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---
Chapter 76
The Royal Capital appeared on the horizon like an old wound that had learned how to look beautiful.
From the roof of the carriage, Link watched the stone walls rise above the landscape. Towers, rooftops, banners, and buildings accumulated behind that enormous barrier, gleaming beneath the afternoon light. Traffic increased the closer they came: merchants, travelers, dragon carriages, armed groups, families, and pack animals formed an endless stream toward the gates.
It was impressive.
It was also the place where he had died for the first time.
Link remained seated beside Pikachu, one leg bent and the other hanging over the edge of the roof.
The Earth Dragon's Divine Protection still prevented the wind from striking his face. There was no pressure, no noise, none of the sensation of speed he had expected to find.
For the first time since the journey began, he did not complain.
The walls grew larger before him.
He remembered looking at them from outside after abandoning the burned remains of his truck.
Back then, he had worn ruined clothes, carried a salvaged pistol, possessed no useful money, and been convinced that he was either dead or completely insane. He had passed through the gate without even knowing the kingdom's name. Afterward, he had found Subaru, Felt, Rom, and Elsa.
He had seen blood.
He had died.
He had returned.
Now he was coming back seated atop an official carriage bearing Roswaal's crest, protected by five spirits floating around him, an unfinished yellow statue at his side, and the woman he loved driving in front.
The difference was so enormous that it was not reassuring.
—You're way too quiet.
Subaru stuck his head out of a window.
Link did not turn.
—I'm resting.
—You spent half the journey insulting the dragon's Divine Protection.
—I ran out of insults.
—That's impossible. You're Latino.
Link looked at him.
—I can make more.
—There he is.
Subaru pulled his head back inside.
Link returned his attention to the main gate.
The guards inspected carriages and documents. Several lines moved rapidly beneath the supervision of armed soldiers. Roswaal's dragon did not slow down until they were near the checkpoint.
Rem gently pulled the reins.
The carriage stopped.
Link descended with two kagunes before anyone could offer him a ladder. The nearest guards reacted to the movement of the black structures behind him, but none fully raised their weapons. The margrave's emblem was more convincing than any explanation.
One soldier looked at Pikachu.
—What is that?
Link glanced toward the roof.
—Luggage.
—It looks like a Mabeast.
—It isn't.
—It has ears.
—Statues can have ears.
The guard inspected the yellow creature.
—Is it alive?
—No.
—Can it become alive?
Link thought about the unfinished circuits and the Yang lagmite he still needed.
—Eventually.
The guard stopped writing.
Rem turned her face.
—It poses no danger in its current state.
—That didn't help —Link muttered.
The soldier looked at Rem.
Then Link.
Then Pikachu again.
—Does it contain explosives?
—No —Link answered.
The reply came quickly enough to make him more suspicious.
—Fire?
—No.
—Offensive magic?
—It doesn't have a core yet.
The guard pressed his lips together.
—Then it could have one later.
—That's the idea.
Rem intervened before the inspection became a criminal interrogation.
—Pikachu will remain at the residence assigned to the margrave. It will not be taken into any official building or activated within the Capital.
Link looked at her.
—We hadn't agreed to that last part.
—We have now.
—I need to find parts.
—You may purchase parts without activating the project.
—I need to test compatibility.
—You will do so after we return.
—Rem.
She held his gaze from the driver's seat.
—Link.
He yielded.
—It won't be activated.
The guard wrote something down.
—You may continue.
Link climbed back onto the roof.
Subaru appeared at the window.
—She defeated you in four sentences.
—Shut up.
—The monster who erased a mountain just lost to a maid who didn't even raise her voice.
—Subaru.
—I already shut up.
Rem moved the reins.
The carriage passed through the gates.
The Capital smelled the same.
Link had not expected that to be the first thing that struck him.
Hot stone.
Oil.
Food cooking at open stalls.
Animals.
Sweat.
Wood.
Cheap and expensive perfumes mixing with sewage, smoke, and garbage.
Thousands of people moving inside too little space.
The city had changed little since his first day.
He had.
The streets no longer seemed incomprehensible. He recognized types of buildings, clothing, coins, Earth Dragons, and symbols that had once been nothing but strange shapes. He still could not read fluently, but he could identify several signs. He knew what a lagmite was, what a Mitia was, what a Divine Protection was, and what a spirit was.
He knew people with brightly colored hair were not wearing costumes.
He knew the small animals beside certain merchants could be familiars.
He knew an apparently defenseless person could possess enough magic to destroy a house.
And he knew no amount of knowledge made those streets safe.
The carriage moved through the crowd.
Several people pointed at Pikachu.
Children were the first to get too close.
—It's yellow!
—It has a weird tail!
—Look at its cheeks!
—It's dead!
—It isn't dead —Link replied from above—. It was never alive.
The children stared at him in horror.
—That sounded worse than necessary! —Subaru shouted from inside.
—IT'S A STATUE!
