star of the show, but that does not mean you must do every little thing yourself, Lady Emilia. It is the same for this dragon carriage."

"Really?"

"Currently, it is Mr. Natsuki who holds the reins. Beatrice is watching Mr. Natsuki so that he does not slack off. Garfiel is above, on guard for anything in the area, and I am planning our itinerary. And with your voice thanking everyone for their hard work, we will move forward by hook or by crook as we head to Pristella."

Emilia's eyes opened wide as she took in Otto's roundabout analogy. Simultaneously, she found it funny how his meandering approach reminded her of a certain someone.

"Just now, Otto's way of putting that really sounded exactly like Subaru somehow."

"Ughhh?! Really? Oh no…could it be that it's spreading to me the longer I hang around him…? P-please don't scare me like that!"

"Hey, Otto! Having a fun little chat with Emilia-tan, are you? My main source of sustenance is Emilia-tan's adorable smile, so don't go nabbing my food!"

When the topic of their conversation suddenly interrupted them, it gave Otto a fright. Emilia reflexively laughed, and it wasn't long before Otto laughed, too, with a heartbreaking look on his face.

"Wait a…! Why are you two the only ones having fun?! That's super not fair! Beatrice, take the reins for a second. I'm going in!"

"What?! How is this okay, I wonder?! Stop it! Betty can't… It's tipping over! Aren't we about to tip over, I wonder?! That land dragon's eyes say it's about to happen!"

"Hey, General! What's up? The ride's shakin' real hard—is everythin' all right?!"

Hearing the commotion from the driver's position and overhead, Otto reluctantly rose from his seat.

It seemed that Sir Knight of Little Patience had reached his limits. Otto judged that it was best to politely yield his spot so he could soothe the land dragons.

"Otto."

As Otto thus began shifting from the cabin to the driver's seat, the call of Emilia's voice stopped him. What he saw when he turned around suddenly stole his breath away.

The trust Emilia placed in her smile struck him deeply within his chest.

"I've caused you a great deal of trouble, but I will do my best. I'm counting on you."

"—Yes, please do. I look forward to sharing whatever enjoyment you find along the way."

"That reply sounded a lot like Subaru, too." Smiling wryly, Otto headed toward the driver's seat.

—This is why I work so hard.

Truly, master and servant alike were born swindlers. Otto had a need to rise to meet others' expectations of him, and it was like a disease that left him fatally vulnerable to people like Subaru and Emilia.

And as their banter continued like this, the twelfth day since departing from Roswaal Manor arrived.

—On that day, the Emilia party finally reached the Water Gate City of Pristella without incident.

3

Anyone who wanted to gain entry to the Water Gate City of Pristella had to pass through the main gate that oversaw virtually all traffic in and out of the city.

On the border between the Kingdom of Lugunica and the city-state of Kararagi flowed the vast Great Tigrasea River, which resembled an evershifting ocean. The city was constructed atop a lake fed by one of the tributaries of this massive body of water.

Entering the city required crossing a bridge that spanned this river and passing through a section of the circular curtain wall. There, all visitors had to present papers at the main gate that led to the city's interior.

When Subaru's party drove the dragon carriage directly to the gate, the official on duty explained the laws of the city and demanded they fill out entry forms. The details were similar to a vow that basically confirmed I will act in accordance with local laws during my stay in the city.

It almost went without saying that city laws were a binding authority separate from royal or noble law, but Subaru didn't take any issue with the city laws of Pristella at a glance. Most of them involved things like not inciting riots, not using magic within city limits without good reason, and so forth. After flipping through the pages, he quickly signed and handed the papers back.

Notably, the official became incredibly flustered when Emilia identified herself. That meant he must have known that Anastasia was already staying in the city and had panicked a little while wondering what in the world was going on.

"Suppose they can't help but be all nervous at having more than one royal-selection candidate pop up at the same time."

"But it does seem like Anastasia told the people at the gate to expect us ahead of time. They did let us pass right away, after all. Though maybe it was actually Joshua or Mimi."

"If you set aside his weird competitiveness, it's possible Joshua might've gone to the trouble, but I don't think Mimi would've."

He didn't think the cat-girl was capable of that kind of consideration. That wasn't an insult but merely his honest impression of her.

"She's cute, after all."

"Yes, Mimi is cute."

The mysterious persuasive power of Subaru's assertion made Emilia trade nods with him. To be blunt, he couldn't think of any other word to describe her. Also, for some reason, Beatrice stomped on his foot upon overhearing this. He didn't get it.

By the time he'd managed to restore Beatrice's sullen mood, he met back up with Otto and Garfiel, who'd stayed with the dragon carriage. It seemed that the check of the dragon carriage's cargo was going to take some time.

"They sure are strict for just heading into the place. Now it seems even more like a watery prison instead of a city of water."

"Truly spoken like someone who has little experience with life on the road. A traveling merchant would not even consider this a snag. At least they are honest enough not to demand something under the table."

"Under the table? Who the hell keeps anythin' special under that…?"

"He means a gift. Actually, it'd be bad if you take what I said literally, so just know that phrase means someone is asking for something bad. Don't let anyone catch you saying that, okay, Emilia-tan?"

Gift might have been technically correct in a broader sense, but given Emilia's position, even the hint of bribery was no laughing matter.

With that episode out of the way, Subaru and the others continued to an inner gate to finally enter the city proper. As the inner gate slowly opened, the scenery of Pristella gradually came into view—

"—Oooh."

After momentarily squinting from the dazzling light, Subaru spontaneously let out a breath of admiration.

And he wasn't the only one; Emilia did the same as she stood beside him. She opened her violet eyes wide as the beautiful spectacle before them left her at a loss for words.

"…So it turned out to be a city of water after all."

This view made him want to apologize for ever suspecting it was a watery prison.

When the prominent features of Pristella had first been described to him, Subaru had imagined Venice from his own world.

If one ignored issues of size, the circular city resembled a stadium for holding and watching sporting events. The elevation differed depending on the area's proximity to the city's center, and each stratum boasted its own orderly row of stonework buildings. A network of waterways crisscrossed the entire cityscape, and a particularly large one—better described as a canal —that ran through the heart of the city divided it into four parts. Subaru could see ferryboats in these waterways gliding in every which way, and the presence of what were essentially gondoliers stoked Subaru's curiosity and sense of adventure.

—This was the blue metropolis. The city of water. The Water Gate City of Pristella.

"Originally, Pristella was built on top of this lake using a combination of technologies from four hundred years ago."

Beatrice abruptly began a lecture about the Water Gate City as if to reinforce the feeling of wonder.

She glanced at Subaru and the others, who listened in rapt attention as she continued:

"It is constructed strangely, but if you think of the city itself as if it were built to be a trap, designing it to collect water at the center is only natural, I suppose."

"Calling the whole city a trap feels really spot-on. Was this place meant for demon beasts or something?"

"No records remain of exactly what this trap was intended for. But when gazing at the city like this, seeing how it looks today…does it even matter anymore, I wonder?"

Beatrice narrowed her blue-tinged eyes as she beheld the same stunning sight as Subaru and the others. It seemed like she had been deeply moved by the realization that learning about something academically and experiencing it firsthand were fundamentally different.

"…What? Why are you stroking Betty's head, I wonder?"

"Maybe because you just happened to be nearby. I wanna rub your head for you every chance I get."

"That doesn't make much sense, but that's quite enough patronizing!" Though she fumed with anger, she made no move to bat his hand away. Still patting Beatrice's head, Subaru let out a breath of admiration for the city sights all over again.

"Damn, this is incredible…"

His honest appraisal elicited a wry smile of satisfaction from the soldiers who'd opened the inner gate for them. Seeing the reaction of people admiring the view was probably the biggest perk of the job.

