"Alright Everything is done on my end, what about yours?" a voice asked while placing a leather briefcase in the back of a wooden carriage, alongside various supplies and ingredients for the mansion.
"Just give me five more minutes; the Ground Dragon is eating right now!" came the cheerful response of the blue-haired oni-maid from the front.
"Alright," he answered, moving to the front to check on Rem. She was seated on the ground, a large rectangular bowl of meat positioned in front of a big, greenish Ground Dragon.
This day marked the seventh day after Emilia had left Subaru in the capital. Following that incident with the knights, Subaru had been feeling much better, especially after his difficult discussion with Emilia.
After their serious discussion and Rem's heartfelt confession, he expressed his intention to return to the mansion right away to make amends and apologize to Emilia for the trouble he had caused.
But Rem then told him that they had six days remaining at the inn, suggesting they take full advantage of their time there instead of letting it go to waste, a suggestion Subaru ultimately agreed with.
Additionally, the sight of a cute maid shyly expressing her desire to spend time with him, while her cheeks flushed like an appa, only encouraged him more.
Thus, for the next few days, he and Rem enjoyed each other's company, whether it was at the park, exploring different shops, or savoring one of Rem's exquisite teas under the moonlight.
He also engaged in his favorite hobby, which he used to do with Emilia: stargazing and sketching constellations on paper. This time, however, Rem was by his side, eager to join in and "understand her hero better," as she puts it.
He was more than happy to have her with him, as she seemed genuinely interested, much like Emilia, and they had a great time together.
Seeing her joyful, smiling face always made his heart race.
His heart… Subaru was still grappling with his feelings. He undeniably loved Rem, a realization that dawned on him after her confession, but he also had feelings for Emilia, which he had come to recognize, so he was still uncertain about what to do next.
So, he put that topic in the back of his mind and decided to speak with Emilia first before he could decide anything.
Who knows, maybe in this complicated situation of his, he could—
"It's great to see you again, Subaru." A voice called from behind him, causing Subaru to jump in surprise and quickly turn around to face the person who had sneaked up on him.
With his striking flaming red hair and sparkling blue eyes that nearly matched Subaru's own, it was none other than the renowned sword saint, Reinhard Van Astrea.
"Reinhard!" Subaru exclaimed, raising his voice, "Don't sneak up on me like that! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
'How the hell does he do this? This is the third time!' he thought, recalling similar encounters at the loot house, the castle, and now here. What's next? Appearing while he was in the bathroom?
"Oh, I apologize. I didn't mean to startle you," Reinhard said, placing a hand on his chest and bowing slightly in apology.
Subaru's irritation faded as he stared blankly at Reinhard, noticing the sincere expression on his face.
"Are you serious?" he asked, prompting a look of confusion from Reinhard.
"Did I do something wrong? I apologize if I offended you in some way." Reinhard inquired, genuinely puzzled. Had he unintentionally upset his friend? It was possible; a monster like him always seems able to hurt those close to him.
Subaru pointed at Reinhard's face. "That! You just did it!"
"Sorry?"
"It's the apology, Reinhard! For god's sake, stop apologizing!"
"…I'm sorry."
Subaru facepalmed, dragging his hand down his face with a sigh of frustration. 'This guy… Is he dense, an idiot, or both?'
Seeing Reinhard still looking confused, Subaru took a deep breath and addressed the situation directly.
"Reinhard, you really need to knock it off with the apologies. We're friends, right? Friends don't keep apologizing like that."
"But I startled and offended you, didn't I?" Reinhard replied.
Subaru chuckled and shook his head. "You did surprise me, but that's it. It wasn't scary at all, and I wasn't offended—not one bit."
He placed a hand on Reinhard's shoulder, smiling at him. "You don't need to apologize for everything, Reinhard. That way of thinking that you're somehow always in the wrong is toxic, you should stop it."
Reinhard listened in astonishment; he shouldn't feel the need to apologize for anything? But he's a monster! A disgusting creature that had brought nothing but grief and pain to his family. His father and grandfather both hate him, so why shouldn't he express remorse when he was merely a monster masquerading as a hero?
Yet, something in Subaru's words stirred a feeling within him—was it relief? Joy? Subaru never viewed him as a monster and was one of the few friends he had. Perhaps he should listen to his advice?
"I-I'll do my best, Subaru," he replied, attempting to return Subaru's smile with one of his own.
"That's the spirit!" Subaru exclaimed, giving him a thumbs up. "So, is there something you need, or did you just come to see little ol' me?"
Reinhard paused, recalling the real reason for his visit. He had intended to see Julius shortly after their duel but he was denied from visiting by Felix, who was busy healing him.
Thus, he had to leave the capital with his lady, Felt, to Hakuchuri, where their family's main estate was located. Where he then set out to fulfill a mission assigned by the sage council. However, he received an urgent message summoning him back to the capital for something significant.
He had rushed over, but before heading to his destination, he stopped by Anastasia's mansion in the noble district to check on his friend's well-being.
