Chapter 3: Bleak Darkness, Rough Light
Despite Emilia's assurances and Reinhard's own guarantee that nothing wrong was going to happen if the situation got too risky, Subaru just had this sinking feeling that this felt too 'easy'.
Massaging his stomach, a gesture that was seen by the others as merely an attempt to soothe his unease, the young man traced the precise area where his belly got ripped open. The feeling had been so unpleasantly 'odd'. It wasn't the same as other injuries he got from before coming into this world.
At first there wasn't pain, but dread. The air yanked out of his lungs, his body screaming that something was wrong and... he was walking into that place once more. The unease wasn't that unjustified, he reasoned deep within his mind. Dying shouldn't be a pleasant experience, especially with how violent his 'first' one had been.
The previous thoughts about the chances of this being more than just a 'one-time thing' returned to his mind, but the young man was nonetheless displeased by those. He wasn't going to risk it, not with how vicious his previous demise had felt on his soul. Even now he felt the effects of it, as if something had been 'lost' that first time.
He was almost tempted to make a joke about this circumstance having deprived him of his 'death v-card', but the gloomy topic just pulled him away from that kind of amusement. Subaru just couldn't bring himself to think for too long about it without feeling genuinely upset with himself. It had been stupid to assume that a house of thieves would be safe for someone like him, an unarmed civilian, to enter without any issues. Stupid and suicidal. And also mortifying because he led Emilia to an early death too.
Breathe in and out. One, two, three...
Emilia's gaze would keep at his frame at times, turning away whenever he looked back at her. Was she trying to look at him while she thought he wasn't noticing? Puck's amused look seemed to confirm this, but Subaru saw no reason to press on this matter. Reinhard hummed jovially through the whole walk, suggesting a few things to keep in mind within the chances of a fight. It was an acceptable idea to have extra advice to rely on in case the battle turned in a way the NEET didn't see as favorable. The real issue within that advice was Subaru's role. Since he was the weakest, he expected for him to be taken the furthest away from the fight... but no. The red-haired knight was quite direct and frank about that matter.
"Lady Emilia's safety is pivotal for this kingdom's fate. I would suggest you don't let anything happen to her, Subaru. Even if this could cost your life."
His heart tightened at that last bit, but he was surprised when Emilia suddenly looked angry at that statement.
"While my safety is truly important, I believe what you said was lacking of care towards a friend of mine, Sir Reinhard," The half-elf argued heatedly. "Please, put some genuine interest in his well being."
Rather than being stunned or offended by that response, the knight smiled and nodded. He looked pleased by that remark, as if he had hoped for this reply but... how? And why did he take that route just to get her to speak that way about Subaru? The young man was confused, but Reinhard decided to offer some insight on the reaction.
"I'm truly relieved to hear this. You see, Lady Emilia, we all had a very mixed view of your take on how you see your allies due to your... current benefactor."
Emilia's frown softened, almost agreeing to that comment, while Puck huffed at that last bit. The whole reaction had Subaru confused over the topic. 'Benefactor'? Does this mean that Emilia might have someone that could potentially hurt her? That sounded to be the case but... maybe that wasn't as simple. Since this world was set in a feudal era, with some old traditions he was quite sure were common in Europe, perhaps it was just a matter of reputation or something like that. Japan was different in that regard, but while he observed that some traditions reminded him of home, it was also true that the rest of things he had seen here were common in the West.
Another reason to find a few books on the matter and see what I have to be cautious about in terms of politeness.
He saw no reason to pipe in beyond saying that 'it was fine'. And... that actually annoyed Emilia for some reason. The girl just started to stare at him with irritation, something that stunned him for a moment, but was little to what he felt when she spoke up about her current mood swing.
"It's not fine when a friend is treated that way, Subaru. I'm not that kind of person."
The young man felt touched by the moment, and offered just a frail smile as he wasn't exactly sure how to handle that interaction. Cautious and a plan-maker he might be in social situations, but this was one of the rare times he wasn't sure how he was supposed to answer it. And with no answer from his way and his awkward look, the white-haired elf was quick to see it as her win. Somehow. He just didn't question that victorious look on her face, preferring to stare at it and wonder how someone so cute would be treated this oddly by everyone else.
Differently than before, the house of thieves was not drowning in the darkness. The lights were on, the interior was visible and... there were just two individuals in there. The first one in sight was the tallest of the two and sported a bulky figure. He looked like a small giant as he stood around 7 feet, with his hunched back making him appear slightly shorter than that. He had white strands of hair lining his eyebrows, the only few locks that remained in his mostly bald head. He was wearing a sleeveless vest.
The other one was... a girl. Short, with fair skin and medium-length golden hair with a black bow. Her red eyes glowed vibrantly as she was soon looking at them entering the place. Her outfit was made of a black top, red scarf, and black pants that were incomplete on the left side, where she also wore a red ribbon. Covering the skin her top didn't hide from others' gazes; she also had a vest, gloves, and a belt with a sheath where a lone knife was, while down to the very bottom she prominently had a pair of brown shoes.
