Arc 10, Part 8: "The Result of a Choice"

"—I cannot thank you enough for your constant concern for our house."

"No, it’s only natural. It’s not something you need to thank me for."

Subaru spoke with great humility, waving the hands of the Beatrice sitting on his lap as Wilhelm—the one serving the tea—spoke. Beatrice gave Subaru a sidelong glance at the gesture, but she likely felt his nervousness through his heartbeat against her back. With a resigned sigh, she continued to play the role of Subaru’s marionette.

Subaru and the others had just finished their meeting with Fiore—who had thrown the Royal Selection into utter chaos—and upon hearing the news of Crusch’s awakening at the "Holy Dragon Church," they couldn't sit still. They had come straight to the Karsten estate in the noble district.

Naturally, proper etiquette dictated that one should make an appointment before visiting. It was a failure of a social visit, one they had forgotten in their haste, yet they had been welcomed warmly. Led by Wilhelm to the drawing room, the four of them (with Beatrice on Subaru’s lap) sat side-by-side on a long sofa, waiting anxiously for the moment to arrive. Perhaps noticing Subaru’s restlessness, Wilhelm bowed deeply.

"I ask for a little more of your time while Crusch-sama prepares. My apologies."

"No, no, we’re the ones who showed up out of the blue. If anything, I’m just grateful we weren't turned away."

"Turned away? Perish the thought. Crusch-sama was also very pleased to hear that Subaru-dono and Emilia-sama had come to visit."

"No, no, no, regarding that, it might be the other way around... I mean, I might actually burst into tears the moment I see Crusch-san awake..."

It was a pathetic admission, but since it was a genuine possibility, he wanted Wilhelm and Emilia to be mentally prepared. For now, to suppress his racing heart, he simply kept swinging Beatrice’s arms in time with his "No, no" responses to Wilhelm.

"I say, you are swinging Betty’s hands far too much, I suppose! My shoulders and arms are starting to get tired, in fact!"

"Guh... Sorry, my bad, I’m just so restless. Because..."

Beatrice, who had been acting as Subaru’s emotional support doll, finally reached her limit and barked at him. Poking Beatrice’s cheek, Subaru paused for a beat. He was impatient, his heart racing. But the wait was worth it.

"Because, Crusch-san is..."

"—Yes. There is no mistake."

At Subaru’s breath, which was filled with a thousand emotions, Wilhelm nodded with equal sentiment. —No, to say it was "equal" was far too presumptuous. Wilhelm’s relief was surely many times, dozens of times greater than Subaru’s. The recovery of the person to whom he had sworn his loyalty was an event of that magnitude.

"I’ve said it many times already, but Wilhelm-san, I’m truly happy for you."

The one offering her sympathies to Wilhelm once more was Emilia, sitting next to Subaru. Emilia, who had been present when Fiore used the Church’s miracle to treat Crusch, had already offered her kind words to Wilhelm that same day. However, Crusch had not regained consciousness until now. With the chance to speak to the awakened Crusch right in front of her, Emilia’s violet eyes also sparkled with anticipation.

"Good grief, at this rate, I’m worried about these two making a scene, I suppose. Rem, if Betty and the others don't stay sharp, things might get out of hand, in fact."

"You’re right. Please leave it to me if they go too far. I’ve started to get used to the weight and handling of the morning star again."

While Subaru and Emilia were restless, Beatrice and Rem maintained their composure as visitors. It was reassuring to have them ready for a critical moment, though the faint sound of chains clinking whenever Rem shifted was both terrifying and stimulating. Subaru would need considerable resolve if he ever had to ask Rem for "backup."

"Oh, speaking of backup, where’s Ferris? Is he helping Crusch-san get dressed? I’ve got a lot of things I want to talk to him about, too."

Suddenly noticing a face that should have been there was missing, Subaru voiced his question. Subaru and Wilhelm were surely overjoyed by Crusch’s recovery beyond their wildest dreams. But the one who should be feeling it most was none other than Crusch’s first knight. Of course, the fact that Crusch’s salvation was brought about by the "Holy Dragon Church" must have been a bitter pill for him as a healer, but Subaru didn't doubt that Ferris was the kind of person who would prioritize Crusch’s safety over his own self-reproach for his helplessness. However—

"————"

"—? Wilhelm-san?"

