18 A walk with Emilia. Visiting the loot house, again

Mordred walked with Emilia to the poorest area of the slums after visiting a bakery, holding a large paper bag filled with fresh buns in front of his chest and leading the way. It wasn't a casual stroll though, but they both walked with a very quick pace and didn't waste any time; buying the pastries didn't take long either as they were already in the commercial district.

Mordred noticed that the daughter and mother duo that he and Emilia met earlier didn't happen to visit the fruit vendor like in the anime, as Mr. Save Point was by himself, so there's that. Mordred's nearly flawless intuition was wrong for once, as he didn't fully plan this part.

From time to time Mordred would glance at Emilia and see a somewhat spaced-out but determined look on her face. They barely talked on the way.

At one point Mordred picked up one of the buns and took a large bite.

"Mordred, didn't we get the buns as a bribe to get the information on the way to Old Man Rom's Loothouse?" Emilia asked. Although she still remained unconvinced of this course of action, she trusted Puck.

"Yeah, but I got plenty of them," Mordred casually said as he finished chewing. He then said in an old and experienced tone: "As a wise king once said: hunger is the enemy."

Mordred took another bite. However, he saw that Emilia's expression seemed somewhat unconvinced.

"So you're a gourmand?" Emilia asked, sort of out of nowhere.

"A gourmand?" Mordred said with raised eyebrows as he finished chewing. "I guess you could say that. I have a special constitution, so I need to eat a lot."

After these days Mordred was certain that as a pseudo-Saber his appetite is through the roof and he needs to eat a lot when he exerts himself. But on the flip side, the more he eats, the faster his mana and strength seems to recover.

"Humm. Sorry if it's insensitive, but you're not human, are you? Mordred?" Puck then asked, sticking out his head from within Emilia's waterfall-like hair.

"What makes you think so?" Mordred curiously asked the cat-spirit.

Emilia also appeared very curious.

"Humu, it's that your body is made from flesh and blood like a human, but it's also full of mana like a spirit," Puck said in a serious tone.

"Ah?" Mordred was a little taken aback for a moment by Puck's observations; it's the first time that he heard it. He then nodded and said, "Yes, I guess you're right. Don't tell it to others, but I am partially a spirit. But please just treat me like a normal person."

"Partially a spirit? That's the first time I heard of someone like you," Puck said in a curious tone. "Ah, and don't worry! We'll keep it a secret, promise!" the Great Spirit added with a smile as he patted his chest.

At this moment Mordred could see that Emilia's face was riddled with both shock and sympathy. After a while, she said meekly, "I'm a half-elf."

Mordred looking at Emilia for a moment and hummed. "A half-elf, hmm?"

When he heard the shame with which Emilia admitted that she's a half-elf he couldn't help but want to take her into his arms. He casually took another bite of his bun. A half-elf. Who gives a damn?

Emilia blinked her eyes a few times as he saw that Mordred was completely unmoved by what she just said. In fact, he only looked at her with sympathy. She asked timidly, "Why do you not hate me or feel disgusted when you know that I'm a silver-haired half-elf? You know about the Witch, right? You even said earlier that I attract attention…"

The fear of the Witch is deeply rooted in everyone's heart as if she was a living Devil. In this world, after the names of their parents and siblings, children would secretly learn the name of the Witch next. Just saying the name Satella is a great taboo and something that brings great fear to people.

Because of her resemblence to the witch Emilia has been accustomed to receiving all kinds of scorn the moment people notice her pointed ears. She knows that even back in the mansion the maids Ram and Rem secretly look at her with disgust.

For a stranger who knew that she was a half-elf, it was strange for Emilia to not be treated with prejudice. Mordred's attitude was not unpleasant or unwelcome by her, but it was not normal.

Mordred looked at Emilia for a moment. "Hm, yeah, I heard the rumors about the Witch, but it's silly to hate you just because you're also a half-elf, right?"

'I said that she attracts attention, right? I guess that was quite insensitive…' Mordred thought back.

Emilia halted her steps and looked at Mordred with a stunned look. While it is not impossible for a knight with high standing to put up pleasantries and act nicely to her, Mordred's attitude simply seemed too honest, too kind.

Mordred smiled brightly at Emilia and added, "Besides, Emilia, you're a half-elf which means that you're beautiful, you have a very long lifespan and you're really talented in magic. It's wonderful, right? Sometimes it's better to not be human."

Emilia stared at Mordred for a while, before her pale cheeks turned red and she looked away, pouting. "Aaaah! Mordred, you nincompoop!"