"Welcome to my Warehouse, Knight. How may we help you?" The welcome from the old man was polite and yet it perfectly blended cutting formality with a warning tone.
"Good afternoon, we're looking for an item that has been... displaced."
The blonde shifted nervously, quite enough to confirm it was the thief that Emilia spoke about, and she was soon glancing right at the knight and then to Emilia, her red eyes gleaming in familiarity... before then finishing that quick study of the situation with him. Subaru stared back at the girl, with her eyes narrowing as she almost sensed his own doubts on engaging in that exchange and...
Those are some cool eyes.
He rarely saw red eyes on anyone, so, in a way, this combination of blonde hair, red orbs and the girl herself behaving like a standard tough tomboy... that was just plain adorable in his eyes. If circumstances had been different and he had been given the chance to speak and befriend the girl, he would have plotted some head patting for her. But right now, the only thing he could do was stare and wonder how it was possible for a thief with that kind of 'flashy theme' would be able to elude chases and attention from others. It was after he was done setting out the questions he realized that the girl had averted her eyes away from his, her cheeks a tone pinker as she really looked intimidated by him and... he felt at fault for it. He had been told many times by his parents to not stare at people for too long since he got eyes that tended to look mean when he stared at something and someone for too long. It was clear that was the case. And to make things worse, he realized that Emilia had been staring at him for a while. She had a 'sturdy' look on her face, with a hint of a pout by her lips as she tensely glanced at him. Was that annoyance that he saw on her face? Towards him or the situation?
Just as he glanced back at her, the girl suddenly looked away, a red hue spreading over her face in clear embarrassment. Subaru just felt even more embarrassed, mistaking that reaction as the same one that the thief had with him. Should he apologize once they were done with this? Definitely, he thought quietly.
His attention was back to Reinhard and the owner of the place, having missed most of that conversation due to his staring contest.
"I see. So this item could bring us that much trouble?" The small giant remarked with surprise. "I didn't expect the kingdom would go so far for it considering its size."
"The insignia is a relevant aspect of the succession. Trying to steal and sell it would warrant some dreadful consequences, of which I'm willing to ignore because I'm aware of your good conduct despite your foul affairs." The redhead admitted, his lips forming a thin and slightly upset line. "That would be just part of the problem, Rom. I believe we can agree that your presence here is already shaky due to your... previous allegiance."
'Rom' grunted, picking up the small insignia and looking ready to give it to Reinhard with nothing more than a small whine. But while he did so, his gaze moved elsewhere as the doorbell rang once more, announcing someone else had entered the place. And while Subaru didn't see his murderer in their face, he could tell this was the one. The murderous assassin that took his first life. A pleasant smile on her face, a polite humming and then a surprised look on her place.
This... this is going to be troublesome.
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Felt was confused by the sudden change of mood from the knight.
Sure, the blonde had noticed the ominous aura coming from their customer, but after spending years of working in the business, the girl knew it was normal to work for unpleasant people. Yet, this very reaction and the unease shown by Rom was enough to confirm one thing: this customer wasn't a 'good one' for them. Especially since the product she asked for wasn't one that they should be dealing with.
The tall woman's long wavy hair was the same shade of black as the young man, which was actually uncommon to find around on other people and almost made Felt wonder if they were related somehow, and it was braided into a long tail on the left side of her head that reached down to her hips. Her slim body was well-endowed with large breasts and sultry curves, quite peculiar and intriguing for a young girl as Felt as she wondered if she was ever going to reach that bewitching beauty herself, yet her wonder was stunned by the deadly pale creamy skin color of the customer. Her outfit matched the focus of her beauty by being extremely provocative. She wore a pair of black elbow-length gloves with purple trimmings at the top, a pair of black high-heel shoes, and a black dress with purple decorations that was both strapless and backless and featured brown tights. The dress, that looked skin-tight and accentuating her hips and sizes, also had thigh-high slits on either side and an exposed front that flaunted her bellybutton and cleavage.
"Truly a feast, I'm so... pleased of the many guts that can be spilled."
These words further cemented the young thief's mind on the matter, especially with how lustful they sounded despite the unpleasant topic, and she was quick to unsheathe her knife for the occasion. The gesture was noticed, but almost mocked with a mirthful look from the 'customer'. Leering at her that way, it just pissed Felt off even more.
"I believe that will not happen, Elsa Granhiert."
The name didn't ring any bell in Felt's mind, but Rom was already looking belligerent at that announcement. This wasn't a fun business anymore from the way things were escalating. Even the pretty elf took a fighting stance and the young man beside her, the one she was quite sure was holding back something scary from the mean gaze he got, looked quite unsure of what to do. Worry? Could it be that her early assessment of the guy was wrong? Nonetheless, that wasn't important.
The woman smiled coyly. "Oh, I didn't know that I was known by the Sword Saint himself. Still, good Sir, I'm looking forward to seeing how precious your guts are. What kind of color do you think those are? Normal? Or perhaps they own a sense of 'justice' to them. Or even better, the sorrow of losing a mother at a tender age."