Subaru could appreciate that feeling. It was a job suitable for the residents who took pride in their city's beauty.

"Huhhh, I see. Sure is a pretty place. Not the horrible thing Bro painted it out to be."

"That appraisal irks me slightly, but… Ahhh, everyone, we cannot remain halted forever when there are others behind us. Please get back in the dragon carriage for now."

Garfiel, fastest to recover, rubbed his nose as he shared his first impressions. Otto followed up by asking Subaru and the others to get a move on.

"Wow, not a very sentimental guy, are you? I thought you were a big fan of this place."

"Of course, for it is a land deeply connected to Hoshin, whom some even call the God of Commerce. Yes, indubitably it is a feast for the eyes. Have no doubt that I am deeply moved."

"But apart from that, you have more practical things to worry about?

That's a sad way to live, you know."

Otto flashed a pained smile, but there were echoes of emotion visible in his eyes. Subaru didn't ask why Otto put both his hands together, but Subaru honored his stoicism by politely doing as he instructed.

"So now we go to the Water Raiment Inn Joshua mentioned… He said Anastasia and the others would be waiting for us there," Emilia said.

"Yes. The official told me of its location, so I shall guide the way. As travel within the city is chiefly by dragon boat rather than dragon carriage, we wouldn't be able to rely on the provisional dragon-carriage driver, Mr. Natsuki, to safely take us through the tangled paths here."

"I'll have you know that as long as I give Patlash a shake and a stare, she takes care of everything else."

Undaunted by Otto's assessment, Subaru winked at Patlash. The proud land dragon covered in inky-black scales quietly averted her face. For some reason, he got the sense that she would sigh if she could.

"Well, let's get movin'. Time to go!"

"Yes, into the Water Gate City!" "I suppose!"

Emilia and Beatrice added their voices as Garfiel pointed to the city and announced their departure from his vantage point atop the dragon carriage.

And so they took their first steps into the cityscape of Pristella. The streets were set at a fair incline. Seeing the scenery outside the windows scrolling by at a leisurely pace made for a pleasant ride.

"But even looking from up here, you hardly see any dragon carriages at all."

"Mm, I suppose so. In this city, the waterways are wider than normal streets. Even the shape of the city was decided with waterways in mind, so the roads seem to be really tangled."

"Ahhh, I see. So that's why there's all these labyrinth-like twists and turns."

Just as Emilia had said, the city had been designed to prioritize waterways, meaning that the streets for pedestrian and dragon-carriage traffic naturally had to either straddle them or take detours around them. It felt pretty inconvenient, but when Subaru saw the little boats heading down the waterways, it didn't seem surprising at all. "Hum, hum, huhummm."

With the tranquil scenery filling her heart, Emilia began to happily hum.

She had no ear for music.

The off-key humming served as background music as Subaru rested his cheek on a palm and watched the cityscape. Beside him, Beatrice sat on her knees as she gazed outside, a very childlike gesture indeed. And then…

"Ah, Subaru, look."

"Mm? Oh, ohhh…!"

When Beatrice called out to Subaru, a small boat was crossing a waterway—he raised his voice at the sight of the long-bodied, serpentlike creature drawing it.

Its torso came with short limbs and had a blue, slippery-looking surface. Its head looked more like that of a lizard than that of a snake, with sharp fangs and catfish-like whiskers. It was a water dragon—a dragon that dwelled near water.

"Unlike land dragons, which look like dinosaurs, these water dragons are like those from eastern mythology. Maybe I should call them shenlongs?"

"Would it be wiser not to, I wonder? Unlike land dragons, which easily get fond of humans, water dragons are famous for their difficult dispositions. It takes raising one from the time it hatches until it matures for it to recognize someone as a master, I wonder."

"That sure is a lot of time, considering Patlash and I got along from the first glance."

"It is a mystery even to Betty why she is so fond of Subaru."

Unfortunately, Subaru could only agree. Originally a land dragon owned by Crusch, Patlash was the reward Subaru took from Crusch following the hunt of the White Whale.

Without Patlash, Subaru wouldn't still be around. That was no exaggeration in the slightest.

"Hmph. These water dragons are nothing. My dear Patlash has a much more refined face."

"Subaru, why are you suddenly talking like Anne?"

The way Subaru burned with an oddly antagonistic spirit toward the elegantly swimming water dragon made Emilia give him a mystified look.

That moment, though the water dragon surely had not overheard their conversation, it abruptly turned its head in their direction. Then the water dragon jutted its head from the surface as it sent a high-pitched neigh slamming into the dragon carriage.

This was not an amiable neigh conveying, Welcome to Pristella! but the sort of sound that implied, Stop staring at me, filthy outsiders!

"That bastard, it's making fun of us, isn't it?! All high-and-mighty just because this is its home turf…"

" !!"

It was Subaru whom Otto had asked to avoid unnecessary disputes, but Subaru's spiteful comments were interrupted by a sharp, vivid, awe-inspiring neigh—Patlash's howl.

In her master's stead, she had responded to the water dragon's provocative attitude, returning the favor in a gallant fashion.

He didn't know what meaning the neigh carried, but the water dragon seemed terrified by her reply, making a small sound as it sank into the water, immediately fleeing and taking the little boat along with it.

"Wait a second, Mr. Natsuki! Please do not make Ms. Patlash do strange things all of a sudden! I really do not want to get involved in trouble so soon after our arrival!"

When Otto called from the driver's seat, Subaru stuck his hand out the window and waved back. Then he blew a finger whistle of thanks toward Patlash. The pitch-black dragon responded with a ladylike sway of her tail.

"Awww. The water dragon looked cool, too, but I think Patlash is the best."

"…Well, does Betty not also think our girl is better than that vulgar water dragon, I wonder?"

Concurring with the pleased-looking Subaru, Beatrice seemed both proud and inconsiderate. After he put the girl on his lap, they continued raising voices of admiration over the cityscape for a little while thereafter.

"Come to think of it, it looked like the waterways split this city into four."

"Mm, yeah. The Great Waterway in the middle of Pristella divides it into four, and these sections are called the First, Second, Third, and Fourth

Districts, respectively."

"Just doesn't feel right. How about naming them after the four gods

Suzaku, Seiryu, Byakko, and Genbu?"

"Ahhh, that sounds kinda cool. Me, I'm all for that."

"I really do not understand Subaru's and Garfiel's taste. Ohhh…"

Garfiel peered in through the window and shared Subaru's enthusiasm. Beatrice shrugged at the pair when a sudden shudder surprised her.

The wind repel blessing ought to have meant they would not feel any effect from the dragon carriage shaking on bad roads. Such an impact even so meant either that the dragon carriage was being bowled onto its side or— "—If we have arrived at our destination, yes? Meaning we have arrived."

Otto, poking his head into the cabin from the driver's seat, thus announced that the dragon carriage had stopped.

"Faster than I thought. We've barely gotten a chance to enjoy the city."

"Please do that on your own free time. I must speak to the innkeeper to have the dragon carriage, Fulfew, and Patlash stabled, so if the rest of you could… No, it is indeed best if you remain at the entrance."

"Why the correction? What, you're worried about letting us go ahead of you?!"

"I certainly am. I can barely contemplate what would happen if you meet Lady Anastasia at the inn before I am able to rejoin you. The marquis did say as much."

The only thing the culprits involved in the previous offense could do in response to Otto's words was to hang their heads in shame. From there, they unloaded only the hand luggage from the dragon carriage as Otto followed the guidance of the inn staff and brought the dragon carriage as well as the dragons behind the inn.

Seeing him and the dragons off, Subaru and the others finally headed to the front door of the inn—the Water Raiment.

"Now then, what sort of place should I expect this to be…?"

