Chapter Text
In the capital of the Kingdom of Lugnica—better known as the Dragon Kingdom—Subaru rode atop Patrasche, accompanied by Meili and Beatrice, making their way toward the Astrea Mansion.
“Are we there yet?” Meili asked.
“Not yet, I suppose,” Beatrice replied.
Two minutes passed.
“Are we there yet?” the former assassin asked again.
“Still not, I suppose,” the spirit answered once more.
Two more minutes slipped by.
“Okay… are we there yet?”
“No, I suppose!”
Two more minutes…
“And now? Are we there?”
“Meili, could you stop being yourself… for just five minutes, I suppose!!”
While the two little girls bickered, Natsuki drifted into his thoughts. Nearly two years had passed since he had been transported to this world of fantasy.
Some might think that his adventures since arriving in that world had been the typical clichéd isekai fare. That he would possess some “broken” ability, a massive harem. Yet it was nothing of the sort. Quite the opposite, to tell the truth.
He had arrived with no power, no system of abilities, nothing of the kind. He was an ordinary human being, nothing special at all.
The ability he did possess?
For all its usefulness, if he could trade it for a different one, he would do so without a second thought. Return by Death. A power granted to him by Satella, the Witch of Envy, when she summoned him to this world. An ability that allowed him to return to a specific point in time every time he died. Moments that had enabled him to resolve the situations he became entangled in—situations that were terribly complicated and extremely… cruel.
One of the clearest examples was his very first day in that world. He had helped Emilia, the first kind person he encountered there, recover her Insignia and survive the attack of the Bowel Hunter, Elsa—who was now dead (slain by Garfiel Tinzel).
If he had to sum up in a few words everything he had endured, it would be… many, many, so MANY things! To truly summarize it would take hours on end. Still, if he were to explain it in a highly condensed way without cutting any important detail, it would go more or less like this:
He arrived in the Royal Capital, met Emilia, Felt, Rom, Elsa, a trio of thugs and Adelheid, discovered the power (curse) he held in his hands, and by sheer luck Adelheid arrived in time to save everyone from Elsa—though Natsuki himself was knocked unconscious by a surprise attack from the woman.
He was taken to the Mathers Mansion, met Beatrice, Rem, Ram and Roswaal, died a few times at the hands of the maids (Rem and Ram) and, in the end, needed to be saved while trying to help the villagers of Arlam and the mansion staff, forging a bond with them.
Later, he returned to the Capital, humiliated himself before Emilia and everyone else out of pure foolishness, had to face the horrors of Petelgeuse and the White Whale, nearly gave up if not for Rem, and then helped defeat the monsters, managing to save Emilia and all the others. He lost Rem, who fell into a deep sleep after her name and memories were devoured, and thus was forgotten by the world. Crusch lost her memories as well.
He went to the Sanctuary, encountered Echidna, the other Witches, Garfiel and Otto (whom he had saved earlier). He learned more about Beatrice’s past, about his own Return by Death, and that he could no longer keep throwing his life away—he needed to try saving himself too. Otto helped him when he broke down. He managed to help Garfiel. He helped Emilia. With Garfiel’s aid, they saved Frederica, Petra and Beatrice from Elsa, defeating her. They captured Meili, he formed a contract with Beatrice, and together they defeated the Great Rabbit. After all of that, he officially became Emilia’s knight.
After a year of relative peace, he went to the city of Pristella. The Cult attacked once more, the Archbishops (Regulus of Greed, Sirius of Wrath, Capella of Lust and those of Gluttony) seizing control of the city and flooding it. The Royal Camps united in resistance, and he even delivered a rather fine motivational speech. In a battle through the city streets, he and Adelheid defeated Regulus by exploiting the flaw in his Authority. Pristella was saved, but not without losses: many citizens mutated or left comatose, Crusch poisoned by the Archbishop’s blood, Julius stripped of his name.
And right after that, he led a group to the Pleiades Watchtower in search of answers from “the wise Shaula” to cure the victims of Lust and Gluttony. After crossing the desert and clearing one of the tower’s trials, Subaru had his memories stolen by Rui Arneb, making it far harder to find a solution for the next challenge—facing Reid Astrea, the greatest swordsman who had ever walked that world, the Gluttony siblings, and Shaula’s transformation into a scorpion. Yet through intense use of Return by Death, they managed to escape with their lives. Subaru recovered his memories, and Rem finally woke… though without any memories of Subaru.
