Subaru stood amidst a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, his mind tangled in knots.
Each thought pulled him in a different direction, each possibility weighing heavier than the last.
The more he tried to make sense of it all, the tighter the tension coiled in his chest.
He drew a deep breath, the crisp air offering momentary clarity.
"I need to talk to Flugel about this," he resolved internally. That ancient, knowing voice might hold the answers - or at least provide some semblance of understanding.
As he wrestled with his thoughts, they inevitably turned to Emilia. Her silver hair, her lilting voice, the quiet strength in her presence... He needed to see her. The compulsion was undeniable.
Just as he turned toward where she might be -
"Subaru?"
Her voice came from behind him. She had come to him first.
When he turned, there she stood - exactly the vision he'd been yearning for. Emilia's violet eyes held that familiar softness, now edged with concern.
"Ah. . . Did Emilia come to check on me?
"Oh. Tella-tan, what's up?" he managed, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. The slight tremor in his voice betrayed the fractures beneath his facade.
Emilia hesitated, choosing her words with care. "I was... worried. About what Roswaal said earlier."
Subaru shook his head, his voice dropping to something firm and resolute. "Don't worry about that, Tella-tan. I'm not going anywhere. Not permanently, anyway."
The words came out like a vow - one he'd repeated to himself countless times. Death had become a tool rather than an end. But that was knowledge Emilia couldn't bear yet.
Not yet.
Emilia blinked in surprise, yet Subaru's unwavering determination inexplicably soothed something within her. The way he spoke to her - as if he'd known her for years - might have unsettled others. But to Emilia, it felt strangely... comforting.
"Um... Subaru," she began, fingers nervously tracing the hem of her sleeve. "There's something important I need to tell you."
Subaru had sensed this moment coming. The change in her voice - vulnerable, slightly bashful yet resolute - made him still.
"Hm? I'm listening, Tella-tan."
"Please... stop calling me Tella." A silver strand of hair slipped over her shoulder as she bowed her head. "My real name is Emilia. I only hid it because of the stolen insignia. I'm... sorry."
The apology carried centuries of weight. Subaru felt it press against his ribs.
He exhaled slowly.
This was no revelation to him.
"I know. I've known since the day we met."
Emilia's head snapped up. Amethyst eyes wide, searching his face for deception.
"But... how? I thought I played the role well," she murmured. Not defensive - surrendering. In Subaru's gaze, she saw the quiet wisdom of someone who'd seen behind her curtain long ago.
He owed her an explanation.
"First clue—" He held up a finger. "When you introduced yourself as Satella, you expected a specific reaction from me. When I didn't give it, you were startled." A ghost of a smile. "And every time I said 'Tella-tan,' your face did this... complicated thing. Sadness, fear, confusion - all mixed together. That flicker in your eyes? Impossible to miss."
A breath. Then—
"Second: Puck." Subaru mimicked the spirit's sigh. "Right after your introduction, he called you 'Lia.' Doesn't exactly follow from 'Satella,' does it?"
A beat of silence. The memories played behind his eyes.
"Third: Rem." His voice softened. "When I first woke at the mansion, she said I was there by 'Emilia-sama's request.'" He met her gaze squarely. "That's when everything clicked. 'Emilia-sama'... was you."
The words left him breathless - each one excavated from the depths of countless loops, observations, and quiet sufferings.
Emilia stood utterly stunned, her lips slightly parted as Subaru's words settled over her like snowfall. The weight of his revelation left her breathless - he had seen through her from the very beginning.
"Ah... I'm sorry, Subaru. I never meant to lie to you..." Her voice trembled, the apology carrying the weight of centuries of hidden identity.
But Subaru wouldn't let the moment linger in melancholy. In one bold stride, he closed the distance between them.
"—Then let me reintroduce myself properly!"
His declaration rang with heartfelt sincerity. The seriousness in his eyes softened into warmth as he continued, cutting off any further apologies:
"I am Natsuki Subaru. A newcomer to this kingdom who knows absolutely nothing about it." A playful smirk tugged at his lips. "I look forward to getting to know you, Emilia."
This was the fresh start he wanted - one built on honesty rather than secrets.
Emilia's laughter bubbled up like crystal-clear spring water. For the first time, her smile reached her eyes completely unguarded.
