[ "…I have a super bad feeling. What happened?" Subaru asked Yuriusu with a worried look.
"News came from Ferris. It is said there is a problem with the cargo loaded on the dragon carriage used for evacuation—Lady Emilia is in danger." Yuriusu answered. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Mhm, that's right, it's right here."
Puck said.
"It seems there were explosives in the cargo. To protect me, Subaru rushed to the dragon carriage and took the explosives away."
Emilia said.
"It really is one wave after another. Is Natsuki some kind of god of misfortune?"
Anastasia smiled bitterly.
—
[ "This isn't the atmosphere for a banquet celebrating the success of the operation. Tell me what on earth happened!"
"…Okay, okay, of course I'll tell you, but wait until Ferris-chan finishes checking your injuries first."
The scene changed; Subaru, Yuriusu, and Ferris regrouped.
Saying this, Ferris gave Yuriusu and Subaru a brief physical examination.
After accepting the examination, Subaru hurriedly asked:
"Alright, Ferris, let's get to business. What exactly was found in the cargo?"
"Nn, understood. Regarding this matter, Ferri-chan thinks it's best to ask the person who discovered the problem… Otto!"
"Otto?"
The next moment, Otto walked over, panting heavily.
"Natsuki-san! I've been waiting for you to come back! First of all, it's great that you two are safe and sound. To be honest, I thought fighting a Sin Archbishop was just a suicidal act… No! Leaving that aside for now, I want to say something more important!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"He's really flustered, Green Hat Bro."
Felt said.
"Of course, in that kind of situation."
Otto responded.
"However, this is Suwen's first meritorious deed."
Anastasia said.
"I didn't expect to be praised; it's quite embarrassing."
Otto scratched his head.
"This is nothing yet. Wait for the Sanctuary later, Otto-bro's performance is truly amazing."
Garfiel grinned.
"That performance was indeed—really too—amazing."
Roswaal said, dragging out his vowels.
"My great self didn't expect you to be so calm."
—
[ "Anyway, it's about the cargo. It's like this: after I checked the inventory, I found something strange. Mr. Ketty… you might not know who he is by name alone, but he is the merchant Ketty Muttart. He is said to be a spy for the Witch Cult, and I heard he has already been captured." Otto explained.
Ketty Muttart, that Witch Cult spy who caused the explosion in the last loop.
"I know that guy—right, so you know him."
"That's not the problem—the villagers used dragon carriages to evacuate, right? After checking the inventory, I found that a large amount of fire magic stones that should have been loaded on Mr. Ketty's dragon carriage were missing. A quantity of magic stones enough to blow up seven or eight dragon carriages absolutely cannot vanish into thin air."
"But Ketty's dragon carriage is in Emilia and the others' evacuation convoy… Damn it, the cause of that explosion wasn't a spell, but a mechanism set on the dragon carriage… and this time it's also set on the evacuation carriage. Ferris! If we start riding a dragon carriage at full speed now, can we catch up to the evacuation team heading to the Royal Capital?"
"I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult. It has been an hour and a half since Lady Emilia and the others departed… Because they want to prevent being discovered by the Witch Cult, the marching speed shouldn't be fast, but they aren't dawdling either."
"Is it still not enough? After making so many preparations, I actually, once again…" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"It's quite despairing. Then how exactly did…"
Felt said.
"This is where the Green Hat—Bro you mentioned comes on stage."
Roswaal said.
—
[ "…Can I say something, Natsuki-san?" Otto raised his hand, interrupting Subaru's agitation.
"…You mean, you can make a deal with the current me, Otto?"
"I don't dislike sharp people, you know—let's make a deal. As long as you agree to my conditions, then I can guarantee you that I will do everything in my power to send you to your destination, to catch up with the dragon carriage you are looking for. As long as Natsuki-san can create an opportunity for me to meet with Margrave Mathers. And then the purchase price of my hoarded oil…"
"Oil or whatever, I'll buy it all! If you want to see that perverted clown, I'll find a way for you to see him! The negotiation is concluded!"
Time waits for no one; Subaru hurriedly agreed. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"My my~ it is precisely because of this decision of Subaru's."
Roswaal sighed repeatedly with a bitter smile.
"I didn't expect the Margrave to value Suwen so highly."
Anastasia said.
"What do you mean by 'because of Bro's decision'? What happened?"
"You'll know later in the Sanctuary."
Garfiel responded to Felt.
—
[ "I'll let Ian go with you. If she is there, she should be able to find the magic stones hidden in the dragon carriage. Looking forward to your full performance."
"Be extra careful. If you aren't dead, Ferri-chan can still heal you, but if you die, there's no saving you, 'kay?"
After the two gave their final words of encouragement, Subaru regrouped with Otto at the village entrance.
The two sat together on the driver's seat of the dragon carriage. As for the two earth dragons pulling the carriage, one was Subaru's Patrasche, and the other was Otto's Verhoe.
"Both of them are female, and listening to them, it feels like they get along quite well." Otto said.
"Listening to them?"
"I have the 'Divine Protection of Soul Language' that allows me to converse with any creature. I've had trouble controlling it since I was young."
"A Divine Protection, that's amazing. I'm counting on you, Otto. I can only rely on you."
"…Those are really words one can't refuse, damn it."
Otto gripped the reins tightly and issued the command to accelerate to Verhoe and Patrasche. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Whoa, such a practical ability."
Felt said.
"The shortest route was also derived by asking the animals, I presume."
Yuriusu said.
"To be honest, do these animals have such high language organization skills and intelligence? Even if you can hear them, you should only hear things like 'hungry', 'sleep'… Ah, no, more importantly, why do animals speak Japanese?"
Al retorted.
"So fast."
Emilia said, looking at the screen before her.
—
[ "Gonna die… at this rate, I'll definitely be dead soon… there won't be a next time…"
"What is going on? I feel super smooth right now. To be honest, even I didn't expect that I could actually do these things… Is this the potential that can only be unleashed by people pushed to a dead end…"
The dragon carriage sped through the forest, weaving through various places where a single collision meant death, making Subaru feel like he was going to die just by watching.
Then, Otto suddenly looked serious:
"…Natsuki-san! The forest is very noisy… No. The birds and bugs started making a huge racket, and then suddenly disappeared! Verhoe is also very nervous… Some, something is coming."
"Huh? Ah! Speed up, Otto—we absolutely cannot be caught!"
"Natsuki-san?"
Subaru stopped Otto, who was about to turn his head, then he stood on the cargo rack with his legs apart, looking at that mass of things in front of him—
"Bastard—just how clingy are you, you damned guy!"
Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti was chasing Subaru behind the dragon carriage. ]
.....