When Subaru looked up at the structure with high spirits, his mouth dropped open as he stiffened.

Beside Subaru, Emilia touched her own cheek with a finger as she gazed at the same inn.

"Somehow, the building seems really mysterious. This is the first time I've seen something like this."

Emilia's floaty impression was largely the same as those of Beatrice and Garfiel. However, Subaru was the only one who could not help harboring a different impression than them.

Of course he couldn't. After all, standing before him was—

"This isn't some ordinary fantasy-world bed-and-breakfast… It's literally a traditional Japanese inn…"

Before his eyes was a blocky building of wooden construction. The entrance had a wooden door with glass facing, the yard had a hedge, there was a path of cobblestones leading from the gate to the front door, and the roof was tiled.

This was a city that greatly resembled the famous Venice and came with matching architecture and furnishings. This was the last place Subaru Natsuki expected to encounter an unmistakably Japanese building in the form of the Water Raiment.

"—Seems like you're surprised. I was right to pick this place, hmm?" An amused voice suddenly spoke up.

When Subaru turned toward the speaker in a daze, he caught sight of some teasing light-blue eyes peering at him from the other side of the hedge.

It was a beautiful girl wearing a white dress paired with an eye-catching fox-fur scarf. The cold season had surely already passed, but her attire had not changed whatsoever since the last time he'd seen her.

She had a rather small stature and long, wavy light-purple hair. An elegant smile came over her adorable face, and her big, round eyes somehow seemed bottomless.

There was no mistaking that this was the person who had invited Subaru and the others to this city— "—Anastasia."

"Yep. Welcome to Pristella. And thank you for coming." Anastasia Hoshin beamed as she greeted her guests in person.

4

"You've come such a long way. You must be tired from your journey… First, let's get you settled into your rooms. Then we can take our time to talk things over."

When Anastasia smiled and spoke those words, Subaru was too dazed to respond right away. He felt like they'd suddenly been ambushed just like Otto had feared.

If this continued, Anastasia would completely dictate the pace. That was how everyone must have fe—

"—Thank you for going out of your way to greet us in person. It's such a relief."

Everyone besides Emilia, apparently.

There was little doubt Emilia had been just as surprised, but her gentle reply snapped Subaru back to his senses. When he glanced around, he saw Garfiel regarding Anastasia with a wary eye while Beatrice was firmly holding on to Subaru's sleeve.

It seemed Subaru had been the slowest to recover. The impact of seeing a traditional Japanese inn here had a far lesser effect on them—you'd have had to know of it to be surprised by it.

"—Your face has gotten even nicer, huh…"

As Subaru took a deep breath to steady himself, Anastasia gazed at Emilia and murmured. Her light-blue eyes showed no hint of sarcasm, nor did her comment come off as belittling.

That tiny exchange showed that Anastasia noticed the ways Emilia had changed over the past year. Emilia must have been barely recognizable.

"Well, her cuteness is the same…actually, maybe that's gone up a level, too."

"It has been a long time, Natsuki. We last met when you were honored for hunting down the White Whale and the Witch Cult, I think? It's been a whole year since then, but I assume Marquis Mathers is the same as usual, yeah?"

"That certainly wasn't us at our best. Thankfully, we have managed to keep it together since then. At the very least, we haven't disintegrated midflight yet."

"That so, that so. Lovely news. I must say, I am glad that both of you came together this time. Julius seems eager to meet Natsuki as well."

When Anastasia made that comment with her hands placed together, Subaru openly grimaced. Emilia and Anastasia both broke into laughter, making him feel even more uncomfortable. He did think that Emilia's reaction differed from Anastasia's in terms of purity and mischievousness.

Of course, neither reaction was what he would have preferred.

Apparently, it didn't matter how often he insisted that he and Julius didn't get along.

"Sorry to intrude on this peace 'n' harmony stuff, but should we just be standin' around all day?"

The one who cut into that warm and fuzzy atmosphere was Garfiel, who'd maintained his silence up to that point. Clacking his sharp fangs, he glared straight at Anastasia with his jade eyes.

The glint in his gaze was blatantly hostile, but Anastasia only deepened her smile.

"What a cute boy. It's plain as day he's concerned about Emilia and everyone."

"Heh, she's smilin'. But someday, you're someone we gotta sink our fangs into. Gettin' along now is only gonna make things harder later."

"I suppose that's true. Garfiel is kind, so I understand why he would worry…"

"Dah!! Who you talkin' about?! Really gotta watch what ya say, Lady

Emilia!"

Taking unexpected friendly fire, Garfiel lost his composure after a failed attempt to restore some sense of tension to the conversation. Even so, he quickly rebounded and attempted to get back on topic, but— "—Ah! Garf came! Why did the lady keep it a secret—?!"

A high-pitched voice overlapped with a flurry of sounds as the inn's wooden door flew open with great force.

The head poking in from the other side belonged to none other than Mimi, her adorable face full of joy. With a flutter of the hem of her robe, she bounded toward Subaru and the others as if leaping clear over a hedgerow.

"Good job finishing such a long journey! Mimi'll show you to your rooms —! And after, you need to explore the inn! There's really amazing stuff to see here!"

"H-hey, wait, you! Me, I still had more to talk abo… Wait, she's pullin' me along?!"

"Let's gooo! Let's go right now!"

With all the power in Mimi's tiny body, she dragged away Garfiel while he was still off balance. Of course, if he truly wanted to break free, he could have, but in the end, Garfiel was slowly but surely spirited away.

"Errr…Mimi is…really energetic, huh?"

"You have my thanks for putting it so politely. Mimi's impulsiveness has caused me quite a bit of trouble on more than one occasion…but even for her, that was rather insistent."

Emilia's words made Anastasia touch a hand to her cheek in exasperation

as she wore a troubled smile. However, that lasted for only a moment. "I would like to ask one thing," Anastasia continued, her face turning serious. "That boy Mimi was teasing… Who is he? He's an upstanding person, I hope?"

The question carried an edge of wariness one might have about some pest buzzing around a cute daughter or little sister.

From that alone, Subaru deduced the true intent behind Mimi's behavior toward Garfiel. Simultaneously, he let out a long sigh as he grasped just how loved and cherished Mimi was in the Anastasia camp.

"…Mr. Natsuki, why do you have such an exhausted face all of a sudden?"

It was just then that Otto, returning after storing the dragon carriage, frankly spoke his mind when he caught sight of Subaru's haggard state as they reunited at the entrance to the inn.

5

Under the staff's guidance, Subaru and the others left their luggage in their rooms and rendezvoused once more at the inn's lobby.

The banquet hall of the Water Raiment boasted hardwood floors from wall to wall and a long table at the center. The floor wasn't completely covered with tatami mats, but the atmosphere closely resembled a Japanese inn all the same.

"But points get deducted for not reproducing screens and sliding paper doors. The staff aren't in Japanese outfits, either. I guess for the atmosphere and that hospitality mindset, we can give it a net seventy points."

"I do not have even the slightest idea what you just said… Are you all right, I wonder?"

"I'm just flapping my lips to try and stay calm. I think I'll be fine even without someone holding my hand, though."

"…Oh really? Just to be safe, I shall hold your hand for a while longer."

Beatrice was squirming on top of a square cushion that was placed on the floor as she held Subaru's hand. He didn't speak a word about how she was gripping somewhat harder than usual.

To Subaru's right side, Emilia was kneeling on another floor cushion with

her knees facing forward and her feet out to the sides as she examined their surroundings, finding the sight rather novel.

"Somehow, this place has a really mysterious atmosphere to it… From the outside, I thought it was an unusual building, but that feeling only got stronger now that we're inside. I mean, sitting on the floor, taking your shoes off…"

"And the bedrooms have futons in them instead of beds. The closets have yukata in them, too."

