“Subaru, you were right.” “Huh?” The sudden affirmation left Subaru temporarily stunned; he had fully expected Emilia to be furious with him.
Stepping forward, aided by the flickering firelight, the scene inside the warehouse finally slammed into his sight.
A giant of an old man lay on the floor, eyes wide open, already devoid of life.
One arm had been cleanly severed from the shoulder and thrown a few paces away.
There was also a young blonde girl, her small body curled up in a pool of blood, lying face down.
He recognized this girl—she was named Felt.
The old man was likely Old Man Rom.
Now, both of them were dead, their bellies sliced open, their flesh and entrails strewn across the floor.
All of this was Elsa’s doing.
“Gag.” Subaru clutched his mouth, his stomach churning violently once more.
The nausea brought on earlier by the minced remains of Elsa returned with an even fiercer vengeance.
It was horrific.
So this…
was an assassin?
To slaughter two innocent people—even if one was a thief—without a second thought…
Had he actually been naive enough to beg for mercy on Elsa’s behalf earlier?
Was he just an utter idiot?
With heavy hearts, the two stepped out of the warehouse.
The puddle of minced meat a short distance away was nowhere to be seen.
All that remained on the ground was a massive dark bloodstain and a few scattered daggers.
Subaru caught sight of it, but paid it no mind.
It was just a minor character oneshot by Boss, after all.
Just then, Emilia came to a halt and turned around.
“Subaru, what did you mean by what you said earlier?” “Ah, well, Satella…” Subaru naturally understood what Emilia was referring to, but struggled to find the right words on the spot.
“Cough,” Emilia suddenly interrupted him, her tone gentle yet earnest.
“My name isn’t actually Satella.
You can call me…
Emilia.” Her voice was very soft, filled with genuine gratitude.
“Thank you for your warning and for stepping in earlier.
Otherwise, it really would have been hard for us to get away tonight.” Even though the crisis had been forcefully ended earlier, Emilia knew full well how fierce and ruthless Elsa was—she was by no means an easy opponent.
A one-shot kill carried immense weight.
“So…
your name is Emilia.” Subaru was dazed for a moment before quickly coming to his senses.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to lie to you.” Emilia lowered her head slightly, her voice laced with guilt and helplessness.
“I just didn’t want you to get dragged into trouble because of me.
After all…
my appearance has always invited caution and malice from others, bringing nothing but ill omen.” “It’s fine, Emilia, I was in the wrong too.” Subaru waved his hands hurriedly, looking flustered.
“I kind of let my emotions get the better of me earlier and said some really awful things to you…” His mind raced as he scrambled to patch up the lie: “But actually…
the person just now really wasn’t me!
Consider him my alternate personality!
Yeah, an alternate personality!” Inside him, Diavolo was thoroughly displeased by this, yet he didn’t speak up to interrupt.
Subaru spoke faster and faster, his hands waving so quickly they left residual images: “He only comes out during extreme danger, and he really doesn’t bear an ounce of malice toward you!” “Even though it wasn’t my intention to ruin the mood…
I still have to say I’m sorry.” Saying so, Subaru bowed deeply.
Watching him fuss about in a panic, completely flustered, Emilia pondered for a brief moment, the corners of her eyes curving gently.
Then, she smiled.
With that single smile, ice melted, a spring breeze swept past, and a hundred flowers bloomed all at once.
Subaru was captivated, his mouth agape, unable to close it for a long while.
“It’s alright, I understand,” Emilia said softly, her voice as gentle as thawing warm water.
“You understand?” Now it was Subaru’s turn to be utterly bewildered.
Inside him, Diavolo instantly tensed up, terrified that his existence had been exposed.
“Yes, I understand.” Emilia nodded earnestly, her tone sincere and considerate.
“Dressed so uniquely, with behavior and manners completely different from the people of this land, you must have a past of your own, right?
I don’t mean to question you, don’t misunderstand.” She comfortably rationalized it on her own: “Many people have endured too much suffering, leaving indelible scars on their hearts.
To protect themselves, a different personality manifests to shield them in times of peril.
Subaru, that must be the case for you as well.” In her eyes, those who wore strange clothes and acted out of the ordinary were mostly carrying pain that others couldn’t comprehend.
She instinctively categorized Subaru as a pitiable soul who had suffered endlessly and endured a wounded heart.
“Ah, right, right!
Emilia, you’re so right!” After only a momentary hesitation, Subaru nodded profusely.
Since Emilia had already come up with a logical explanation on her own, he might as well take the way out provided to him.
Settling the awkward atmosphere, Subaru asked in a serious tone: “Still, now that the insignia is recovered, what do you plan to do next?
Also, what does this insignia actually signify?
Was it really worth that woman resorting to murder just to steal it?” Subaru hadn’t forgotten Diavolo’s warning; this insignia was definitely no ordinary object.
The fact that Elsa slaughtered innocent people over it was proof enough that the underlying implications were massive.
He had likely already been dragged into the vortex of a massive storm.
Since he knew in advance, he had to be fully prepared to face it.
“This insignia…” Emilia fell silent all of a sudden, deep hesitation and struggle evident in her eyes.
After hesitating for a long while, she finally made up her mind.
“Subaru.” She spoke, her voice very soft.
“This insignia…
is truly important to me.” “But as for the specific reasons, I can’t tell you right now.” She paused, averting her gaze, her tone brimming with apology.
“I’m sorry.” Subaru scratched his head, letting out a relaxed, casual laugh.
“…If you can’t say, then forget about it.” “It’s not like I’m desperate to pry into your secrets anyway.” Though he spoke casually, his gaze involuntarily drifted to Emilia’s side profile.
Even though she was such a gentle and beautiful person, she was always weighed down by heavy thoughts, habitually knitting her brows.
Emilia turned to glance at him, then lowered her head, tightening her grip on the insignia in her palm, her expression grave.
“Thank you so much this time.
You helped me so much.” “I’m truly grateful to you.” Her voice gradually deepened, carrying a solemn warning.
“However, regarding what comes next…
it’s better if you don’t get involved.” “It’s really dangerous.” She said the last three words exceedingly softly, yet they carried immense weight.
She didn’t want her kind benefactor to be dragged into endless danger because of her.
Looking at her serious expression, Subaru waved his hand with utter nonchalance.
“Gah, what’s a little danger?” “A little danger like this is nothing!
You saw what I was like just now, and besides, I’ve already been dragged into this anyway—there’s no running away from it.” “Rather than running in circles later only to end up tangled in it again, I might as well jump in right from the start to save the hassle.” Hearing these words, Emilia was completely stunned.
People in this world always pursued profit and avoided harm, terrified of bringing trouble upon themselves; she had never seen anyone actively run toward danger.
She raised her head and gazed quietly at Subaru.
Within her indigo eyes, shock, confusion, and a faint, indescribable touch of emotion surged.
“…What on earth are you talking about?” She couldn’t help curving her lips slightly into a faint smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
“I’m serious!” Subaru patted his chest with considerable force.
“Don’t mind how unreliable I usually seem, I’m actually really capable!
Even without relying on my other personality, I can stand on my own two feet.” “Protecting others, protecting pretty girls—I can manage at least that much!” Looking at his earnest, confident, yet somewhat clumsy expression, the heavy gloom that had accumulated in Emilia’s heart for so long quietly dispersed a bit.
She let out a soft sigh, her tone helpless, yet harboring a gentle yield.
“…There really is no dealing with you.” —