Chapter 28 - 1.2

"Welcome back, Lady Emilia."

 After the driver saw them off, the two arrived at the mansion's foyer and

were greeted by a girl in a maid outfit—Rem.

 Strangely, emotions were absent from her high-pitched voice, replaced with

calm formality. It was Guest-Greeting Mode, something Subaru hadn't seen

much in the mansion lately—she'd been showing her smile to Subaru especially.

 "Thank you. I'm sorry for leaving the mansion. It seems that we have a

guest?"

 "An envoy from the royal capital is visiting. Master Roswaal is engaged with

the guest. Do you wish to join them?"

 "Of course. It's my problem, so we can't have me out of the loop."

 Rem nodded in response. Emilia began up the stairs. Subaru walked by her

side, joining the conversation like it was a normal thing.

 "All right. Just because the pressure's on doesn't mean I can let it get to me. I

better pull myself together and not do anything stupid."

 He was pumping himself up. But seeing Subaru so enthused, Emilia halted.

 "Err, what is it, Emilia-tan? Suddenly all stressed out? Need a massage?"

 "Err… Sorry, Subaru, this is an important meeting, so…"

 "…I know that. That's why I'm getting my head in the game and…"

 Emilia was finding it hard to let him down easy, so Rem dispassionately cut

him off for her. "Sister is already attending in the reception room. There is no

place there for other servants. Understand?"

 Subaru took in Rem's words and looked back at Emilia.

 "You're kidding, right? I'm the one who's out of the loop?"

 "Sorry, Subaru. Rem, lead the way."

 "Yes. Subaru, please return to your room."

 After Emilia's small apology, Rem spoke kindly to Subaru even while in Work

 Mode. Rem walked off to the upper floor with Emilia behind her. Subaru stayed

in place and clicked his tongue.

 "Well, I don't know much about this world, so I probably wouldn't be of much

use anyway…"

 He wondered if it was selfish that he still wanted to be a part of this.

 It had been approximately one month since Subaru had been summoned into

another world. During that time, Subaru had taken it upon himself to favorably

alter the destinies of the people with whom he'd become involved. Emilia was

the first, but his rapport with the people in the mansion and the village was

proof he'd done some good.

 In light of that, he was disappointed he hadn't been included in such an

important issue. "I'm being left behind here—literally and metaphorically." Of

course, he accepted that his limited talents were the main reason why.

 "But accepting that and giving up are two different things. What should I do,

huh?"

 Subaru Natsuki wasn't meek enough to simply wander back to his room and

sulk in bed. He sank into thought, trying to cook up an approach to deal with

the situation his way.

 Finally, Subaru's face twisted into an evil grin as he thought of something and

snapped his fingers.

 "—Ding."