"Huh, interesting. You seem very familiar with all this, Subaru."

"Truly. Just where did you study this much about the Kararagi style?"

As Subaru and Emilia conversed, Otto joined in from his seat beside Beatrice. Hearing him mention the term Kararagi style, Subaru furrowed his brows.

"You mean this inn is Kararagi-style?"

"Indeed it is. Jabaneez-style architecture is a Kararagi tradition… This inn's design appears to be heavily influenced by it."

"Jabaneez-style construction… There's no way that's a coincidence."

Though it sounded a bit strange, the obvious connection to Japan could no longer be chalked up as a misunderstanding. It was incredibly difficult to believe that such a thing had developed naturally without any influence from Japanese custom. There was no doubt in his mind that this "Kararagi style" had been influenced by Subaru's original world.

"In the first place, Hoshin, the hero who founded Kararagi, is the one who built Pristella, inextricably connecting the two. One might call this land the place that the tale of Hoshin of the Wastes' rise to fame and fortune began."

"…This Hoshin guy sure did a lot of stuff all over the place."

"If it were up to me, it would be Hoshin who would be called the Sage. In any case, his achievements are simply too awesome. Nowadays, Pristella is formally considered the kingdom's territory, but there was a time when it was cause of considerable territorial disputes between Lugunica and Kararagi."

According to Otto, the two nations had gone to war over it about a hundred years in the past. Geographically, Pristella was part of Lugunica's domain, but the fact that the famous national founder of Kararagi had built it loomed large. Once the drawn-out economic conflict simmered down, the current-day arrangement was born.

"So Hoshin's influence is big here… I guess it'd be safe to assume this Kararagi style is related to Hoshin, too?"

"It seems that way. In his era, Hoshin was someone who introduced revolutionary ways of thinking and ideas ahead of his time… He reshaped ideology, technology, culture—everything."

"Interesting."

Nodding at Otto's explanation, Subaru let out a very deep sigh.

He was sure of it now—Hoshin of the Wastes, the hero who had founded the city-state of Kararagi, was most likely someone who had been summoned from another world, just like Subaru and Al.

Much of the culture linked to Kararagi, and the so-called Kararagi style, fit the world Subaru knew far too well. All of it seemed to have roots there.

This made him the third person summoned to another world whom Subaru knew about—but the time periods differed drastically.

Hoshin came four centuries ago, Al twenty years earlier, and Subaru one year prior.

What meaning was there to the time differences? Why had Subaru and the others been selected?

Subaru still didn't know why he had been brought to this world. Even after coming to terms with the fact that he'd parted ways with his own world and his past during the Trials in the Sanctuary, nonetheless—

"—From the look of things, you seem to be appreciating the Jabaneez inn."

Abruptly, as if timed to coincide with a lull in the conversation, a voice called to them from outside the hall. A wooden door quietly swung open, bringing Anastasia into view.

She was not alone. She had brought a single man who promptly made an elegant bow.

"It has been a long time, Lady Emilia. Originally, I should have been the one to welcome you ahead of everyone else. I apologize for the tardiness of my greeting."

Swiftly after he appeared, the man's handsome face turned contrite and remorseful as he apologized.

Just the fleeting sound of his beautiful voice from across a wall would have melted many a woman. The twinkle in his amber eyes held a passion that clawed at the hearts of any who merely gazed upon them.

That was the kind of presence Julius Juukulius possessed. This was the famous Finest of Knights.

Emilia responded to Julius's bow with a gentle smile.

"Yes, it has been too long, Julius. I'm glad to see you are also doing well."

"I thank you for your generous heart. It is good to see that you have refined your own beauty even further, Lady Emilia. I must say that the loveliness of your eyes is a national treasure—nay, a treasure for the entire world."

That annoyingly roundabout way of speaking and his pompous attitude were what made him the most irritating man alive—or so Subaru privately complained as Julius turned away from Emilia, who wore a wry smile.

"It has been quite some time since we last met face-to-face. It seems you are in good health, Sir Subaru Natsuki."

"…Don't call me that. It's sending a chill up my spine. What's with the

Sir Subaru stuff? Just talk normally."

"Even if you say that, it is a well-known fact that Sir Subaru has formally become Lady Emilia's knight. Setting the past aside, you currently occupy a

proper position. I merely intended to treat you as a peer."

"Merely intended, my ass. It's ruining my mood, so cut the sarcasm, or I'll sic Beako on you."

"I see. It seems that though your position has changed, it has had little effect upon your demeanor."

When Julius insisted on propriety to the bitter end, Subaru scowled as he clicked his tongue. Seeing this, Julius's face broke into a slight smile, this time bowing to Subaru.

"Then let us try again… It has been a long time, Subaru Natsuki. May you strive every day not to bring shame upon the knighthood you have been granted."

"Ha, damn straight. I don't wanna get beaten senseless by someone 'cause I've gotten too big for my britches again."

"I am offended that you would speak as if it was an unprovoked assault. According to my memory, it was merely a sparring match between two

people of equal standing with their honor on the line."

"You sure don't know when to shut up…"

However, as Subaru had been in the wrong on every level at the time, there wasn't much he could say that wouldn't make him come off as a sore loser. Instead, Subaru devoted himself to being rather petty and refused to let a single insult slide.

After studying Subaru's reaction, Julius went "hmm," closing one eye as if finding this development somewhat surprising. Then he shifted his gaze to Beatrice, who was sitting right beside Subaru.

Noticing Julius's amber gaze falling on her, Beatrice glared straight back at him.

"What do you want, I wonder? A lady is not to be stared at in excess."

"Forgive my great rudeness. I never suspected that a high-ranking spirit such as yourself would be attending."

"Betty is Subaru's partner, so is it not natural for me to be here, I wonder? Do not assume I am on the same level as lesser spirits who have no name worth mentioning. Just because you are appealing enough to make Betty's pure maiden heart flutter slightly, you would do well to not get carried away,

I suppose."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, flutter?!"

When Beatrice rose from her seat and puffed out her chest, Subaru hastily picked her up. The moment he seemed ready to whisk her far from Julius, Beatrice interjected, saying, "Calm down. It is not really a matter of appearance, I suppose. Besides, it is the disposition, not the face, that makes the man."

"That's no consolation! Wh-wh-why you… How dare you do this to my

Beako…"

Subaru glared at Julius hatefully as he fretted over this apparent threat to his relationship with his partner. The sheer intensity made Julius widen his eyes, but his expression relaxed soon after.

"You should not misunderstand her. Your Great Spirit has no intention of betraying you. It is merely that the blessing within me…the blessing of spirit attraction naturally draws spirits to me."

"Could you get any worse?! Do you exist just to bring me suffering?!"

"You wound me. Of course, this blessing has been of great assistance to me. It is thanks to this blessing that one lacking in talent such as I was able to form bonds with the lovely buds, the lesser spirits of the six elements."

"Would Betty ever lose to such a blessing, I wonder? I will say this now.

Subaru is much more…yes, much better than you!"

"Thank you! And please don't hurt me any further!"

Beatrice would never betray him; Subaru was confident of that much. At the same time, her inability to find a tangible reason for her loyalty gave him a palpable sense of defeat.

Whenever it came to Julius, Subaru always felt a sense of inferiority. That wasn't the only factor, but it certainly was the main reason he disliked Julius.

"As per usual, my noble knight is infatuated with Natsuki."

"That is a misunderstanding. I merely wish to advise him as his senior. Now that he is a knight of the kingdom, his conduct has an effect on the reputation of all knights."

"In other words, what you want to say is that since everyone is watching, get your act together so no one can look down on you? That's so roundabout. Your flaw is that you're never straightforward about things like this, Julius."

