They saw Subaru's breath catch, and he realized what a mistake he had made.
This was where he needed to brush things off with a casual joke like he had been doing, but instead his complete lack of communication ability had him displaying his weakness for all to see.
In a negotiation, there was nothing that could make you lose your advantage quite like having your weakness exposed.
As a result, the edges of Felt's mouth relaxed in response to Subaru's silence.
"The woman who hired me didn't want to say anything either, and it looks like it's the same for you, huh?"
"… Thievery is pretty immoral in itself, so naturally anyone involved in it would have some shady business going on."
"But you're the shadiest one here. Thinking about it clearly, what you're trying to do is to snatch away a stolen item requested by someone else."
With the cruelty of a cat toying with its prey, Felt incessantly attacked Subaru's incompetence.
She then coldly addressed him with a sadistic smile,
"What is this insignia anyway? The truth is it's worth way more than it looks. That's why you all want it, right? In other words, it's worth more than a meteor."
"Wait, Felt. That way of thinking is really dangerous. I can pretty much guess at what you're going to say next thanks to my gamer brain, but… You'd better leave it at that."
Subaru saw her miser gauge start to fill up, and tried to keep her in check even as he broke into a cold sweat. At this rate, she'd just keep on raising her price.
If that happened, the negotiation would drag on and they'd walk right into the BAD END waiting for them.
"It's more than twenty holy gold coins, just take the deal! Don't try for more than that! El… The one who hired you can't go over twenty either! You're not going to get more!"
"And why do you know that?"
"Ah…"
"You're slipping up. ―So you know her."
How easy it would be if he could just declare that he knew because of Return By Death.
But even if he actually tried explaining it, there's no way she'd believe him.
The suspicion in her eyes was getting deeper, she probably wouldn't believe a word he said at this point.
If it was going to turn out like this, he'd be better off just snatching the insignia from her, but,
"This muscly old man's going to be a problem if I try that…"
"She got you good, kid. Pretty pathetic to be outwitted by a girl younger than you."
"It's probably because of how you raised her. Her stubbornness could make me cry."
If he resorted to violence, he'd just get flattened by Rom.
Even supposing he were able to snatch it away from her, he didn't think he could outrun her.
If it came to a long distance race, Subaru's ability was pretty low even among his classmates.
No matter how much he placed in the top three elsewhere, he could only ever manage consolation prizes in long distance runs which meant he would generally never get an A.
"Felt, please…"
"Begging won't do you any good. I acknowledge your right to negotiate, but it's hardly fair to end things without even hearing the other party out, right? But it'd be a different matter if you could tell me what this thing is really worth and produce adequate compensation."
Her pressing eyes didn't contain the slightest hint of mercy or compassion.
Her eyes were completely focused on him, hoping to deduce the truth from his behavior. However, it wouldn't be possible to ascertain the insignia's value no matter how much she started at him
But the reason he wanted the insignia was different from Elsa's, he just wanted to repay a favor.
Beyond that he only knew what it looked like, that it had a jewel embedded in it, he didn't know anything Felt didn't.
Thus, it would not be possible for him to give her the response she desired.
"The reason I want that insignia… Is so I can return it to its owner."
"―Hah?"
That's why, with all of his sincerity, he revealed the truth
"I want to return it to its owner. That's why I want it. That's all."
As her eyes widened, Subaru raised his head and repeated his declaration.
Her crimson eyes were filled with hostility as she glared at him, but even so Subaru could only remain silent.
He didn't have the leeway to crack jokes, he sincerely got on his knees and lowered his head.
"… Felt. It doesn't look like the kid's lying."
"Don't be fooled, old man. He's clearly screwing around. Return it to its owner? As if he'd pay such a large sum to get it back from the person who stole it, that's absurd. It'd be over if he just brought a guard with him to apprehend me."
He couldn't do that.
Not-Satella didn't want guards involved in this.
That's why he even refused Reinhardt's offer to help.
If it was something inconvenient for her, then Subaru wouldn't do it.
That was all he could do, his sincere response to her for saving his life.
"You need to come up with something better if you want to trick me. I won't fall for it no matter how serious you act. Otherwise I… Right. I won't fall for it."
