Chapter Text
In the royal capital of the Kingdom of Lugnica, Emilia walked through the middle of the crowd, completely lost.
— Emilia-sama!!!
The elf turned and saw a man who measured 1.90 meters in height, with black hair combed back and brown sanpaku eyes. He had red flame-shaped marks on the left side of his forehead that stretched to his temple. He wore a black butler’s uniform and carried a sword at his waist.
— Hah! Hah! Finally found you, Emilia-sama… hah! Hah! I searched everywhere for you, I think I ran through the entire capital… hah! Hah! — Subaru said, panting as he leaned on his own knees.
— I’m sorry, Subaru! I only went to look at a dress in a shop! — the elf justified herself.
Subaru simply gave a gentle smile at his lady’s reaction.
— It’s no problem, Emilia-sama. Just don’t do that again, all right?
— All right.
— Great. Now let’s go. Onee-chan is waiting for us.
Before the two of them could start walking, a girl with golden hair shot past them at high speed.
— What was that? — Subaru asked.
— Subaru! — Emilia exclaimed, her expression nervous.
— What is it, Emilia-sama?
— That girl stole my insignia!
Subaru’s eyes widened in shock. Information that only he and the residents of the mansion knew was that Emilia was one of the five candidates for the throne of the Kingdom of Lugnica—but now, without her insignia, she could no longer compete in the election.
Then, at an absurd speed, Subaru took off running after the girl.
After a short chase, Subaru nearly caught up to her, but she managed to shake him off in an alley.
— (Damn it! Where did she go?!) — he thought, turning his head frantically in search of the girl.
While the man with the mark on his forehead was thinking, three men appeared at the entrance of the alley—one short and stocky, another tall and slender, and the third enormous, with a bull-like build. Each of them carried a greedy gleam in their eyes, as if they had found easy prey.
— Look at the luck we just had… — said the short one, rubbing his dirty hands. — A completely lost noble.
Subaru turned toward them, but his face was expressionless.
— That’s right, pretty boy — the skinny one mocked. — Better hand over everything you’ve got. Before we get angry.
The Natsuki remained silent, yet a drop of sweat slid down his temple.
The large bandit took a step forward, a little irritated.
— Hey, you bastard, did you hear what we said? — he advanced with his fist raised. But he never managed to touch Subaru. — Hand over the money already…
— Subaru!
Suddenly, Emilia appeared at the entrance of the alley together with Puck, her contracted spirit.
Ignoring the bandits, Subaru went to the half-elf.
— I’m sorry, Emilia-sama, but I lost sight of her — the man with the terrifying gaze bowed.
— Nya~, you’re really useless, huh, mark-face — said the spirit with the feline appearance.
— Puck, don’t talk to Subaru that way! It wasn’t his fault! — she scolded her spirit.
The man with the mark bit the inside of his cheek nervously. He knew how important the Royal Selection was to Emilia, but now she could be disqualified just because of him.
— Hey, you bastards, stop ignoring us!! — shouted the skinny bandit.
— Yeah, that’s right! Hand over everything you’ve got!! — shouted the large bandit.
Emilia simply created several balls of ice and hurled them at the bandits’ faces and stomachs. The moment they realized the elf was a spirit arts user, they fled like gazelles.
Subaru took a step forward, gripping the half-elf’s wrist.
— Emilia-sama, we don’t have time for this. We need to find your insignia!
She nodded. And so the three of them set off.
The city stretched ahead like a living labyrinth—narrow streets, stalls packed with goods, and hurried faces.
Subaru tried to ask for information about the thief, but he was so shy that every time he attempted to speak to someone the words died in his mouth.
That left Emilia to ask for information, but because she was a half-elf and bore a resemblance to the Witch of Envy—according to the rumors—she couldn’t get anyone to speak with her either.
Even without information, the butler and the elf continued walking through the royal capital. Until they found a child crying alone.
— Subaru… that child… She’s crying. It looks like she’s lost.
— You’re right. Poor little thing.
— Subaru, we have to help her!
— But what about your insignia, Emilia-sama?
