...
{3rd Pov}
A brief silence settled over the hall.
From other's perspective, the meaning was clear.
Natsuki Subaru had been treated poorly under her camp and she had just confirmed it herself in front of everyone.
Emilia, however, did not fully grasp the weight of that implication.
She was still that naïve.
Her mental maturity was closer to that of a child, or at best, a sheltered teenager.
That was not entirely her fault as she had spent most of her life isolated from society, away from normal human interactions.
Because of that, her understanding of the world had been shaped almost entirely by a very limited number of influences.
Primarily, Puck and more recently, Roswaal L Mathers.
Both of them had guided her in their own ways, but neither had given her a complete or balanced understanding of how to deal with complex social situations like this.
As a result, Emilia often struggled to recognize the consequences of her words and actions in real time.
To her, things had always been simpler.
She had never intended for anything bad to happen to Natsuki Subaru and she had never consciously thought of him as someone beneath her or someone who deserved mistreatment.
In her mind, Ram's harsh words had been nothing more than teasing which is something normal within their dynamic.
After all, Emilia herself had endured far worse because of her appearance and her resemblance to the Witch of Envy, she had been subjected to constant discrimination, insults, and fear from others for most of her life so compared to that, what Ram said did not seem particularly extreme to her and because of that, she did not question it.
She assumed it was normal and harmless words.
At the same time, Emilia always tried to see the good in people even when faced with negativity, she chose to believe that others did not truly mean harm.
That mindset had helped her endure her past, but it also made her overlook problems that should have been addressed.
However, there was something she did understand that even if her intentions were not bad, even if she had never meant for Subaru to be hurt, that did not change the outcome.
If something wrong had happened because of her actions or because of what she allowed to happen then she had a responsibility to acknowledge it.
Whether she realized it too late or not, the result remained the same.
In this world, a person could be kind and still end up hurting others more than anyone else.
Good intentions did not guarantee good outcomes.
Someone could genuinely try to act just, to do what they believed was right, and still end up committing something far worse in the process.
The line between kindness and harm was not always clear, especially when people acted without fully understanding the consequences of their choices and regardless of intention, one rule remained constant.
Everyone had to bear the consequences of their actions.
There were no exceptions to that.
In the past, however, things had often been different.
Natsuki Subaru had always been the one to forgive with time and time again, he chose to overlook what others had done, to accept their flaws, and to move forward without forcing them to face the full weight of their mistakes.
Because of that, many people were never truly held accountable whether their actions came from ignorance, selfishness, or even malice, Subaru's forgiveness had allowed them to move on without fully paying the price.
But things were not the same anymore.
The people around him now were not like Emilia and they did not think the same way and neither did they did not value the same things.
To them, Subaru was not just another person.
He was far more important than that and for some of them, he mattered more than anyone else in the world.
Their priorities were clear, and they did not hesitate to place him above everything and everyone else.
In extreme cases, he was not just important, he was the only thing that truly mattered to them as Crusch, and still absent Theresia.
Because of that, their way of handling things was completely different.
If something unjust happened to Subaru, they would not ignore it and nor they would not forgive it easily as they would not allow it to pass without consequences.
Instead, they would act and make sure that the person responsible paid for what they had done.
No matter the reason behind their actions or the intentions behind it.
To them, that was not cruelty.
It was fairness in their world.
"Impressive, half-elf. You've just proven exactly why Natsuki Subaru cannot remain in your camp," Priscilla Barielle said, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes as she looked at Emilia.
Her tone carried both mockery and hostility, leaving no doubt about her stance.
"How disgusting," Crusch Karsten added, her voice filled with clear disdain. "Subaru-sama is the very reason you are still a Royal Candidate, and yet this is how you treat him?"
There was no attempt to soften her words.
She spoke as if stating a fact.
"What else can be expected from a foolish half-elf?" Anastasia Hoshin said with a sneer, her expression calm but her words sharp enough to cut.
For a moment, Emilia was left speechless.
The combined pressure of their accusations, their tone, and the situation itself left her unable to respond immediately.
Her mind struggled to process everything at once, and for a brief second, she simply stood there, stunned.
Before things could escalate further, Ram stepped in.
"Lady Crusch, Lady Priscilla, Lady Anastasia," Ram said, her voice controlled but firm.
"This is an internal matter of the Emilia Camp. As such, it will be handled by us. We will ensure that Natsuki Subaru is properly compensated."
Her words were respectful on the surface, but there was a clear edge to them.
She was not backing down.