"Felt…"
Felt's voice was hoarse, as if she was trying to get something off her mind.
Rom seemed concerned, perhaps his pained expression was because he understood what she was feeling.
Either way, all Subaru knew was that her obstinate attitude meant she wasn't going to change her mind.
In other words, this negotiation had ended in failure.
"―Who's there?"
At that moment, Rom's expression changed as he glared at the entrance to the loot house.
Subaru, still on his knees with his head lowered, was currently in shock from the breakdown in negotiations.
Because of this, his mind's response was just a little too late.
There were several sharp knocks, and Rom silently turned around.
His gaze was directed at Felt, who nodded. She pointed to herself,
"It might be my client.―Seems kinda early, though."
She headed toward the door as she said this, she reached for the door with her anger still evident in her expression.
As Subaru watched her from behind, he suddenly felt a terrible sense of unease well up within him.
Loot house, knock, Felt's client― There was only one answer that fit.
"―Don't open it! We'll be killed!!"
This was earlier than expected. The bit of light pouring in from the window was still fairly bright, that orange shade was too brilliant for the sun to have set.
In both the first and second worlds, the despair came after the sun went down.
It wasn't as if he was taking things lightly because he thought he had time.
But even so, this was still too soon.
―He still hadn't managed to change anything about this world.
His scream filled with grim determination was futile, he was unable to stop Felt from opening the door.
With the door open, the loot house's dim interior was faintly illuminated by the evening glow.
And then,
"―Kill you? I wouldn't do something that drastic without warning."
A silver-haired girl entered the loot house with a sour look on her face.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
"Thank goodness you're here… You're not getting away this time."
Felt wordlessly backed away at the sight of the silver-haired girl―Not-Satella.
She had a mortified expression as she retreated, and her lips warped in annoyance.
"You really are a stubborn woman."
"You're quite impertinent for a thief. I won't hurt you if you hand it over quietly."
While Felt seemed to be grinding her teeth, Not-Satella's voice was extremely cold.
Subaru felt the temperature of the room drop rapidly, and couldn't help but shiver at the changing atmosphere.
―Why is Not-Satella here?!
The sun was just now setting, from what he'd previously experienced, she shouldn't have even reached the entrance to the slums at this point in time.
And from there, gathering information would take almost two hours. And only then would she reach the loot house, that was how it went on his first attempt.
"So basically, she would have gotten here this quickly if I weren't with her?"
If she hadn't healed him in that alley, she would have just made it here on her own. And this quickly.
Subaru couldn't describe how he felt now that there was proof of his uselessness that transcended space and time.
Even as Subaru felt this emptiness, the situation continued to progress without him.
Felt had already crossed the center of the room and reached the back as she continued to retreat, and Not-Satella smoothly blocked the path to the door as she turned her palm toward them.
The magic being gathered in her palm caused the air to crackle faintly. It seemed like ice magic was her specialty, the room's temperature dropped as she formed icicles.
"I have but one demand. ―Return my insignia. It's important to me."
There were six icicles floating in the air. Their tips were rounded, so their power came from their weight rather than their sharpness. But if she scored a direct hit, the damage would definitely be on an entirely different level from those rocks.
Of course, Subaru himself was one of her targets and this caused him to break out in a cold sweat, all he could do was watch what happened silently so as to not provoke her.
"… Old man."
"I can't move. You picked up something troublesome and someone troublesome came with it, Felt."
Felt quietly called to him, but Rom shook his head, his giant body filled with tension.
The familiar club had appeared in his hand at some point, but his arm didn't look like he could swing it. As if lost, as if bewildered, he alternated between loosening and tightening his grip on it.
"The fight hasn't even started and you're giving up?"
"I wouldn't withdraw if she were just some magic user, but… She's trouble."
Rom chided Felt for her provocation.
His gray eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Not-Satella who had icicles at the ready.
His eyes were filled with strong caution and even stronger reverence as he looked down at her.
"Young lady… You're an elf, aren't you?"
Rom asked with trembling lips, causing Subaru to look up instinctively.
In this sort of fantasy world, elves were an indispensable race.
They had long ears, long lives, and were beautiful.
Rom's question caused Not-Satella to close her eyes briefly, after which she sighed,
"That's not quite right.― I'm actually only half elf."