— That can wait until later!
Without hesitation, the albino approached the child. She tried to talk to her, but it only made the child cry harder and left Emilia in despair.
Before she could do anything, Subaru approached with a smile on his face and a flame on his finger.
— Look at this, little girl!
He began performing several tricks with the fire, changing its shape into various animals.
The girl’s eyes went from tearful to enchanted with surprise in seconds.
After that, they managed to find the girl’s mother and return her safely. Soon they arrived at the place where the insignia had been stolen.
To Subaru’s surprise, the vendor—from whom he always bought ringa whenever he came to the capital—was the little girl’s father. Thanks to that, they learned that the thief’s name was Felt and that she lived in the slums.
Following that lead, the three of them walked to the narrow, shadowy alleys of the city’s poor district.
With the help of one of the residents of the area, they found the warehouse where Emilia’s insignia was supposed to be.
— This is it — Emilia said, stopping in front of the entrance. There was hesitation in her voice.
— Right. I’ll go in. You stay here! — Subaru took a step forward.
— What’s your plan, Subaru? — she asked apprehensively.
— I have a few valuable things with me. I’ll try to negotiate with them for your insignia.
— All right, Subaru. I’ll wait here. Good luck! — Emilia said, smiling.
Subaru gave a calm smile, setting aside his expressionless face. He simply ruffled the elf’s hair.
Then the butler of the Mathers mansion knocked on the door and heard footsteps coming from behind it.
— Password?
— I’m sorry, but I don’t know it. I only came here to negotiate.
The door was opened by a man over two meters tall, with broad muscles and a weary expression.
— What do you want to negotiate? — he said, stepping aside to let the Natsuki enter.
— First I want to know if you have something I want.
As soon as he entered the tavern, he saw a restless-looking young girl with golden eyes and golden hair tied up in a careless fashion. Subaru recognized her in that same instant—she was the girl who had stolen Emilia’s insignia.
— You again?! — the young girl shouted. — You don’t give up, do you?
— Felt, calm down… I didn’t come to fight. I came to negotiate with you — Subaru said, raising his hands calmly.
— Don’t even think I’m going to fall for your smooth talk! This insignia is my chance to get out of this rotten place. My ticket to a better future!
While Subaru tried to talk with Felt, Emilia silently entered the room because of the blonde girl’s shouting.
But before the albino could say anything, something cut through the air.
A dagger, swift as the wind.
It would have struck Emilia’s face if Subaru hadn’t pulled the girl to the ground.
— Well, well… — came a melodic voice laced with a touch of malice. — You noticed me. How fascinating.
From the shadows of the tavern emerged a slender female figure, dressed in provocative attire and adorned with a predatory gaze. Her black hair fell like a cloak, and her purple eyes held the gleam of an incurable addiction.
— What do you think you’re doing?! — Felt shouted. — We had an agreement!
— Yes… — the woman answered, smiling with her lips. — But now that the owner has appeared… I thought it would be better to kill all of you.
Subaru stepped forward, his brown eyes reflecting determination and sadness.
He didn’t like this, but now it was a situation of extreme urgency.
— Emilia-sama! Take Felt and the old man far away from here. I’ll take care of her.
— No, Subaru. I know you’re strong, but I’m not going to leave you alone with this woman!
Suddenly, Emilia felt Subaru’s hand rest on her head.
— Trust me. I’m not going to die. You know that. — he said, stroking her hair. — Now get out of here! — he spoke in a severe manner.
Even against her will, Emilia nodded and ran, pulling Rom by the hand.
— Tch… do they really think they can escape? — the woman hissed, preparing another dagger.
But before she could throw it, her wrist was seized.
— I’m your opponent, miss — Subaru said, applying strong pressure to the woman’s wrist.
The woman smiled.
— What inhuman strength… You’re interesting — the young woman murmured.
The dark-haired woman broke free from the butler’s grip, and then her wrist slowly regenerated.
— My name is Elsa Granhiert. I am the Bowel Hunter. And yours, dear?