Unfortunately, he… wasn't doing well.
"It's… about Julius," Reinhard said, and in an instant, the smile and joy on Subaru's face vanished.
Subaru could only manage a simple, "Oh," his expression remaining stoic and emotionless, yet Reinhard could see beyond that facade.
It wasn't just his own intuition; he had the Divine Protection of Empathy, which enabled him to perceive the emotions of others. At that moment, he sensed the guilt and regret swirling within Subaru, rather than any twisted sense of satisfaction from having defeated his friend so thoroughly.
Even before their conversation had truly started, Reinhard felt hope that it would end on a positive note.
"He's not in a good place. Physically, he's healed, but ever since then he hasn't left his room. He seems… lost, without a purpose, and insists he's fine. I'm not sure what's going on, but he's been neglecting his duties as of lately," Reinhard explained, and Subaru nodded in understanding.
Julius certainly came across as a proud individual, and it was clear that his defeat had deeply wounded that pride. Just as Subaru had anticipated, news of the duel had spread rapidly.
It was being referred to as the "Humiliation of The Finest Knight." The rumor claimed that a butler from The Mathers had effortlessly defeated the knight in combat, without even breaking a sweat.
The chatter around town was filled with mockery, lamenting how weak the knights appeared for a mere butler to triumph over them.
However, there had been no news regarding the knights who had ambushed Subaru. He suspected that the incident was swept under the rug, likely to protect whatever reputation the knights had left.
Typical arrogant knights, only caring about their own image.
"I was hoping you could visit and talk to him. I dislike seeing my friends at odds," Reinhard said, pulling Subaru back from his thoughts.
"Talk to him?" Subaru repeated, contemplating the suggestion. Did he really want to talk? He had done what set out to do, teach Julius a lesson, but from what Reinhard said, it seemed like Julius wasn't handling it well.
"I'll apologize for going too far in the duel. But that's it, I won't take back what I said to him." He said.
Reinhard frowned slightly at the answer; he had overheard their conversation thanks to the Divine Protection of Eavesdropping, which allowed him to listen in from a certain distance.
He disapproved of his friend's remarks made during the conference. While some of what Subaru said to the knights and nobles was inappropriate, there were elements that held some truth, particularly regarding the nobles' insults towards Emilia.
"Subaru, I must disagree with your assessment. I understand that after the meeting, you might have formed a negative impression of us knights. We may not be perfect, but we always strive to improve and fulfill our duties with honor and pride," he began.
"Julius exemplifies the knightly virtues and the code of chivalry. He always puts in the effort to perform at his best. I know you might not have a favorable view of him after the duel, but I assure you, Julius had your best interests at heart."
"So, I ask you to reconsider your opinion of us. We deserve at least a second chance," he concluded his impromptu speech.
Subaru remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line as he gazed at Reinhard. Reinhard sensed the turmoil of emotions within him—disbelief, confusion, anger, and sadness—a complex mix that left him uncertain about Subaru's response.
"Pardon me for interrupting, Reinhard-sama," both Subaru and Reinhard turned to see Rem, who had just finished feeding the ground dragon.
"Rem, were you listening in on us?" Subaru asked, to which Rem nodded.
"Rem couldn't help it; you were right next to her while she was tending to the ground dragon. However, she felt compelled to speak." she said, then looked at Reinhard.
"Reinhard-sama, Rem believes that her hero's opinion is not misguided at all; in fact, it is the correct one," she asserted.
Reinhard felt an urge to counter her statement. "But Rem-san, surely this is—"
"Reinhard," Subaru interrupted, his voice carrying a hint of seriousness, "Do you know what happened six days ago?"
Reinhard tilted his head slightly, "No?"
Subaru sighed, his stern demeanor softening into one of relief, "So he doesn't know.…" he muttered, though Reinhard caught every word.
"Did something happen while I was gone? Are you in trouble?" he asked, eager to assist his friend.
Subaru nodded, "Six days ago, while Rem and I were heading home, we were ambushed by knights."
Reinhard's eyes widened in disbelief, "You were attacked? By knights?"
Subaru grimly confirmed, "Yeah, twenty-six of them, led by a guy named 'Cedric Valeric'. Ring any bells?"
Reinhard struggled to process the information, and despite his instincts wanting to reject it, his Divine Protection of Lie Detection confirmed Subaru was speaking the truth.
"Y-yes, Cedric-san is a high-ranking knight and a celebrated hero, known for defending Lugunica's southern border against Vollachia before we established the non-aggression pact," Reinhard replied.
Subaru scoffed at this, "A hero? My ass. A scum is a better name for him."
Rem nodded in agreement, clearly sharing Subaru's disdain for the man. She turned to Reinhard, "Reinhard-sama, those hypocrites you call knights, wanted to take Rem's hero away from her, and they also wanted to kill her because of her ties to Subaru-kun and Emilia-sama."
Subaru added, "Yeah, they wanted to kill Rem too, even though she was innocent. So, are those the 'Honorable Knights' you talked about, Reinhard?"