"Watch your tone, maid," Priscilla responded immediately, her glare sharpening as she fixed her eyes on Ram.
"There is no place for someone of your standing to speak to my divine self in such a manner."
The tension in the air thickened.
For a brief moment, it felt like violence could break out at any second as Priscilla's posture shifted slightly, as if she was only a step away from acting on her irritation.
And yet Ram did not move from her place, instead she met Priscilla's gaze directly, her expression calm and completely unshaken, as if the threat in front of her meant nothing at all, she was not going to hand over her hubby to these women at any costs.
Subaru's mind had finally started working again.
Up until now, he had been frozen, unable to process everything that was happening around him.
But as the chaos continued to escalate, he slowly began to regain his awareness.
His eyes moved from one person to another, trying to make sense of the situation, but the more he looked, the more confused he became.
He didn't know what to say.
"Lady Emilia, I believe that Subaru-sama is not safe under your protection. I request that you hand over his custody to me," Crusch Karsten said, her gaze fixed firmly on Emilia.
Her tone was calm, but there was no room for argument in it.
That was enough to finally push Subaru into action.
"W-Wait a minute!" Natsuki Subaru spoke up suddenly.
Immediately, everyone's attention shifted toward him.
For the first time since the confrontation began, all eyes were on him.
"I-I think this might be a big misunderstanding," he continued, his voice slightly unsteady.
"I'm the one who is responsible for—"
He stopped mid-sentence as his words caught in his throat.
Because at that exact moment, Priscilla Barielle was staring directly at him, her gaze sharp and intense.
In her hand, the Yang Sword had already been drawn, its presence was enough to make the air feel heavier.
To anyone watching, it looked as if she was about to strike him down but that wasn't the case.
Her hostility was not directed at him.
It was directed at Emilia.
"You cannot even comprehend what has been done wrong to you," Priscilla said coldly.
"As such, I order you to remain silent and let me handle this. Otherwise…" her voice dropped slightly, her grip tightening on the weapon, "I will take this vermin's head."
The threat was clear.
The tension in the room spiked instantly.
And then a sudden shift in the mana occurred.
A presence manifested outside.
Puck appeared, his small form accompanied by a visible scowl, his expression far from the usual playful demeanor he often showed.
He had heard enough.
Upon noticing the arrival of the other Royal Candidates earlier, and at Emilia's request, Puck had chosen to remain inside his magic crystal.
He had held himself back, suppressing his presence so as not to escalate the situation unnecessarily.
However, there was a limit to his patience.
Watching the other candidates openly insult Emilia, hearing the way they spoke about her, and now sensing clear killing intent directed toward her, it was more than he could tolerate.
So he manifested immediately.
"Insect… have that sword disappear," Puck growled, his voice carrying a cold, restrained fury.
His small form hovered in the air, but the pressure around him had changed completely.
Even his tail had stiffened, a clear sign of his anger.
"Before I purge you from this world for attempting to harm my daughter."
The temperature in the room started dropping as he used Fire Magic.
The hostility in his words was unmistakable.
Priscilla Barielle did not flinch, instead, her expression hardened further.
"Purge my divine self?" she repeated, her voice filled with sharp disdain.
"Just for daring to call me an insect, you have already earned your death."
As she spoke, a faint golden glow began to surround her body.
Yang Magic gathered around her, enhancing her physical capabilities and reinforcing her presence.
The energy was subtle at first, but it was enough to make it clear that she was not speaking empty words.
She was serious about this.
Priscilla was not someone who relied on threats alone.
If she said something, she meant it.
She did not speak without intent and if she chose to act, she would follow through without hesitation.
The situation escalated rapidly.
'Puck! Please stop this!' Emilia's voice echoed through their connection, her thoughts filled with urgency and panic as she sent the message directly to him.
She was not afraid of a fight.
That was not the issue but this was not the place for it.
They were standing in the middle of the mansion, surrounded by villagers, innocent people who had just been saved from danger.
A conflict between a Great Spirit and a Royal Candidate here would not just be a clash of power.
It would be a disaster.
Puck hesitated for a brief moment after hearing Emilia's plea.
The anger was still there, clear and intense, but he did not act immediately.
Instead, his gaze shifted, moving away from Emilia and settling on Natsuki Subaru.
"Boy… are you going to keep standing there like a fool?" Puck said, his tone sharp and filled with irritation.
Subaru flinched at the sudden attention.
"My Lia is being threatened right in front of you, and you still choose to remain silent?" Puck continued, his voice carrying clear accusation.
Those words struck him.