And his visit to Vollachia? No matter how many people he had met there whom he held dear, he preferred not to dwell on that part of his journey. It had been, without question, one of the most physically and mentally draining adventures of his life.
All that time spent facing cruel, brutal deaths. Watching the deaths of those around him. Trying to learn how to bear the pain of each loss… Well, it wasn’t as if he managed it most of the time.
Even after Vollachia, he still did not consider his victories truly “his.”
“If it weren’t for this damn thing… everyone would see how useless Natsuki Subaru really is…” he murmured to himself, steeped in negativity. Even though he had made promises to certain people in the past and knew that if he didn’t return and change the past… But if it weren’t for that, he would already be dead, just like the others.
“What sort of nonsense are you spouting, I suppose?”
“Yeah, Dad, what are you talking about?”
Beatrice and Meili questioned him when they saw the vacant look on his face as he stared ahead at the road, unable to catch his murmurs clearly.
— Nothing my adorable little daughters need to worry about, okay~? — Subaru said, slipping into a playful, lighthearted tone as he ruffled both their heads with his free hand.
The Little Assassin and the Spirit flushed slightly, making small sounds of embarrassment and irritation:
— Don’t treat Betty like a child, I suppose! Betty is a Great Spirit over four hundred years old! — the blonde protested, still faintly embarrassed.
— Me too, I’m way too old to be treated like a kid! — the tamer complained, equally flustered.
— Doesn’t matter how old you two are—you’ll always be my little girls! — the summoned one answered, still in that teasing tone.
Even while embarrassed, they had a fairly good idea of what was going on inside Natsuki’s mind. They knew all too well his terrible habit of carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Beatrice’s gaze grew sadder and more understanding as she looked at her contractor.
— Still thinking about the fight you had with the half-elf and the maid, I suppose?
For a few seconds Subaru remained silent, letting the atmosphere grow a little heavy. Then he sighed.
— Partly, yes, Beako. But you don’t need to worry. I’m keeping everything on track inside my head — he said, trying to ease the Great Spirit’s concerns. He ran his hand over her head again, stroking her hair.
Rem and Emilia. He had fallen out with both of them—and with Ram by extension.
It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. He had already argued with Emilia when the Royal Selection began and he proclaimed himself her knight, though now he could see how many mistakes he had made back then.
And Rem was a particularly complicated case. Even after recovering the names and memories, she still didn’t remember him and had begun to suspect Subaru was a member of the Witch’s Cult, thanks to the miasma scent that clung to him.
But the reason Subaru had fallen out with his number one and number two hadn’t been because of any mistake on his part or the suspicions that he was a cultist. Truth be told, Natsuki himself didn’t fully understand how the argument with the white-haired girl and the blue-haired one had even started.
On just another ordinary afternoon, after playing with Meili and Beatrice, Emilia had come to him and begun accusing him of betraying the camp for no reason at all. Right after that Rem had stormed up shouting that he had stolen belongings from Roswaal. He tried to calm them both, saying he had no idea what they were talking about, but they refused to listen and kept accusing him.
Though it wasn’t in his nature, he started pushing back against every accusation, and the argument escalated so far that Beatrice, Puck and Ram ended up getting involved as well.
Needless to say, the atmosphere at the Mathers Mansion grew extremely tense afterward. Subaru and Emilia no longer even met each other’s eyes after the fight, and his relationship with Rem went from bad to worse.
Subaru’s mind was complete chaos. There were nights he couldn’t sleep at all, just lying there staring at the ceiling, lost in his own thoughts—the last place he ever wanted to be.
After so many deaths, battles and traumas, he simply needed to clear his head, even if only for a single miserable month!
[...]
Thirty minutes later, Subaru, Meili and Beatrice stood before the Astrea Mansion, home to the Sword Saint Adelheid and Natsuki’s little sister of choice, Felt. They dismounted from Patrasche and handed her over to a servant to be taken to the stables.
The guards were surprised to see the Hero of Lugnica there, even though they had already been informed of his arrival.
Subaru knocked on the door, and someone opened it almost immediately. It was a girl of short stature, peach-colored hair cut short with a side fringe, yellow ribbons as hair ornaments, and dressed in white and pink clothes.
— Hey, Flam, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? — Subaru said with a smile.
— Subaru-sama? What are you doing here?
— I came to visit you all. Didn’t Felt mention I was coming? I even sent a letter.