Felt almost shook her head in disappointment at that comment. Sure, trying to bait someone could normally be pleasant in case they could be overwhelmed but... that wasn't the case. Just with a step, the impetuous assault from the redhead was ferocious. The assassin quickly brought her daggers out but those barely blocked the strike of a... normal sword. A frown adorned Felt's face as she was quite sure someone like the 'Sword Saint' should have something stronger than that. And it was there that she noticed the man had been holding his proper sword holstered. Why would he do that?
Despite her confusion at that move, the blonde was soon baffled by something else. They were moving fast. Really fast. Even with her trained eyes, Felt was struggling to keep up with their paces. How was it possible for someone to be that quick? How was it even doable for them both to be able to move around without crashing somewhere. Her early efforts to master her skills had resulted in no shortage of failures before she got the right amount of speed and control needed for precise rushes. But right now, all that hard work that she had grown to be proud of felt insignificant before that display of speed.
Just as she tried her best to track their movements, she failed to notice something soaring towards her. In the middle of the fight, the assassin had thrown one of her daggers out, and it had aimed for... her. Why? Felt's head exploded in pure confusion as she brainstormed as quickly as she could on her matter, as she was unable to understand the reason behind that attack. Why her? What did she do that the others didn't? Why did the Assassin think of her as the biggest threat? Her legs received the message to move away from the approaching projectile, yet her feet were still standing on the ground. Dread roused from within, but as she saw the dagger getting dangerously close to her face, her world shifted down. Her footing was lost, someone had pushed her onto the ground and... then she saw blood flying out as the dagger found flesh. A loud yell filled with pain, Felt's already wide-open eyes were aimed at the individual that just pushed her out of danger's way and... felt horror piling up. The young man, he had saved her from that. And that dagger almost took his shoulder off from how big the gash was.
Is he even going to survive this?
Before she could say or do anything, she noticed tears had started to form and her chest was contracting in shivers. Panic, she had seen her life pass before her own eyes. Sure, she had lived on the streets long enough to know death could be around the corner... but there would normally be a warning, and she would be keen to avoid taking any road that got her too much heat onto her butt. Right now? She didn't get any choice, and she should have died due to her body freezing up in such a terrible situation.
"A-Are you alright?" The guy asked, his usually mean eyes flashed a mix of pain and confidence.
Who was he to ask her if she was fine? She should be the one speaking! So why didn't she speak? This last question ended unanswered for a while, but then her voice returned and she replied with a single word.
"S-Stupid."
Stupid for jumping and helping someone that was rotten bad, that was a thief, that was no one you knew about. But beyond that confusion born from that response, Felt spotted a strong lingering feeling of determination. There was no regret, even if the pain had to be horrible for someone like him.
That moment was interrupted as a shadow loomed over them. Violet eyes peering over the two as the young man, instead of moving away... stood between her and Felt. Why? Once more, her perplexity kept her quiet and shocked.
"Your eyes are... quite familiar," Elsa hummed quietly, amused and yet intrigued. The comment was aimed at the young man. "I've seen eyes like yours... yet yours are softer."
That last detail was relayed with quite the disappointed tone, yet her smile didn't falter. Felt was confused, and the shivering from the dumbass matched hers. Both were clueless on what she meant with that, but the blonde didn't see reason to keep in that position. To her credit, the assassin managed to dodge a knife-throw this close, her amusement remaining despite the sudden attack from the thief... but cracking as Reinhard used the opportunity to finally strike through the woman's defenses. The sword cut, but it also shoved the assassin away due to the strength applied to it. A pained gasp, then the assassin was forcefully slammed on one of the walls, with that part of the building cracking at the impact.
Silence echoed within the room, with Felt's gaze and breath shaky as she hoped it was over. That the knight had actually killed the bitch but... that didn't seem to be the case. For the most part. The assassin ran away, possibly frightened by that deadly hit, but she had survived the encounter. Time passed, Felt was helped up and Rom checked on her. He saw her tears, and the blonde felt extremely embarrassed. When was the last time she cried in front of him? A long time ago, and even now he sported the same calm and patient look. 'It is only a natural reaction', he told her back then. That everyone cries at times, especially when we face something so unfair that could hurt us. And now she came close to dying.
While she thought it was over and that life could return to normal, the red-haired knight that had helped them asked a single favor out of Felt. Something silly in her mind, but that he was quite serious in having her try. Rom looked uneasy, but allowed her to give it a go but gave her a warning.
"Be careful."
Was the insignia really dangerous for those that weren't part of the kingdom? She had used special gloves for that, but the knight wanted her to try it. He said that something about Elsa's behavior had him interested in a 'possibility'. Despite her many questions and state of mind, the blonde complied and held the insignia in her palm.
...
"...Why is it glowing?"