She spoke as if this confession was painful, and Subaru knit his brows at this.
But the other two had much bigger reactions.
Felt's reaction was especially striking, she shuddered as she retreated even further,
"Half-elf… And silver hair?! Don't tell me…"
"It's an accidental resemblance! … I find it quite bothersome.'
Subaru didn't understand their exchange, but he did to some extent get that it was one Not-Satella really didn't want to deal with.
He didn't know what exactly she was denying, but it didn't seem to calm Felt down at all.
Rather, she turned her gaze toward Subaru who was just standing there in silence, and her red eyes were filled with intense animosity as she glared at him.
Subaru's face stiffened in confusion, and she laughed as if mocking herself.
"So you were playing me all along, huh?"
"What?"
"I thought it was weird when you started talking about returning it to the owner and stuff. Stopping me from hiring those guys in the alley to block her was part of the plan too, wasn't it? You were with her from the start."
Her questions were filled with resentment, and Subaru realized she had misunderstood the situation.
But he also realized something else, he was now closer to piecing together why Not-Satella had arrived so early.
Originally, she wouldn't have made it this soon after all. Right, normally the guys Felt hired would meddle with her and delay her arrival.
That didn't happen this time thanks to Subaru, and Not-Satella was able to appear earlier than usual.
From a causal perspective he was the main reason this happened, so Felt's anger wasn't exactly misplaced. In truth, the situation was starting to go the way he hoped.
Unless Felt and Rom had some trick up their sleeve, they would have no choice but to return the insignia to Not-Satella.
To be honest, Subaru wanted to obtain the insignia and return it to her himself, but he wouldn't complain as long as it ended up in her hands.
If things kept going like this, one could probably call it the second best plan. However,
"…? What do you mean? You're not comrades?"
Not-Satella reacted to the apparent break up between Felt and Subaru.
In response to Not-Satella's confusion, Felt laughed scornfully, "Hah"
"Just drop the act already. I've been cornered. How about you just take the insignia back and laugh at my stupidity?"
"You're caving too easily. All that just because you're at a slight disadvantage?"
"That's what you have to say after landing me in this situation? Aah, damn it. I've been had!"
Felt angrily scratched at her blonde hair and groaned in frustration.
The crease in Not-Satella's brow deepened further as she watched this completely unladylike behavior.
Seeing that they weren't quite on the same wavelength, Subaru clapped his hands and intervened,
"Well, things are just getting complicated so let's leave it at that. Give that insignia back, Felt. And Sate… You, leave this place quickly. Don't let anyone steal from you again."
"Why are you acting nice all of a sudden? I don't get it…"
"I don't understand either. What's with you?"
His plan to smoothly intervene had failed magnificently.
It had completely backfired, he had drawn their attention to him and become the focus of their ire.
It'd be too hard to explain, so he turned to Rom for help, but he crossed his thick arms,
"Our opponent uses the spirit arts, not ordinary magic. Can't make any careless moves."
He ended up misunderstanding Subaru's intent and denied him his aid.
Subaru was interested in the new term Rom had casually used, but the sharp gazes from the two girls were unbearable.
He had to get out of this somehow―The moment he glanced at the door,
―A shadow stealthily approached the silver-haired girl from behind, as if gliding.
"―Puck! Block it!"
A sensual smile passed through the room's shadows, and a silver glint that seemed to be squirming lunged at the girl's white neck.
In an instant, the girl's head was torn off as Subaru watched with wide eyes― That's probably what would have happened originally.
―A crack.
What hit his eardrums was not the sound of steal severing bone, but that of steel smashing glass.
Not-Satella lowered her body slightly, and a magic circle that glowed a pale blue manifested behind her head.
The knife was stopped when it slammed into it head on, the magic circle had perfectly protected her neck from the blade.
"Puck…"
"That truly was by a hair's breadth."
Not-Satella leapt forward and turned around.
Following after her was her silver hair, and a small animal with gray fur peeked out of it from around her shoulder.
Puck hummed in pride and glanced at Subaru,
"Right in the nick of time, you saved us."
"I'm the one who's been saved. Thank you."
Puck's gesture was akin to a thumbs up, and in response Subaru offered a frail thumbs up as well.