—YOU SHOULD'VE STARTED WITH THAT!
A little girl ran beside the carriage for several meters.
—What's it called?
—Pikachu.
—Does it bite?
—No.
—Does it breathe fire?
—No.
—Then what does it do?
Link looked at the statue.
—For now, answer questions.
The girl seemed to accept the function.
Traffic forced the carriage to slow. Roswaal spoke from inside with an employee who had boarded near the city entrance. After a brief exchange, they decided the luggage and Pikachu would be taken first to the residence prepared for the margrave.
Link climbed down to personally inspect every strap.
—They're not going to steal it —Subaru said.
—I'm not worried about them stealing it.
—Then what?
—Hitting it, tilting it, damaging the ears, or opening the rear compartment.
—It's a rock.
—You're also pretty hardheaded, and we still protect you.
—That was unnecessary.
Rem approached while workers unloaded the statue.
—Rem will supervise the transfer.
—I can do it.
—Link will accompany Emilia-sama.
—But—
Rem placed two fingers against his wrist.
It was not an order.
It did not need to be.
—It will arrive intact —she said.
Link looked at her hand.
Then at Pikachu.
—The ears cannot withstand lateral pressure.
—Rem knows.
—The tail can detach if they lift it from there.
—Rem knows.
—The rear plate still—
—Link.
—Fine.
Rem released him.
One worker tried to grab Pikachu by an ear.
All six kagunes appeared.
The man froze.
—From the base —Link said.
—From the base —Rem repeated as though nothing had happened.
The workers obeyed.
Roswaal stepped out of the carriage and gave several final instructions. Afterward, he separated from the group to handle matters related to the royal summons.
Emilia, Subaru, and Link waited near the street.
Rem returned a few minutes later.
—The statue has been stored.
Link studied her expression.
—Undamaged?
—Undamaged.
—The boxes?
—Organized.
—The sweets?
—Those too.
Link relaxed his shoulders.
Subaru watched the scene.
—Your priorities are fascinating.
—I'm not leaving chocolate near a window.
—I meant that you asked about the sweets after the statue.
—Pikachu doesn't melt.
Emilia adjusted her white hood.
—We should go.
Subaru raised one hand.
—Operation Capital, part two!
Emilia caught his hand before he could complete the pose.
She intertwined their fingers.
Subaru went rigid.
—Emilia-tan.
—I'm not letting go of you.
—We can discuss this.
—We already did.
—It was an accident.
—You almost got thrown out of a moving carriage.
—But I didn't.
—Because Rem caught you.
—And Link was ready to.
—That does not improve your decision.
Emilia began walking, taking him along.
Subaru looked desperately toward Link.
—Help me.
Link took Rem's hand.
—I don't see a problem.
Subaru opened his mouth.
Looked at both pairs of joined hands.
—This is discrimination.
—Link didn't try climbing out of a window —Rem said.
—HE RODE ON THE ROOF!
—He climbed up before the carriage started moving.
—HE STOOD ON PIKACHU!
—Pikachu was secured.
Subaru was dragged toward Market Street.
—THAT STATUE RECEIVED MORE TRUST THAN I DID!
—It doesn't make decisions —Emilia replied.
Link felt the emotional impact from several steps behind.
—That was brutal —he murmured.
Rem kept holding his hand.
—Emilia-sama is learning from Nee-sama.
—The kingdom won't survive two of them.
Market Street was as crowded as Link remembered.
Fruit stands, food stalls, tools, and fabrics occupied both sides of the road. Merchants advertised their products loudly enough to compete with carriages, customers, and animals. The crowd forced everyone to walk slowly.
Subaru was still holding Emilia's hand.
At first, he had complained.
Then he began enjoying it.
Finally, he started complaining again after realizing Emilia was doing it out of distrust rather than romance.
Link and Rem walked behind them.
He could have forced his way through without effort, but he matched her pace. Luci floated over his shoulders. The other spirits remained hidden nearby, drawn toward the smells, sounds, and small sources of fire.
Link recognized the intersection before he saw the stall.
His hand tightened around Rem's.
She noticed.
She did not immediately ask.
The fruit stand appeared between two buildings.
Abblas.
Manzenes.
Fruits of different shapes arranged inside boxes and baskets.
Behind them stood the same broad man with the scarred face.
Kadomon.
The merchant was serving a woman when Emilia and Subaru stopped in front of the stall. He finished the sale, stored the coins, and looked up.
His eyes fell on Subaru.
His severe expression became even less friendly.
—You again.
Subaru smiled.
—Old man! Glad to see business is still standing.
—Last time I saw you, you were driving customers away while a pretty girl restrained you.
—That also describes the current situation, but now we have a much stronger professional relationship.
Kadomon looked at their joined hands.
—Buy something or move.
—The hospitality of the Capital remains unchanged.
Emilia pointed toward a basket.
—We need some manzenes.
—Emilia-tan, don't reward his hostility.
—We also need to eat.
