???: "--This way, this way! If we don't hurry, they'll catch up with us."
???: "I know, I know, wait a second..."
She pulled him by the arm and they ran down the rough road.
It's a narrow alley. Even though it's mid-afternoon, the sunlight doesn't reach the road, and the dimly lit road forms a complex narrow passage that seems to block the two of them as they try to escape.
For Subaru, who is unfamiliar with the area, this situation is not very pleasant.
He hoped that the person leading the way knew the route she had chosen, but
Subaru: "You're going deeper and deeper into the dark, do you know the way!?"
???: "--I don't know!"
She retorted in a refreshing voice. Subaru put his hand to his forehead in despair, saying, "I thought so..."
It was a response Subaru had expected. After all, the person leading Subaru's hand was dressed so ornately that it was hard to imagine that she'd be familiar with the atmosphere of this back alley.
A red dress made of frilly, expensive-looking material, and a necklace that sparkled in the light. Skin that was pale, lustrous, and beautiful; Skin that could only have been worn by such a person with an upbringing of status.
Above all, the vibrant orange color of her hair asserted her nobility, and a cheerful presence that was far removed from a place like the slums.
Checking her appearance once more, Subaru was reminded that he had saddled himself with some trouble.
They could hear multiple footsteps chasing the two of them from behind, and it was no time to stop and calm down.
How did it come to this?
Out of breath, and grimacing from the pain in his lungs, Subaru's mind was filled with such questions.
--The incident that preceded Subaru's question went back about two days.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
--For Natsuki Subaru, the early morning meant sleep time, or at least not a time when he was energetically active.
Even if it was an exaggeration to say that his body melted in the beautiful morning sunlight, he did feel as though the "Natsuki Subaru DNA" that made up his body was slowly dying.
For such a Subaru, the reality of standing in front of a large crowd doing radio exercises in the early morning sunlight was something he had never imagined until just a month ago.
--If you start thinking about it, being summoned to another world in the first place was also unexpected.
It was a transformation so great that it could only be assumed he had hit his head hard. In fact, he remembered hitting his head hard enough that it would not have been strange for his way of thinking to change a little, so there were aspects that could not be completely denied.
However, even taking these things into account, it was true that he was not particularly unhappy with the situation.
Subaru: "Thank you, and finish by stretching your arms to the sky - victory!"
Everyone: "Victory!!"
Subaru raised his hands and spoke his closing lines, and the radio exercise ended with a chorus of voices joining in. As he listened to the cheers, Subaru wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked ahead.
In front of him - surrounding Subaru - were the residents of the village closest to Roswaal Mansion. Roughly half of them had gathered there.
It had been started casually, but it seems to have struck a chord with the people of this other world. It had now become a major movement in the village, and even Subaru, who had a reputation for giving up after three days, was forced into a situation where he couldn't quit.
However,
???: "Subaru, we're done with your exercises!" "Stamp, stamp!" "Po-ta-to! Po-ta-to!"
Subaru: "Nooooo! Stop gathering here so early in the morning! Hush! You guys are so energetic, it's great to be young! No need to rush, the stamps won't run away! Line up! Line up!"
As the children crowded around him, Subaru responded with a wry smile. But there was no sign of denial.
The children followed his instructions and lined up in a neat straight line in front of Subaru. After seeing that, Subaru nodded with satisfaction and turned around,
Subaru: "Well, Emilia-tan, please."
Emilia: "--Yes, yes, here you go."
Emilia, who was standing directly behind him, handed Subaru the small bag she was holding, curving her lips in a way that could either be a wry smile or just a smile.
When he opened the package he was handed, what came out was a raw potato shaved into a thin roll shape. The children let out squeals upon seeing the thin potato roll and Subaru raised the potato in response to their high-pitched squeals.
Subaru: "Okay, let's stamp them! Bring them to me!"