Flam furrowed her brows in confusion, then recalled her mistresses’ behavior over the past few days.
— Ah, where is my head. Yes, Felt-sama and Adelheid-sama did alert me to your arrival — she said, remembering Adelheid smiling as she looked at Natsuki’s letter and Felt practically bouncing with excitement at the prospect of receiving him. — Please, come in — she said, stepping aside to let Subaru through.
He entered at once with Beatrice and Meili.
— Subaru-sama, who is this blue-haired girl with you? — the housekeeper asked.
— Ah. This is Meili, my adopted daughter. I hope she won’t cause too much trouble while we’re here.
— Understood — she nodded. — Felt-sama is in her office with Adelheid-sama and my sister, Grassis. Come, I’ll show you the way.
Subaru nodded in agreement. Then, following behind Flam, he walked through the mansion hand in hand with the two little girls, greeting everyone he passed, and it wasn’t long before they reached Felt’s office.
He considered knocking, but decided against it. Instead he threw the door open shouting “Guess who’s here!”
Adelheid and Felt looked surprised by the young man’s sudden appearance, but smiles quickly followed. Felt was the first to approach the Japanese boy, leaping onto him and wrapping him in a hug, which he returned.
— Big bro, how’ve you been?
— Doing great, shorty. Things have been pretty quiet back at the Mathers Mansion, but enough about me! How are you two? — he said, setting his little sister back on the floor.
— Aside from Adel forcing me to stay locked up here studying, I’m fine!
The blonde’s words made Subaru chuckle softly. That was pure Felt—she had always openly declared how much she hated studying.
Still, the young man’s gaze settled on Adelheid.
— Don’t think I forgot about you, Adel! — Subaru said as he approached the Sword Saint.
She smiled and extended her hand for a greeting, only to be surprised by a hug from the dark-haired young man.
— It’s good to see you again, my friend — Adelheid said, slightly startled and flushed by the summoned one’s action, though she returned the gesture with genuine warmth.
— Same here, Adel… Wow, I see you’ve decided to change your style.
Natsuki now noticed that Adelheid was not wearing her knight’s uniform, but a casual light-blue sleeveless dress.
— Yes, today is my day off, so I thought I’d wear something simpler.
— I get it. Either way, it looks really great on you. It matches your eyes and contrasts beautifully with that lovely hair of yours!
At the compliment, Adelheid’s face flushed deeply. It had been a long time since anyone had praised her appearance.
Meanwhile, simply watching the “lovebirds,” Felt, Flam, Grassis, Beatrice and Meili were beginning to feel that if they stayed any longer they would only be third-wheeling.
So Grassis decided to invent an excuse to leave her mistress and the guest alone.
— Please, have a seat, Subaru-sama. Would you like some tea? Something to eat? Or perhaps some sweets for your dear daughters? — Grassis asked, looking toward Natsuki’s two companions.
— Betty would like tea and some sweets — the spirit said.
— And I want little cakes… and a few sugar cubes for her — Meili said, leaving Flam and Grassis a bit confused. Then, from under Natsuki’s sleeve, a small scorpion emerged. — Shaula wants some sugar.
— In that case, come with me, young ladies — Flam said, heading toward the kitchen with Grassis to fetch the requests.
— Has Meili already run across the walls? — Felt asked, crouching to the tamer’s height.
— No.
— Wanna run across the walls?
— Yes!
Then Meili climbed onto Felt’s back and the two of them raced along the mansion walls toward the kitchen, leaving Subaru and Adelheid alone.
— Felt, if Meili hits her head and dies, you’re giving me another daughter!!!! — Subaru shouted after the former thief, who had already vanished from sight. — By Od, that girl never learns — he said, sitting back down in an armchair.
— Haha, I’m sorry about Felt-sama’s behavior — Adel said, a little nervous. — But then… how have things been since everything that happened in the Kingdom of Vollachia?
— Well, I don’t think there’s any point lying to you, Adel — Natsuki said with a light laugh, looking up at the ceiling. — For a few weeks it was pretty peaceful, aside from the fact that Rem now hates me and thinks I’m a cultist, and my relationship with Emilia hasn’t made any progress at all—she’s completely focused on her studies and I was fine with that… I thought I was being too childish, so I let her study and focused on taking care of the girls. But then a few days ago she and Rem started accusing me of things I never did—betraying the camp, stealing things from the mansion… Honestly, after that, I think I kind of got tired. I stepped away from my duties as a knight, as a butler and as a hero. Now I’m just focused on spending time with Meili and Beatrice. I feel like this whole “hero” thing isn’t for me. And for now, I just want one day without any kind of stress — he finished, staring at the floor without meeting the Astrea’s eyes, and letting out a long sigh.