Satella had appeared before sundown―Meaning her reliable backup was still on the clock.
Even though he had been called so suddenly, Puck was able to protect her with his unexpectedly splendid performance.
As for the assailant whose surprise attack was blocked,
"―A spirit, you're a spirit, yes? Fufufu, wonderful. I've never killed a spirit before."
The familiar murderer raised her kukri knife up to her face that was filled with ecstasy―It was Elsa.
Her sudden appearance put Not-Satella and Subaru on guard. However, the first one to take action in response wasn't either of them.
"Hey, what's this about?!"
Felt yelled as she stepped forward.
She pointed at Elsa and pulled the insignia out of her bosom.
"I thought your job was to purchase the insignia. Turning this place into a sea of blood wasn't part of the deal!"
"Purchasing that insignia is indeed my job. But negotiating won't be possible since you've also brought the owner along, so I've decided to change my plans."
Felt's face had turned red with rage, but faced with Elsa's gaze full of killing intent she instinctively stepped back. Elsa looked down at her as if she found her fear adorable,
"I'll massacre everyone in here, and then collect the insignia."
Elsa's smile was like that of a loving mother as she made this cruel declaration, she then tilted her head,
"―You couldn't do your job properly. It's only natural you'd be cast aside."
"―!"
Felt's face warped in agony, not from fear but from a different emotion.
Subaru didn't know if Elsa's words touched a sore spot. He didn't know, but
"Quit screwing around, damn it―!!"
It angered him enough to make him forget about the difference in their ability and yell at her.
Elsa looked at Subaru in surprise. Felt, Rom, and Not-Satella were no different. But the one who was most surprised of all was Subaru himself.
He himself didn't understand why he suddenly flew off the handle.
He didn't understand, so he just let his emotions take over and spilled everything.
"Is it really that fun to pick on a little kid?! You damned bowel-loving sadist!! Also, your appearance was way too sudden, were you just waiting outside for the right timing or what?! You made me celebrate prematurely because it looked like things could go smoothly, you're too damned scary, I really didn't want to meet you! Just how many horribly painful, tear-inducing memories do you think I've got?! If I had some change for every time I got torn up by a blade, I'd be a damned millionaire! That was an exaggeration!"
"… What are you saying?"
"My tension and rage meters are maxed, so I've got no clue what I'm saying either! That's how my day's been, so how are you guys doing? And please don't change the channel."
In response to Subaru's nonsensical screaming, Elsa let out a small sigh of exasperation which was rather unusual for her.
Subaru found her attitude strangely hurtful, and as he sent spittle flying.
"Stalling complete― Do it, Puck!!"
"That was magnificently awkward.―I'd better live up to your expectations."
As Subaru stamped his foot, an aloof voice responded to him causing Elsa to look up.
Sharp icicles surrounded her in every direction ― There were more than twenty of them.
"Seems I haven't even introduced myself, young lady. My name is Puck.―Remember that name in the afterlife."
In an instant, Elsa was bombarded by icicles from every direction.
The icicles crisscrossed mercilessly, filling the room with a white mist and covering the black cloaked figure in freezing wind.
The speed of these icicles was far beyond what he'd seen in the alley, as far as Subaru knew this had transcended the major league and had reached a level of speed you only saw in video games.
Their sharp tips would easily pierce through the human body and come out red with fresh blood.
There were about twenty of them. If they landed, it'd mean certain death. But,
"Is she finished?!"
"Right, there's a bad flag―!!"
Even though he had remained silent for so long, the baldy just had to go and say something at the worst possible time.
And as if to answer Subaru's shout,
"―I was prepared, you see. I quite dislike its weight, but it was the right decision to wear it."
Cutting through the white smoke, Elsa dashed forward with her black hair dancing behind her.
As she brandished her kukri knife and nimbly advanced, there was no sign of injury on her body. She had cast aside her cloak and was now only wearing the form-fitting black clothes she wore underneath it, but there was no change besides this.
"Don't tell me it's the sort of thing where you take off weighted clothing and become faster?!"
"That would be pretty interesting, but the reality is simpler. ― My cloak had a spell woven into it that could negate magic just once. Seems it allowed me to keep my life."
