V4 - CHAPTER 5 : SUBARU NATSUKI, THE SELF-DECLARED KNIGHT

—Subaru learned of how the tale had proceeded in his absence thanks to Reinhard and Ferris, who had shown up together in the castle's waiting room.

"And so the meowgnificent royal selection began," Ferris concluded. "Subawu, you're going to serve as Lady Emilia's knight, huh? Good luck to both of us."

Ferris wrapped up his summary, but the sarcastic twist of the knife at the end was very sharp indeed. He'd been in the chamber from start to finish; surely he knew quite well what kind of mental state Subaru was in. But Subaru had no time to pay the jab any heed. The royal selection details were crucial, but at that moment, there was an issue Subaru had to find out about even more than that.

Seeing how Subaru was too timid to properly ask, Reinhard answered his unspoken question.

"—The old man is unharmed. His safe release has been secured through Lady Felt's kindness."

"—!"

"I didn't think he'd come in through the same corridor without you seeing his face, and I knew you two know each other. It was easy to guess why you were anxious."

When Subaru lifted a finger, Reinhard moved quickly to assuage his concerns. But even he didn't know the true source of Subaru's sense of guilt.

The instant Subaru had let himself leave Old Man Rom to rot, a dark cloud formed at the bottom of his heart from which there was no salvation.

Ferris chimed in, "That's wonderful. You should thank Reinhard and Lady Felt because it's all thanks to them. Now you don't need to make any excuses at all, Subawu!"

"—"

An icy shudder ran up Subaru's spine. He looked up and turned to face Ferris. His amber eyes glittered like they could see right through Subaru, all the way into his soul.

Having someone look inside him felt deeply unpleasant. So Subaru forced his stiff face into motion to cover it up.

"Y-yeah… I'm so glad! Totally like I figured! It really was a good idea to leave it all to Emilia-tan and Felt—better than anything I could've done… Right? That's right, isn't it?" Subaru spread his arms wide as he gave both a dose of deliberate, exaggerated, clownish behavior, his next words even hastier and more flippant, "But man, Felt really set her heart on winning the royal selection 'cause of me, and that means one more strong rival for the throne. Emilia-tan might give me a real scolding for this one."

In different ways, the expressions on Reinhard's and Ferris's faces changed in response to Subaru's sudden shift, but in the end, they chose not to press the point.

Both knights were showing him pity. Subaru, painfully aware of the fact, ignored his crippled heart's pleas.

"So now that the talk is all over, where is Emilia-tan and everybody?"

"The candidates remained in the chamber to discuss the fine details of the royal selection process. During that time, I said I would go to check on you, and Ferris came with me," replied Reinhard.

Reinhard's actions made sense, but he couldn't stop wondering why Ferris was showing his face, too. Thus, Subaru asked the latter, "Thanks for checking up on me, but is this all right, not being by your master's side?"

"It's totally fine. Lady Crusch is much stronger than Ferri, so it's perfectly safe!"

"Just laying that out there like that… How's a slacker like you in the Knights of the Royal Guard, anyway?"

Ferris gave Subaru a sidelong glance and wagged a finger at him. His fingertip glowed with a blue light.

"Mew know why. Ferri's got a special talent that's in high demand."

"Uh… Why do I feel lighter, like my shoulders, knees, and hips aren't working as hard anymore…?"

"Subawu, your body's aching all over like an old man."

"That's your selling point, eh…? Right, I heard you're a really good water mana user."

In the first place, the reason Subaru was allowed to go with Emilia to the capital was to improve the poor physical condition he was in. The one who was supposed to heal him was none other than the cat-eared man before his eyes.

Reinhard replied to Subaru's comment, saying, "The words really good do not suffice, Subaru. It is fairer to call Ferris the greatest master of water-type magic on the continent. It is not for nothing that he bears the title of 'Blue,' standing at the pinnacle of those who share his magical affinity despite his young age."

Reinhard's praise prompted Ferris to push his chest out, displaying not the slightest shred of modesty.

"Meow, the title came from all Ferri's fans."

Given that he really was a healer as good as his title, Subaru saw his numerous admirers in a new light. It really put into perspective that this person was treating him.

Subaru's tone was heavy and pained as he arrived at the answer he'd expected.

"—So Emilia-tan really did…"

"So Lady Emilia indeed organized it," Reinhard concluded.

Subaru could only guess at the back-and-forth that arranged for his healing. That was why he couldn't stop the heavy melancholy rising deep in his heart.

Asking Ferris, in the Crusch camp, to treat his body meant relying on a political rival on the very eve of the royal selection. In other words, Subaru had been deadweight for Emilia…again.

He asked, "Hey, why do I have to accept the treatment no matter what?"

"Because she already paid. If Ferri doesn't heal you, Subaru, it'll mean Lady Emeowlia went through aaaaall that effort for nothing."

"What's this payment? If it's just some object, you can hand it back, ri—"

"It's not an object, and once you know it you can't give it back. So Ferri has to say no to your request, Subawu."

Shot down at point-blank range, Subaru could only put a hand to his forehead and cradle his head.

Even though Subaru didn't want to be a liability, it seemed that was all he had been to Emilia. He wanted to help her. That was Subaru's whole reason for being there. It was the one and only reason that gave his existence there any meaning.

A tranquil voice echoed through the waiting room. The speaker was neither Reinhard nor Ferris, but a man with refined features leaning against the open door—Julius.

"—If you curse your own lack of strength so much, I believe you have one choice you can make."

Subaru's face shot up like it had been slapped.

"What? Oh, it's you."

Subaru scowled with resentment. Julius received his gaze with a calm, composed look.

"I would rather you did not make such a disagreeable expression. I did not expect a warm welcome, but letting your emotions get the better of you…"

"The better of me… So what?"

"…It brings the character of those who stand with you into question. Strive to remember this."

"Ugh…!"

Subaru's throat constricted with anger. It wasn't the words themselves, but the sensitive places they jabbed.

He maintained his silence as Julius strode past him toward an open window.

"Now, I suppose you wanted to ask me what I am doing here?" The knight turned his back, surveying the grounds beyond the palace, narrowing his eyes as a breeze blew. "Naturally, I came to see you. I would like you to accompany me for a brief time."

How about it? Julius asked with a wave of his hand. The man's sharp gaze even then implied this was not some friendly suggestion.

"Just so you know, I'd never say yes to something like that, not knowing the place or what it's for, even on one hour's sleep."

"The place is the parade square. The objective… Yes."

In response to Subaru's seemingly casual but extremely biting words, Julius looked down in apparent thought. Then, with an arrogant smile, he spoke with as much venom as Subaru had.

"How about…teaching you a lesson or two about reality?"