A melancholic silence settled between Natsuki and the Astrea.
— Sorry, I ended up talking too much. Just forget about it, okay…
Adelheid placed her hand over his, drawing a look of surprise from him.
— You have nothing to apologize for, Subaru. It’s natural for someone like you to be exhausted. Ever since you arrived in Lugnica you’ve been fighting so hard. It’s only to be expected that you’re tired, especially after the Great Calamity of Vollachia. I don’t judge you for feeling this way… I was very stressed myself when I learned you had been teleported to the neighboring kingdom — she said, gently squeezing his hand. He managed a small smile.
— Wow, looks like I managed to worry the great Sword Saint? I’m feeling pretty important right now — the young man with sanpaku eyes teased lightly.
That earned a soft laugh from the Saint.
— You worried everyone… but I won’t deny I felt powerless because I couldn’t go help you — Adelheid said, her chest aching with guilt. She remembered how useless she had felt at being unable to cross the kingdom’s borders because of the “Adelheid Law.”
— Adel, look at me — the young man ordered, taking the girl’s hands and joining them. She did as he asked. — It was something beyond your reach. You don’t need to sit there feeling useless, and you shouldn’t! Because you are the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful and strongest woman I’ve ever had the chance to meet! — he said, gazing deep into the Astrea’s sky-blue eyes.
For a few seconds Adelheid was speechless. She had detected no lie from him, so it was true—he really thought she was beautiful!
— Thank you, Subaru. I… really needed to hear that — she said with a small smile. — You use your words very well. Be careful or you might end up stealing some woman’s heart.
— Maybe… who knows if that woman isn’t you, Adel? — he said with a sly smile.
— I’m not that easy, Subaru. You’ll need more than just your charm if you want to win me over. You remember what happened with Otto and Julius, don’t you? — she replied with a challenging smile that Natsuki readily accepted.
— Like it was yesterday — he said, trying to hold back a laugh as he recalled how Julius and Otto had confessed to Adelheid and asked her out in Pristella, only to be thoroughly rejected and left in complete humiliation.
Suddenly Adelheid heard approaching footsteps and released Subaru’s hand so no one would get the wrong idea.
The footsteps belonged to Flam, Grassis, Beatrice, Meili and Felt returning to the room.
The rest of the afternoon passed peacefully. Subaru talked a great deal with Felt about his latest adventures, and occasionally with Flam and Grassis, both of whom were very welcoming toward him. He also played with Meili and Beatrice and, of course, spoke at length with Adelheid. The two of them seemed closer than ever.
[...]
That same night, on the balcony of the Astrea’s room, Subaru and Adelheid stood together watching the stars.
Gazing at the starry sky was an old habit of Subaru’s—a moment of peace he was willing to share with Adelheid.
And it was working. Adel seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the quiet moment.
— Subaru, you mentioned that where you come from the stars are different, and that they have their own names, didn’t you? — she asked the young man, trying to start a conversation.
— Yeah, they do. The problem is that here the constellations and their positions are completely scrambled — he said, narrowing his eyes at the starry sky.
— Well, you mentioned that the stars of your homeland are clusters of plasma rather than mana. Maybe that’s why.
— Yeah, maybe…
— You know… — she took a deep breath and let out a soft sigh, feeling calm and relaxed simply being with him. Being outside and setting aside her responsibilities was a rare and pleasant feeling. — We could give them names.
— …That sounds great! Why didn’t I think of that before? — he said, putting a hand to his chin and half-rising from his seat, which made Adelheid giggle. He sat back down and began thinking of a name.
Beside him, Adelheid also pursed her lips as she tried to come up with something, but a name refused to form in her mind.
Subaru thought as well, his gaze shifting to Adelheid’s face. He thought of how kind she was, how beautiful, how gentle—even after everything she had been through—and how she was the Sword Saint, a heroic figure to the Kingdom of Lugnica…
— Perseus…
— Hm? — she looked at him after hearing the strange name that had caught the current Sword Saint’s attention. — “Perseus”?
— W-Well, I thought of that name. What do you think? — he asked with a few nervous laughs, glancing away.