—We can buy from someone who respects his customers.
—I'm not losing a sale because some poor bum dislikes my face —Kadomon said.
—I WORK FOR A MARGRAVE NOW!
—Then you're an employed bum.
Subaru pressed a hand against his chest.
—Commercial cruelty knows no limits.
Kadomon took a bag.
Then he saw Link.
His hand stopped.
The man's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
First recognition.
Then caution.
Finally a prudence he had not shown Subaru.
Link stood several steps away, dressed far better than during their first encounter.
He was not wearing ruined clothes from the forest.
He was not covered in dust.
His eyes were not wet with rage.
And one hand was not wrapped around Subaru's throat.
Even so, Kadomon recognized him.
He looked toward the street as though expecting to see the black truck parked nearby.
It was not.
He looked back at Link.
—You're the one with the weird carriage.
—Truck —Subaru corrected.
—I wasn't asking you.
Link released Rem's hand.
Not out of anger.
Only because part of him had returned one month into the past.
Subaru pressed against the side of the vehicle.
His own hand around Subaru's throat.
His voice trembling while demanding answers.
People moving away.
Kadomon saying they had better pay first if they planned to destroy his stall.
Link looked at the fruit.
Then at the merchant.
—I don't have the truck anymore.
—Looks that way.
Kadomon examined his clothes.
—You don't look like you're about to murder the kid either.
—I wasn't trying to murder him.
Subaru touched his neck.
—That interpretation was valid.
—I just wanted answers.
—You lifted me off the ground.
—You weren't cooperating.
—I HAD JUST MET ANOTHER TRAVELER FROM EARTH WHO REMEMBERED DYING! I NEEDED TIME TO PROCESS IT!
The silence appeared too quickly.
Emilia tilted her head.
Kadomon stopped moving the bag.
Rem turned her eyes toward Subaru.
Link closed his.
Subaru realized what he had just said in front of three people who did not know the truth.
—From his homeland —he corrected hastily—. Another person from his homeland. A very distant region. Distant, extremely distant. Practically another world culturally.
Kadomon stared at him.
—I don't care.
Link opened his eyes again.
—Good decision.
The merchant held his gaze.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Kadomon remembered the desperate young man in front of his stall.
The fury.
The truck.
The way he had silenced every protest with a single look.
Link remembered a man who had done nothing wrong and had chosen to step aside because he understood that the stranger before him was about to break.
The tension never became a threat.
Kadomon was the first to look away.
He began filling the bag.
—Nine manzenes.
Subaru smiled triumphantly.
—I knew deep down you cared about me.
—They're for the girl.
—I accept transferred affection.
Kadomon set the fruit on the counter.
Emilia paid.
Link took the bag before Subaru could.
Kadomon watched his hand.
—Still breaking things?
Link looked at his fingers.
—Less.
—That isn't a no.
Subaru pointed at a small crack in one of the metal pieces on Link's belt.
—He broke that this morning.
—It was defective.
—You tried tightening it with one hand.
—The buckle wasn't cooperating.
Kadomon snorted.
—Problem children.
Link took one manzene from the bag.
Placed it on the stall.
—How much?
—They're already paid for.
—This one.
Kadomon looked at the fruit.
—You want to buy back one you just bought?
—I want to leave it here.
—Why?
Link shrugged.
—I didn't buy anything the first time.
The merchant studied him.
He did not need to understand completely.
He took the manzene.
—Then you don't owe my stall anything anymore.
—Good.
Kadomon pointed at Subaru.
—He does.
—WHY ME?!
—Accumulated noise.
Emilia pulled his hand.
—We should continue.
—I'll be back, old man.
—Buy something or don't come back.
Subaru was dragged into the crowd.
Link followed.
Rem remained beside him.
They walked several meters before she spoke.
—This is where it happened?
Link did not need to ask what she meant.
—Yes. This is where I ended up grabbing Subaru by the neck.
—Subaru appeared to remember it quite clearly.
—So do I. It wasn't my most elegant introduction.
Rem looked over her shoulder toward the stall.
—The merchant does not seem to have forgotten either.
—I'm surprised he still lets me near his fruit.
Rem glanced backward.
Kadomon was already serving another customer.
—He did not appear to hate you.
—I think he understood I was desperate.
—Were you?
Link looked at the streets.
The same stone.
The same stalls.
The same city.
—Very.
Rem's fingers tightened around his.
—You aren't alone now.
Link looked at her.
He did not make a joke.
—No.
They continued walking.
The Noble District seemed to belong to another city.
The streets became wider, cleaner, and quieter. Buildings had carefully maintained facades, inner gardens, and private guards. Improvised stalls disappeared, along with shouting merchants and children running between carriages.
At the end of the road stood a fortified structure connected to the district walls. It functioned as a Royal Guard garrison, checkpoint, and entrance to the area under the castle's direct jurisdiction.
Subaru looked at the building.
—This place screams bureaucracy.