As Anastasia spoke in a teasing tone, Julius sighed briefly and hung his head. He'd no doubt judged that if his master carried on any further, he would become the butt of the conversation. It seemed like this was a common pattern.

For his part, Subaru had already gone through the wringer. Emilia gently patted him on the shoulder.

"I'm really happy to see that Subaru and Julius get along so well now."

"That's a hard comment to say thank you for, but thank you."

The world as seen through Emilia's eyes was a peaceful one. Taking that sentiment to heart, Subaru put Beatrice over his knees after sitting back down on the square floor cushion. Anastasia and Julius also took their seats at the long table across from them.

"Come to think of it, is it just the two of you? Everyone else…Well, we did catch a glimpse of Mimi earlier."

"As you guessed, Mimi is getting along very well with your blondie. Hetaro, who really loves his big sister, chased after them in a hurry, so I asked TB to take veeeery good care of things before they get more complicated. If this was a divide-and-conquer plan, you really got us good."

"Plan or not, reining in Mimi's your jurisdiction. What about Ricardo and

Joshua?"

Subaru understood that Mimi and her siblings were strong, but it worried him that he hadn't seen the rest of the Iron Fangs, Anastasia's private army. Incidentally, that worry included Julius's younger brother, Joshua, too.

"Well, even during a leisurely stay, we're not just sitting around taking it easy. Ricardo and Joshua are both on errands away from the inn… Come to

think of it, Joshua wasn't rude to you, was he?"

"Not as much as you. But you brothers definitely take after each other. If he was slightly better built, he could totally take your place. Hey, why don't you guys actually do that so you can just retire?"

"That's an amusing opinion, but it would be rather difficult. My younger brother has been physically frail from a young age. Nowadays, there is no concern over him taking extended journeys, but as his older brother, I have often worried about him since long ago."

Lowering both his gaze and his tone of voice, Julius seemed genuinely concerned for Joshua's sake. Subaru scratched his head and averted his gaze as he felt disgusted bringing up such a sensitive topic over something so petty.

Naturally, there was a pause in the conversation.

"Errr, I think it's good to be rekindling old friendships, but if we have everyone in order, we should probably proceed with the formal greetings."

Otto, who'd maintained his silence up to that point, decided to break the ice. Anastasia responded to his proposal with deep interest and turned her gaze toward him.

"Good idea. I've been wanting to give the shrewd domestic adviser I've heard so much about a greeting myself."

"Hey, hey, you got some bad info there. That mistake isn't like you, Lady

Anastasia."

"I can imagine the source of that rumor, but having it treated as inaccurate hearsay so bluntly can really make someone overly self-conscious. Truly, it can!"

When the "shrewd" domestic adviser raised a cry of protest, Subaru only cutely stuck out his tongue. Watching this comedy act between Subaru and Otto, Anastasia made a small smile as she nodded toward Julius.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Julius Juukulius, assigned to Lugunica's Knights of the Royal Guard, but I am currently serving as Lady

Anastasia's knight."

When Julius introduced himself and elegantly bowed, Otto nodded with an awed look on his face.

"And this is one of the Kingdom of Lugunica's royal candidates, the girl of genius who runs the Hoshin Company based in the city-state of Kararagi, Lady Anastasia Hoshin."

"My lady!"

"Why did you take a knee?!"

"Wha—?! Oh, no, it was so awe-inspiring, my body moved on its own!"

When Otto got too swept up in Julius's performance, Subaru slapped him on the back of the head.

"Look! Our Emilia-tan is a fine royal candidate! She's just as impressive as theirs!"

"Yeah, that's right. I'm a contender for the throne just like she is. I'm really trying my best."

"Just look at that cuteness. That was E M T through and through!"

"I must say it feels extremely awkward that I am calmed by such a sight…"

The usual frivolities restored Otto's calm, which caused him to question his state of mind. Then he turned to face the other party, his mood apparently restored.

"Overdue as it may be, I shall introduce myself as well. My name is Otto Suwen, and I am serving as domestic adviser to Lady Emilia… Yes, through some twist of fate, that is my role."

"It seems like you have trouble accepting that for various reasons, huh."

"Honestly, I should be a traveling merchant. Really, why did it end up like this…?"

"That sounds rough. Well, if anything happens, you can depend on me. I won't do wrong by you."

Anastasia spoke with a sorrowful tone, but this was plainly an effort to pluck Emilia's domestic adviser from them. As if hoping to avert this, Subaru stood up and presented Beatrice in front of Otto.

"Incidentally, let me properly introduce her, too. She's my contracted baby girl… Uhhh, I mean, this is Beatrice the spirit."

"The incidental treatment offends me, but you may know my name, I suppose. Betty is Beatrice the Great Spirit, and as you can see, I am of a completely different rank, level, and cuteness than your run-of-the-mill spirits. Now that you have a firm understanding of this, might I request black tea and sweet pastries, I wonder?"

"Uphold your dignity till the end, sheesh."

With Beatrice unable to separate herself from that mascot-character feeling at the very, very end, Subaru tugged on her curls and pulled her back onto his lap. Then he motioned to Otto to move the discussion along. "Yes, yes," said Otto in response as he took the lead. "Though it is uncouth of us to force the conversation forward, there are a number of things we would like to confirm."

"Tee-hee, that's fine. It's my duty to indulge my guests. Do as you please."

"In that case…might I ask you the reason for this invitation to Pristella?"

"No need to be so wary. I'm not planning anything. It's been a year since the royal selection began, right? We're both in similar circumstances, so I

thought I'd give us a chance to talk things over."

Otto's question got right to the point. Anastasia stroked the scarf on her neck.

Anastasia's demeanor and way of speaking were gentle, but the tone of her voice was a pretty ornament with which she concealed her true intent. Finding her hard to deal with, Otto licked his lips; the smile of the great merchant across from him, veteran of countless battles, deepened further.

"Based on recent reports, I feel as if you have lured us with blatant bait, however."

"Bait is such a negative way to put it. If I'm going to invite someone, then I should at least have a proper gift prepared. That's all it is. And if I am

giving a gift, then it might as well be the best gift possible."

"…And how is it you know what the other party desires?"

"Tee-hee, that's a trade secret. That's no good, Natsuki. Trying to find out anything and everything about a girl… Isn't that rude to the two people beside you?"

Covering her mouth with her sleeve, Anastasia leaned forward and teased Subaru about his question. Subaru spontaneously groaned with a "gnnnh" as he was cowed into silence. Beatrice simply sighed, which didn't exactly make him feel better.

"It's not like we tried to keep our search absolutely secret. There isn't much we could've done if she simply heard about it from someone."

Emilia was indifferent as she spoke in the stead of her pathetic knight. Her words made Anastasia widen her eyes. Emilia tilted her head a little as she gazed into those light-blue eyes.

"More importantly, I think if Lady Anastasia tells me where I can find what I'm looking for, it's perfectly fine to be happy about it. That seems to be the best way to go about this."

"What a friendly reply. I don't have any intention of telling you anything just yet, though."

"But that means you'll tell us in the future, right? Thank you. I don't know what I can do, but I'm sure I will return the favor."

" "

Emilia's smiling reply made Anastasia close her mouth. Glancing at this, Julius's expression relaxed ever so faintly. "Grrr," went Anastasia, glaring at her own knight over his reaction. "What's so funny, Julius?"

"Nothing. It is merely that I rarely get to see someone exceed Lady Anastasia's expectations like this. I believe that your genuine reactions are quite beautiful."

"Well, you certainly have a way with words… I see I still have a long way to go, too."

Regaining her composure thanks to Julius's comment, Anastasia turned toward Emilia once more.