"…"
Silence.
He had no response.
He was aware that not all knights were as virtuous as they appeared, but hearing that a celebrated hero and a significant number of them would sink so low was shocking.
He felt… anger.
Anger for what his friend had endured.
Anger at the knights who dared to attack him.
And anger… at himself for not stopping such a situation.
How typical; whenever his friends find themselves in trouble, he's always far away, proving himself to be as incompetent as ever and arriving only after the fight is over.
Just like a monster—
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Subaru smiling at him.
"Don't look so down, Reinhard; it doesn't look good on you," he said, with Rem nodding in agreement.
"But I—"
"No buts. I know you feel guilty, but you really shouldn't. You were on an important mission, so you couldn't have known. Please, stop blaming yourself for this situation. If anyone should be blamed, it's the knights who attacked me, not you."
Reinhard paused, contemplating Subaru's words, before managing a small smile. "You're right; looking down doesn't suit me."
Subaru beamed back at him, "That's the spirit! Well done, Red."
Reinhard raised an eyebrow, "Red?"
"It's a nickname! Since you have red hair, I thought it would fit. You don't mind, do you?"
Reinhard shook his head, "I'd be glad to be called that, Subaru."
Subaru nodded and then turned to Rem, "I think it's time for us to leave, Rem." She agreed and moved to the front to get ready for their departure.
Turning back to Reinhard, Subaru said, "Sorry, Red. I wish I could chat more, but I have to meet up with Emilia. I'll visit Julius once I'm done, okay?"
"Alright, whenever you think it's the right moment." Reinhard nodded, wishing it could be sooner, but at least Subaru hadn't dismissed the idea.
"I'll See you later, Red." Subaru hopped into the front seat next to Rem and they drove away, leaving Reinhard waving goodbye.
Once they were out of sight, he turned and headed toward the knight's garrison. It seemed his summons were linked to what Subaru and Rem had experienced.
Whatever it was, he was determined to ensure his friend's safety.
---------------------------------
The carriage trundled along the dirt road, with the ground dragon sprinting at full speed, leaving its mark on the earth. Despite the absence of suspension in the wheels, the journey was surprisingly smooth, almost as if it had some.
This was thanks to the Divine Protection of Wind Evasion, which enabled the ground dragon to glide effortlessly through the air, unaffected by the wind and immune to any resistance.
The ground dragon they had used on their trip to the capital a week prior possessed the same ability, and Emilia mentioned that all ground dragons were blessed with it.
"Subaru-kun, is something on your mind?" Rem inquired, gripping the reins of the ground dragon.
Subaru sat next to Rem, his hands resting behind his head against the wooden backrest. "Just thinking about something," he replied.
"What is it? If you don't mind sharing, Rem would love to hear it."
"It's about Reinhard," he said. "I can't help but wonder why someone like him is an imperial knight."
"What do you mean?" she asked, curious.
"I mean, you've seen how the knights behave, and you saw Red for who he is. It's confusing how someone so kind and nice like him is in an order with people like that," he explained.
Rem considered Subaru's words and realized he had a point. The Sword Saint didn't come across as prideful or arrogant, which was certainly different from the knights who had attacked him.
"It's because he's the Sword Saint," Rem replied, causing Subaru to raise an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I get that. But what does that really mean? Is it just a title for someone who accomplished great feats?" he asked, which seemed logical since Reinhard was strong and must have some notable achievements.
Rem gently shook her head. "No, he's called the Sword Saint because he possesses the Divine Protection of The Sword Saint."
"Hmm? What's that?" he asked, not recalling having seen it before.
In truth, Reinhard had so many divine protections that he didn't even bother to look at all of them; he'd rather not be blinded by their shininess.
"I don't know all the details as it is a great secret but here's what I know: it's a unique divine protection that exclusively runs through the Astrea Family, enabling its bearer to wield the Dragon Sword Reid."
"Dragon Sword Reid? Oh, right! That's the one he carries at his side," he recalled, remembering the sword that had the atmospheric mana trembling in its presence.
Then it hit him, "Wait, are you suggesting… he was destined for that role from birth?"
Rem shrugged, "Rem isn't sure. It's all just speculation. The Divine Protection can be passed down at any time."
Subaru was taken aback; Reinhard might have been born into that position, wielding immense power, yet his fate was already determined. Bound to be the kingdom's knight, unable to forge his own path.
Just like Subaru himself.
'Damn,' he thought, clenching his teeth, 'Even you, Reinhard? You don't deserve this, and neither does anyone else. I know I may be overstepping my boundaries, and I may not know much, But I promise, as someone who understands your situation, I'll be there to support you.'
With that, Subaru silently vowed to assist Reinhard in carving out his own destiny, free from external influences.
As the carriage rolled quietly down the road, nothing significant seemed to happen.
Except for his insistence on learning to drive, which resulted in a crash as he veered off course in less than two minutes, forcing him to move to the back when the stubborn ground dragon refused to be driven by him.