Subaru's hands slowly clenched into fists as he stood there, caught in a conflict he could not easily resolve.
He wanted to move.
He wanted to stand by Emilia.
More than anything, he wanted to support her like he always had.
But, when his thoughts shifted toward Priscilla Barielle and Crusch Karsten, something inside him wavered.
Doki…
Doki…
The feeling in his chest was familiar.
It was the same kind of sensation he had always associated with Emilia, the feeling that had driven his loyalty, his actions, and his decisions up until now.
And yet, now he felt it for them as well.
That realization only made things worse as it confused him and made it harder for him to choose.
"Oh?" Anastasia Hoshin spoke up again, her voice cutting through the tension with ease.
"So now you're trying to drag in someone whose gate is half-broken, someone who is physically weak, and use him as a scapegoat?" she said, her tone sharp and critical.
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Subaru before returning to Emilia and Puck.
"How pathetic," she continued without hesitation.
"I suppose neither that half-elf nor you are capable of taking responsibility for your own actions."
Her words landed heavily, adding even more pressure to an already unstable situation.
She understood what was happening.
From her perspective, it was clear that Puck was trying to take advantage of Natsuki Subaru's feelings for Emilia.
The way he had directed his words toward Subaru, the timing of his intervention, and the pressure he was applying with all of it pointed toward an obvious attempt to push Subaru into acting.
She knew it was manipulation, heck it was as clear as day to not only her but even Crusch.
She believed that the spirit had been observing everything from the moment the situation began, quietly watching from within his magic crystal.
By now, he would have already understood that Subaru held some form of influence over the others present.
Whether it was because of their behavior, their reactions, or something deeper, it was obvious that Subaru was not just an ordinary individual in this situation and Puck was trying to use that by forcing Subaru into action, he could shift the focus away from Emilia.
If Subaru stepped forward, if he took responsibility or positioned himself between them, then the accusations directed at Emilia could be deflected or at least delayed.
From Anastasia's point of view, it was a calculated move.
Puck's options were limited.
He could either escalate the situation into a fight, which Emilia clearly did not want, or he could try to resolve things indirectly.
Since Emilia was trying to avoid conflict, the spirit had chosen the second option.
Use Subaru, the boy who had always acted for Emilia disregarding the consequences as a shield so make him take the pressure.
Meanwhile, the villagers remained silent, not daring to interrupt.
Even so, they were paying close attention to everything being said.
The conversation had revealed enough for them to piece together a rough understanding of the situation.
It became clear to them that their survival, as well as the elimination of the Witch Cult threat, was solely due to Natsuki Subaru or the other Royal Candidates had slain them.
At the same time, their perception of Emilia began to shift even further.
What had started as uncertainty was now slowly turning into suspicion with her behavior throughout the conversation did not inspire confidence.
The way she reacted, the way she struggled to respond, and the fact that she had unintentionally confirmed certain accusations made her appear unreliable in their eyes.
To the villagers, who were already cautious around her because of her appearance and the legends associated with half-elves, this only reinforced their doubts.
In truth, most of them had never fully trusted her to begin with.
Their acceptance of her had always been limited, influenced more by circumstance than genuine belief in her capability.
And now, seeing everything unfold in front of them, that fragile trust was beginning to collapse.
On the other hand, the people standing against her were not ordinary individuals.
Crusch Karsten, Anastasia Hoshin, and Priscilla Barielle were widely recognized as the strongest Royal Candidates.
They had proven themselves through their actions, their leadership, and their achievements.
Their reputations carried weight, and their words were not something that could be easily dismissed.
When figures like them spoke with such certainty as openly criticizing and accusing Emilia, a candidate who is already considered lost, it naturally influenced the way others perceived the situation.
To the villagers, it became a simple matter of judgment.
Who were they more likely to believe?
A half-elf with a questionable reputation and uncertain capability?
Or three powerful candidates with established authority and success?
The answer was obvious to them.
They chose to believe the latter and the fact that all three of those candidates openly insulted Emilia only made it seem more convincing.
It created the impression that their judgment was aligned, that their criticism was not baseless, but rather rooted in shared understanding because of that, Emilia's position in their eyes dropped even further.
She no longer appeared as someone worthy of little respect she had just earned earlier.
Instead, she began to look like someone they should be wary of, or even disregard entirely.
"I-I…" Natsuki Subaru trembled, his voice failing him before he could even form a proper sentence.
Inside his mind, however, everything was loud and chaotic.
'Damn it, you idiot!' he shouted at himself.