The scene from the anime seemed to replay itself. Emilia squatted down and turned away, meanwhile Puck suddenly launched himself through the air to punch Mordred in the cheek with a yell:

"Hiya!"

Mordred chuckled while Puck's paw remained connected to his cheek. "You have to try harder than that if you want to hit me, Puck-sama."

Puck shook his entire body, saying, "It isn't that I'm angry, but the opposite. I can tell that you really feel the way you said and it makes me feel really really uncomfortable! I had to do something to let it out!"

"Hiya! Hiya! Hiya! Hiya!" The cat spirit then kept sending punches at Mordred's cheek with his soft paws, producing small ripples on his skin and tickling him.

Mordred lightly chuckled as a joyful tear formed in his eye. Looking to the side he saw that Emilia was now squatting on the ground and clutching her head after what he just said. At this moment, his complexion was also slightly red after what he said; he was not a robot.

'Emilia is very likely simply glad that there's someone who treats her like a normal person and she has someone she could consider a friend, with no romantic thoughts. Thinking back, a similar scene happened in Episode Zero of the anime, in the very first loop which was entirely forgotten by Emilia, becoming meaningless,' Mordred silently thought.

'In the same loop Emillia also introduces herself as Satella to try and chase Subaru away, but he had no idea who Satella was so he was also completely unmoved...'

Emilia suddenly turned around and called out, "Mordred, you're such a dunderhead!"

"Dunderhead? I don't want to hear that from-" Mordred began, but then cut his words. He squatted down in front of Emilia. "Hn. Nevermind. Anyway, are you okay?"

"Hmph! Clodpoll!" Emilia turned away, pouting.

Mordred smiled and stood up. "Clodpoll, okay, that's a word I've never heard before, but it feels like an insult."

Emilia sighed as she stood up, her expression returning to normal. "More importantly, we should continue and find the loot house."

Mordred nodded with a light smile and turned to the front. "Yeah. Let's go."

Eventually the duo, plus Puck, entered the poorest part of the slums.

"Where do we go now?" Emilia asked.

"We have to ask around, find a nice target," Mordred lightly said as he looked around.

Puck then landed at Mordred's shoulders. While looking at the bone-skinny slum dwellers hiding themselves in run-down shacks, he said, "People here really look starved, even more so than I thought."

"Yeah, the slums of the capital are in terrible shape for sure," Mordred said.

"Emm." Emilia's expression seemed full of pity as she looked around. Her expression then firmed as she looked at Mordred. "I doubted you earlier, Mordred, but you were right. It's good that we brought some food, it should help us to get the information we need."

"Well, I was actually joking. The buns are for myself, I was hungry," Mordred replied in a serious manner.

Puck tilted his head as he looked at Mordred. Judging by Mordred's possessive feelings that he held toward the buns, Puck really wasn't able to tell whether Mordred was telling the truth or not. Honestly, if Reinhard or Crush Karsten with their lie detection Divine Protections were here, then they might have also faced a similar predicament.

Mordred smiled and then gave one bun to Emilia. "Here, you can have one."

Emilia took the bun absentmindedly, seeming to analyze Mordred.

Thinking about something, Mordred smiled and asked, "You half-elves eat normal food, right? Or do you eat human flesh?"

"Hmph! We eat normal food! Don't say strange things like that!" Emilia rebuked, looking at Mordred flustered. She then vigorously took a bite of her bun as if to prove a point.

"Huhu, now that you're all eating, I want some too!" Puck said, floating in front of the paper bag.

Mordred raised his eyebrows in surprise for a moment - he didn't really remember Puck ever eating, but then he recalled that Beatrice did appear on breakfast in the Roswaal's mansion, so it is probable that spirits can eat as well.

"Okay! It's good that I bought a lot then," Mordred said with a smile and then gave a second bun to Emilia. "Emilia will hold it for you, I guess."

Emilia absentmindedly held the other bun in her other hand while Puck took a bite of it with a "hum!'.

In the meantime, Mordred went ahead to look around and soon found two thin teenagers that were not far from them.

"You guys wait here," Mordred told Emilia and Puck, before approaching the two kids.

"Huh? Alright."

As Mordred drew closer to the two teenage boys, he could see that the one who seemed to be younger was quite nervous - he hid himself behind his friend or sibling, while the other one tensed, also showing that he was nervous.

Already wearing his casual clothes again, Mordred smiled and said, "Hello, you two."

"...Umm, hello?" The older child awkwardly replied, visibly wary.