— I think the name is rather… different. Does it mean something? Since your name comes from the Pleiades star cluster.
— It does. Perseus is the name of the constellation Perseus. The name comes from Greek mythology and means “the destroyer” or “he who pierces.” It’s located near the Milky Way. To explain better—Perseus is the name of the hero who beheaded Medusa, a creature that turned people to stone just by looking into their eyes. He was the bastard son of Zeus, a god and the leader of all the gods of his pantheon, and a mortal woman. After his death his name was immortalized in a constellation — as he explained the meaning, Adelheid’s eyes seemed to sparkle at being able to hear something like this. Having knowledge from another world made her value the relationship she shared with the young man even more.
— Wow, Subaru. That’s truly a grand meaning for a name! — she said, looking as though she had stars in her eyes from pure excitement.
— One cool thing about that constellation is that on a specific date each year, a meteor shower called the Perseids passes through it — he said, slowly and dramatically sweeping his arm to the side, trying to look cooler.
— Wooo!!! — she murmured, impressed. The stars were far more interesting than she had imagined. She looked back at the sky with a smile, choosing a cluster to name, then pointed to a group of stars that, if connected, formed the image of a man holding something. — Then those will be Perseus—our Perseus.
— Yeah, it’s almost like we’re naming a child — he said with a small joke, only to flush deeply the moment he realized what he’d said. Adelheid blushed just as hard.
— Idiot!! — she punched him lightly in the shoulder.
[N/A: My Adelheid is a bit of a tsundere.]
— Sorry! I didn’t—
— It’s fine — she said, still flushed and pouting, though she felt a small spark of joy at the thought… because the name really was a good one. “Perseus Natsuki Astrea,” she thought to herself.
[...]
After a long day, Subaru sat on the garden ground in the lotus position, forming the Yoga Mudra with his hands. He was trying not to focus on his traumas, his pain, or the fight with Emilia and Rem—and he was managing. With concentration and breathing techniques he kept his mind clear for several minutes.
Then he decided to open his eyes and look at the darkening sky, where the moon was rising and the sun was nearly gone. Natsuki smiled, thinking how calm the day had been. Before today he could barely remember the last time he had simply talked about ordinary, trivial, completely unimportant things.
— It’s nice sometimes to just be an ordinary person, without great responsibilities or a knight’s duties. Just living one day at a time… It would be even better if that drunk bastard weren’t here! — Subaru muttered to himself. It was no secret to anyone that he hated Heinkel.
— I’m sorry about my father, my friend. But don’t lose your temper over him. He’s just in a bad mood—it should pass by tomorrow — Adelheid said as she approached.
He was mildly surprised to see her. The Sword Saint was wearing a nightgown and a robe of intense red, made of a shiny satin fabric that hung from her shoulders. The nightgown had a V-neckline that emphasized her full breasts and a side slit reaching her thigh. The robe was open and loose, with wide, flowing sleeves that ended in wavy red lace, matching the lace trim along the bottom hem.
— Ah, hey Adel. What are you doing out here?
— I was looking for you. I just wanted to know if you’d like to… drink with me… — she asked, a little flushed and glancing away, clearly embarrassed. — Only if you want to! But if not, you can just keep me company, since you don’t drink and—
— It’s fine, I’ll accept — he answered, standing up. — But only because you’re the one inviting me.
— GREAT…! I mean, all right, then follow me.
Adelheid turned and Subaru followed close behind.
They walked for a few minutes to Adelheid’s chambers, where the swordswoman had left a bottle of wine and strawberries (or “Strowberrys” as they were called in this world) on a small coffee table near her bed.
The summoned one’s gaze immediately fell on the Sword of Reid, left in a corner of the room. He couldn’t help smiling; it reminded him of how he had first met Adelheid.
For a brief moment Subaru’s mind drifted through past deaths—his stomach being opened by Elsa, Rem torturing him, his repeated deaths at the hands of Todd Fang. But he quickly pushed those thoughts away. He had something more important now.
Adelheid sat on the edge of the bed and patted the space to her left, signaling Subaru to sit beside her. He did.
Then Adelheid began filling their glasses. For the first time, Subaru decided to drink alcohol.
While he tried it, the Sword Saint watched him for a few seconds, anxious for his reaction.
— Blagh! Damn, that’s strong! — Subaru said, making a surprised face at the potent taste. — But it’s not that bad.