—It's a garrison —Emilia explained—. They also control who enters the Noble District.
—Armed bureaucracy.
—Behave.
—I'm holding your hand. Technically I'm under arrest.
Emilia released him when they reached the entrance.
Subaru looked at his empty hand.
—I withdraw my complaints.
—Too late.
Rem and Link stopped behind them.
The guards recognized Emilia from the cloak and Roswaal's emblem. One of them prepared to announce her.
He did not get the chance.
The door opened from inside.
A young man with violet hair appeared in the doorway.
His white uniform was perfectly arranged. A slender sword rested at his waist. His posture possessed the precision that could only come from years of training or from someone far too conscious of how he was being observed.
Amber eyes found Emilia.
His surprise lasted only a moment.
The young man gave an elegant bow.
—I did not expect to find you here, Miss Emilia. I'm pleased to see you are in good health.
Emilia appeared to recognize him.
—It has been some time, Julius.
Subaru tensed when he heard the name.
Link noticed the change before even looking at him.
The Japanese boy's breathing shortened.
His shoulders rose.
His fingers closed.
It was not fear.
Not yet.
Julius descended one step.
—I'm honored you still remember me.
He gently took Emilia's hand.
Knelt.
Kissed the back of it.
Subaru made a strangled sound.
Link glanced at him.
—No —he murmured.
—HE KISSED HER HAND!
—I saw.
—THAT WAS WAY TOO INTIMATE!
—It's a greeting.
—YOU DON'T GREET REM LIKE THAT!
Link looked at his partner.
—Because I prefer the lips.
Rem slightly averted her gaze.
Subaru was left without an answer for two seconds.
—THAT WASN'T THE POINT!
Julius raised his face.
His attention passed over Subaru.
Then Rem.
Finally Link.
He showed no surprise at the sight of him. His eyes did linger for an additional moment on Luci, suspended near Link's shoulder, and on the hidden spiritual presences surrounding him.
Julius stood.
—I see you have company.
—They are Subaru, Rem, and Link —Emilia said—. All three currently belong to Roswaal's household.
Subaru raised one hand.
—Subaru Natsuki. Reliable person, primary companion, and victim of protocol harassment.
—The final description seems evident —Julius replied.
Neither smile was friendly.
Julius looked at Subaru's clothes.
—Although I must admit your appearance does not match the place you accompany Miss Emilia to.
Subaru inspected Julius's white uniform.
—And you look like someone who should never eat anything with sauce. One stain and your entire identity disappears.
Julius tilted his head slightly.
—I shall remember the advice should I ever encounter such a specific danger.
Link moved closer to Subaru.
—You're looking for trouble.
—He started it.
—He commented on your clothes.
—THAT IS A DECLARATION OF WAR BETWEEN MEN!
Julius turned his attention toward Link.
—And you?
—Link.
He waited.
So did the knight.
—No title to add?
—I don't have one.
—You are part of Lord Roswaal's household.
—I work there.
—As a guard?
—Sometimes.
—Mage?
—That too.
—Spirit contractor?
Link looked at Luci.
—Yes.
—Craftsman?
—That too.
Julius remained silent.
Subaru intervened.
—Gardener, cook, statue creator, Mabeast breeder, accidental destroyer of geographical features, and Rem's official boyfriend.
—Subaru —Link said.
—I'm helping with introductions.
Julius looked at Rem.
She gave a formal bow.
—Rem serves as a maid of the Roswaal Manor and accompanies Link in a personal capacity.
The precision of the final phrase was absolute.
Link smiled.
Subaru pointed at him.
—See? She knows how to brag about the relationship.
Julius did not allow the conversation to alter his expression.
—An unusual combination.
—So I'm told —Link replied.
For a moment, the knight's amber eyes seemed to evaluate something deeper than his clothing.
Link sensed a faint spiritual current.
Several small presences surrounded Julius.
Quasi-spirits.
They did not fully manifest, but they were there.
Luci moved closer to Link's head.
—Friends —she murmured.
One of Julius's quasi-spirits responded with an almost invisible flash.
The knight's expression softened slightly.
—It seems your companions have good instincts.
—Luci trusts too quickly.
The golden sphere struck Link on the forehead.
Julius hid a smile.
Emilia stepped forward.
—Julius, I need to contact the castle regarding a matter involving Reinhard.
—Then I understand the reason for your visit.
Julius looked toward the inside of the garrison.
—We can use the magic mirror. I'll accompany you.
—Thank you.
Julius stepped aside.
Emilia moved forward.
So did Subaru.
She stopped in front of him.
—Subaru.
—Yes.
—Wait here.
That was not the answer he had expected.
—What?
—I won't be long.
—I can come with you.
—It isn't necessary.
—But it's about Reinhard. I know him.
—Which is precisely why I can explain the matter without difficulty.
Subaru looked at Julius.
—Is this because of him?
Emilia shook her head.
—I don't want you entering a situation where you will end up arguing.