"I'm Emilia. Just Emilia." She placed a hand over her heart. "A silver-haired half-elf who grew up in Elior Forest. I look forward to knowing you too, Natsuki Subaru."
Subaru felt like a conquering general in that moment. His triumphant grin betrayed the warmth flooding his chest - this fleeting peace granted by fate was something he'd cherish with his entire being.
Then came the question.
Emilia tilted her head with innocent curiosity:
"But Subaru... why exactly did I wake up in your bed?"
The color drained from Subaru's face. Heat rushed to his cheeks as his eyes darted away.
"W-well... You see... Umm..." Each stammered syllable dug his grave deeper. Lies would be pointless here - with her, deception lost all meaning.
He sighed. The truth was worth temporary embarrassment.
"When I saw you asleep by my bedside... First I wondered why you were there." His fingers fidgeted. "It was obvious you'd stayed to watch over me but dozed off. And..." A gulp. "You looked so peaceful sleeping there. I couldn't bear to wake you."
The confession spilled out in a rush:
"So I carried you to the bed so you'd be more comfortable! Tucked you in and left! That's all!"
His scarlet face burned brighter than a Lugnican sunset.
As the words tumbled out,. Shame and honesty tangled together, but seeing Emilia's cheeks flush as she listened... it softened something inside him.
Emilia had stammered at first, words catching in her throat like tangled threads. But gradually, she steadied.
"Thank you... for thinking of me like that, Subaru."
Her voice wavered—but it was sincere. The pink hadn't faded from her cheeks, and the sight wrapped around Subaru's heart like warmth itself.
"Hmm... Now I need a new nickname for you," he mused, tapping a finger to his chin. "Emilia-tan? Mili? Oh—yes! That's it!"
Childish excitement lit up his face as he declared it, like unveiling a treasure:
"Mili!"
Emilia smiled. The warmth inside her spilled over.
"As long as it's not a bad nickname... you can call me whatever you like, Subaru."
He took a step closer. His gaze sharpened—no jest, just something earnest, raw:
"And if anyone dares call you something cruel... I'll be there to tear them apart, Mili."
Emilia wanted to protest, to say that wasn't right. But she couldn't deny how it made her feel—this fierce, unshakable care. It had been so long since someone had stood for her like this.
Time crept forward—until Rem appeared in the doorway.
Her expression was shadowed, uneasy from the morning's events. Eyes downcast, voice trembling:
"S-Subaru-sama... Roswaal-sama requests you and Emilia-sama in his study. To discuss... the Bowel Hunter incident."
The words barely made it out. She, too, carried the weight of what had happened.
Subaru and Emilia exchanged a glance—a silent agreement, a nod.
As she walked towards Emilia Roswaal's room, she told Subaru the names of the people in the mansion.
subaru already knew this
As they reached Roswaal's door, Subaru paused. His eyes locked onto the wood, and under his breath, barely audible:
"What are you plotting this time... you damned clown?"
Not suspicion. A challenge.
This Subaru wasn't the same as before.
And he'd face Roswaal with a will tempered sharper each time.
Emilia and Subaru stepped into the room with measured steps, the air thick with Roswaal's characteristic theatrical atmosphere. The dim lighting did little to obscure the Roswaal's artificial smile, which seemed to glow unnaturally in the shadows.
His narrowed eyes held the glint of a puzzle master observing his pieces, unable to fully conceal his curiosity. With a graceful wave of his finger, he gestured for them to sit.
"My dear Emilia-sama and Subaru-kun~" he began, his voice dripping with affected warmth, "I've asked you here to recount the events of four days past. As Emilia-sama's sponsor, such details are... most illuminating. I trust you'll indulge me?" The attempt at sincerity faltered against the calculating gleam in his heterochromatic eyes.
Subaru's gaze flickered briefly to Emilia before he spoke with uncharacteristic solemnity.
"Emilia, you should explain what happened before we met first.
Then I'll tell my part." His tone carried unexpected weight, the words carefully measured.
Emilia turned to him with a slight hesitation.
Their eyes met—and time seemed to suspend in a moment of shared, flustered awareness.
A spark of warmth flashed between them before both abruptly looked away, cheeks tinged pink like children caught in some secret understanding.
Gathering herself, Emilia drew a breath that was more than just air—it was a steadying of nerves, a collecting of scattered emotions.
"Puck and I were shopping in the capital," she started, her voice soft but wavering.