He dipped the tip of the potato into the ink container that he'd gotten out of the bag, and pushed the tip onto each of papers the the lined-up children handed him. Emilia watched as the children's faces beamed with joy at the picture that emerged and said,
Emilia: "Carving the flat side of the potato to make a 'potato shape'. Subaru really does come up with all sorts of strange ideas."
Subaru: "If you scrape off the ink-covered parts, it can be used as emergency food, and this picture has a nice flair to it. By the way, today's masterpiece is –– the ‘Monday Puck.'"
The picture that emerged on the paper was that of a deformed looking small cat that exuded a somewhat ennui-like atmosphere. Though deformed, it captured the cat's characteristics very well, so much that anyone who saw it would know who the model was at first glance. Actually, their name was used as the title.
Emilia: "...I'm really surprised. It looks just like Puck. Subaru is really good at drawing."
Subaru: "Well, I guess wasting all my free time practicing my drawing skills is coming in handy. Though, I gave up halfway through, so it's really only the basics."
Any otaku will have to go through a drawing training process at some point. From there, whether you can establish your own style and become a famous artist depends on how "the water flows, and the wind blows". Subaru couldn't do any of that, though.
Subaru: "All I can do is carve pictures of cats into potatoes in a world where there's no custom of potato stamping, and be fawned over by innocent children. That's all I'm suited to."
Emilia: "That sounds really unpleasant... and besides, doesn't this drawing of Puck somehow seem lacking in energy?"
Subaru: "I told you, it's 'Monday Puck'. I tried to create a feeling of melancholy, like another long week is about to begin. The floppy ears are the key."
Subaru passionately explained his work in response to Emilia's comments. Meanwhile, he continued stamping the papers the begging children hastily handed him to collect their proof of participation in radio calisthenics.
It was a fun idea Subaru had come up with following the stamp rally during summer vacation. Subaru carves a new stamp every day before going to bed, and the children look forward to seeing what picture he will stamp on their paper.
Subaru's dexterity for strange things seemed to draw on the childlike spirit.
After chatting with the squealing children for a while, he made a promise to do radio calisthenics with them again tomorrow, then waved goodbye.
Subaru and Emilia set off on their way back to the mansion, exchanging a few joking words with the other adults.
Lately, spending the early morning hours in the village like this had become Subaru's daily routine.
The reason for this was that he was still recovering physically from the battle in the forest. This meant Subaru was unable to easily join in on the morning work at the mansion, but was still strong enough to do this as a way to dismiss his shame of not helping, and had the added bonus of getting to relax with Emilia.
Subaru: "Ah, I'm so tired. I'm sorry for making you join me every morning, Emilia-tan."
Emilia: "It's fine. Subaru's health isn't perfect yet, and Ram and Rem have work to do at the mansion. I don't mind doing this either."
Subaru: "You mean, you don't mind spending the morning with me?!"
Emilia: "Err... Getting to know people from the village I've never had any contact with before! I think I've been drawing a line between them and myself up until now."
Emilia rudely cut off Subaru's heavy-breathed question, then gave a faint embarrassed smile. Beneath the hood she was wearing, an added hue crimson could be seen glowing from her usually pale face. Subaru felt his blood rise to his cheeks at her cuteness.
Emilia's current outfit was similar to the one she had worn when they first met in the royal capital. Over a light, short-skirted outfit, she wore a white robe with hawk-like embroidery, the hood of which completely covered her beautiful silver hair.
Meanwhile, Subaru, standing next to her, was wearing a dirty, cheap-looking grey tracksuit. Subaru and his tracksuit had been great friends since they entered the other world, going through most everything together. It had gotten in a pretty bad shape, and was repaired and returned to him by Rem. Although, even with that, Subaru still had to sew up some of the loose threads himself.
Comparing his own clothes, appearance, and other specs to Emilia's, he could only sigh inwardly.
He would do his best to match up. He was currently in a position where he had to start by clinging on to his place in the ring.
"Even so..."
Subaru was silent, overcome with emotion, but it was Emilia who started the conversation.