'Puck is right! He's completely right! Your Emilia is being insulted right in front of you! She's being accused, humiliated, and you're just standing here?!'
The thoughts kept coming, each one harsher than the last.
'It's your duty to protect her! It's your duty to stand up for her! It's your duty to save her!'
And yet he couldn't move or speak.
His body refused to respond the way his mind demanded.
'Then why…?' his thoughts faltered for a moment, turning into confusion.
'Why can't I defend her? WHY THE HELL CAN'T I DO WHAT I WANT?!'
His hands trembled as he looked down at them, as if trying to find an answer in something physical, something real.
But what he found instead was a memory.
It surfaced suddenly, without warning.
"I will not let anyone harm you ever again…"
The words echoed faintly in his mind.
He couldn't remember the entire moment.
He couldn't recall the full scene.
But he remembered enough.
He remembered being held in warm arms, held securely, protectively, cradled effortlessly like a child and even though his body had been in pain, even though his head had been clouded and numb, there had been something else that stood out above everything.
Relief.
A deep, undeniable sense of relief.
For the first time since he had arrived in this world, he had felt safe.
Truly safe.
Like he could let go of everything, like he did not have to struggle or fight or prove anything.
Like he could trust someone completely.
The feeling was familiar.
Similar to what he felt toward Emilia when she had saved him back in the alley at the Royal Capital a month ago.
It felt like being with someone who wouldn't judge him simply for existing, or for being the way he was.
That feeling mattered more to him than anything else.
Because deep down, he already knew what he was.
A loser.
A disappointment.
A waste of space.
Those thoughts had never really left him, no matter how much he tried to move forward.
They stayed in the back of his mind, constantly reminding him of his own shortcomings and yet, even with all of that, he still wanted something.
He wanted a place in this world.
He wanted people who could trust him.
People who would accept him.
People who would love him despite everything.
For the first time, he thought he had found that when Emilia saved him.
She had no reason to do it.
They were strangers at that time, with no connection, no obligation.
And yet, she had reached out to him anyway.
That moment had meant everything to him.
It had given him a sense of belonging he had never felt before.
But now things were different.
When Priscilla Barielle and Crusch Karsten treated him in a similar way, it created something he couldn't ignore.
Even after everything that had happened, after Emilia had distanced herself from him at his worst moment, after the incident at the Royal Castle where he had embarrassed himself in front of everyone, these two still treated him well.
They had more reasons than anyone to reject him.
He had insulted them.
He had spoken without understanding their position.
He had acted selfishly and made a scene.
And yet they still came to help him.
They still showed him a level of respect and care that he did not believe he deserved.
Even now, after everything, they were standing here, arguing on his behalf.
That only made things harder for him.
Because even if they were insulting Emilia right now how could he insult them in return or even talk back to stop them?
What right did he have to do that?
And more importantly... What right did he have to interfere at all?
He wasn't Emilia's knight.
He didn't hold any official position by her side and more importantly, he had no authority to challenge or change the opinions of the Royal Candidates standing in front of him.
That was the reality and he understood it clearly now.
Slowly, his gaze shifted toward Emilia.
Her eyes were moist.
She was clearly struggling, caught in a situation she did not know how to handle.
Even now, the Royal Candidates continued to press her, their words sharp and unrelenting as they demanded that she hand him over.
The pressure on her was obvious and he could see it.
He knew he had to do something.
He couldn't just stand there anymore.
But at the same time he couldn't respond the way he had before.
Not like in the Royal Castle or by lashing out or speaking recklessly.
Not after everything that Crusch Karsten, Priscilla Barielle, and Anastasia Hoshin had done for him and for the villagers.
He couldn't deny that or ignore their help.
So, what was he supposed to do?
He needed to fix this.
He needed to find a way where no one would be hurt.
A way where Emilia wouldn't suffer, where the Royal Candidates wouldn't be insulted, where everything could somehow be resolved without conflict.
He wanted an outcome where everyone could be satisfied.
Where everyone could walk away without resentment.
But reality wasn't that simple.
Because of his sloth, because he had remained silent for too long and now, the situation had escalated to this point, to something he could no longer easily control.
Of course, it wasn't Emilia's fault.
And it wasn't the Royal Candidates' fault either.
None of them knew about Return by Death.
None of them understood what he had gone through, what he had seen, or how many times things had gone wrong before.
From their perspective, everything they were saying made sense.
To them, the situation in front of them was exactly what it looked like, very flawed, unfair, and full of contradictions.
They didn't know how Emilia had saved him.