"We got distracted... then a blonde girl rushed past us. We didn't think much of it until—until I realized my insignia was gone." Her voice tightened.
The memory of that shock, that guilt, still lodged in her throat like a stone.
"We gave chase, but she scaled a wall and vanished. That's when we met Subaru nearby." Her silver lashes lowered slightly. "He offered to help, but... because of that scent on him, and with my identity concealed, Puck suggested I use a different name. So I did. And we accepted Subaru's help."
As she finished, her eyes lifted to meet Subaru's—a silent passing of the torch, an unspoken request for him to continue their shared story.
Subaru caught that gaze, his heart constricting for a moment.
The trust in Emilia's eyes—that look that pierced straight through to his soul—left him breathless. He took a deep breath to steady himself.
"It was obvious Emilia and Puck had some silent agreement,"
Subaru continued, carefully avoiding getting lost in the memory of those emotions.
"I suggested we gather information from street vendors while Emilia consulted with nearby spirits about the thief. I thought it might give us more leads."
Roswaal's smile flickered like a dying candle. "Oh-ho..." he murmured, barely audible.
But Subaru pressed on, ignoring him entirely.
"After Puck and I got some information and bought two cloaks from a merchant, we headed to Rom's tavern. I came up with several plans along the way...
It was clear the thief couldn't use the insignia herself—she just wanted to sell it. So tracking her down was our only option."
His eyes glazed over briefly, lost in recollection.
"I knocked on the tavern door. Rom called out from inside, demanding a passphrase. Instead of answering, I pulled out my coin pouch and told him I had money for trade."
At this, Roswaal's eyes widened with sudden interest. "And might I ask," he said, leaning forward eagerly, "where exactly you acquired that money?"
Subaru grimaced but didn't shy from the truth. "Before meeting Emilia, I ran into three thugs," he admitted. "They attacked me. I defended myself. After driving them off, I took the money and two daggers they had on them."
Emilia immediately puffed out her cheeks in disapproval. "Subaru! Stealing is wrong!" she scolded, though her tone held more sweetness than actual reprimand.
Subaru tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "But Mili," he countered lightly, "if I'd lost, they would've taken everything from me anyway."
Emilia resisted admitting he had a point—but her resolve crumbled quickly. Deep down, she knew he was right, though she refused to say it aloud. Her cheeks flushed, her puffed-up face now resembling an angry little bun. Subaru's heart raced at the sight, and the urge to protect her flared even stronger inside him.
"Once we were inside," he began, "I offered Felt all my money in exchange for the insignia. She hesitated at first... but then said she already had another buyer. That it would go to auction."
Roswaal's expression remained unchanged, yet his eyes measured every word Subaru spoke like a merchant weighing gold.
"Then..." Subaru's voice dropped to a whisper. His eyes flickered away. "I felt someone outside. A tall woman... Her presence seeped in like smoke. And for some reason... she smelled like blood."
A chill settled over the room. Subaru's hands trembled faintly as he fought to keep his composure.
"That person... was the Bowel Hunter, Elsa Granhiert."
The name cut through the air like a blade.
"Elsa entered... sat down casually as if nothing were wrong. The auction began soon after. I had more gold, so I won."
He swallowed hard.
"But Elsa... didn't accept defeat. She said she had a contract with her employer to uphold. And that meant... killing us all and taking the insignia from our corpses."
Subaru closed his eyes for a brief moment. In the darkness, he could still hear the screams.
"When she attacked, Emilia, Rom, and I... we fought with everything we had.
we managed to repel Elsa even though it was difficult"
His voice cracked. "Rom and I were badly wounded. and elsa ran away
The last thing I saw... was that red-haired knight entering through the door. Reinhard van Astrea."
A heavy silence followed. Subaru had no more words left. His eyes found Emilia's. "I don't know what happened after that... Emilia, can you tell them?"
Emilia nodded slowly. She understood now—how much he was carrying, how much he wasn't saying.
"After Subaru lost consciousness, Elsa managed to escape," she said softly but clearly. "Reinhart called for healers immediately. Rom's wounds were mostly treatable, but Subaru... they could only stop the bleeding. His condition was critical."
Her gaze lingered on Subaru, her voice tinged with emotion as the memories played behind her eyes.