She clasped her hands together and leaned forward, looking up at Subaru from below.
Emilia: "Subaru has really settled into the village well! Maybe he's even more famous than Ram and Rem?"
Subaru: "Well, in a way, I'm like a hero for saving the children! Maybe I'll be remembered as the hero who saved them?"
It was a joking remark, but the fact was, Subaru had done work that was deserving of such a title, so it wasn't really much of a joke.
However, upon hearing Subaru's teasing words, Emilia went quiet, then said "Umm…" while tilting her head with her fingers over her lips,
Subaru: "Maybe I'm not a hero because of saving them…?"
Subaru: "Are the rumors not true after all…? But, if it wasn't from the incident in the forest then what could it be?"
It was a rescue that could hardly be described as dashing, so it might not have been all that glorious as to call him a hero. However, Subarus's speculation was revealed to be way off by Emilia's next words.
Emilia let out a small sigh, her pink lips curling up into a smile,
Emilia: "It's true Subaru's reputation in the village right now is that he's a hero who saved the children, but it seems that the rumor that he's an intellectual expert is stronger."
"Shikisha...? I can't lead an orchestra. I have no sense of pitch."
He was a legendary player who volunteered to play the bass drum in his elementary school marching band, and brilliantly fulfilled the instruction to "just pretend to play." It's too much to ask someone with no sense of pitch to play the bass drum. It's still a mystery to me why they didn't change parts halfway through.
In response to the expected joke, Emilia shook her head and said, "No, it's not that."
Emilia: "An intellectual expert in the sense of a foolish wiseman. At least that's how Muraosa put it."
Subaru: "That doesn't sound like a compliment... It gives the impression that I'm good at studying, but stupid. Or that, I have never done anything actually expert-like..."
Emilia: "Mayonnaise!"
Emilia pointed her finger and uttered one word succinctly.
Subaru understood and agreed with what she had said. Since the recent incident, mayonnaise's popularity has gotten extremely good. It was thought (mainly by Emilia) that it would be a waste to only sell it at Roswaal Mansion, so mayonnaise, and the recipe, were sent to the nearby villages.
Although it had only been a few days, it seemed to have caused quite a stir.
As a mayonnaise lover, Subaru was pleased to see that mayonnaise has made a definite step forward in the other world. "May mayonnaise live forever!", Subaru thought.
However,
Subaru: "It's great to see the greatness of mayonnaise being spread around, but... my comeback from a desperate situation is worse than that of Shiroi Koibito's..."
The fact he was better known as a mayonnaise evangelist, rather than being treated as a hero, meant that, in the end, that's how the public sees him.
Subaru felt helpless and slumped his shoulders in despair.
Emilia hurriedly slapped him on the shoulder, seeing his attitude,
Emilia: "Oh, well, of course, everyone is grateful that you helped the children! But it was Rem who actually brought them back from the forest, and rumors even spread that Roswaal was the one who ended up dealing with the final battle against the magical beasts in the forest..."
Emilia's follow-up trailed off in the second half.
Her retelling of the situation hurt to hear, but Subaru himself could not help but think back and be shocked at the fact he could not deny any of what she said.
While he had brought the children back, Subaru returned to the village with serious injuries, having been bitten all over his body. As for helping with wiping out the magical beasts, he may have brought Rem back to her senses, but he had left the rest to Roswaal. He simply ran out of gas and slept the rest of the time afterwards. He was surprised he himself didn't do much.
Subaru: "Aww! I didn't do much more than I thought I had!"
He began flopping around pouting.
Subaru felt as if all the time he spent working hard and trying his best had been for nothing. He felt like his body became even smaller.
Emilia was at a loss of what to say to him, and tried faltering him saying, "Um," and "You know, it's not that...", then,
Emilia: "Don't worry about such trivial things!"
Subaru: "But, Emilia-tan..."
Emilia: "You know, the people who know Subaru best are well aware of how hard he worked! There's Roswaal, Ram, and especially Rem."