"Let me correct myself. Even though a year has passed, you have stayed the same down to your core. Doesn't being like that cause a lot of trouble for

Natsuki and the others around you?"

"Mm-hmm, it's true. I'm still lacking in so many areas, which makes it harder for everyone. I really have to catch up. I'm trying very hard, though."

"Let me correct myself further. You are even softer than before. You make me seem like a villain."

Anastasia let out a sigh, followed by a grinning smile. The sudden change in her demeanor made Emilia widen her eyes this time. After watching this, Anastasia looked at Subaru and Otto.

"Make sure you lend her your strength, all right? If she doesn't put up much of a fight, it'd mean trouble for me as well, so…"

"I intend to eagerly give it my all, but my basic policy and personal style is to spoil her with praise."

"Which is why the rest of the burden falls to me. Ha-ha…how did it end up like this?"

Subaru gave a thumbs-up as Otto's expression grew increasingly morose.

Anastasia shrugged at the sharp contrast in the pair's appearances.

"Well, it's fine. Seems like there's no need to worry whether you boys know how much a favor is worth."

"A favor, is it? Favors are excellent. You do not have to keep it in stock, nor does it expire by a certain date."

"That's right. And more than that—"

Anastasia agreed wholeheartedly with Otto as the two merchants locked eyes.

"—You don't have to put a price tag on it."

Their voices were as one. Anastasia smiled, and a listless smile came over Otto as well. Subaru felt like he'd heard such an exchange once before, but apparently, it was a maxim among merchants.

Whatever its practical application, the words made merchants sound strong.

"Now then, I suppose I'll get to what you've been waiting for. The thing Lady Emilia is searching for…is a magic crystal that can serve as a catalyst for a spirit mage, with the added conditions that it must be colorless and have a high level of purity, correct?"

"Yes, that's right. Could you tell me more about it, even if it's just something you've heard of in passing?"

A sense of expectation rested in Emilia's violet eyes as Anastasia indicated she was moving on to the main topic.

When they had first arrived in Pristella, Emilia's demeanor had been somewhat reserved. After all, frankly speaking, the sought-after magic crystal in question was Emilia's personal problem.

What overcame that faint hesitation was her hope of being reunited with her family at last.

To her, a chance to see Puck again was also a ceremony heralding a new beginning.

Anastasia smiled broadly at the expectations clearly welling up in Emilia's chest.

"The magic crystal you seek is owned by the son of a great merchant following his father's footsteps here in the city. He has quite some talent in business himself, but in this city, he is more famously known by something other than his name."

Anastasia paused, as if building anticipation for what might follow before finally proceeding.

"—I believe they call him The Man Whose Heart Was Stolen by the Songstress?"

6

"The Man Whose Heart Was Stolen by the Songstress…or the Songstress Maniac for short? Weird nickname."

Subaru gazed at the waterway with a quiet look on his face as he muttered.

The overly tranquil time of the Water Raiment conference—though it seemed grandiose to call it that—had come to an end, and Subaru's party was in front of the inn, preparing to head out.

Their next goal was to visit the Songstress Maniac and negotiate for the magic crystal.

Anastasia had actually ended the meeting immediately after presenting her information about the magic crystal's owner.

Not only that, but she'd also contacted the other party in advance, apparently having already made all the arrangements for a visit. Her sheer thoroughness left Subaru unable to do anything save bite his tongue.

"Of course, whether the negotiations go well is up to us, but…the problem is whether the other party is sane, right? This Songstress Maniac just has to be a weirdo."

"I wouldn't be so sure. Your heart was stolen by a single woman, and you publicly pronounced this fact without hesitation—do you not find your behavior at the meeting of royal-selection candidates quite similar?"

"Not that it's some kind of dark secret, but could you not bring that up just to get under my skin?"

Subaru's scowling demeanor left Julius shrugging in exasperation.

At the moment, only Subaru and Julius were in front of the inn. Subaru had finished his preparations swiftly, while Julius had arrived in order to see him off.

Subaru wanted to meet back up with Emilia and company as soon as possible. He already missed Beatrice's warmth.

"We last met at the honors ceremony, but…how have you been over the past year?"

"Stop acting like we're buddies sharing recent news. Now, what do you know about this Songstress and the guy who's obsessed with her?"

"I have not actually met them in person, but both are famous individuals here in Pristella. Not a day passes when this city does not hear the Songstress's voice."

"The heck is that about? Is this some recital they hold all the time?"

"Hmph. You will soon understand."

Subaru grimaced when Julius snorted and flashed that smug smile. Julius's habit of unnecessarily building suspense only fueled Subaru's irritation.

"I'll pay you back for being a pointless pain in my butt some other time… Anyway, what is this Songstress Maniac's deal? I gotta say I'm not expecting much from meeting him in person."

"There's no need to be concerned; he is a man worth speaking with. However, if I had to warn you about one thing…I believe Lady Emilia would not be a problem, but perhaps it would be wiser not to bring Lady Beatrice with you."

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

When Subaru immediately asked for a response, Julius was at a loss for words for once as he quickly averted his gaze. Subaru could sense his distress. Maybe this Songstress Maniac guy had a grudge against spirits?

"If he hurts Beako somehow, I'm not confident I'll be able to hold myself back."

"No, surely, he would not treat her poorly… She might be the recipient of an excessive welcome, however."

"What do you mean by…? Wait. Don't tell me he's a lolicon…?"

"I do not know what you mean by that term, but…"

Julius trailed off at the end as he searched for an appropriate word within his own vocabulary. However, even a knight as elegant as he could not magically produce something so elusive.

Either way, the true reason for Julius's concern was clear, causing Subaru to clutch his head.

"My mentor was already a handful as far as troublesome lolicons go…"

Really, Clind had an aesthetic all his own. Subaru was mostly troubled by the fact that Clind and the Songstress Maniac might well have something in common.

Clind prized youthfulness and treasured the childish spirit. In other words, someone with a youthful appearance but a mature mind would be of no interest whatsoever. Accordingly, Clind did not find Ryuzu appealing at all; in contrast, he held Emilia in high regard. Furthermore, he practically treated Beatrice like a princess.

"My Beako is an all-rounder who's attractive to your run-of-the-mill pervert as well as the exacting tastes of people like Clind…"

"Why is it I feel as if I am being treated rather rudely again, I wonder?"

Beatrice, who had arrived just in time to hear his comment, puffed her cheeks up in a fit of pique. Seeing Beatrice there like that with no sense of danger, Subaru raised his voice, saying, "Get some sense, dummy! I'm just worried about you! Wake up and realize that you give off a dangerous level of charm just by existing! Be careful so I don't have to worry this much! Damn it, you're so cute…!"

"Eh, ah, mm… W-well, it's only natural that you would worry about that,

I suppose. Tee-hee-hee."

Even though he'd just warned her about her carelessness, Beatrice simply grasped Subaru's hand with delight. For the moment, he decided to firmly hold on to her hand and never let go. He needed to be especially careful in this city.

"Incidentally, Beako, you came by yourself? Wasn't Emilia-tan in the same room as you?"

"Emilia and Otto are searching for Garfiel. He must be taking a stroll inside the inn, I suppose. In the meanwhile, Betty has come here so that

Subaru wouldn't get lonely."

"I see. You're cute even when you're condescending."

Stroking Beatrice's dazzling hair, Subaru turned his gaze toward the inn. Garfiel was no doubt engaged in arduous combat with the three siblings at that very moment.

If worse came to worst, abandoning Garfiel and departing immediately was an option.

"Then again, leaving without him would make it pretty meaningless to have brought him as an escort. No, wait a sec. When you think of it as him drawing away three of the enemy at the same time…"

"It is not good to think so belligerently. Even if that were the case, who would be my opponent? Hmph, you, perhaps?"