"Later, I asked Felt to return my insignia. When she took it out of her pouch... it suddenly began to glow. Reinhard said that glow meant Felt was one of the five royal candidates chosen for the selection."
Roswaal inclined his head slightly, the new information clearly setting gears in motion behind his calm facade. Yet he remained silent.
"I didn't dwell on it much," Emilia continued. "The fifth candidate would have been found eventually regardless. I reclaimed my insignia and, honoring our agreement with Subaru, gave Felt fifteen gold coins. Then I asked Roswaal if Subaru could recuperate at the mansion."
She turned to the Roswaal. "He agreed. We brought Subaru here, and he remained unconscious for three days."
After a brief pause, she added the final developments: "Rom and Felt are currently staying as guests at House Astrea's estate. They're preparing for an upcoming royal assembly."
Subaru's eyes widened, his breath catching for a moment—equal parts shock and relief. So... everything's almost back to how it was before I met Flugel, he thought.
A weighted silence settled over the room, each person lost in their own reflections—until Roswaal shattered it. His voice was uncharacteristically hurried, almost eager to move on:
"Subaru-kun, I must express my gratitude for your assistance to Emilia-sama. If you have any requests in return... I'd be happy to oblige."
Subaru lifted his head. His answer had been ready for days.
"I want to work as a staff member in your mansion."
Roswaal's eyebrows rose in genuine surprise—an unexpected request.
"My apologies, Subaru-kun..." His tone carried a hint of regret but far more amusement. "There are no... suitable positions for you here."
Just as Subaru opened his mouth to protest, Roswaal raised a hand, his lips curling into a theatrical smile.
"Instead, you can serve as Emilia-sama's bodyguard." Her discordant eyes locked onto Subaru's.. "Emilia-sama would be safe by your side."
Subaru froze. His heart threatened to burst from his chest, but hesitation never stood a chance.
"I accept." His voice trembled but held steel.
[Ding!]
Main Quest: Find a job at Roswaal Manor — Completed
Reward: +10 Soul Coins
Bonus: A weapon from the shop has been unlocked
Subaru's gaze snapped to the mission screen materializing before him. His eyes gleamed; a smirk tugged at his lips. This feeling—the thrill of achievement—was intoxicating.
Then he turned to Emilia, his expression softening. "Well, Mili? What do you think?"
Emilia drew breath to answer—
"Ah, Subaru-kun~" Roswaal interjected with a flourish. "Emilia-sama and I already discussed this while you slept. Besides, I wouldn't have made the offer without her prior approval."
Emilia's quiet smile was all the confirmation Subaru needed—a silent yes that spoke volumes.
"Alright then," Subaru said, a wry grin spreading.
"I think we're done here. I could use some rest."
Roswaal bowed theatrically. "Of course, Subaru-kun. Rest well today. Tomorrow, your training begins."
Subaru took Emilia's hand, gently pulling her out of the room. As they stepped into the hallway, it felt as if a weight had lifted from their shoulders.
Emilia's silver hair fluttered slightly in the breeze as she suddenly stopped walking.
"Subaru..." Her curious eyes met his. "I still don't understand. Why go so far to help someone like me... a silver-haired half-elf?"
Subaru slowed his steps. The answer ran deep—some of it impossible to put into words. But he wanted to try.
"There's no reason for me to help you. It's just an instinct."
Emilia tilted her head slightly.
"instinct.?"
Subaru looked at the sky.
"I'm from another world, Mili. I don't know how I got here. When I came here, I didn't know anyone. I didn't know anything.
Naturally I will need support and information about this world."
His voice thickened with emotion. The weight in his heart spilled into words.
"I know nothing about this place. I can't even read the letters. I don't know the names of the food I eat. Even the clothes I wear don't belong here. Maybe you've noticed—my hair and eye color are foreign here too."
He lowered his head.
"In my world, I was a loser. No one expected anything from me. So I didn't do anything. I was like a living corpse. But then I came here. Since this place was so different from my real world, I thought maybe I could change."
His eyes glistened, but he smiled.
"That's why I'm helping you, Mili."
Emilia listened in silence. His eyes sparkled slightly, but a soft smile appeared on his lips.
"I never imagined I'd meet someone from another world, Subaru," she said, letting out a slight chuckle.
[Later...]
Emilia knelt on the floor, gazing at Subaru with wide, sparkling eyes—like a newborn fawn exploring the world for the first time.