Speaking in a teasing tone, Emilia poked Subaru's cheek with her index finger. Subaru looked at her pathetically after the sharp poke, to which Emilia replied, "Really?" before jogging forward a little.
Emilia quickly spun around in front of him. Her hood was gracefully blown off by the force of the wind, and her long silver hair glittered in the morning sun whilst flowing down her back.
Subaru stopped in his tracks upon witnessing the fantastical sight of her beautiful figure. Then, looking directly at Subaru, she placed her hands on her hips, as if scolding a useless younger brother, and said,
Emilia: "And, of course, me too!."
Subaru: "--Huh?"
Emilia: "I know that you've been working hard, Subaru. So don't get so depressed! Got it?"
After waiting a moment she tilted her head, Emilia asked, "Now, what's your answer?"
Subaru, who had been stunned by her words, quickly regained his composure and shook his head up and down nodding vigorously in agreement. Emilia's broke into a smile at his reaction,
Emilia: "Now, what's next? You're acting like a broken toy. You always do this."
Subaru: "No, no, I don't do that on purpose... I mean, if I was doing it on purpose, Emilia-tan should be a hundred times more cowardly. No matter how hard I try, I'm sure I'll fall in love with you again..."
Emilia: "Yes, yes. I think it's a bad habit to try and deceive people like that."
He was exchanging his true feelings, but the smiling Emilia wasn't listening. Standing next to her as she combed her flowing silver hair back with one hand, Subaru realized once again that he would never be able to match her beauty.
He had no idea how many times they had walked side by side like this, but every time, Subaru felt a different freshness from Emilia.
Emilia was never the same. If he missed her today, he would never get to meet her like today again. He never thought he would spend his days like this, cherishing every moment and looking forward to tomorrow.
Subaru: "Working energetically and deepening a relationship with the girl I adore - what a healthy lifestyle. No one can call me a hikikomori anymore!"
Emilia: "It's normal to act tough like that because you're a boy, but you have to take care of your body properly too. There's nothing good in pushing yourself now. Just be honest with Rem and Ram... mostly Rem, but take advantage of their kindness."
Emilia criticized Subaru, who's oblique burst of enthusiasm created a slight misunderstanding.
In her mind, Subaru seemed to have achieved a position as a well-behaved, good-natured young man. To the point where he might push himself to work too hard.
Of course, the truth was that Subaru is far from that kind of work ethic, and, if he could live without working, would only just eat and sleep his whole life.
Although, he was not honest enough to go out of his way to correct that friendly misunderstanding.
As they continued walking and talking, the top of Roswaal's mansion came into view across the road. At this point, it was only a matter of minutes until they made it back - and with that, the end of their pleasant morning chat was in sight.
Emilia: "Time flies when we're talking... Hey, why are you suddenly walking so slow?"
Subaru: "I'm reluctant to let this moment go, so I'm putting up a sissy resistance - the slow-walk tactic. Why don't we just enjoy this refreshing early morning air alone? With who? With me!"
Emilia: "I know it'll only anger them if we're too late... I told you not to push yourself too hard, but you still have to abide by what's been agreed. I also have a vow to the spirits, you know."
Subaru: "I'm a bit weak against the truth… Once Puck wakes up, I won't have a chance to have a lovey-dovey chat with Emilia-tan without anyone getting in the way."
Subaru had no defense to be fickle about agreements when compared the vows of a spiritist.
Subaru was holding back tears of blood, but he hid it behind his face.
Subaru: "Okay... let's go back. Damn, I could have done better...!"
Emilia: "I don't know what's so frustrating, but when I have some free time, I'll listen to you, so don't be sulky."
A gesture that was becoming familiar to Subaru when he was with her--Emilia smiled awkwardly and put her finger on her lips, and Subaru was once again entranced.
Then, standing in front of Subaru, Emilia muttered, "Huh…?"
Emilia: "There's a dragon carriage parked in front of the mansion."
Subaru: "Hmm?"
