At this moment, 'Old Man Rom's Stash House' was exposed beneath the hazy dusk, faintly visible through the dust that drifted through the air from time to time.
Tap tap~
The Shogun and Emilia walked up to the entrance of the large building.
"So this 'Old Man Rom's Stash House' is this place?"
Standing before the door, Emilia rested her chin on her hand, hesitating thoughtfully.
"Shall we just go in directly?"
The Shogun asked as she stepped up beside her.
"Eh? Ah... um... well—"
Emilia felt that what she said made sense. It was certainly better than standing around doing nothing. She raised her hand, intending to knock politely, but—
Click~
The Shogun pushed the door open and walked in.
"Why bother being polite to a thief?"
She glanced back and remarked dryly.
"Eh? Wait—Shogun, honestly~"
Emilia sighed in resignation and hurried after her.
Just a few minutes earlier—
Having experienced Return by Death, Natsuki Subaru once again arrived at this building, 'Old Man Rom's Stash House.' Of course, he retained his memories. To everyone else, however, he was a complete stranger. That worked in his favor—it made executing his plan easier.
Clack~
He approached the counter where the massive, white-browed old man stood and placed his flip phone on the bar.
"Hm? What's this?"
The large-framed elder looked at the small device before him in confusion. He picked it up and turned it over in his hands.
"A phone! A very powerful magic device! Let's make a deal, Old Man Rom."
With a bright, confident grin, Subaru made his proposal.
"A magic device? This is the first time I've seen one so small."
Old Man Rom examined the device, barely larger than his finger, with keen interest.
"...?"
Felt, who was sitting at the counter drinking, lifted her eyes at the commotion. Suspicion flickered in her gaze.
"It's pretty delicate. Be careful when using it."
Old Man Rom muttered.
"If it breaks, that's it—well, I mean repairing it would be impossible."
Subaru waved his hand smugly.
"Heh. Bringing out goods like this—you're giving me a lot of credit."
Old Man Rom looked at the photo of Felt displayed on the screen, a certain amusement curling at his lips. Magic resembling time-stopping was something he had never seen before.
"Eh?"
Felt leaned closer, comparing herself to the image on the screen, surprise flashing across her face.
"So, can you give me a price?"
Seeing an opportunity, Subaru pressed forward confidently.
"Well—if I'm the one naming the price, it wouldn't be less than fifteen holy gold coins... no, twenty."
Holding the phone, he answered in a deep, serious tone.
"!!"
Felt was startled once more. Twenty holy gold coins—wasn't that the exact price of the insignia she had stolen?
"Awesome! In that case... how about I trade this 'magic device' for that insignia?"
Subaru asked eagerly, as if victory were already within reach.
"That insignia, huh? Mm... not impossible. Equal exchange, after all. Here—"
Got it!!
Excitement surged within him.
Just as he was about to reach out—
"Wait."
Click~
"...Huh?"
Felt swiftly grabbed the insignia from the table and jumped down from her stool, glaring at him suspiciously.
He froze.
"Hm? Felt?"
Old Man Rom was taken aback as well.
"W-what's wrong?"
Subaru forced down his rising panic, though cold sweat began to form.
"Say... why do you want this insignia, mister?"
Felt smirked faintly and began pacing in front of him, her tone turning sharp and hostile.
"!!"
Subaru flinched, then steadied himself.
"What does that have to do with you?"
He asked irritably.
"What does it have to do with me? You've got to be kidding. This thing's in my hands right now. If you want to trade, you deal with me. So answer the question. Otherwise, don't expect to get your 'magic device' back either."
She grinned mischievously.
"You—!"
Subaru glared at her.
"And by the way, what exactly is this insignia?"
She lifted the dragon-crested badge, faint red light shimmering across its surface, and pressed further.
"..."
He fell silent.
"Its true value is higher than it looks, right? That's why everyone wants it. Which means it's worth more than that magic device. More than twenty—"
"Wait!!! That's dangerous thinking! Twenty holy gold coins is already a good deal! Stop raising the price!"