"You laughed a bit just now, didn't you? You don't think I can cut it? I'll have you know—Beako 'n' I are dangerous when we put our power together.

You'd be struck with awe, okay?"

"Precisely. You would be astonished, I suppose."

When Julius made a provocative remark, Subaru grabbed Beatrice and pushed her to the fore. When he saw Beatrice puffing her chest out, Julius raised both hands in apparent surrender.

Then during that exchange among the trio, a voice called out to them—

"—Brother, I have just returned."

A young man waved his hand as he climbed up from a waterway onto a footpath. The new arrival had a delicate face with a monocle—Joshua.

Seeing him made Julius stand straighter with a smile.

"So you made it in time. Thank you for your hard work, Joshua."

"Not at all. Please feel free to leave this much in my hands any time you wish. Also…"

Hearing his older brother's thanks, Joshua's expression relaxed. After that, he looked at Subaru and Beatrice. Instantly, keenly, and very blatantly, the temperature in his yellow eyes turned cold.

"…Both of you, thank you for coming all this way. I believe you have already spoken to Lady Anastasia. I am sorry that I was unable to join you."

"Mm, don't sweat it… I heard you were out to take care of some kind of business."

"Yes. By the command of Lady Anastasia, I went to the trading company to…prepare a dragon boat for you. Please make use of it during your time in the city."

"Dragon boat!"

The statement was delivered in an oddly chilly tone, but the content made Subaru's eyes sparkle. Behind Joshua, in the waterway from which he had just emerged, Subaru saw a water dragon with its outstretched head turned their way.

"A pilot has also been provided. I employed Hoshin Company

connections to secure a trustworthy person."

"That's being very thorough. What's really important is that this is the stuff of dreams and fantasy, so thanks for setting all this up."

"Pay it no heed. I mentioned it already, but this was on Lady Anastasia's orders. If anything, I sought to finish preparations as early as possible to keep my older brother from dealing with Sir Natsuki any longer than necessary, but…"

"You're one hell of a blunt guy, aren't you?"

Joshua's overly forthright nature brought a strained smile to Subaru's face. But Julius was the one surprised in his stead. He raised his shapely eyebrows, apparently unaware of the enmity his younger brother had held toward Subaru until this moment.

"Joshua, all of them are Lady Anastasia's guests of honor, him included.

Rudeness toward him is a slight upon the honor of Lady Anastasia, our liege.

Refrain from this in the future."

"…I—I am very sorry, Brother."

After getting a scolding from Julius, Joshua clenched his jaw as he bowed his head. Julius sighed at the sight, glancing at Subaru and Beatrice with an apologetic look in his eyes.

"I am sorry. I apologize for our impropriety. Normally, my younger brother would absolutely never behave in such a manner… Perhaps the

change in environment has him more worked up than usual."

"Not that I mind, but if it's really because this is some new, unfamiliar place, then you need to keep a firm grip on the reins as the older brother. I don't wanna have both siblings nipping at my heels, Big Bro."

"Hmph, I shall keep that in mind."

When Julius returned to normal and wore his usual smug smile, Subaru shrugged in exasperation. As he did, Beatrice went, "Ah," her voice trickling out as she held Subaru's hand and trained her gaze toward the inn.

Just as Subaru turned to see what had caught her attention, the door to the inn was flung open as several people emerged.

"Hey, General! It's terrible ya just abandoned me like that! This ain't no joke!"

Garfiel came first, his sparkling golden hair all a mess as he clenched his fangs. He'd apparently been at Mimi's mercy for quite a while.

"Sorry to make you wait. We just couldn't find Garfiel and the others any sooner."

"They left signs of mayhem throughout the entire inn, so we had to look everywhere."

Behind Garfiel, Emilia and Otto spoke of the difficulties their search party had to overcome.

Just as Anastasia had said, Mimi had whisked Garfiel away, which drove her two younger brothers to take up pursuit and interfere with their date, resulting in scuffles that had apparently broken out all around the inn. "That was hell. If Bro hadn't come, I'd still be runnin'."

"So you've been savoring a meowtiful festival. Satisfied?"

"Satisfied, my ass. Those little bros tried to kill me as soon as that runt dragged me off. I was racin' around like Gehanon's Fleeing Feet, damn it."

"Well, those two little brothers seem to be obsessed with their sister to the extreme. You didn't counterattack?"

"They were on a rampage 'cause they were worried for their big sis, right? No way I was gonna make 'em cry over that."

Garfiel had steadfastly chosen to not raise a hand upon his sister-loving comrades.

Either way, thanks to timely aid, he had finally been freed from the sibling trio, meaning the Emilia camp was assembled at last. Preparations were in order to pay the Songstress Maniac a visit and engage in direct negotiations.

"Joshua arranged a dragon boat for us, so it's a boat trip from here on out."

"Wow, seriously? I really wanted to ride one. Thank you, Joshua."

Bringing her hands together before her, Emilia smiled and voiced her appreciation. Joshua's cheeks reddened slightly as he tried to respond.

"N-not at all. Your words are wasted upon me. I merely did as Lady

Anastasia bade."

"We are grateful for your thanks. Please enjoy your boat trip, Lady

Emilia."

The two brothers reacted to her gratitude in very different ways, which Subaru interpreted as a sign of how accustomed each sibling was to this sort of thing.

Having bid the Juukulius brothers a farewell, Subaru and the others began climbing aboard the dragon boat.

The dragon boat was the size of a small rivercraft and could accommodate seven people including the pilot. The good-natured, weathered-looking pilot lent them a hand, and when he saw that everyone was aboard, he gently launched the boat.

"The size of the boats is apparently set by city law, y'see. It's a compromise 'cause they gotta consider not just pilots like us but the comings and goings of other vessels, too."

The swarthy-skinned pilot gave that explanation as Subaru and the others looked at the boat like it was a novelty.

Subaru hadn't given it much thought, but unlike the dragon carriages speeding down broad highways, something like traffic rules needed to be set for the waterway boats that were the chief means of getting around the city.

"It's my first time crossing the water by boat. Somehow, it has my heart racing."

"Seriously? Ahhh, but it's not like this is a sea or anything."

"What's a sea?"

"It's like a…never-ending puddle of water. My homeland had that all around it, see."

"Huh, that's incredible. It's nice that you'd never run out of water in a place like that."

Emilia's eyes glimmered. Subaru smiled at her childlike impression of his birthplace.

Unfortunately, using seawater to supplement insufficient drinking water was spectacularly suicidal conduct. As it would be fruitless and complicated to explain that, he decided to simply appreciate Emilia's cuteness.

In the meantime, the dragon boat followed the waterway's current, picking up speed as it proceeded into the center of the city. A dragon boat heading down the left lane of the broad waterway gave Subaru pause.

Mysteriously, the flow in the waterway's right lane was heading upward. Just what strange physics were at work here?

"Tee-hee-hee. Surprised? Actually, I know why. Look at the edge of the city."

When Subaru had that question in his mind, Emilia proudly pointed far into the distance. Looking in that direction, he saw that the circular outer wall surrounding the city was connected to some stonework towers. There was one giant stonework tower for each of the cardinal directions—west, east, south, north—it was impossible to miss them.

"Ahhh, I was wondering about that. What are those towers?"

"Those are the control towers that regulate the flow of water inside the city. Apparently, the towers themselves are complex metia that use the power of water magic crystals to control the current. It seems like the city's huge water gates are operated there, too."

"Heh, so those are giant metia! That's really something."

Nodding at Emilia's explanation, Subaru now knew the mysterious mechanism behind the waterways flowing in the city. The Water Gate City of Pristella really was different from other cities in quite a few respects.