Brought back down to reality by her muttering, Subaru's gaze shifted to hers, and he narrowed his eyes upon recognizing the presence she described.
In front of the main gate of Roswaal Mansion, a carriage-like vehicle was parked. He described it as carriage-like because, at a glance, he could tell that it was different from the carriages Subaru knew.
After all, the creature pulling the carriage wasn't a horse, but a lizard the size of a horse.
Therefore, it couldn't exactly be called a carriage, and he'd, for lack of a better term, have to describe it as carriage-like.
Even so, Subaru felt familiar with this ridiculous-looking vehicle.
Subaru: "If I remember correctly, they used to cross the streets in the royal capital as well."
On the first day of his summoning to another world, he could not forget the sight of it racing down the street in front of the market, kicking up a large cloud of dust. The word "carriage" is used, so he was sure there must be horses, but given the frequent sightings of the lizards pulling them, this creature may be the more common.
Subaru: "If I'm not mistaken, did you call that a… ‘dragon carriage'?"
Emilia: "...? Yes. A land dragon pulls the carriage, so it obviously must be called a dragon carriage, right? Wait… No way, am I wrong?! Is there a proper name for it?"
After answering Subaru's question, Emilia, who knew little to nothing on the subject, seemed to become frightened by the lacking of her own knowledge. She started to panic, reading too much into what he said, so Subaru waved his hand and said "No, no."
Subaru: "I'm just not that knowledgeable about it. Maybe Emilia-tan is right, so let's have confidence!"
Emilia: "Really? Are you kidding me? You're talking about something you only remember seeing in a public place, so you don't have to embarrass yourself. If you're lying, I'll hit you!"
Emilia: "You're so annoying… You never listen to me these days..."
While we were bickering, they arrived in front of the dragon carriage.
As they got closer, they were surprised at how big and realistic the lizard was. And the cart lizard was pulling - a carriage designed to carry people - had a driver's seat, and sitting in it was a person who looked to be the coachman. As soon as the coachman noticed the two approaching, he immediately got off onto the ground,
???: "Welcome back. I'm sorry to interrupt your arrival with this visit to the gate."
The coachman, who could be called an old refined gentleman, naturally straightened his back. With a driver such this, the carriage's passengers must be of a certain high ranking status.
Subaru peeked inside the window of the carriage, but there was no one visible in its private room. In other words,
Coachman: "The messenger is already inside the mansion. I believe he is currently meeting with Margrave Mathers."
Subaru: "Oh, how polite of you. Actually, I'm embarrassed to be sneaking a peek. I'm not used to this situation, so please forgive me."
Subaru was overwhelmed by the driver's polite honesty, and gave a messy response, disguised as a polite one. However, Emilia next to him gave him a sarcastic look that said, "I guess you can speak properly after all," making Subaru keenly aware of just how low his and her social standing was.
Then, in place of Subaru who remained silent, Emilia stepped forward and turned to face the gentleman driver,
Emilia: "You said a messenger... could it be?"
The question had an incomplete subject, but the coachman, as if he knew what was being thought, bowed and said,
Coachman: "As you may have guessed, Lady Emilia, it is probably something to do with the royal selection."
Subaru raised his head at the mention of the word royal selection.
It was a keyword he hadn't even heard for a while.
Emilia's expression naturally tightened, while Subaru frowned at the suspiciousness of the situation. Seeing their reactions, the old gentleman continued, still bent at the waist.
Coachman: "I believe the messenger will be giving you an official statement. Please return to the mansion."
Emilia: "--A summons, I suppose…"
Coachman: "Please listen to what the messenger has to say."
At the coachman's reasonable answer, Emilia stiffened her chin and said, "I understand." And then,
"Let's go," she said quickly, and started walking without even turning to look at Subaru.
She was headed towards the entrance of the mansion.
In a panic, Subaru followed her lead and began jogging off.
He took one last look back.
--The coachman continued to bow to them, silently seeing them off.