Subaru knit his brows in confusion at Wilhelm’s reaction, as his cheeks stiffened for an instant. But Wilhelm immediately smoothed over the tension with a "My apologies," and continued.

"Regarding Ferris... truth be told, he is feeling a bit unwell. It seems that as soon as Crusch-sama’s condition stabilized, the mental exhaustion he had been carrying all burst out at once."

"Oh dear, that happened after we left? ...I’m worried about Ferris. Even though Crusch-san finally woke up, he’ll probably blame himself for collapsing now."

"Yeah, you’re right. Wilhelm-san, is Ferris in bad shape?"

"...No, he should recover with rest. However, I would ask that you refrain from visiting him for now. He himself would not want to intrude upon the feelings of everyone visiting Crusch-sama."

"We wouldn't think it’s an intrusion, but... yes, I understand. We’ll see him another time."

It wasn't quite a case of "misfortune following misfortune," but given the circumstances, Emilia nodded at Wilhelm’s suggestion, and Subaru agreed. Subaru and the others planned to stay in the Royal Capital for a while longer. Even if they missed him today, there would be other chances to check on Ferris. For now, they should respect his wishes. —Just as Subaru and the others took a breath of relief.

"—I am very sorry to have kept you waiting."

Seeing the person who opened the drawing room door, Subaru stood up instinctively. Appearing at the entrance was a beautiful woman with a slender build and long green hair, wearing dark sleepwear with a pink stole draped over her shoulders—Crusch Karsten herself.

"————"

The last time he had seen her, Crusch’s breathing was labored and painful, and she was in a state where even sitting up in bed was difficult. Seeing her standing on her own two feet and appearing before them like this filled Subaru with overwhelming joy and emotion. However, as she looked at Subaru with a faint, fragile smile, half of her face remained covered by a bandage over her left eye, which inevitably caught his attention first—

"Please, put your mind at ease. This bandage is only because it is still a little difficult to see out of one eye. The majority of the abnormality... no, the abnormality itself has been removed."

"Ah..."

"So, please do not let your expression cloud over so."

Being told that, Subaru reflected on the fact that he had come to visit her, yet he was the one being comforted. He was surprised that she still had the bandage covering her face, but more important than that was the fact that Crusch had come to see them on her own feet. Crusch’s condition had been so severe that this moment had seemed like a distant, impossible dream.

"————"

"—Subaru-sama?"

Seeing Subaru fall silent, the smiling Crusch narrowed her amber eyes. Being stared at by that single eye, Subaru chose his words carefully. After all, if he got a single word or a single breath wrong, his endurance would shatter, and the tears would come spilling out.

"...You know, Crusch-san. I had so many, truly so many things I wanted to say, and most of them were 'I'm sorry' or 'It was my fault,' just words of apology."

"—. Yes."

"But, seeing you directly like this, the only things coming out are 'I'm so glad' or 'I'm so relieved,' just things like that. I’m really, really relieved..."

He should have had several model answers prepared as a visitor. On the way to the mansion and during the wait, he had desperately simulated the best words of comfort in his head, intending to choose the perfect response. And yet, all of that vanished the moment he saw the real Crusch, and what came out was nothing more than an immature, rambling sense of relief, like a child’s.

"————"

At the words squeezed out from Subaru’s pathetic self-realization, Crusch’s eyes widened for a moment, but she quickly regained a soft smile.

"Hearing you say that makes me feel at ease as well. I have shown you my unsightly side so many times, Subaru-sama, that I thought you might have finally lost patience with me."

"No way! Not at all, never! I mean, I shouldn't be making you stand and talk when you’ve just recovered. Um, please, have a seat."

"Fufu, then I shall do so."

While his pace was flustered and broken, Subaru offered her the chair opposite him, and Crusch, laughing with a hand to her mouth, followed his escort. Subaru had somehow taken charge of the proceedings, but since it was her house, it was only natural for her to be amused. Subaru, whose conversation was becoming awkward, watched Crusch sit down with Wilhelm’s help, then looked resentfully at Emilia and the others next to him.

"Wait, am I the only one flustered here? Isn't that unfair? Why am I the only one being played?"