Elsa politely answered Subaru's query, and then swung her blade forward from a low stance.
Standing in her path was Not-Satella who had just unleashed that huge attack.
The blade's path was true, intended to plunge the heavy tip into her chest. Subaru was about to scream, but before that could happen,
"You'd do well not to underestimate a user of the spirit arts. We're rather frightening when you make enemies of us."
A multilayered shield of ice easily stopped Elsa's blade.
Not-Satella placed her hands together before her chest. She had probably formed that shield using her hands. With her attack blocked, Elsa immediately backflipped away.
A number of slightly smaller icicles were rapidly fired in pursuit and pierced the ground.
This was Puck's attack, he floated by Not-Satella's silver hair as he waved his arms like he was conducting an orchestra.
"They're splitting the roles of offense and defense―It's really two on one."
"That's what makes spirit users dangerous. One handles offense while the other handles defense. Depending on the situation you'll have one stall with simple magic while the other prepares a powerful move… They can do that sort of thing. On the battlefield, it is commonly said that 'If you encounter a spirit user, you should drop your weapon and wallet and run.'"
As Subaru looked on in admiration, Rom who was next to him muttered gravely as he tightened his grip on his club.
Subaru nodded at his words. Indeed, in a one-on-one battle their advantage was absolute. Overcoming it would be no easy feat.
"By the way, what are you planning to do, old man?"
"I'll look for an opening to help the elf girl. She seems more reasonable than the other one."
"Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait! Don't try it! You'd only be a burden! You'll just have your right arm and throat ripped apart if you go, so stay right there!"
"Don't be that specific! It almost feels like that actually happened!"
He had actually seen this happen twice, as a result his statement felt genuine.
Rom seemed rather displeased as he clutched his arm and neck as if he felt himself getting cut down in another dimension.
Even as they had this exchange, the battle continued.
Although Subaru had warned Rom with his frivolous talk, in truth there were no openings to interfere in the battle.
―Countless lumps of ice formed one after another and were blasted all over the room.
Their sizes varied, the larger ones were about the size of a head, and the smaller ones were roughly fist-sized. They were all fired with the speed of a full power pitch, and it was clear just how dangerous they were.
However, even as she was surrounded by all of this ice, Elsa's movements now that she had lost her magic-negating cloak had transcended the realm of common sense.
She would twist her body, lower herself to the ground as if crawling, and occasionally even defy gravity by running the walls. If she judged that even this wouldn't suffice, she would strike the ice with her blade, shattering the white crystals. She matched quantity with overwhelming quality, her skill was exceptional.
"You handle yourself well for a girl."
Even Puck had to admire her combat sense that could only be described as godlike.
His mutter caused Elsa to smile broadly even in the midst of that chaotic battle.
"Oh my. It's been quite a while since I was last regarded as a simple girl."
"Most of my opponents might as well be babies from my perspective. But even so, you're so strong it's almost pitiful."
"It's quite the honor to receive praise from a spirit."
Genuinely delighted this compliment, she swept away the ice surrounding her with her blade.
He must have fired close to a hundred by now, but besides that first bombardment not a single one connected.
Puck was pressuring her with the sheer quantity of his offense, but he was unable to land a decisive blow.
"At this rate, won't they run out of MP and lose?"
As he pictured a reversal in offense and defense, Subaru pointed out that a lengthy battle would prove disadvantageous.
However, Rom shook his head.
"I don't know what this Empi is, but there's no need to worry about a spirit user running out of mana in battle."
"No need to worry about them running out of mana…?"
"Unlike magic users, spirit users do not use the mana within them, but rather the mana around them. Unless the world itself runs dry, a spirit user will never run out of mana."
"They've got unlimited gasoline so they can rev their engines as much as they please, huh. Quite a cheat."
Rom cocked his head, Subaru's response was completely incomprehensible to him.
He then continued with his head still tilted, "But,"
"There's also the matter of how long the spirit can remain corporeal. Once the spirit is gone, the situation might change drastically."
"Crap, that's right… It's almost five, isn't it?!"
In the first world, Puck went to sleep not long after sunset.
It hadn't been that long since the fight started, but surely throwing around that much magic must have been a significant drain on his mana reserves or whatever.