— My name is Subaru Natsuki. I’m just a butler — he said, drawing his sword from its sheath. The moment he unsheathed it, the blade that had been the color of black obsidian took on a crimson hue.
— You have such a wonderful face. I can hardly wait to see what you look like on the inside.
Without warning, she lunged.
Elsa advanced with a blade—swift, sinuous, insatiable. Her silhouette was a blur of shadow and seduction, and the kukri in her hands gleamed like the fangs of a predator eager for its meal.
In contrast, Subaru remained still.
He simply observed. His brown eyes stayed expressionless, yet at the same time they showed apprehension as they followed every step, every tilt of the assassin’s hips. And because he possessed the Transparent World, he could see everything more slowly.
Then Elsa attacked.
The daggers came from multiple directions—crossing at the chest, sweeping at the flank, cutting toward the stomach. It was a wild, brutal dance, rehearsed many times, one that had already claimed countless lives and still remembered their screams of despair. But Subaru calmly dodged everything with minimal movements.
The first minutes were a duel between Elsa’s fury and Subaru’s calm. At one point she attempted a full spin, aiming to strike his neck from behind. That opened a gap for the Natsuki to apply the Second Form of Sun Breathing: Clear Blue Sky. His sword became imbued with flames, and he delivered a single vertical slash across Granhiert’s chest, interrupting her movement in midair.
— Fufufu… What an incredible sword technique, Subaru — Elsa coughed with pleasure, even through the elevated pain caused by the man’s Divine Protection. — You even give me chills… — she ran her tongue over her lower lip.
— I’m sorry, Elsa-san, but I’m married — he said, showing her his wedding ring.
— What a pity. I might even have spared your life if it weren’t for that — she joked.
Then, once more, the Bowel Hunter advanced, now faster and more violent. The daggers clashed against Subaru’s sword, and sparks lit up the interior of the ruined looting house. His blade, though hot and gleaming, remained as cold as ever—like a worker heading to tomorrow’s job. He didn’t want to do this. But it wasn’t a matter of wanting; it was a matter of necessity.
Then the Natsuki used the Sixth Form: Burning Sun, making a circular motion with the sword that defended against all of Elsa’s attacks while leaving a horizontal trail of circular fire.
In the blink of an eye, he unleashed a sequence of cuts—horizontal, vertical, diagonal. Each strike was precise, yet at the same time merciful. Elsa retreated, blocking some but not most. Soon cuts opened on her shoulders and thighs.
Yet she smiled. Even with blood flowing, even with the throbbing pain, even with the sensation of suffering third-degree burns or worse.
— This… this is what I wanted — she panted. — A fight that makes me feel alive! — she shouted, seized by adrenaline. — You are definitely incredible, Subaru Natsuki!!
— “Incredible,” is it? — he repeated, feeling a terrible nostalgia.
Subaru did not feel happy hearing those words—not because they came from an assassin like Elsa, but because the reason he received such praise was for hurting someone.
All of it made him remember a very important event from his childhood: the day he defeated Wilhelm, the Sword Demon. When he accomplished that feat, everyone around him was happy and showered him with praise, but Subaru, unlike the others, did not feel happy about it.
He felt sad.
After all, he had just hurt a person he loved very much. He couldn’t understand it. He had always thought swords and fighting were a waste of time. He much preferred doing anything else.
Yet even though he didn’t like it, he knew that this was the only path that would allow him to walk beside a certain person.
— I’m sorry…
Subaru assumed an unusual stance. His arm extended downward, the tip of the sword pointed at the ground.
Elsa didn’t know it, but that announced her sentence.
— Ugh. Seriously, you’re giving up already? What a pity.
Then Elsa advanced once more with the same fury as before. However, Subaru dodged everything at high speed while his movements formed the shape of a dragon.
— Sun Breathing, Eleventh Form: Solar Dragon Dance.
Immediately afterward, he imbued his sword with flames and, with an absurd technique, Subaru unleashed a rain of blows—vertical, horizontal, and diagonal cuts. Each attack was precise, opening wounds on the assassin’s face, throat, and abdomen.