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AN
And so it is! This first 'tutorial arc' is now over and I have to say a couple of things:
1) While Subaru will accept Emilia's offer to stay at the manor, I have some plans to make it a bit more than just a 'no-brain' decision. A small 'issue' called Felt;
2) As this chapter and the previous point addressed, I plan to give Felt a bit more relevance in the story. I think she will add more to what I've in mind and... right now the main pairing is SubaruXEmilia;
3) Barusu is going to bring more than 'Victory!' to the village. Be prepared for some small improvements for feudal life and... head pats. Lots of them.
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Jan 6, 2022Report
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Chapter 4: Counter-Offer
'This is certainly... something.'
Natsuki Subaru wasn't one to say no to generous offers when he generally needed help for something. His mother had been quite strict in instilling a sense of humbleness even when it came to being dismissive of these. But as Emilia offered him a place to stay due to their friendship, he couldn't help but feel upset towards himself, and even more at his situation.
To think he would end up cashing in a friendship in the form of a place to stay, a 'safe haven' for him to go to. It left a bitter taste in his lips. Something that worried him to no end as he could tell this couldn't be a permanent thing. Despite the absurdity of the situation, he knew better than just keeping put and retaining laziness. The young man just didn't see it as feasible with how risky this world was. And that thought was just reinforced by meeting the girl who was meant to be escorting Emilia.
The young maid looked quite cute, but Subaru had plenty of experience from home, mostly second-hand, where pretty girls weren't always that nice, so he reserved from being too exposed around her until he knew who he was dealing with. Medium length light pink hair with bangs covering the left half of her face, her red slanted eyes gleamed in surprise at finding Emilia and in dismay when she spotted Subaru and learned what happened. She had two hair clips crossing towards the right side of her hair, flower-shaped ribbon on the same side of her hair, and a maid headband to match her outfit. A proper maid, but she looked far from subservient like he would imagine one to be. At least, not towards strangers.
Her name was Ram, and her sharp tongue...
"He looks like a homeless person. He could be trying to scam you, Lady Emilia."
Greatly upsetted Subaru.
It wasn't the first time the guy had dealt with girls behaving that way, but it definitely applied a layer of annoyance to what was going to be a very 'long' stay at this manor. And even as Emilia went on through great lengths to push back quick accusations from the pinkette, the maid made it clear she didn't trust the young man. Even more as the half-elf confirmed that he would stay at the 'manor' as a guest for the time being. The servant was quick to oppose this decision, not directly, but trying to dissuade her 'lady' to not go this extra step. Despite how she behaved up to this point, Subaru had the chance to see that Emilia had the means to keep some stubbornness within her choices, those that she felt really mattered and couldn't be declined.
Much to his relief, as the conversation had gone for an awkward amount of time, the maid eventually backed down from the 'fight', and ultimately bowed her head as the trio finally made their way to the carriage the girls used to get in town. The ride to reach the manor was fairly quiet. Subaru sat by a side of two sides of the seats within the carriage, while Emilia picked the opposite one. It just felt awkward to be forced to sit so closely to someone he had just met, especially if it was a new female friend and in an enclosed space.
The young man thought back to the few times when one of his childhood friends would just scold him to not sit too close to someone like that. It felt 'creepy', and he could see reason within that circumstance. So... why did Emilia look quite annoyed at him having made that decision? He decided against asking, feeling too light-minded to actually care. While the wound he sustained in that sudden fight hadn't pushed him in a feverish state or, worse, unconsciousness, that didn't mean he had the mental strength to endure any unnecessary conversation for today.
Reinhard had been quite clear when it came to this kind of matter, saying it was only for the best if Subaru tried to not exert his mind for the remainder of the day and injured arm in the next few days. It was actually the worst injury he ever got beyond getting murdered by that same assassin in a previous 'life'. The memory flared again, this time as a nagging factor before the chance he was venturing into an unknown place. Part of his mind, sympathetic to Emilia's cute offer, was keen to dismiss most of the worst out of the paranoia he had developed from that experience, but some good questions remained to keep him vigilant for any surprises. Looking back at the first few conversations with Emilia, both before and after his 'first' death, Subaru noticed how the half-elf had admitted to having close to no friends beyond Puck... and him.
This notion left a very jarring door open: this manor, the place that Emilia had confirmed she had been living for a while now, was not her home. And the people inside it? Not her friends. Which translated into a very unpleasant possibility that he might not be treated well within that place. Sure, he was a friend to someone the owner considered of importance, but what were the chances he would end up becoming a pawn in whatever game of intrigue he was being pulled into. It was clear there was something afoot within that relationship, but he had yet to meet the guy himself to say if it was indeed the case. After a few hours of riding, the carriage reached its destination around midnight. If before Subaru was tired, now he felt close to crash down on the ground as he left the carriage last. Emilia let out a cute yawn, hand covering her lips as she did so, but still not preventing some embarrassment to leave her blushing at the gesture. And the fact Subaru had stared at the scene with an amused smile.