Subaru's worries,
"Ah, this is bad. I'm getting a little drowsy. Actually, I was fighting in my sleep just now."
"Hey, Puck! Get it together!"
"… Hah! I'm up! I'm awake! I'm definitely not sleeping!"
"His voice is so low, isn't that conversation super concerning?!"
Seemed to be right on the mark.
Puck seemed to be nodding off already, and he could see that Not-Satella who had Puck on her shoulder was also starting to look anxious.
"Just when it was getting good. You're not even paying attention, how cold."
"That's the problem with being a popular guy. The girls just won't let you sleep. But staying up too late is terrible for your skin, you know?"
Bending her knees slightly, Elsa prepared to leap.
Anticipating this, Puck shrewdly winked at her and spoke.
"How about we go ahead and put an end to this? You must be tired of seeing the same old performance, right?"
"―My leg."
The instant she tried to advance, she tipped forward and had to put out her hands to stop her fall.
Subaru stared in shock at this unbelievable screw up, the reason for which was at her feet.
Elsa's right foot was stuck to the frozen floor.
The shattered ice had slowly piled up, and had now been used to trap her foot.
"It's not like I was just firing randomly, you know?"
"… So you've got me, is that right?"
"Just think of it as the difference in experience, I believe this is worthy of some praise. Good night."
As he threw his chest out, Puck's small body started to waver.
He thrust his hands out in front him, a pose that suggested he was about to use a killer technique, and started gathering up the largest amount of magic thus far― Even Subaru could see it radiating from him.
That magical power did not turn into ice, it was fired as pure destructive energy.
The bluish white light froze everything in its path, and dyed the loot house white in one fell swoop.
The energy passed through Elsa and slammed into the entrance to the loot house, blowing away the poorly fitted door. The freezing waves left in the aftermath even reached outside.
Once that magnificent light passed through, all that was left was frost. The goods, the furniture, the counter, everything was completely frozen.
Naturally, anyone who took a direct hit would inevitably be turned into an ice sculpture.
However―
"You're joking…"
"I'm afraid not. Aah, splendid. I thought I was going to die."
If she had taken it head on, perhaps.
"… You're a girl, so I can't really praise that sort of thing."
She had managed to avoid his last resort, but Puck wasn't any angrier than his words suggested. He truly was displeased by the act itself.
―Subaru could see blood dripping, and traces of steam coming off the frozen floor.
The source of the blood was Elsa's right foot. She was standing barefoot just barely out of the path of Puck's attack, and a large amount of blood was pouring out of her right foot.
It was only natural. After all, she had sliced off the sole of her foot.
"I was in such a hurry I almost chopped the whole thing off, that was a close one."
"But even that amount ought to be quite painful."
"Yes, I suppose you're correct. It is painful. Wonderful. I feel alive. Now…"
In response to Puck's concerned words, Elsa nodded with an ecstatic look, and then raised her bleeding foot and pressed it against a nearby lump of ice with no hesitation.
It sounded like the air was cracking, Elsa moaned seductively after which she used her kukri knife to smooth the ice's surface.
With that, she managed to stop the bleeding. She had recklessly attached a part of the ice to her sole.
"It's a little hard to move, but it's enough."
Her ice shoe produced a stiff sound as she tested it against the ground, she then smiled even more cheerfully.
The fact that she was so addicted to battle that she didn't even mind mutilating herself left Subaru speechless, but it left an even bigger impression on Puck and Not-Satella who were facing her.
"Puck, can you continue?"
"Sorry, I'm really sleepy. I underestimated her a bit. I used up too much mana, gonna disappear."
When Puck responded to her murmur, his voice had for the first time lost its composure.
The cat on her shoulder, by her silver hair, started to emit a faint glow and looked as though he could disappear at any moment. He was out of time.
"I'll handle this somehow, so get some rest for now. Thank you."
"Should anything happen to you, I'll act in accordance with the contract. ― If it comes down to it, wring your Od to draw me out."
As if urged on by Not-Satella's tender voice, Puck's body suddenly scattered and vanished.
Every single person in that room lamented his retreat, but the one who was most disappointed was,
"―Aah, he's gone. How terribly unfortunate."
Elsa, who had been fighting for her life.