Beginning with its laws and its standing as a completely independent city, there seemed to be many things he ought to study about it.

"Incidentally, please be careful. Sullying the water is a grave criminal offense in this city. This goes especially for Garfiel, who has been gazing at the water with a frightened face for some time now."

"It ain't that I'm scared of the water. I just don't wanna end up like some waterlogged cat."

"Then could you stop holding on to my cloak with all your strength? Judging by the sound, it might well tear soon."

Sitting in the center of the dragon boat, Otto sighed at how Garfiel couldn't seem to calm down at all. The exchange brought a smile to Emilia while Beatrice simply shrugged.

"Goodness, everyone is too worked up. Would you behave yourselves and learn from Betty's ladylike example, I wonder? Subaru thinks so as well."

Beatrice winked toward Subaru as she sought his agreement. Then Subaru gave Beatrice a little nod.

"—ad."

"…What did you say just now, I wonder?"

It was Beatrice alone who overheard the murmur so small, it was almost inaudible.

When her expression stiffened and she took a step back, everyone else turned their attention to Subaru. Looking over each of their faces in turn, Subaru smiled.

"This is bad. I think I'm gonna throw up."

—In an instant, complete pandemonium broke out on the boat.

7

"Are you finally better, I wonder?"

"Nah, just a little longer… Whoa, this is bad. The world's spinning. It's still going… Crap, I thought I had this under control, but it's no use… I guess some things never change."

Subaru gazed at the current of the waterway as Beatrice stroked his back.

They were on a footpath by the Great Waterway, which ran through the center of the city. He understood why passersby were smiling as they watched the two of them sitting together in a corner.

They likely mistook them for close siblings—that, or recent arrivals who thought the Great Waterway was quite a novelty.

"Not that either of those assumptions is wrong, though… Bleh."

"If you are going to retch in the middle of saying something foolish, you can at least behave yourself and catch your breath. There's no need to be concerned. I shall stay with you, I suppose… Get well soon."

Beatrice was gentle and reassuring to the frail, blue-faced Subaru. Indulging in her kindness, Subaru focused on steadying himself, wanting to recover as soon as possible.

Some fifteen minutes had passed since Subaru's sudden bout of seasickness on the dragon boat had caused an uproar.

Having gotten off the dragon boat midway, Subaru was left with no option but to rendezvous with the others at their destination by foot, with Beatrice staying close to him to keep him from setting out before taking time to recover.

Of course, Emilia had offered to wait until he felt better, but—

"Lady Anastasia has already made arrangements for the other party to grant us his time. The tardier we are, the worse the impression we make, and I would like to avoid giving Lady Anastasia a reason to ridicule us."

This was the merciless opinion of the domestic adviser who had neither blood nor tears to spare. Thus, Subaru had been abandoned by the party.

That said, on top of having no idea how long his recovery would take, Subaru's pride wouldn't allow the issue of his seasickness to slow Emilia down. Then again, he had the sense that his pride had already been shattered to pieces. At any rate, he agreed that Otto's judgment was the right one.

"It's the nightmare from when I rode the ferry on that field trip to the ocean in elementary school all over again…or did they know about my seasickness and took advantage of it to separate me from Emilia-tan…?"

"Is Emilia someone who would be rendered helpless from the lack of one bumbling Subaru, I wonder? Then what is Garfiel here for?"

"Suppose you're right. Besides, Julius wouldn't tolerate some underhanded move like that… That guy is always the most chivalrous person in the room."

Julius's nobility was inflexible. Subaru had no reason to doubt him on that point. Due to that, Subaru didn't feel a strong need to be overly concerned about any conspiracy by the Anastasia camp.

"Pfft, Subaru, do you not trust that man a great deal, I wonder?"

"Huuuh?! No, no, there's no way! I mean, what I wanted to say is that his twisted personality won't let him, no more and no less! That's it—let's go already!"

After shouting his protests and pouting, Subaru jumped to his feet.

He rotated his arms and legs a little, confirming there were no lingering effects from his seasickness. His limbs felt a little heavy, but if that was the extent of it…

"I'll just hold Beako's hand and cancel it out with heartwarming energy."

"You seem to be in quite high spirits. Well, Betty will take care of you whatever happens, I suppose."

"Yeah, I'm counting on ya. Anyway, let's hurry and meet back up with everyone before Emilia-tan becomes sad and lonely."

They were already affectionately holding hands as Subaru winked at Beatrice. In turn, Beatrice's very presence seemed to say leave it to me! as they set out toward the trading company.

"Come to think of it, we've been focusing on this Songstress Maniac guy, but I wonder what kind of chick this Songstress is? A city of water with a songstress, plus Emilia-tan and Lady Anastasia, two royal candidates—it all sounds like some major drama's about to break out."

"I do not know what you mean by drama, but Betty has an interest in the

Songstress as well."

"Ohhh, come to think of it, Beako really liked it when Liliana came to the mansion, too, huh?"

Subaru nodded and broached previous events when Beako displayed her interest in the Songstress.

It was about one year prior, before the royal selection had begun in earnest. Just a little after the demon-beast uproar had been mopped up, a minstrel came to stay at Roswaal Manor.

This minstrel was the same Liliana he had just mentioned.

She had a few…troubling personality quirks, but setting that aside, her singing voice charmed all the girls at the mansion to no end. That included Beatrice, long back before she'd opened her heart, as well as Emilia, who was second to none when it came to giving her honest impressions.

—And Rem had been a part of the unexpected new fad, too.

" "

"…Subaru, shall we go this way, I wonder?"

Subaru briefly fell silent, and Beatrice saw a flash of emotion in his black eyes. When she pulled him by the hand, Subaru lightly sighed and slowly followed her tiny back, grateful for her silent thoughtfulness.

Their destination was a trading company that stood on the edge of the Great Waterway at the border between the First and Second Districts.

The city's layout prioritized waterways, meaning the paths were unusually inconvenient for pedestrians. But Beatrice leisurely led him through the city streets, walking as if they were as familiar as her own home.

After several detours around some waterways and countless bending paths, he crossed the waterway hand in hand with Beatrice.

"Look, Subaru. Is that not a magnificent water fountain, I wonder?"

"Ahhh, yeah… Is this some kind of park?"

When Beatrice expressed her admiration, Subaru spoke those words while gazing at a city park that enshrined a beautiful water fountain.

It had a green lawn, a meticulously maintained flower garden, and a large, beautiful fountain sending up dazzling sprays. This was a place that epitomized tranquility, a place of calm and quiet repose.

Had he the time, he would have considered taking a nap right then and there. Yes, if only he had the time.

"But right now, we don't have a minute to lose. Hey, Beako. You've been projecting this whole leave it to Betty, and you can't go wrong, oh-ho-ho energy—but you have no idea where we are, do you?"

"Sigh… Honestly, bringing that up when there's something so beautiful to see is rather heartbreaking. Are you incapable of relaxing, I wonder? As your partner, Betty feels quite embarrassed."

"The old you would've tried to desperately hide your mistake while your face went beet-red. You've become a little cheekier lately. It's enough to make Daddy cry."

Who was the bad influence who had transformed her into such an expert at making excuses?

He ignored the fact that had Otto been present, the adviser would have almost certainly made a witty remark, for Subaru and Beatrice had become thoroughly lost. Though there was some truth to the claim that Subaru didn't know how to take it easy, they really couldn't afford to take their time wandering around.

If possible, Subaru wanted to rejoin Emilia and the others before the negotiations for the magic crystal were wrapped up.

"In that case, would it not be best to politely ask someone to show us the way, I wonder?"

"Ohhh…I never thought I'd live to see the day that Beako would say the words politely ask someone. How you've grown…"

"Oh-ho-ho, Betty is not one to remain at a standstill forever."