— I’m glad you like it. Ah, there are Strowberrys if you want some — she pointed to the tray of strawberries on toothpicks. Then she took a sip of wine herself. — If I may ask, my friend… why were you meditating?
— Ah… It’s a technique for calming the mind that my mother taught me when I was a kid. In her religion, meditation was a way to understand the universe and reach enlightenment — Subaru explained, looking at his glass. — Whenever I felt overwhelmed or stressed, I would meditate with her to calm my mind… — he said, a deeply sad expression crossing his face that Adelheid had never seen before.
— Do you miss your mother, Subaru?
— Yes… her and my father. But it doesn’t matter, since I’ll never see them again.
— What do you mean? — she asked, confused by the dark-haired young man’s words.
— Promise you won’t laugh in my face or freak out?
— Subaru, I would never do that — she answered firmly.
He gave a weak laugh and then said:
— Yeah… the thing is, I’m not from this world, Adel. I’m from beyond the Great Waterfall.
The Saint’s eyes widened; she didn’t know what to say. She knew Subaru wasn’t lying—her divine protections told her as much. Adelheid had seen many things, but she had never considered the possibility of someone coming from beyond the Great Waterfall.
— I see… — she said, trying to be understanding. — So that’s why you seemed so out of place when we first met?
— Yeah… When I arrived I tried to fool myself, thinking I’d live some grand adventure and that after accomplishing something incredible I could go back home. But deep down I knew perfectly well there was no going back. I’m stuck here forever. And you know what’s the worst part? — he paused briefly, giving Adelheid a chance to guess, but she remained silent. — The night I was sent to Lugnica, I had gone out to buy a few things for myself. But before I left… my mother asked me to wash a cup that was in the sink. A simple request. Something easy and quick… but I didn’t do it. I just told her, “I’ll wash it when I get back.” I could have just turned around, washed the cup and then left. But no! And to make it even worse, when she told me to come back soon, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t do that one simple thing she asked of me, and I didn’t even answer her before walking out!! I… I… just shut myself away… And now I’ll never be able to talk to her again.
When he finished, Natsuki simply stared at the floor, fighting the urge to cry.
Then he felt Adelheid resting her head on his shoulder.
— In a way, I understand what you’re feeling… — the red-haired woman said in a low, sad voice. — I think you already know about the illness my mother suffers from — she paused briefly. Subaru turned to look at her. — Believe it or not, I was a very mischievous child. My mother was always scolding me for my stupid pranks. Until one day I was running down the hallway and ended up breaking a vase. Naturally she got very angry, grounded me and took away my favorite toy. In the heat of the moment I… shouted at the top of my lungs that I hated her and never wanted to hear her voice again…
Subaru felt something damp on his shoulder. Adelheid was crying.
In silence he looked at the Sword Saint with her head resting against him.
— But as the saying goes: “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” Guess what—I got it. Three days later my mother wouldn’t wake up, no matter what I tried — Adelheid said, staring at the floor. Memories of her mother flooded her mind, sending more tears down her cheeks. Whenever she remembered that day her chest hurt so badly it felt as though her heart might climb out of her throat.
Subaru was stunned to see this unfold before his eyes. He had never seen Adelheid cry like this.
Immediately he pulled her into an embrace, resting her head against his shoulder.
Though surprised, the Saint accepted the gesture and buried her face in his shoulder, soaking his shirt with her tears.
The candidate for Sage and the Sword Saint remained locked in that embrace for several minutes—nearly an hour—simply savoring each other’s company. At last Subaru released her and gently wiped one of her tears away with the back of his fingers.
When he moved to wipe the other, their eyes met. Even after crying, her blue eyes were extraordinarily beautiful. If he had to describe them, he would have said they held “the glow of a beautiful lake of crystal-clear water.” Beautiful as they were, though, they also held a deep pain.
In Adelheid’s eyes, Subaru’s were no less striking. Even though the summoned one’s eyes always gave the impression that he was irritated, to her that was one of his charms. It made him look strong—yet even he couldn’t be strong all the time.
Adelheid then leaned closer to Subaru’s face, closing the distance between them. Neither of them knew whether it was the wine or the fact that they had just poured their hearts out to each other. Against what might have been expected of Natsuki, he pulled Adelheid closer and claimed her lips.
He began to invade her mouth with his tongue, exploring every inch of its interior, and the Sword Saint made no attempt to resist.