—I won't argue.
Nobody answered.
Subaru spread his arms.
—I CAN BEHAVE!
Link, Rem, Emilia, Julius, and the two nearby guards remained silent.
—This is offensive.
Emilia lowered her voice.
—Please, wait.
There was kindness in it.
There was also rejection.
Subaru felt both.
The protest died before leaving his mouth.
—Fine.
Emilia looked at Rem.
—Look after him.
—Yes, Emilia-sama.
Then she looked at Link.
—Don't let him do anything strange.
Link examined Subaru.
—That exceeds my abilities.
—HEY!
—We will prevent him from leaving the area —Rem corrected.
Emilia seemed satisfied.
She entered with Julius.
The door closed.
Subaru remained still.
His gaze stayed fixed on the wood.
Link could hear the change in his breathing.
—It wasn't because of Julius —he said.
—I don't need comfort.
—That wasn't comfort.
Subaru kicked a stone.
—Then spare me.
The stone rolled toward a wall.
Rem said nothing.
Neither did Link.
There were times when trying to repair a wound only meant sticking your fingers into it.
Subaru moved several steps away from the door.
He paced.
Looked toward the streets.
Returned.
Looked again.
—She won't be long —Rem said.
—I know.
—Then remain here.
—I am.
Subaru kept moving.
Link leaned against a wall.
Rem stood beside him.
The guards pretended not to hear.
Several minutes passed.
Subaru stopped pacing.
His eyes fixed on something across the street.
Link followed his gaze.
A red garment disappeared into an alley.
Three men surrounded whoever wore it.
The scene lasted only an instant.
Enough for Subaru's expression to change.
—I'll be right back.
Rem reacted.
—Subaru.
He was already walking.
—I'm just going to check something.
—Emilia-sama ordered you to wait.
—Someone may need help.
—Call the guards.
Subaru looked toward the soldiers beside the entrance.
Then toward the alley.
The distance was growing.
—There's no time.
He began running.
Rem took one step.
Link gently held her wrist.
She turned.
—Aren't you going after him?
Link smelled the air.
Subaru.
Miasma.
Anxiety.
The trail was moving away, but there was no blood.
Yet.
—No.
—He could get himself into danger.
—He will get himself into danger.
—Then—
—Emilia asked us to wait here.
Rem studied his face.
Link could catch Subaru before the Japanese boy took another five steps. He could follow the scent throughout the entire Capital. He could pull him out of the alley and return him to the door.
He did not.
Subaru had seen a woman who apparently needed help.
He was not going to look away.
Link knew that kind of stubbornness.
He had hated it.
It was also the reason Felt and Rom were still alive.
—The guards are nearby —Link said—. And I didn't smell fear from the woman.
—That does not mean she is safe.
—No.
—Then why let him go?
Link looked at the corner where Subaru had disappeared.
—Because I don't own him.
Rem remained silent.
—Besides —he added—, if we follow him every time he decides to do something stupid, he'll never learn to come back on his own.
—That sounds optimistic.
—Very.
Rem returned to his side.
—You can find him.
It was not a question.
Link nodded.
—His scent stands out.
—You do not seem pleased to say that.
—It isn't a pleasant scent.
Rem watched the street.
—Has it gotten stronger?
Link understood what she meant.
The dark trace around Subaru.
—Since last time, yes.
—By a lot?
—An amount.
The answer reassured neither of them.
The door remained closed.
They waited.
Ever since Subaru turned the corner, Link had followed his movements through hearing and smell, quietly informing Rem of each new stupidity: the argument, the rigged game, and the chase he had provoked.
Emilia returned before Subaru did.
The garrison door opened.
Julius appeared first and stepped aside to let her leave.
—I will deliver the message —he said—. Even if Reinhard is not immediately available, the matter will be communicated.
—Thank you, Julius.
—There is no need. Anything concerning him and the safety of a candidate deserves attention.
Emilia inclined her head.
Julius kissed her hand again in farewell.
Link could practically hear Subaru's outrage in his imagination.
Emilia descended the steps.
She looked toward the place where she had left the Japanese boy.
He was gone.
The calm disappeared from her face.
—Where is Subaru?
Rem bowed.
—He left after seeing a woman enter an alley with three men.
Emilia closed her eyes.
—I asked him to wait.
—Yes.
—Why didn't you stop him?
Link raised one hand.
—I decided not to.
Her violet eyes turned toward him.
—Why?
—He thought someone was in danger.
—He could have called the guards.
—Rem told him that.
—Then why...?
Emilia stopped herself.
She knew the answer.
Subaru would not have waited.
Not when he believed someone needed help.
Concern replaced part of her anger.
—Do you know where he is?
Link breathed.
Subaru's trail remained.
It had moved across several streets.
Then changed direction.
Fast movement.
Several human scents.
No smell of Subaru's blood.
—Yes.
Julius observed the gesture.
—You can track him from here?
—Yes.