Tilting her head slightly, she asked:
"Subaru... can you tell me about your world?"
Subaru rubbed his temples, lost in thought. There was so much... Where should he even begin? Parts of his past now felt like a distant dream.
Still, a small smile tugged at his lips as he scratched his head and answered:
"In my world... there's no magic," he said.
His voice carried nostalgia—and just a hint of sorrow.
Emilia's eyebrows knitted together in genuine bewilderment. The concept of a world without magic seemed almost inconceivable to her.
"But how? How do you accomplish things that require power...?"
The innocent confusion in her voice filled Subaru with a peculiar warmth.
He lifted his gaze to the ceiling, exhaling slowly. Explaining his world through the logic of this one felt strangely surreal...
"Humans..." he began, his voice measured and thoughtful, "over time, they found ways to compensate for their weaknesses, Mili."
His tone grew more animated as he continued:
"That's why they turned to something called 'science.' Science is... well, it's what makes people's lives easier. Transportation, farming, medicine, weapons... technology... Science touches everything. Even many things you do here with magic—we achieve through science."
Emilia listened intently, though her eyes seemed focused less on understanding every word and more on the emotions behind them.
As he spoke, Subaru's hands moved unconsciously, sketching invisible diagrams in the air as if illustrating concepts on an unseen chalkboard. With each explanation, his eyes grew brighter—as though he were touching the last remaining fragments of his homeland.
Much of what Subaru said remained beyond Emilia's full comprehension.
"Science," "technology," "machines"...
The unfamiliar terms echoed in her mind like foreign poetry.
Yet as she watched him, she noticed the bittersweet warmth in his expression—nostalgia tinged with quiet sorrow.
So even without fully understanding, she nodded gently and smiled.
Seeing that smile, Subaru paused.
Something inside him twisted faintly.
"My world... exists only in memories now. But here..." His voice softened. "Here, I can make new ones."
A comfortable silence wrapped around them, if only for a moment.
The distance between them seemed to shrink, bridged by an invisible thread of understanding.
Emilia tilted her head slightly and murmured:
"Your world sounds strange... but also very beautiful."
Subaru chuckled—
A quiet, melancholy laugh, yet warm all the same.
Emilia leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on her knees.
Her eyes still sparkled with undiminished curiosity.
"So..." she began, her voice soft and thoughtful,
"What did people in your world enjoy doing, Subaru? You know... for fun?"
Subaru's gaze drifted upward as he pondered. Visions flashed through his mind—vibrant festival lights, bustling streets, the buttery scent of movie theaters, summer nights spent lounging in parks.
"Hmm... Lots of things," he replied with a light chuckle.
"We'd watch films—stories told on giant white screens, like dreams made visible. Or gather with friends to play games. Video games... and physical sports too."
Emilia tilted her head.
"Video... games?"
Subaru grinned.
"Let's call it magicless magic. Little worlds you create inside boxes."
A glimmer of amusement lit Emilia's eyes as she giggled.
"That sounds wonderful."
"It was," Subaru said, his smile genuine—though a faint ache lingered beneath his words.
Emilia noticed but didn't comment. Instead, her gaze softened, wordlessly assuring him of her presence.
After a quiet moment, Emilia smoothed the edge of the blanket with her fingertips.
"We have festivals here too," she murmured.
"We launch lanterns into the sky, sing songs... Maybe someday, Subaru, we could go together?"
Subaru's heart skipped.
The offer was so pure, so tender...
Swallowing the swell of emotions, he whispered, "Of course."
"Definitely together."
A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the sound of gentle breathing. Emilia's eyelids grew heavy, her unfinished words dissolving into a sigh as she nestled into the blanket, her silver hair cascading over the couch like moonlit waves.
Just before sleep took her, she breathed one barely audible phrase:
"I'm glad... you're here, Subaru."
His chest tightened.
Words he could never voice aloud rose in his throat—
"I'm glad I met you too," he thought.
But to avoid waking her, he simply watched in silence.
Rising carefully, he crept toward the door with near-soundless steps.
One last glance back—
Emilia slept peacefully, her expression serene.
Subaru smiled faintly and eased the door shut behind him.
Standing in the cool hallway, he drew a deep breath.
Countless challenges still lay ahead... but at least this small moment remained untouched.
And sometimes—the smallest victories were the most precious.