The walk towards the gates was brief, with Ram calmly leading them into the tall building. It was there that the young man was introduced to the very individual he would have to be careful with. Standing about half a head over Subaru's current height, the nobleman was fairly towering. His straight indigo hair is long enough to cover his whole back and is usually tucked behind his ear on the left side of his head. His peculiar makeup covered his face in a very unusual fashion, reminding Subaru of a clown. His heterochromic eyes had his left orb shining golden and the right one blue. His current outfit consisted of a black hat, a top and bottom with different shades of purple, along with red and black boots and a cape. He also has a chain surrounding his right ankle.
Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers was the 'humble' owner of the manor, and yet Subaru was instantly distrusting him despite the 'cheerful manner' he greeted him with. It just felt like he wasn't being honest from the way he was eyeing him. To make it worse for the young man? Roswaal's smile flashed a true amused twitch. He knew what Subaru thought of him, that was what remained from that odd development and yet no comment was made about that silent exchange. Quite the opposite. The margrave smiled and was quite positive to the circumstance, even allowing Subaru to stay in the manor for an indefinite amount of time with just a catch: working at the castle.
...And that didn't sit well with Subaru. Not just when it came to trusting this man, but also because of the implications this deal would put him through. Despite his manly pride, Subaru wasn't exactly good at house chores. He could help cleaning, yes, but he was no good cook and he definitely would just create a mess out of this. Not only that, he felt that bowing his head to this matter would actually put him under heavy scrutiny from the odd nobleman.
Which meant I am going to be studied and perhaps used when Roswaal needed that pawn to control Emilia.
That wouldn't do, no. So, Subaru came up with a quick idea after remembering something the silver-haired friend of his that actually helped him to a degree.
"How about I help as a liason to the nearby village? Emilia told me that you are quite burdened between handling the paperwork of the other land and also making sure that the village is taken care of with utmost attention."
The half-elf perked in surprise at being mentioned by the boy and Roswaal hummed, interest flashing in his eyes.
"Why do you think I need someone like that, Su-ba-ru~?"
"Well, I'm not good at house chores. And working here in the castle would be detrimental for both," The young man explained truthfully, bowing his head with brief shame. "But since I've studied for enough years, I think I can help if there's a need for... someone on the field?"
"As an agent when I'm busy? A representative?" Roswaal guessed swiftly, taking a pensive stance that soon turned intrigued. "You said you have studied. Pray tell, how many years have you studied?"
"More than a decade." The answer stunned the occupants of the entrance hall. Ram herself looked surprised at that response, yet skeptical about its truthfulness. "Where I came from, school is mandatory and so I have some knowledge on handling this kind of affairs."
A pleased smile adorned the clowny man's face. "I see... and you would be willing to prove it to me?"
"Yes?"
"Then, let's make a deal. You will go through a test of my choosing tomorrow after lunch and I will decide if you will serve me as an agent or a servant of this castle."
That felt ominous, but it wasn't the worst thing possible. Just as Emilia and Subaru had split to get to their bedrooms, with the young man finally left alone from other issues, he proceeded to grab one of the pillows and scream his discomfort and mortification at realizing that he made a deadly mistake with that move. Sure, he knew how to do math at a level not many in this world could achieve due to how the 'modern average' was higher compared to the one obtained by scholars of this 'time', but Subaru couldn't read or write in the language he found himself speaking. What sounded Japanese bore another name and a different alphabet. In a way, he felt relieved to know there was just a single alphabet, and not many like in Japanese. It would make it simpler for him to study, but, at the same time, he knew that he didn't have a chance
"If you need any help, you can ask our librarian. She is quite bossy at times, but Beatrice is a good person."
Maybe there was a chance in this desperate situation. It was time to rely on a very unique ability he was keen to use during his high school years. An ability many students his age and mindset were aware of and had used times and times again.
Cramming. And, as expected, that didn't go well.
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It was early in the morning and... there was a disturbance.
Beatrice had long mastered and honed those inner skills to perceive 'unusual elements' within her realm, and right now she could tell someone breached her little haven made of ink, paper and knowledge. The spirit huffed, turning her head to stare at the anomaly and frowned before interest flocked at her mind together with annoyance.
Despite looking like a lovely young girl around the age of eleven or twelve, 'Betty' was more than just that. Her large sky-blue eyes have pink butterfly patterns as their irises. The spirit's blonde hair was worn long and tied into frilly vertical drill-shaped twin tails. She wore a dark-pink frilly dress with white trimmings and an exposed front that left her legs visible, and was completely covered by pink and purple vertically-striped tights. A petite crown is also sported on the right side of Beatrice's large head, serving as a nice accessory which complements her appearance rather perfectly. Beatrice also wears pink shoes with butterfly straps on her feet, and has a large pink ribbon adorned upon the left side of her waist and a pair of similar ribbons tied at the top of her twin tails. She was also fairly cranky at this early hour, making this circumstance fairly upsetting.
"Who are you and what are you doing in Betty's library, intruder?"
The young man paused, almost jumping as she spoke loudly.
"N-Natsuki Subaru," He introduced himself meekly. "Puck told me I could study here."
Beatrice frowned harder as she wondered what she just heard. Bubby had offered that to this guest? That sounded so interesting and quite confusing. "Truly? Why?"