—An extraordinary ability.
—Useful right now.
Link pushed away from the wall.
Rem moved beside him.
Emilia descended the final steps.
—Let's go.
Julius looked toward the door.
Then Emilia.
—I can send guards.
—That won't be necessary —she said—. You have already done enough.
The knight accepted her decision.
His gaze rested briefly on Link.
He did not seem entirely convinced that guards were the more useful option anyway.
—Then be careful.
Link began walking.
Emilia and Rem followed.
Subaru had gone farther than expected.
Link moved without running.
He did not need to.
The scent remained clear within the crowd, mixed with sweat, manzenes, dirt, and that shadow that always accompanied the Japanese boy. At several intersections, the trail changed direction abruptly, as though Subaru had been running without knowing the area.
—Is he hurt? —Emilia asked.
—I don't smell his blood.
—You can distinguish it?
—Yes.
Rem did not ask how.
She had learned that Link's sense of smell was too precise to compare with an ordinary person's.
The refined streets fell behind.
The surroundings began deteriorating.
Narrower buildings.
Uneven stone.
Fewer guards.
More eyes watching from doors and windows.
Link recognized the transition.
They were not yet deep within the slums, but they were approaching them.
—This way.
He turned into an alley.
Subaru's scent was stronger.
There were others as well.
Three familiar trails.
Link stopped.
Not because he doubted the direction.
Because he recognized them.
Old sweat.
Cheap metal.
Rancid oil.
One of the men used the same ointment on his nose that he had used after Link broke it.
The memory came before their faces.
A club descending.
A wrist caught.
An elbow.
A headbutt.
A knife striking his abdomen.
The blade bending.
Metal breaking.
Run.
—What is it? —Rem asked.
Link continued forward.
—I know the men.
Emilia frowned.
—Are they dangerous?
—Not particularly.
A voice came from the alley.
—YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TRICK US WITH THAT REINHARD STORY THIS TIME!
Another answered:
—WE FOUND YOU WITHOUT THAT KNIGHT AROUND!
Subaru shouted something unintelligible.
Link turned the corner.
He found nine men.
The first three stood at the front.
The same alley thieves.
Behind them, they had gathered another six, all carrying knives, clubs, and tools repurposed into improvised weapons.
Subaru stood in front of them.
Beside him was a young woman dressed in red.
She was extraordinarily beautiful.
Orange hair.
Red eyes.
An elaborate dress.
A fan in one hand.
Not a trace of fear.
Subaru, by contrast, was breathing heavily and holding a bag of manzenes as though it could function as a shield.
—This situation escalated way too fast —he was saying—. Can't you accept that retreating the first time was an intelligent decision?
—YOU LIED TO US!
—The word "lying" carries unnecessary moral weight. I prefer to call it survival strategy.
The woman in red yawned.
—Watching peasants debate cowardice is tedious.
—YOU COULD HELP A LITTLE!
—I have no obligation to correct your mistakes.
One thief raised a knife.
—We'll finish him first. Then we'll see what that dress is worth.
The young woman's eyes narrowed.
Not in fear.
In offense.
Subaru moved in front of her.
Link watched the gesture.
The woman clearly did not need protection.
Subaru did not know that.
Or did not care.
The first thief advanced.
Rem moved one hand toward the chain hidden beneath her skirt.
Link entered the alley.
—Subaru.
The Japanese boy turned.
Hope appeared immediately.
—LINK!
All nine men looked toward the entrance.
The leader opened his mouth.
—Who the hell...?
The man with the knife did not answer.
He had turned pale.
His eyes dropped to Link's abdomen.
Then toward the weapon in his hand.
His fingers began trembling.
The broad thief, the one who had tried tackling Link around the waist, took one step backward.
—No.
The third man looked at him.
—What?
—It's him.
—Who?
The man pointed at Link.
—THE ONE WITH THE BLACK BEAST!
The other six exchanged looks.
—What beast?
—THE DRAGONLESS CARRIAGE!
—It isn't here.
—IT DOESN'T MATTER!
The knife fell from the thief's hand.
The metallic sound echoed against the stone.
Subaru looked at Link.
Then at the three men.
—You know each other?
Link stopped in front of Rem.
—We met on my first day.
—These are the ones who attacked you?
—Yes.
Subaru examined their faces.
Understanding came.
—Wait. Are these the same three who attacked me?
—Looks like their operating area is limited.
The largest thief clenched his fists.
Shame fought with survival instinct.
—There are nine of us this time.
Link counted.
—Yes.
—You don't have that black thing.
—Truck —Subaru corrected automatically.
The man ignored the word.
—You're not alone either.
—That works in my favor.
The thief looked at Rem.
She remained calm.
Then Emilia, partially hidden beneath the cloak.
Finally, the woman in red.
—They're only women and that brat.
Rem smiled.
It was not a kind smile.
Link felt the chain shift beneath her dress.
—Don't say anything else —he advised.
—SHUT UP!