With that, Elsa was hurled against the wall, which collapsed on top of her.
With the fight over, Subaru sheathed his sword, but with a look of regret.
— Well then, I have to find Emilia-sama.
As the Natsuki turned to leave the tavern, Emilia ran up to him, and right behind her were Felt, the old brute, and a man with flaming red hair who was familiar to him.
— Subaru, are you okay? Are you hurt? Is… anything broken?
Subaru gave a shy smile. He had already expected that kind of reaction from his lady.
— Calm down, Emilia-sama. I’m fine. There’s no need to worry. It’s almost as if you don’t know me.
— I know, Subaru, but—
— HOLY SHIT, THAT WAS AWESOME!!!
Suddenly Felt ran up to the Natsuki with stars in her eyes from pure excitement.
— All those techniques, those cuts, that fire magic! All of it was incredible!!! — Felt spoke with enthusiasm about the fight she had just witnessed. — Please, Big Bro, teach me how to do that!!
— Huh? “Big Bro”? — he repeated, disbelieving that she had called him that.
— It seems the problem has already been resolved — said the red-haired man as he observed the situation.
— Yes. I’m sorry for calling you over for nothing, Reinhard — Emilia said, bowing slightly.
— It’s no problem, Emilia-sama. The important thing is that everyone is safe. But could you explain what happened? — Reinhard asked.
— We were attacked — the elf answered, more serious now. — By Elsa, the Bowel Hunter. But as you can see, Subaru defeated her.
— Su-Subaru? — Reinhard stammered and widened his eyes in surprise at seeing his childhood friend again.
But while that conversation was happening, Felt was still pestering Subaru.
— But why not?! — the blonde whined.
— Because you’re a thief! If I teach you swordsmanship, I’m sure you’ll just use it to steal from people — the Natsuki justified with a serious expression.
Felt pouted for a minute until an idea came to her. Then she approached Emilia, taking something from her pocket.
— Here. Sorry for taking it, but you need to be more careful with your things.
She held out the insignia to Emilia. But when the young woman’s fingers touched the object, it glowed with a soft magical light. Reinhard noticed it immediately. In a second he advanced on Felt and firmly gripped her wrist.
— What does this mean? What is your name? Your age? What family do you belong to?
— Let go of me! You’re hurting me, what’s your problem?! — the thief protested, trying to free herself.
— Please answer — Reinhard requested with unshakable seriousness.
— My name is Felt! I’m… I don’t know, fourteen years old! And I don’t have any rich family thing!
— Reinhard… — the elf intervened. — If it’s because of the insignia, everything is resolved. I’m not angry.
But the Saint shook his head.
— Emilia-sama, I’m afraid this is more serious than you imagine—
Reinhard didn’t finish the sentence, because he was struck by a chop to the back of the neck from Subaru.
— Let the girl go already! You’re looking like a creep! — Subaru scolded the Astrea, pinching his ear.
— Ow, Subaru, stop! — he whined.
— Are you going to let the girl go or not?
— Fine, fine. I’ll let her go and explain everything.
Reinhard took a deep breath and then revealed what he knew: Felt was the fifth candidate for the throne of Lugnica. The final piece of the royal destiny.
— Therefore, I ask… Felt-sama, come with me.
Felt hesitated, frowning.
— Hmm… I don’t know…
The Natsuki turned to her and crouched down to her height:
— It’s a unique position, shorty. And didn’t you yourself tell me you wanted to change your life? This is a golden opportunity for that. It would be foolish to refuse.
The girl bit her lip thoughtfully.
— Fine, I’ll accept. But only if old man Rom can come with me and… — she pointed at Subaru. — And if you teach me that cool sword style of yours!
— I am in agreement — Reinhard said.
Subaru gave a light laugh:
— All right, Felt — he said, ruffling her hair. She tried to bite him, but he pulled his hand away quickly.
After Reinhard, Rom, and Felt departed, Emilia climbed onto Subaru’s back and the two of them headed toward Ram, who must have been waiting for them for hours.
They knew they were going to receive a proper scolding from the pink oni.