They didn't know what had led him to stand here in the first place and Emilia herself didn't fully understand how serious the situation had become, or just how capable and dangerous the other candidates truly were.
Everyone was acting based on incomplete information.
And because of that everything had turned out like this.
So, in the end, he blamed himself.
'Yeah… it's my fault,' Natsuki Subaru thought.
Because he existed.
Because he had gotten involved.
Because he had allowed things to reach this point without stopping them.
If he hadn't been here...If he had done things differently then maybe none of this would have happened.
A single thought began to take shape in his mind.
What if he could redo everything?
What if he could go back and fix it properly this time?
Suddenly, he snapped out of his daze.
His eyes moved quickly, scanning the surroundings, searching for something, anything that could give him a way out.
And then he saw it.
A knife lying on top of a desk.
It had likely been brought by one of the villagers earlier for self-defense, something they had held onto when the threat of the Witch Cult still remained.
Now that the danger had passed, it had been carelessly placed on a nearby desk, forgotten and unattended.
His gaze locked onto it.
'I-If I use Return by Death…' he thought, his breathing becoming uneven.
The idea grew stronger.
'If I can just reset this… if I can make sure the Royal Candidates never feel the need to take me… then Emilia won't have to go through this…'
The logic seemed simple in his mind, very flawed, but convincing enough for him in that moment.
The temptation dug into him, slowly but persistently, refusing to let go.
Finally, he made his decision.
Without saying a word, Natsuki Subaru took a step forward.
Then another.
And another.
His movements were slow at first, almost hesitant, but there was a strange sense of determination behind them.
He kept walking, his eyes fixed on a single point ahead, ignoring everything else happening around him.
Among the villagers, a young girl noticed, Petra Leyte, who was being held close by her mother, saw Subaru moving away from the group.
At first, she didn't think much of it.
But something about the direction he was heading toward caught her attention.
She followed his gaze.
'A desk?' she thought, confused.
Why would Subaru-kun be walking toward that?
Then she saw it.
A knife?!
It had been left there earlier, likely by one of the villagers who had brought it for protection.
Now, it sat there unattended, forgotten in the aftermath of everything that had happened.
Petra's confusion deepened.
The thought that Subaru might use it didn't even make sense to her.
She trusted him and believed in him.
There was no way Subaru-kun would hurt anyone and she was right.
He didn't intend to hurt anyone else.
He grabbed the knife.
And then he slowly raised it.
Not toward others but toward himself.
The blade came up, stopping just inches away from his own throat.
For a brief second, no one else noticed.
Then—
"Nooooo!" Petra screamed.
Her voice cut through the entire hall, sharp and panicked, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"Subaru, stop!" she shouted again, her voice breaking as she pointed toward him.
In an instant, every head turned.
All eyes locked onto Subaru.
And what they saw was enough to freeze them.
He stood there, holding the knife against his own throat.
The intention was clear.
Anastasia Hoshin's expression changed immediately.
The calm, calculating look she had maintained until now shattered completely, replaced by pure horror and disbelief.
She understood everything in an instant.
He was trying to kill himself to trigger the Return by Death.
Why he chose to do it at this exact moment did not matter.
The fact that he was about to do it was enough.
Crusch Karsten moved first, almost at the same time, Priscilla Barielle reacted as well.
There was no hesitation from either of them.
Priscilla raised her hand, and a concentrated burst of Yang Magic shot forward.
The plasma-like beam struck the blade instantly, vaporizing it almost completely in a single moment.
Only the handle remained in Subaru's grasp.
At the same time, Crusch closed the distance.
She reached him in an instant.
Her hand grabbed his wrist firmly, twisting it just enough to force him to release what remained of the knife.
The motion was precise, controlled, and effective.
The weapon fell harmlessly on the ground and before he could react further, she followed up immediately.
A quick, calculated strike to the side of his neck.
Not enough to harm him but just enough to knock him unconscious.
Subaru's body went limp.
Crusch caught him before he could collapse fully, lowering him carefully to the ground instead of letting him fall.
"Is he safe?!" Priscilla asked, stepping closer, her voice carrying urgency despite her usual composure.
"Barely," Crusch replied, her tone serious as she checked his condition.
"We almost lost him."
Around them, the others stood frozen in shock, confusion and disbelief.
No one fully understood what had just happened.
Everything had shifted too quickly.
The argument that had been escalating just moments ago was gone, completely overshadowed by what Subaru had tried to do.
For now—
The confrontation was over.
To be continued...
Notes: