"Emilia-tan, it's because this is how I truly feel," Natsuki Subaru said, looking directly into Emilia's amethyst-crystal eyes, his voice firm yet gentle.
"Fine... we'll leave it at that for today." Emilia puffed up her cheeks slightly, adding in a pouting tone, "But you have to listen to me next time, okay?"
"Are we going to continue this topic of you lecturing me like a child?" Natsuki Subaru spread his hands, but his eyes were full of affection. "On this point, I will absolutely not compromise."
In the end, all he wanted was to protect this kind-hearted half-elf girl. To be able to stand within her reach, to be her support when she was lost, to catch her when she fell—this was his truest wish.
"Lady Crusch is about to begin her speech," Rem's voice came in at the perfect moment from the side.
Crusch, with an elegant gait, stepped onto the central stage. Her magnificent gown shimmered under the dazzling crystal chandeliers. She surveyed the surroundings, and then her clear voice echoed throughout the hall: "Distinguished guests, I apologize for interrupting your pleasant conversations, but please allow me to pay tribute to the greatest hero of this White Whale Subjugation!"
"Who could it be?" Emilia unconsciously leaned forward, her long silver hair cascading like a waterfall, the ends lightly brushing against Natsuki Subaru's bare arm, sending a tingling sensation through him.
"I think it should be old man Wilhelm..." Natsuki Subaru said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. Although he was the one who dealt the fatal blow to the White Whale, Crusch's subjugation force and Wilhelm had shouldered most of the combat pressure. Their contributions could not be ignored.
"It must be Subaru-kun!" Rem clasped her hands in front of her maid's dress, her blue eyes shining with adoration. "Without Sir Subaru's immense strength and crucial information, it would have been impossible for the allied forces to achieve such a glorious victory."
"I think so too," Emilia said, suddenly linking her arm intimately with Subaru's. "Because Subaru can always create miracles at the most critical moments."
"Knight Natsuki Subaru! Please come to the stage!" Crusch's voice boomed through the hall like a clap of thunder.
"Huh? It's really me?" Natsuki Subaru's eyes widened slightly. He turned to look at the beaming Emilia, then met Rem's eyes, which were brimming with starlight. "Wait, is there some kind of mistake with this whole development...?" This kind of high-profile occasion was clearly more suited for a respected elder like Wilhelm.
However, before Natsuki Subaru could think further, the entire hall's attention had focused on him like a spotlight. It started with scattered applause, which then swelled into a deafening cheer. The nobles rose to their feet in tribute, the crisp clinking of wine glasses rising and falling. The light from the crystal chandeliers refracted in the champagne glasses, creating a brilliant halo.
"As expected of Subaru-kun!" Rem clasped her hands tightly to her chest, her blue eyes surging with an almost devout light.
"Hehe... you can do it, Subaru," Emilia released his arm and gave him a gentle push from behind. "Everyone is waiting for you."
"Wait, why me...?" Natsuki Subaru unconsciously adjusted his collar, which wasn't messy at all, and said with a bit of a headache, "Speaking of which, shouldn't someone with more seniority be doing this?"
I'm being pushed into the spotlight again.
Even though he had been through so many life-and-death situations, this kind of stage with all eyes on him was making him a little nervous.
"Come on up, Knight Natsuki Subaru!" Crusch called out again, a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips. Behind her, old man Wilhelm also gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Fine, at times like this, I should just use that. An impromptu speech!
Thinking this, amidst the thunderous applause, Natsuki Subaru stepped onto the deep-red carpeted stairs. As his gaze swept over the smiling Emilia and the hand-clasping Rem below, a warm current flooded his heart, giving him immense courage.
"This is a victory that belongs to all of us!" Natsuki Subaru raised his right arm high. The hall instantly fell silent, and all eyes focused on him.
"It was Mr. Wilhelm's valiant sword that struck down the White Whale!" Subaru pointed to the silver-haired old Sword Demon below. The old man raised his eyebrows in surprise. Subaru continued, "It was Miss Crusch's precise tactical command!"