"He said that here I would find the help I needed to learn how to write and read the common alphabet. Since I can just speak fluently this language-"
"But not write anything about it, I suppose," The little blonde finished, pondering on the circumstance itself. "Which means he asked for me to provide you with assistance. Quite frustrating."
The guest bowed his head. "I'm sorry."
That reply further confused Beatrice. "Why are you sorry? You've yet to annoy Betty." Beyond being there to begin with. But the spirit could ignore that. Mostly because Bubby had told him to ask for her help.
"It's just that... you don't look happy with it."
"And?"
"I don't wish to be a burden," The boy replied earnestly, bowing his head with extreme politeness. So much that even Betty felt incredulous of such circumstances. "I will be in your debt."
"In my... debt?"
"I understand that you are friends with Puck, but I don't wish for this to be seen as a burden. So please, I will do anything to pay for this service."
Beatrice wasn't sure how to exactly handle this situation. Normally, people would ask things from her and expect her assistance to be granted. Roswaal had reasons to be as such, but his maids and the little half-elf? No, the blonde had her own standards and rules within her 'home'. Yet, she saw this as an interesting opportunity. A favor? There wasn't much she could ask just like that. She didn't get the chance to even think of something she wanted. Still, something did come to mind and Betty huffed before offering her terms.
"...Show me your native language."
Subaru frowned. "You mean-"
"Show me how you write it down. You clearly are not from Lugnica or even any place this library's books come from," She interrupted flatly. "You're not too frustrated, so Betty will teach you, I suppose."
Beyond some unneeded 'thank you's, the blonde spirit was stunned to find out that the boy's claim was actually right. His language was similar and yet different than the one common in Lugnica. Both relied on signs, with each representing letters but also complete words. After that preliminary check, the girl just nodded and decided that she would be taught this unusual language, mostly as a new way to keep herself from the usual boredom. And tease Bubby if needed.
That silly man, Subaru, seemingly passed the test despite this 'test' meant to happen later to that first day of teaching. He learned a lot from it, there was no reason to lie about it, but it was clear he couldn't manage to gain that much knowledge in such a short amount of time. So Beatrice was confident that he didn't succeed through fair means, and that Roswaal had just meddled in his own test just because he was interested in his potential. Despite the meekness of the young man, even the spirit had to admit that this curious individual held a potential to not scoff at. Worst of all? She found his presence tolerable despite how little time he was around her.
Which was impressive considering how the only one that got that kind of respect was Bubby, even though the fellow spirit was put on a much higher pedestal. As this deal continued beyond the first day, Betty could say that this guest, this unusual Natsuki Subaru, was going to be quite the interesting character.
This is certainly... something.
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AN
Next time, Barusu goes to the village and goes through a different path than the original timeline. Not only that, he didn't get the 'chance' to meet Rem just yet. And that will make a serious difference in some dynamics within the manor.
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Jan 17, 2022Report
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Chapter 5: First Shift
It was a normal day at the manor. If one ignored the fact that there was a new occupant to it.
Ram was unimportant when it came to deciding if someone was worthy or not of being allowed to live within her master's manor, but that didn't mean her opinion was neglected by him. Roswaal was, beyond his eccentric nature, still someone that genuinely cared for second opinions. Not because of uncertainty, but to expand his opinion on circumstances he could have missed.
Specifically to which extent Lady Emilia and their newest 'guest' had bonded and if this could turn problematic for his plans with the half-elf. Despite her own unease before the young man named Natsuki Subaru, Ram had nothing to really blame him for. Beyond being a wimp, of course. And that, sadly, was no ground to push for anything too extreme, and the pinkette could pick a degree of affection Lady Emilia aimed at the young man.
Now, if that was returned or not was still unknown, but she had reason to believe that there was a form of lessened return. At the mere mention of an infatuation being the possible cause of the half-elf's affection, Roswaal bursted into a laugh. It wasn't unusual if the circumstance was enough to warrant that reaction, yet there was something on this specific occasion which left the pinkette fairly... distressed. Something just didn't feel right, even more when her master took notice of this and pointed out a detail which left her more confused than enlightened by the amusing factor of this circumstance.
"You know, Ram, in a way... he dooooes remind me of you."
That felt like an insult. And not. Questioning what that meant led to a sharp turn away from the topic. 'Like me?' Ram wondered confused as she tried to reason that comparison. It just didn't make any sense to her. Ram might not have an excellent literary education and thus couldn't fathom what Roswaal could be referring to at times, but in this case the girl felt like she had already gotten an answer by looking back to herself. Not to her 'current her', but what once was Ram.
Before the manor, before Roswaal and yet after she was left the only Oni alive with her sister. The confirming clue was on Subaru's face, an expression of uncertainty and yet resilience through the need of surviving that Ram didn't forget having experienced herself. It was odd, it felt unpleasant to see this, but not in the same key she was upset with Subaru. It was the reminder itself that messed with her grasp of his personality. He was so cheerful, but restrained. So calm, but definitely a nervous mess when in private. A maid like Ram could pick up that Barusu was nothing more than a moron by the end of the day, but the furthest thing from a truly worthless being. He had worth, she just couldn't understand the full extent of it.