In that moment they simply let the kiss guide them.
Subaru ended up pushing Adelheid onto her back on the mattress, covering her with his body. Even with the change in position he never stopped attacking the Sword Saint’s lips, continuing until both of them ran out of breath.
“Damn lack of air!” was what both of them thought.
With their lips finally separated and only a thin strand of saliva still connecting them, Subaru changed his approach. He moved down to the base of her neck and gently bit her, drawing a soft little moan from the Astrea—cute, in Subaru’s opinion.
He continued nipping and began licking her neck for several minutes. Then, with his left hand, he squeezed one of Adelheid’s breasts while with his right he undid her ponytail, letting her hair spill across the bed like a red sea.
Once more they leaned in for a kiss—shorter this time, lighter and quicker.
When they pulled their lips apart, Adelheid whispered:
— Subaru… do you want to do this now? — her voice was thick with desire and arousal.
Natsuki remained silent for a moment. He knew there would be no going back…
— …Yes, Adel-tan — he said firmly. Even knowing it could go wrong and that if he slipped he might ruin his relationship with Adelheid, he didn’t care. He simply wanted to become one with her.
— Then let’s, Subaru~.
That made Natsuki’s heart skip a beat. He quickly removed his moss-green jacket and black shirt, revealing his toned body. His muscles were well-distributed without excess; the ridges of his abs were defined, and he carried numerous battle scars across his skin.
The Saint swallowed hard. Her cheeks heated at the sight of Natsuki’s defined abdomen; those scars only added to his charm, making him look like some sort of war god. She also felt something wet trickle from her panties.
Subaru reached toward the neckline of Adelheid’s nightgown, slipped a finger between the fabric and pushed it down, exposing her full breasts. Her areolas were a soft pink and her nipples already hard.
The sight left the summoned one mesmerized. Until now he had only ever seen that kind of thing in adult films—ones he had stolen from his father—but seeing it in person was an entirely different sensation.
— Do you like what you see, Subaru? — she asked in a seductive voice.
— Yes… very much!
He lowered his head to take the Astrea’s left breast into his mouth while fondling the right.
It was a pleasant surprise for her. She braced her elbows on the mattress and ran her hands through his black hair, making it clear she appreciated his sudden boldness.
For the first time Subaru had his mouth on a woman’s breast. He sucked at the nipple like a child hungry for milk, using more force than necessary, but Adelheid didn’t mind in the slightest—she was thoroughly enjoying this rougher side of him.
The simple contact of his hot tongue against the nipple and pink areola left her aroused and sensitive. The right breast’s nipple stood stiff, demanding attention, but it would have to wait its turn. Subaru stopped sucking and began circling the areola with his tongue, drawing a needy moan from Adelheid. She felt his teeth brush against her nipple, putting her on alert, but she paid it little mind. The summoned one alternated between sucking, licking and gently biting while she encouraged him by stroking his hair and pressing his face more firmly against her.
Meanwhile Adelheid took the opportunity to rub her intimacy against Subaru’s. Only her wet panties and his pants prevented direct contact.
— Mmmm! — she moaned in protest when he pulled away after giving ample attention to her breasts, but she barely had time to think before Subaru covered her full breasts with kisses.
Between the valley of her breasts, feeling his hot breath in that place sent shivers through Adelheid’s entire body. The trail of kisses climbed higher, accompanied by his hot tongue along her neck, making her moan in pure bliss.
Their lips and tongues met again in a slow, erotic kiss; his right hand rested against her cheek. Even with her eyes closed the Astrea knew Natsuki’s face was as red as her own.
They separated once more and Subaru looked deep into her eyes:
— Adel-tan… are you sure you want—
— Don’t you dare finish that sentence! — the red-haired woman exclaimed. — I have never been more certain of anything in my life, Subaru. Please… claim me as yours! — she said, her eyes overflowing with passion.
Subaru nodded with a smile, wondering silently whether it was possible to fall more in love with a woman with every passing second.
Then he rose onto his knees on the mattress. His restless hands slid the red panties down her thighs, past her calves, until they reached her heels and were removed entirely.
— Wow. You’re so wet — Subaru observed in surprise, even bringing the thin fabric to his nose. — And you smell amazing.
— That’s so you can see the effect you have on me — Adelheid answered, staring straight at him.
Then the summoned one finally unbuttoned and slowly pulled down the zipper of his pants. In one eager motion he removed both the pants and the white boxer briefs he wore.