The leader advanced.
Rem said a single word.
—Link.
It was not a warning to stop.
It was permission under conditions.
He understood.
—Without killing them.
—I wasn't planning to.
The first root emerged from his back.
Black.
Thin.
Flexible.
The tip opened slightly, revealing mana fangs inside an impossible mouth.
All nine men stopped moving.
A second root appeared.
Then a third.
Link did not manifest all six.
There was no need.
The woman in red raised her fan slightly.
For the first time, she looked interested.
Subaru retreated beside her.
—Gentlemen —he said—, I believe this would be an excellent moment to reconsider your professional decisions.
The leader shouted.
It was not courage.
It was the sound a person made when they had already begun moving and stopping felt more frightening than finishing.
He charged Link.
The club came down.
One root caught the weapon.
It did not block it.
It wrapped around it.
The mana fangs bit into the wood and turned it into splinters.
The second root swept the man's legs.
He fell flat on his back.
Link advanced.
The thief whose knife had broken before—now carrying another—tried stabbing him from the side.
Link extended one hand.
Caught the blade between two fingers.
The pressure bent it.
Every remaining trace of color vanished from the man's face.
—Not again —he whispered.
Link snapped the metal.
Half fell to the ground.
The other remained between the criminal's fingers.
—I told you to run the first time.
The man released the handle.
—I... I did run.
—You came back.
—I didn't know it was you.
—That doesn't improve the decision.
The third root moved.
It did not strike flesh.
It slipped between belts, sleeves, and straps. In less than a second, it caught three men by their clothes and lifted them against the wall.
The other six backed away.
One tried to flee.
The first root stabbed into the stone in front of his feet.
The street cracked.
He stopped.
Another man threw his knife.
Rem moved one finger.
A plate of ice appeared in the air.
The blade struck it and fell.
Link looked toward her.
—I thought I was handling this.
—Rem prevented him from dirtying your shirt.
—Thanks.
The thief on the ground attempted to get up.
Link placed one foot on the shattered club beside his head.
He did not touch him.
He did not need to.
—Listen.
They all did.
—You will not attack Subaru.
The Japanese boy raised one hand.
—I appreciate the clause.
—You will not attack any of the women.
The woman in red let out a quiet laugh.
—What an arrogant assumption.
Link did not look at her.
—You will not approach us again.
The leader swallowed.
—And if we don't...?
A fourth root appeared.
The tip opened beside his face.
The mana teeth clicked.
—Then Pepa will need food.
Rem turned toward him.
—Link.
—I wasn't planning to actually do it.
—You should not threaten to feed people to Pepa.
—It worked.
—It is still wrong.
The leader nodded repeatedly.
—WE'LL LEAVE!
The roots lowered the men.
Not gently.
Not hard enough to seriously injure them either.
They fell on top of each other.
The remaining six were already retreating.
The man with the knife looked at Link one final time.
His eyes fell toward the place where the blade had broken again.
—Monster.
Link held his gaze.
The word did not hurt as much anymore.
Not there.
Not coming from him.
—Run.
The thief ran.
The others followed.
Within seconds, the alley was empty except for broken wood, abandoned weapons, and one man's boot that had been lost during the escape.
Subaru exhaled.
—That was incredibly satisfying.
Link retracted the kagunes.
—Why were there nine?
—Long story.
—Emilia asked you to wait.
—That happened before an emergency appeared.
Rem approached.
—There were guards less than a street away.
—I didn't have time.
—You had enough time to run for several minutes, argue with the young lady, cheat three criminals, play rock-paper-scissors, and gather a pursuit.
Subaru froze.
Link looked at him.
—You played rock-paper-scissors?
—That isn't important.
The woman in red closed her fan.
—The peasant cheated.
—MY STRATEGY WAS LEGITIMATE!
—You transformed your rock into an imaginary combination of all three options.
Link looked at Subaru.
—That isn't legitimate.
—YOU WEREN'T THERE!
—I didn't need to be.
Rem inclined her head toward the stranger.
—Are you injured?
The red eyes traveled across her.
—The concern of a servant is worthless to me, but I will allow you to acknowledge my perfect condition.
Rem maintained her professional smile.
Link knew that smile.
She used it immediately before deciding exactly how much she disliked someone.
—I'm glad to hear it.
The young woman turned her attention toward Link.
She examined him from his shoes to his face.
There was no obvious desire.
No fear either.
She seemed to be evaluating an exotic purchase.
—A strange beast accompanied by an Oni and several spirits. The Capital provides better entertainment than expected.
—I'm not a beast —Link said.
—That is not yours to decide.
—Usually it is.
—Everything that exists in this world assumes the place that suits me best.
Link looked at her.
Subaru subtly gestured for him not to argue.
Rem remained beside him.
The woman was beautiful.
Indisputably.
She also had a personality capable of turning every sentence into a slap.
Link thought about Ram.
At least Ram insulted with precision.