Do you even know what you're holding?!
Subaru shouted in exasperation. Stop being so greedy!
"Heh..."
Felt only sneered.
"How do you know?"
"Eh?"
"How are you so sure it's only worth twenty holy gold coins? Or... are you somehow connected to all this?"
She pressed him again.
"Ugh!"
His body trembled.
"I'll admit you're a decent trader, but this matter isn't something I can handle without informing my client."
Felt folded her arms and shrugged casually.
"...I..."
"?" ×2
In the end, the boy before them compromised and spoke his true intention.
"The reason I want the insignia is to return it to its rightful owner. That's all! Please give it to me!!"
He shouted, then bowed deeply to the two of them.
"Are you kidding? Return it to its owner? Idiot! If you're going to lie, at least make it believable! I'm not falling for that—!!"
Click!!!
Creak~
"!" ×3
The door of the building was suddenly pushed open from the outside, producing an unpleasant scraping sound. All three of them were startled. Who could it be at this time?!
The most tense among them was Subaru. His body trembled. His eyes widened little by little. His heart nearly leapt into his throat.
Could it be that woman?! Is it already too late?!
"Eh? Why is it you?!"
However, when Felt saw the two figures entering—no, more precisely, one of them—her face immediately twisted in frustration as she shouted.
"?"
Subaru also looked over instinctively. It was Emilia—and... huh?!
The purple-haired beauty beside her... he remembered her. She was the figure he had glimpsed just before his death in the previous loop. So that meant she was on Emilia's side too?!
"..."
Old Man Rom frowned slightly as well. He could sense that the two newcomers did not come with good intentions.
Tap tap~ ×2
After entering the room, the Shogun and Emilia fixed their gazes on the three before them. They advanced slowly, step by measured step. The oppressive aura they exuded was like underworld enforcers arriving to smash up a shop.
The Shogun casually surveyed the brightly lit interior, while Emilia stared unblinkingly at Felt.
"Emi—!"
Subaru instinctively tried to call out to her, but she shot him a glare that shut him up instantly.
"!"
He immediately shrank back obediently. Damn it—this time around, their relationship wasn't good. He had called her 'Satella' before, and she had gotten angry. Even so, he let out a small sigh of relief. Things were finally heading in a better direction. With these two here, he felt oddly reassured.
"..." ×N
The atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point. No one spoke. Only the sound of the two women's approaching footsteps echoed in the silence. They positioned themselves perfectly between the door and the path behind it, cutting off any escape route. Felt couldn't run—not that she had any chance of escaping now.
"Tch!"
Felt clicked her tongue in annoyance, gripping the insignia tightly in her hand, clearly unwilling to yield.
"Hand it over."
The Shogun stopped and folded her arms casually, narrowing her violet eyes as she spoke in a cold, detached tone.
"Hand what over?"
Old Man Rom looked momentarily confused.
"..."
The Shogun did not answer. Her gaze remained fixed on the blonde girl across from her.
"!!"
Felt suddenly felt as though her entire body was being scrutinized. It made her skin crawl.
"Felt? What are they talking about?"
Old Man Rom asked sternly, looking at her.
"Tch... Old Man Rom, just leave it."
Felt clicked her tongue again.
"I believe I made myself clear. Return it to me."
This time Emilia spoke, picking up where the Shogun left off. Her blue-violet eyes had turned cold, and her voice was deliberately lowered, filled with restrained frost.
Gulp~
Subaru swallowed hard. He didn't dare interrupt in this atmosphere.
"Heh, you're really persistent! Why won't you just give up?"
Felt hopped back a few steps, putting some distance between herself and the two women as she complained. Did they really chase her all the way here?! And who was that purple-haired woman beside her? An accomplice? Obviously. This was bad.
Even setting aside the silver-haired girl, the purple-haired one radiated danger. That presence wasn't a joke. A guard? A bodyguard?
"The reason I'm persistent is because of what you did. And that item is something I absolutely cannot give up."
Emilia stepped forward as she replied.
"!"
Felt retreated another step instinctively.