The Sword Saint was mesmerized, staring at the cock pointing upward, nearly reaching her belly. Inevitably her pussy grew even wetter.
It was most likely around twenty centimeters long, thick, veined, the large head a clear red and swollen, with a few traces of intimate hair.
— Wow, Subaru… you’re so big — Adelheid murmured without meaning to.
— Yeah, looks like I’m above average in that department even in this world — Subaru said, scratching his cheek in embarrassment. — Well… here I go.
The dark-haired young man gripped his penis and guided it between the folds of the red-haired woman’s vagina. The flushed head rubbed against the sensitive muscles of her pussy, sending a wave of pleasure through his brain and drawing a soft, needy moan from her. Before Subaru could push forward, the young woman pressed the palm of her right hand against his stomach, just above the scar Elsa had left.
Even without a word, Subaru already understood what Adelheid was asking.
When he began to press the glans inside her, she felt a shiver run down her spine. She never removed her hand from his stomach, preventing any unintentional thrust, and the Japanese young man made no complaint. Yet when he carefully moved his hips, slowly invading the Saint, he saw something.
Blood.
Subaru had just broken Adelheid’s hymen—meaning from this moment on their virginities had been taken by each other. While he stared at the blood, Adelheid felt a familiar sensation, so familiar she already knew what it was.
— You can move, Subaru — she said calmly.
Her partner was immediately taken aback.
— A-Are you sure?… You don’t have to feel pressured, Adel. It’s fine to go at your—
She began to laugh.
— It’s not that, you silly. I just received a divine protection that reduces physical pain. It’s called the Divine Protection of the Ice Heart — she explained.
For a few seconds Subaru stared blankly. He should have known that at some point during this night Adelheid would receive some divine protection for sexual use.
— Now fuck me already! — she ordered.
— As you command, Sword Saint!
Natsuki drew his hips back, letting the Astrea feel every inch sliding along her wet inner walls, then thrust fully into her.
Though restrained, the pace of Subaru’s thrusts was quick and a little uneven, producing a wet sound each time their bodies met. The Japanese young man was still unused to the frenzy racing through his body, resulting in the irregular rhythm. The red-haired woman noticed, but it didn’t bother her in the least.
Her breasts swayed with every thrust—a sight the summoned one thoroughly appreciated. He gripped her waist with both hands, using it as leverage so his thrusts could go deeper. And deeper they were. She raised her arms, slipping them under his open ones, and planted her hands on his back. She began stroking his broad back while rolling her hips and squeezing his cock—all with perfect control thanks to her new divine protection: Bedroom Cunning, which granted her mastery of the carnal arts.
Because of that, Subaru decided to pick up the pace. Now he thrust faster, harder and more roughly, making the young woman roll her eyes and grow even wetter than before.
After several minutes the summoned one’s breathing grew ragged; his jaw clenched, his fingers gripped her waist possessively, and his cock began to pulse repeatedly.
— Adel-tan~, I’m going to—
Before he could finish the sentence she wrapped her legs around his waist, preventing him from pulling out, and dug her nails into his broad back.
— Inside! Finish… inside! Claim me as yours!! — Adelheid cried uncontrollably.
Subaru looked into her eyes with a mixture of affection and lust; she returned the gaze. Then they kissed passionately as they reached climax together.
When the need for air finally forced them apart, the lovers remained in that position for a few seconds, both smiling at each other. The scent of sex filled the room.
— That was wonderful, Subaru — she said in a honeyed voice.
— It really was, Adelheid-tan — he agreed. — Can we do more?
— Of course, my love — she smiled sideways. — We have the whole night ahead of us!
Slowly he straightened his back as he withdrew his penis. Adelheid felt the semen trickling from her folds and soaking the sheets.
Without warning she pushed Subaru onto his back on the mattress and, with an agile movement, climbed on top of him, straddling his thighs and planting her knees on the bed beside his waist.
— Now it’s my turn to be on top.
For the rest of that night, Subaru thought neither of Emilia nor of Rem, nor of a single one of his traumas.
And Adelheid?
She likewise thought neither of her family’s accusations regarding her grandmother’s death, nor of her ailing mother.
Two people who had been wronged by the world, who had suffered and lost those they loved, yet still had to wear masks and pretend to be strong at all times.
In each other’s presence, they could finally let their tears fall.
But what might those tears bring about further down the road?
To be continued…