Even more she felt perplexed by Roswaal's interest in allowing him to pick up a job that wasn't servile in nature. The way Subaru put it made it feel like he was doing this for Roswaal and the twins' sake. She doubted that was indeed the case, but the way he sounded so genuine at times made her feel less confident in throwing true insults at him. In fact, she hardly did so as most of their 'banter' as Roswaal put it was less toxic and upsetting for both, and more 'refreshing' at times. Not always, but sometimes it would strike a positive note on her standard day. The means to channel her irritation on someone that didn't have any relation to her daily burdens, while also becoming the 'target' of some sharp bickering from said individual.
The test itself further cemented the mysterious nature of their guest. Ram had doubted his level of knowledge, his capacity to think and be able to stand up to the claims he put about his current skills when it came to handling taxes and matters only noble-born men and women were expected to handle. Barusu surprised her through two specific reasons: First, he managed to handle the test mostly flawlessly, with the sole issues being the language bit. He understood the mathematics just well, but he failed to actually grasp the nature of their language by mentioning 'he could speak, but not properly read or write'. Upsetting, but not necessarily a problem to Roswaal as the Margrave was keen to admit; Then, the young man looked quite... interesting when busy.
She had seen him distracted, she had seen him annoyed, she had seen him anything but like this. And it felt incredibly wrong for some reasons. Ram just couldn't think of the right word on the spot, but she was stunned by how determined he looked despite the odds against him. Maybe it was because she had expected him to be less focused, to be less interested in giving his all due to the circumstance... but Barusu persisted. And it felt so out of character compared to what she had seen up to this point.
It shed a newer light on Barusu. And Ram couldn't say if it was a good or bad one, only that it made her quite intrigued to see to which degree the 'comparison' made by Roswaal truly extended to. What if her early assumption had been wrong? What if this comment was more than just that, but an indirect order to keep him around and study him without intervening? Even after a few days of having him around, Ram saw no issues that would demand a direct involvement from her. She could tell that there were secrets in his mind that would be interesting to learn of, but nothing that directly endangered their current status quo. So, Ram had no reason to worry about any grave issues of his.
The same didn't go for his sister.
"I just don't trust him. He could still be dangerous," A similar-looking maid remarked strongly, unwilling to fully accept Ram's own remarks on the matter.
Rem's medium length sky blue hair were styled like the pinkette, except some of the extended bangs went to cover her right light-blue eye instead of her left one. She also had hair clips towards the left side of her hair, a flower-shaped ribbon on the same side of her hair, and a maid hairband. And where Ram was driven by logic, Rem was driven by emotion. While one would normally fail to see the main difference between the maid siblings, there was one that went beyond any physical details they differed about, and that was tied to their grasp of things. Ram was cautious, Rem was more brash when it came to some instances which felt odd. She was the one that favored direct involvement regardless of there being a reason or not. Which was good at times, and bad at others. And right now, that felt more like a nuisance at best.
"He could, but we are not given the duty to judge guests, Rem. Master Roswaal was quite clear Barusu is a guest-"
"I just don't like that he is so close to Lady Emilia," Rem interjected. "It can end badly if we are wrong and..."
"You don't wish for Master Roswaal's plans to be ruined. Which is reasonable, yes," Ram accepted while nodding, but offered a blank look. "But this doesn't exclude the chance of also ruining the plans for him as Lady Emilia has taken a liking for him."
"So I should just let it go?"
Ram paused mid-dressing up. It was morning, and her sister had taken the occasion to use this brief moment of privacy they could rely on to open up this discussion. She was almost done, missing just her hairband and then she would be off to start her share of house chores. It was interesting how Barusu's arrival didn't end up bringing too much of a burden to her duties. The young man was surprisingly clean for someone his age and background.
"No. Doubting is good within this situation, but I suggest you don't pick any harsh choices for the time being. I shall see if Lord Roswaal would be open to set you as his 'guard'. Just to confirm if he is really trustworthy or not. That is as much as I can provide you."
A bright smile appeared on Rem's face and... that wouldn't last long as Roswaal did indeed agree that Subaru needed guarding due to his current tasks, but what her Master did was actually reassign Ram to it. It was unexpected, so much that Ram's composure cracked.
"Why!? Why me and not-"
"Oh my~, I thought you were better than just a question without thinking, Ram."
Roswaal's response forced her to pause in her questioning, confusion settling in as it became apparent, slowly so, what was going on.
"You want me because Rem is unfit for the task?"
"I don't think Rem will keep her word," The man corrected, still smiling. "After all, she isn't exactly good at hiding certain looks she aims at our newest guest."
...What?
"Oh, you didn't see, right?" Roswaal inquired chirpily. "Well, perhaaaps you should be a bit more cautious around your sister nowadays. She has grown into a fine woman and servant, and I know of your feelings when she makes mistakes."
"...I will go through this task without issues, Master."