"It was the defensive line built by every single warrior with their flesh and blood!" As he spoke, Natsuki Subaru's voice grew more and more impassioned. "It was the supplies provided by the merchant caravans, the healing from the medics, and the miracle created by every soul that did not give up hope!"
Natsuki Subaru paused for a moment, surveyed the entire hall, then suddenly raised his fist and declared, "The shadow of the White Whale has loomed over this land for four hundred years, but today, we have proven that as long as we are united, there is no enemy that cannot be defeated!"
"This victory does not belong to any single individual, but to every warrior who fought for freedom!"
"The sacrifices of those heroes who will forever remain on the battlefield will never be forgotten!"
Clap, clap, clap—
The applause from below came like a surging tide. Many people's eyes were already moist. Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath and showed an even brighter smile. "Of course, if we absolutely must choose a single greatest contributor... then it would definitely be my good fortune for having met such outstanding companions. They are my lucky goddesses!"
"Bravo!"
"Well said!"
"A wonderful speech, Knight Natsuki Subaru!"
The hall instantly erupted, with good-natured laughter and thunderous applause intertwining.
Natsuki Subaru looked down from the stage and saw Emilia watching him gently, an encouraging smile on her lips. Rem's eyes were filled with pride, her hands tightly clasped in front of her chest, as if she were even more nervous than he was. Even the usually serious Wilhelm was now lightly applauding. Although his face remained largely expressionless, the slight nod of his head was the greatest affirmation.
Watching these scenes, Natsuki Subaru let out a soft breath and thought to himself, Looks like... this speech was a success.
"Subaru really is amazing," Emilia clapped softly, her eyes shining with approval.
"Yes," Rem responded in a low voice, looking at the high-spirited black-haired boy on the stage, her chest overflowing with an emotion called happiness. To see Subaru-kun grow into a hero so admired by everyone, Rem is truly so happy. I'm sorry, Lady Emilia, but just for this one moment... just for this one moment, please allow me the indulgence of calling you this...
"Rem's hero—"
Rem's whisper was drowned out by the tide of applause, but the black-haired boy on stage suddenly turned his head, accurately met her gaze, and then gave a knowing smile that only the two of them understood.
The next morning, in front of the Crusch mansion.
"I have been in your care these past few days, Miss Crusch." Natsuki Subaru, for once, gave a proper, formal knight's bow, his black jacket swaying gently in the morning breeze.
Since the end of the White Whale Subjugation, Natsuki Subaru had been recuperating at Crusch's mansion for several days, allowing him a rare period of peace. After last night's victory banquet, the plan to return to Roswaal's mansion with Emilia was finally on the agenda. It had been nearly a month since he had accompanied Emilia to the capital for the Royal Selection. Although Emilia had stayed a few extra days at his suggestion to exchange experiences with the capital's nobles, it was now time to go back.
"Natsuki Subaru." Crusch suddenly became serious, her emerald eyes looking directly at him. "The House of Karsten will not forget the debt of gratitude we owe you."
A debt of gratitude? Is she talking about the matter with the Sin Archbishop of Greed...? Natsuki Subaru unconsciously scratched his cheek and said with a smile, "Ah... that. I just did what I had to do. You're too kind, Miss Crusch."
In reality, I just didn't want to see anyone get hurt again. The painful memories from the original story... once was enough.
Emilia gave a polite bow to Crusch to express her thanks. "Crusch, thank you for your guidance during this time. It has given me a deeper understanding of the kingdom's situation."
"You are too modest, Emilia. Your insights on the border issues were very impressive," Crusch inclined her head slightly and added, "Especially your proposal regarding the demi-human settlement areas. It was very constructive."
"Really...?" Emilia's hands unconsciously clasped in front of her chest, her amethyst-crystal eyes shining brightly. "Actually, that idea was inspired by Subaru."
"Hm?" Crusch raised an eyebrow and looked toward Natsuki Subaru, who was currently helping Rem load their luggage.
"Lady Crusch..." Emilia suddenly took a step forward, her voice soft yet firm. "Although we are rivals in the Royal Selection, I hope... we can become partners in driving the kingdom's reform."