She once again readied her blade, and moved toward Not-Satella with high-pitched footsteps.
In response, Not-Satella started forming icicles one after another, but she couldn't form nearly as many as Puck had.
But considering Elsa's mobility had dropped, their chances of winning were probably still fifty-fifty.
"We can't just stand around staring anymore."
Rom gripped his club and readied himself, perhaps he thought the situation looked bad.
When Subaru silently looked at him, he shrugged his shoulders,
"We don't know if she can win without assistance. So if we just sit around and watch, we're just missing our chance… You understand, right, Felt?".
"Yeah, I get it. Even if we choose to run, we've got to do it right now."
Felt hadn't spoken a word since Elsa first made her threat.
She stood next to Rom who seemed ready to fight, and then suddenly turned to Subaru.
"About earlier… You kinda saved me."
"―Ah?"
"Just a little, mind you. Also, don't call me a kid. Despite how I look, I'm actually fifteen. Probably around the same as you."
"… I'm eighteen this year. I can drive and get married."
"You don't look it! You look like a kid, you gotta live a life that shows on your face more!"
On top of being a shut-in, he also lived a life without major ups and downs..
But still, he felt that his current situation had way too many gigantic ups and downs.
As the two resolved themselves and observed the state of the battle, all Subaru could do was watch.
He was probably the weakest one there. And it wasn't merely fighting strength that he lacked…
"My legs are trembling, they won't move… I don't even have the resolve."
It was more than a problem of being unqualified, he couldn't even get involved.
.Rom had his arms, Felt had her legs, and Satella had her magic, they could use these to fight. However, Elsa's abnormality transcended all of these.
Truly―
"She's getting overwhelmed."
Rom's candid impression said it all.
Not-Satella continued to fire an endless barrage of ice, but they were all smashed apart by Elsa's blade dance.
Elsa sprang toward her, slashing as if she was dancing, and in response Not-Satella halted her attack to block with her ice shield and then froze the ground underneath her to slide away, barely avoiding the subsequent attacks.
If she managed to gain some distance she would once again go on the offensive with her ice barrage, but Elsa didn't seem like the kind of opponent who'd fall for the same trick twice.
The next time she approached Not-Satella, Subaru would probably end up seeing a sight he never wanted to see again.
"Here goes―!"
Probably imagining the same thing, Rom roared as he joined the battle.
He raised his club and produced a powerful wind as he swung it, a bit of the hair on the back of Elsa's head got caught up in this as she ducked.
"Oh dear, it's rather boorish to cut in on a dance."
"If you wanna dance that bad, I'll make you dance the finest dance of all! Here, round and round!"
Rom thrust his spiked club at her, changing the scope of his attack from a line to a point.
This sudden unconventional attack was aimed at Elsa's throat, and the end the result froze Rom's throat.
"What the hell?!"
"Because you're so strong, I can even do this."
Elsa was on her tiptoes, standing on the tip of his club.
There was a divinely inspired sense of balance to this disparity in power, the first time such acrobatics were performed. Before this miraculous balance could collapse, Elsa swung her blade horizontally.
It was aimed at Rom's temple, the force was such that a direct hit would blow the top of his head off.
"As if I'd let you―!"
Clang, a small knife was thrown into her blade's path, hitting it.
The impact from directly below slightly disturbed the blade's movement, and the side of the blade slammed into his head, still retaining its speed. There was the dull sound of steel striking bone, and Rom's body collapsed to the side.
"Bad girl."
"―Ah."
Elsa landed casually, and turned her gaze toward Felt.
Felt's small knife had saved Rom from a fatal slash. She had probably been aiming at Elsa's arm, but it seemed her haste threw off her aim.
But it could also be said that this just barely saved Rom's life.
"You have neither the resolve nor the strength to fight. That being the case, you should have just cowered in the corner, making yourself small."
With high-pitched footsteps, Elsa's dark figure seemed to be gliding as she instantly appeared before Felt.
Rom was unconscious from the blow to his head, and since Not-Satella had put some distance between them, she would not make it in time. Felt herself was paralyzed, like a frog in a snake's sights.
"Haidaraaaa―!"
So the only one who could grab her small body and leap out of the way was the one who had been cowering in terror right next to her.