That was the only thing she could say. The pinkette was just shaken by what had messed up with that expectation and what had landed her in an odd job out of the blue. She was definitely going to have a serious talk with Rem about it.
For this was ten times worse than anything she could have foreseen happening for her recent future...
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Emilia was still unsure on what to think of Subaru.
Yes, she knew that she liked him and that they were friends, but the real issue about it was how far she would go for him. After the first day of having the young man at the manor had gone and a few more days had passed, the girl just had this strange knot in her chest that didn't seem interested to leave her be anytime soon. It wasn't unpleasant, not to the point of discomfort, but it felt quite pressing at times. Specifically when she was close to Subaru.
She would feel her face grow hot, her legs would get a bit wobbly and her thoughts would grow unfocused when she was spending time with him. Ever since he got hired as an 'agent' to Roswaal, he had been quite busy but never too much from spending a few hours with her. They would talk, Emilia would try to make conversation by bringing up her knowledge of spirits. Which would be easier to get out early in the morning when they would stop and chat by the garden. It was pleasant, and it made her feel quite nice.
Still, Subaru was not without duties. Just like she was expected to keep on studying to become the new king. Their differently-earned knowledge was similar-graded as she slowly learned by talking about it. The young man was actually qualified for the job he had asked for. Puck had doubted it, but his hesitation to accept this matter came more from experience than prejudice. Subaru was no noble, and it was unusual for someone of his class to be able to handle the task of keeping the finances of the village up and running as optimally as they did. Not only that, but she was able to see some of the projects he brought up, none of which being too ambitious from the looks of it, were nonetheless interesting and somewhat... expected to have been already explored before.
Roswaal didn't show any issue with approving some of them, and Emilia was keen to follow the subject from time to time. The Irlam village was more of a loose settlement with a mayor that was picked by the locals as the wisest of them all, Milde Irlam. Hence why the village was called as such. Roswaal approved four new buildings being built through his treasury, the first two being two granaries meant to store grain during the winter, then one was a warehouse where to keep other food produced within the village's fields and then a clinic. This last project was perhaps the most expensive, but not one without reason as Roswaal agreed. The village had been lacking means to heal people that were sick. There were doctors, but not a building and the proper resources to allow proper healthcare to be established within the village.
Beyond these projects, Subaru also brought up an idea that involved her too and... it made her somewhat giddy. Not only because Subaru spent that task sitting beside her but also because Emilia felt the importance of what he was involving her with. A census, a registry where to write down the names of the villagers, their birthdates, their economic situations and properties. It wasn't too extensive as it might sound, but the process was actually intriguing and useful when it came to handling taxation. Even Ram seemed to be less inclined to disagree with Subaru about it compared to the usual. Yes, it was odd but the pinkette had been assigned to Subaru for some strange reason. And while it made sense that Subaru deserved someone to guard him, it still left Emilia fairly displeased.
Everything they talked with one another, she could feel an understanding which she felt 'dreadful' to handle. To the point where her smile would falter and her heart would throb in brief misery. It wasn't horrible, but it happened way too frequently. Luckily for her, that didn't mean Subaru neglected their usual meetings and... at times she sure was unsure of what to think of them due to how some interesting situations unfolded through those.
"Ugh..."
"Are you sure this is what you wanted?" Subaru asked, a worried look on his face as he sat by the bench they had stopped from, Emilia's head resting in his lap.
"Y-Yes!"
The true answer to that very awkward question is no, but she didn't have the mental strength to stray away from this equally- if not superior development than the one she had planned for. When Emilia approached Subaru with the intention of trying to get a reaction out of him by offering him a lap-pillow experience. She had heard from Ram that would definitely be a good way to draw a reaction, but the way the maid told her that made her a bit nervous to see if this was the case. So, when Emilia asked, it came out more like-
"D-Do you want to try a lap-pillow?"
Now, the question had a meaning for Emilia because she wanted a single meaning out of it, but the way it was worded created a 'misunderstanding'. One she was unable to say 'no' to no matter the moral issue tied to it. Subaru accepted, a bit too earnestly at first, but then his next move explained his calm and openness. He patted his lap, the gesture clear for the half-elf to understand and, out of instinct, the girl's head was soon resting on the patted spot. And things went in a direction no one could have predicted. Good news is that yes, being subjected to a lap-pillow was indeed able to bring out some awkward reactions from people. Other news, this one more interesting than good (but also good too because of the pleasure tied to it) was that Subaru was good at head patting. She had questioned many times why the village's children were so keen to ask him for that treatment, but now she understood how delicate and yet delightful his touch was when handling hair and ears. Emilia was twitching with each jolt of delight going down her spin.
"Emilia... are you-"
"K-Keep doing that! Please..."
...
"O-Okay."
Despite Emilia failing to understand how much she liked Subaru, she couldn't help but now accept that friendship hardly grasped the amount of interest she held for the silly young man.
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AN
Next time, the Wolfgram situation is resolved through a detail this Subaru is able to pick up early on and... Felt? Oh My!
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