Crusch was taken aback for a moment, then a rare, gentle smile appeared. "That is exactly what I was hoping for."
After carefully placing the last piece of luggage, Rem clasped her hands in front of her skirt and gave Crusch a formal bow. "Thank you, Lady Crusch, for taking care of Subaru-kun."
"You are all too kind," Crusch's gaze shifted between the three of them, an imperceptible emotion flickering in the depths of her emerald eyes. "I look forward to seeing you all again on the stage of the capital."
"Yeah, see you next time." Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath and was the first to leap onto the dragon carriage. Looking at Crusch's upright figure, he couldn't help but recall their time fighting side-by-side. From their alliance in the capital to the White Whale Subjugation, and then repelling the Sin Archbishop of Greed, her precise strategic vision and decisive style had been a tremendous help to the subjugation force. If it weren't for Crusch's help, he likely couldn't have achieved such a victory on his own. In short, Crusch was always a most reliable ally.
"Otto, it's all up to you now," Natsuki Subaru said, patting the shoulder of the Otto beside him, a smile on his lips.
"Please leave it to me, Mr. Subaru!" Otto gripped the reins with great enthusiasm, his eyes shining with confidence. As a merchant who had traveled all over for years, driving a dragon carriage was second nature to him. After spending the last few days together, this once-reserved merchant had completely integrated into the team, even proposing surprising strategies during tactical meetings.
As expected of the Internal Affairs Officer from the original story. With Otto's addition, the strength of Emilia's camp has increased by another notch, Natsuki Subaru thought to himself.
"Hiyah!"
With Otto's crisp command, the ground dragon stretched its body, and the carriage began to move slowly, its wheels rolling over the stone slabs with a rhythmic clop-clop.
Crusch stood alone in front of her mansion, the morning wind blowing through her green ponytail. From the battle with the White Whale to repelling the Sin Archbishop of Greed, those thrilling scenes replayed in her mind. Especially the image of that black-haired boy with a confident smile, stepping forward to save her in a moment of crisis.
Why do I remember... Crusch bit her lower lip, a strange stirring in her chest under her military uniform. This unfamiliar emotion made her feel both confused and annoyed, as if something soft had struck the most vulnerable joint in her armor.
"...Natsuki Subaru..." Crusch whispered the name, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hilt of her sword, where the warmth from fighting alongside him still lingered.
The departing dragon carriage had already become a small dot on the horizon, but she still stood there with her back straight, as if by doing so she could engrave that figure deeper into her memory.
"Truly... a little unbecoming." Crusch muttered to herself, though she didn't know who this reprimand was directed at.
In the morning light, the head of the House of Karsten, for the first time, felt an emotion called longing.
In the depths of a silent, gloomy forest, a strange figure stood still. He was clad in a pitch-black priest's robe, his tall, gaunt frame like that of a walking skeleton. His long, dark green hair hung down to his nose, almost completely covering his eyes. On his sunken face, the skin was stretched tight against his bones, with almost no trace of flesh, and he exuded an aura of death.
However, this deathly stillness was shattered by his eyes, which glinted with a crazed light. A morbid flame danced in those pupils, as if wanting to burn everything it saw to ashes.
"Ah... what... what... what... what wonderful tranquility..." he whispered in a hoarse voice, his branch-like fingers nervously scratching his arms. "This is... this is what I have been pursuing..."
CRASH!
Suddenly, the massive sound of a falling tree from a distance shattered the forest's dead silence. A behemoth charged into view. It was a giant Mabeast shaped like a hippopotamus, over five meters long and weighing several tons. Its blood-red eyes were wide open, and its rough, rock-like black skin had a strange sheen in the sunlight. When its massive mouth opened, it revealed two rows of flat, sharp teeth, as if it could swallow a giant whole. Where its sturdy limbs stepped, trees as thick as bowls were easily snapped like straw.
"ROOOAR—!"
The Mabeast let out a deafening roar and charged at the black-robed man.
Faced with the charging Mabeast, the black-robed man, far from dodging, began to tremble with excitement, raising his veiny hands with a crazed laugh.
"The Authority of Sloth—Unseen Hand!"
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