—Then decide we will never see each other again —he said.
Subaru covered his face.
The woman in red smiled.
She did not appear offended.
—No.
—It was a suggestion.
—I rejected it.
The sound of a carriage stopping came from the main street.
A male voice shouted:
—PRINCESS!
The woman opened her fan.
—My property has finally remembered its function.
A tall man appeared at the opposite entrance of the alley.
He wore a black helmet completely covering his face, strange clothing, and a heavy sword. One arm ended before reaching the hand.
He stopped when he saw the scene.
Broken weapons.
Cracked stone.
Subaru.
Rem.
Link.
The woman in red standing untouched at the center.
—Princess, I leave you alone for one moment and you start another street war.
She walked past him.
—The peasant decided to entertain me.
—Which one?
The woman pointed her fan at Subaru.
The Japanese boy straightened.
—Subaru Natsuki. Unrecognized rescuer and principal victim of this afternoon.
The helmeted man studied him.
—Natsuki?
The pronunciation changed.
It was not perfect.
It was far too familiar.
Subaru noticed.
So did Link.
The man appeared about to add something.
The woman interrupted.
—Al.
—Yes, Princess.
—We're leaving.
—As you command.
Al looked one final time at Subaru.
Then at Link.
The pause lasted barely a second.
Long enough to leave a question.
Not enough to answer it.
The woman entered the carriage without saying goodbye.
Al took his place.
Before leaving, he raised one hand toward Subaru.
—See you around, brother.
The carriage departed.
Subaru remained staring.
—He said brother.
Link stood beside him.
—Yes.
—The way he said my name...
—That too.
—He could be—
—Later.
Subaru closed his mouth.
Rem had not understood the exact meaning.
She did register the exchange.
The secrets continued accumulating.
A female voice came from the entrance of the alley.
—There you are.
Subaru went rigid.
Emilia stood there.
Her hood had slipped slightly backward. Her silver hair reflected the street's light.
Relief appeared first on her face.
Then she saw the cracked ground.
The weapons.
The abandoned boot.
The remains of the club.
Then Subaru.
The relief changed.
—Subaru.
—Emilia-tan.
—I asked you to wait.
—I can explain.
—You also said that after the carriage.
—This time there was a woman in danger.
Link looked toward the place where the woman in red had disappeared.
—That is debatable.
Subaru turned.
—YOU'RE NOT HELPING!
Emilia advanced.
—Did they hurt you?
—No.
—Did they try?
—Technically, yes.
—And what would have happened if Link and Rem had not found you?
Subaru opened his mouth.
He had no convincing answer.
—There were guards nearby —Emilia continued—. Rem told you.
—I didn't know if they would arrive in time.
—Then you could have called them while you went.
—I...
His voice weakened.
Emilia was not shouting.
That made it worse.
—You promised to wait.
—I didn't promise.
—You agreed.
—That isn't exactly—
Link lightly struck Subaru's shoulder.
—Don't continue.
—But there is a legal distinction.
—Not one that will save you.
Subaru lowered his gaze.
Emilia took a deep breath.
Concern remained beneath the anger.
—We're going back.
She took Subaru's hand.
Not gently.
He did not protest.
Rem moved beside Link.
Emilia looked at the broken stones.
—Was that you?
Link nodded.
—I handled the men.
—Are they alive?
—Yes.
—Injured?
—An amount.
Rem corrected him.
—Minor bruises. Most fled without receiving direct blows.
Emilia seemed relieved.
—Thank you for not going too far.
—Rem was here.
—That explains a lot.
Link accepted the truth.
Emilia began walking, taking Subaru with her.
This time, holding his hand was not playful supervision.
It was the only way she trusted him not to disappear again.
Subaru looked back.
—Link.
He waited.
—Thanks.
—Listen next time.
—That is exactly what Rem was about to say.
—Rem is right frequently.
She took Link's hand.
There was no need to keep him from running.
She simply wanted to.
Subaru looked at their joined hands.
Then at his own, trapped by Emilia because he had broken his word.
The difference hurt more than he wanted to admit.
—This is still discrimination —he muttered.
Emilia pulled him forward.
—Walk.
—Yes, Emilia-tan.
They left the alley.
The merchants continued shouting on Market Street.
Carriages kept passing.
Guards patrolled without knowing that a few streets away, nine criminals had just temporarily abandoned their profession.
Link walked beside Rem.
He recognized the city.
The fruit stall.
The alleys.
The scent of the men who had attacked him.
The routes toward the slums.
The places where he had been afraid.
But he was no longer wandering without direction, driving while chased by guilt and trying to convince himself that he was responsible for no one.
The Capital remembered him as the desperate young man with the black truck.
Kadomon remembered his gaze.
The three criminals remembered the broken knife.
Link remembered something different.
He had returned.
Not as a hero.
Not as a knight.
Not as a weapon.
He had returned holding Rem's hand.
And for the first time since entering that city, he did not need to run from it.