Desperate Subaru
It was a sensation similar to sticking one's face above water.
Subaru, waking from slumber, recalled that feeling.
The moment he opened his eyes, sunlight scorched his pupils.
Squinting from the dazzle, he could only frown and rub his eyes. Subaru had the kind of constitution where, once awake, he would immediately be fully alert—he was the type to wake up all at once.
"Ah, you're awake?"
Reinhild's pleasant voice came from beside him. As Subaru slowly sat up, he realized he was still in the familiar alleyway.
The girl was standing upright a short distance away, watching him.
The girl's pure white coat was now gone.
Subaru looked at where he had just been lying, and as expected, the girl's coat had been folded and placed where his head had been.
The food scattered during the earlier fight had also been neatly packed back into the plastic bag and set aside.
"You shouldn't move too much. You hit your head, so it's better to be cautious."
The gentle voice showing concern for his condition reminded Subaru of what happened right before he lost consciousness.
The overwhelming pressure that had filled the alley was now gone.
He realized it had all been an atmosphere the girl had intentionally created.
Subaru was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Are you looking for the three people who attacked you? They've already been taken away by patrolling guards. By the way, the guard also treated your injuries. If you have the chance, be sure to thank him—his name is Ansel. But even though he used healing magic, don't be careless."
The girl explained what had happened while Subaru was unconscious.
Her appearance, voice, posture, and actions were all so far beyond human standards.
She even had a good personality and noble background.
If she wasn't doing anything shady behind the scenes, then in game terms, she'd be a completely overpowered, unbalanced character.
"To do something so amazing and still be so cheerful... You're basically a goddess."
Yet Subaru felt no jealousy—only gratitude and admiration.
He was certain that his heart had already surrendered to her.
"This humble one was saved by milady and is deeply grateful. I, Natsuki Subaru, sincerely admire the purity of your heart..."
"No need to be so formal. And really, it's not such a big deal."
"No, Miss Reinhild. I'm sure many people noticed what was going on here, but you were the only one who came in to save me. I'm truly grateful—and your clothes even got dirty."
Subaru looked toward the alley's exit.
There had clearly been many people on the street, and it was impossible that Reinhild was the only one who noticed what was happening.
Yet she had folded what appeared to be an expensive coat to place under his head—someone who had just fallen into a river.
Perhaps it was a small matter to her, but to Natsuki Subaru, it was a life-changing act of kindness.
"You don't need to use honorifics, Subaru. I don't like saying this, but it can't be helped. For most people, going against people like those attackers comes with great risk. If it were a knight like me, though, I believe anyone would have stepped in to help."
"...How high is your cheerfulness stat? Are you really a saint in body and soul? You're so dazzling I feel like my eyes are going to melt!"
Subaru looked at Reinhild more closely.
The more he looked, the more she seemed like a girl chosen by the gods.
The difference in their appearances was so great that Subaru even felt a bit inferior.
"Come to think of it, they called you a 'Sword Saint' earlier..."
"My family background is a bit special. Every day I live under the weight of high expectations."
The girl shrugged, but she looked relaxed as she said it.
It seemed she had a sense of humor too.
At that moment, Subaru became convinced she was a perfect superhuman in both mind and body.
"Your hair color and clothing are rare. And your name too… Subaru, where are you from? What brought you to the royal capital of Lugunica?"
Reinhild looked down at Subaru's appearance and asked. It was a natural question for a knight to ask someone whose origins seemed so suspicious.
"Grrrrrr—"
.
.
.
Inside a medieval-style restaurant, Natsuki Subaru blushed. He lowered his head, pressed his hands together, and said:
"Sorry, I'll definitely pay you back for this meal as soon as I can."
"Oh, no need. Since I have some things I'd like to ask you, treating you to a meal is only natural. So, while we wait for the food, can we return to our earlier topic?"
By the way, the girl's clothes had become spotless again thanks to the blessing of "Dustless Protection."
When Subaru learned she had been granted such a Divine Protection, he became even more convinced that she was a chosen one.
"Oh, oh. You asked me earlier where I'm from, right? I knew I'd get asked eventually. So, following tradition, I'll say: I come from a small country in the East!"
Subaru answered seriously, but Reinhild raised her eyebrows in surprise and said:
"From the continent's map, Lugunica is already the easternmost nation... There's no country farther east than this one."
"No way! Seriously!? The *extreme east*?! Then this is the golden land everyone dreams about?!"
"The golden land? Lugunica is the Dragon Kingdom—it's not some land of gold. Anyway, you're not from the capital, right? And you don't know where you are, you have no money, you can't read the language, and you don't have anyone to rely on..."
The girl's expression became worried, but she quickly remembered her responsibilities.
"Then Subaru, what's your reason for being here?"
"Honestly, I closed my eyes and opened them, and I was just here."
Subaru had thought about telling her the truth—that he was a loser summoned to another world—but anyone saying that would definitely be thought of as mentally unstable.
Reinhild fell silent. Then she looked Subaru up and down once more, carefully.
"...You don't seem to be lying, so let's just go with that. And your body looks fairly well-trained too."
Compared to the hesitant Subaru, the girl took the lead in easing the interrogation.
Being protected once again in his sorry state made Subaru frown slightly.
The girl continued her questioning.
"I train my muscles every day. I'm sort of a shut-in, so I at least have to do that much."
Trying to cover his embarrassment, Subaru gave a small cough and lightly flexed his arm muscles.
"Um, I don't really know what a shut-in is... But Subaru, you come from a good family, right?"
"No, I was born into an extremely normal middle-class family… Where did you get the idea I'm from a distinguished background? Did I accidentally radiate noble elegance?"
"You gave off something that made me curious, but that's no longer important.
I've also observed your condition—your hands are very different from those who make their living through daily labor.
Your muscle tone isn't that of someone who works for a living.
Black hair and black eyes are traits common among southern nomads, but in Lugunica, those features usually mean someone has lived a privileged life.
Also, your clothes are finely made, even though I've never seen that style before."
The girl took a sip from her cup.
"Sorry for going off-topic. What I meant to say was—would you be willing to do manual labor?
Do you plan to settle in this city? If you do, I can help you get a residency permit and find a job.
The work might be hard, though, since I don't really know of any jobs suitable for nobles."
Natsuki Subaru understood the girl's concerns.
Though her offer was like a blessing during a blizzard, she still considered his circumstances so carefully.
That consideration raised his impression of her even higher.
Though Subaru didn't want to rely on a girl he had feelings for, when it came to the reality of survival, he set aside his pride without hesitation.
"Then… I'll leave it in your hands."
Subaru made a typically Japanese bowing gesture as he spoke.