"There's no need to be nervous," Mordred said with a lighty smile. "I'm just looking for Old Man Rom's place to do some business. If you can give me directions, these buns will be yours."

Mordred then took out one of the buns from the paper bag to show them. The buns were freshly baked and their fragrance spread into the air, causing the two kids' noses to flinch and for them to suddenly have an appetite to eat.

"So you're trying to bribe us, eh, sir?" The older boy asked, but it was clear that he gazed at the buns with strong desire.

"Yeah," Mordred said flatly. "Everyone does their best to survive, right? Like I said, I have some business with Old man Rom, but I dunno where his place is."

The two kids looked at each other and nodded, having made up their minds. The older one said, "We know where it is, mister!"

"Yes, we can tell you," the other said, nodding.

Mordred grinned and then gave one bun to the two kids each. "Sure. If you tell me, I'll give you the rest."

The two kids took a sniff and then bit into the bun with delight.

A while later, Mordred received the directions to Old Man Rom's place and gave the kids the rest of the buns, with regret. He then returned to Emilia and Puck. "I know where the place is."

"You do?" Emilia asked, before clutching her hands with a grateful expression. "Thank you, Mordred. I don't know what I would do without you. Now, let's go get back my insignia!"

"Hm, yeah," Mordred lightly said with a smile and started leading the way; without him Emilia would have found the place by herself just the same.

In the back, Emilia looked at Puck.

Puck shrugged his shoulders. "Not a hint of ill will, told you."

***

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

Mordred knocked at the doors of the loot house and he soon heard quick light footsteps.

A moment later, he heard a girly voice from behind the door, "Who is it? Say the password."

"The password is - open the damn door before I kick it open, Felt," Mordred called out.

"Mordred, did you need to be so rude? You could just ask nicely," Emilia admonished from behind.

"What 'ask nicely'? They stole something very precious from you. Why do I need to be nice to them?" Mordred said.

"I understand that, but you could be a little nicer." Judging by Emilia's expression, she seemed to firmly believe that she was in the right. "If you were a little nicer we could maybe resolve things without violence."

Mordred sighed after a long moment. "You are actually right, but whatever I say I would expect that they would swing a dagger or an ax at me the moment they open the door anyway."

"Do you really think that they would go that far?" Emilia asked.

Mordred raised his eyebrows. After what he just said, admitting that they are here to reclaim what was stolen from them?

"Oraa!" Not a moment later, the door was open with a flung and a giant man swung a massive club at Mordred with a shout.

Mordred smirked and leisurely caught the club with his bare hand mid swing. He said, "Or a club."

Emilia gasped behind Mordred when she noticed the sudden attack and then she quickly materialized a few ice-projectiles in the air near her.

At that moment Old Man Rom's eyes nearly bulged out from their sockets. Not only did one little kid casually catch his full-strength swing, but he was also supported by a Spirit Arts user from behind. Felt was also shocked in the back.

Mordred clicked his tongue. He exerted his strength and explosively pushed back against the club with his hand, causing the giant man to be pushed backwards.

Old Man Rom flew a short distance and crashed with his back against the floor with a groan, breaking some of the wooden floor with his weight in the process.

"Old man!" Felt called out as she knelt in front of Old Man Rom.

Emilia wrinkled her eyebrows, but said nothing, her expression filling with determination.

Mordred glanced at Emilia. "Let's go inside and get your insignia."

Emilia nodded and then went into the building following Mordred, having ice blades surround her.

Old Man Rom was already standing up and Felt was gritting her teeth with her hand behind her back, ready to pull out her dagger.

Emilia held her hand raised to control the ice blades in the air. Her voice was cold like icicles as she said, "I only have one demand. Return my insignia and no one has to get hurt."

Old Man Rom looked at Felt with a defeated expression. "Sorry Felt, you picked up something troublesome and troublesome people came with it. I wouldn't withdraw if she were just some magic user, but she's trouble. And there's also that guy," he told Felt while shielding her with his giant arm from Emilia's projectiles and then glanced at Mordred who wore his 'strange' clothes and also held a sword in his hands. He added, "I say you return what you stole."

"Damn it!" Felt cursed. This job was her chance for a better life.

"Just return my insignia and I will forgive you. It's very important to me," Emilia said and her eyes then landed on the counter on which the insignia was laying.

Just as both Emilia and Mordred stood with their backs facing the entrance, suddenly a shadow appeared behind them and swung a dagger at Emilia's back.

***

(AN: Such a big cliffhanger that we all know what will happen next heh.)