"Because, Subaru was the one most worried about Crusch-san, wasn't he? So, I thought you’d want to be the first to talk."

"I am not in a position to be forward here. Besides, there was the matter of Beatrice-chan."

"Beako? ...Wait, why is Beako on Rem’s lap? Weren't you sitting on mine?"

"I was, but you stood up with such force that I was blown away, I suppose! If Rem hadn't caught me skillfully, I would be sprawled out in the middle of the room by now, in fact!"

"I-I see, my bad. I literally didn't see you..."

"That is a terrible way to put it, I suppose!"

Beatrice puffed out her cheeks and hugged Rem stubbornly. Leaving her to Rem, who was in a receptive posture, Subaru reflected on how he had been far too oblivious to his surroundings. Crusch’s smile deepened at their exchange. Seeing Crusch’s reaction, Emilia narrowed her violet eyes.

"I’m sorry everyone is so noisy, even though we’re here to visit you."

"No, I do not dislike liveliness. Besides, the fact that you came to visit immediately upon hearing the news... made me happy."

"I’m glad then. ...Ah, but I’ll make sure they don't get too carried away."

Concerned for Crusch’s health, Emilia added a final, characteristic remark. One could see the thoughtfulness and the intent to choose her words carefully; even in a scene like this, Emilia’s visible growth could be felt. Of course, it wasn't good to take Crusch’s words too literally, but—

"How is your physical condition?"

"Yes. It has become much easier. It seems it will take some time to recover my strength, but I believe there are no major problems."

Crusch replied, adjusting the stole on her shoulders. Having just recovered, her complexion was still a bit pale, but her responses were natural, and there was no shadow over her intelligence. From what he could see, her way of walking was proper, and aside from the bandage covering her left eye, no traces of that day seemed to remain on her. For now, it could be called a relief. However—

"I have received reports of what happened while I was bedridden. ...Including the news that Priscilla-sama has passed away."

If that intelligence was intact, Crusch also clearly understood that the situation was not one where they could simply rejoice over her recovery.

"————"

Even though they knew it was an unavoidable topic, it seemed inappropriate to bring up immediately. The fact that Crusch herself was the one to bring it up made Subaru and the others stiffen their expressions. They had hoped to simply congratulate her on her recovery and discuss the Royal Selection at another time—but it was as if she were saying she didn't want such platitudes.

"As far as I remember, I barely exchanged words with Priscilla-sama. However, there is no doubt that she had her own sense of duty and participated in the battle of Pristella... and by extension, the Royal Selection. That is why we must continue the Royal Selection, for her sake as well."

"—. Yes, I feel the same way. I think we can't stay down forever, for Priscilla’s sake too."

"Indeed. I am glad. I am glad you feel the same, Emilia-sama."

Crusch let out a breath of relief in front of the nodding Emilia and took a sip from her teacup. Moistening her tongue and lips, she looked at them with the amber glow of her single eye, and continued, "In that case."

"I believe you will agree that the stabilization of the Kingdom is what we should prioritize now. In the Royal Selection, the deeds of the Witch Cult were certainly a bitter blow, but spending too much time on countermeasures and dealing with them would be a departure from the original mandate of the Selection."

"Mm, I understand that too. The Royal Selection is for deciding the future of the Kingdom, not for doing something about the Witch Cult. That’s what you mean, right?"

"Yes, exactly. Of course, dealing with those people is a task that rulers must undertake, but putting it first is exactly what they want. We must remember. The essence of the Royal Selection itself."

"In that case, Felt-chan is also in the capital right now. It seems Anastasia-san hasn't been able to return yet, but if we can talk, I’d be happy to—"

"—Furthermore," Crusch interrupted Emilia, leaning forward slightly. For a moment, Emilia’s eyes widened at the sensation of being faced with a drawn blade. Ignoring Emilia’s reaction, Crusch intensified the light in her amber eye even further.

"I have heard. That you have opened the path to the Watchtower of the 'Sage'... the Pleiades Watchtower. I am impressed that you have achieved such a feat. If that tower possesses the power rumored, it will serve as a sufficient deterrent against other nations. Its handling must be carefully considered with the 'Council of Sages'."

"Crusch-san..."

"The crucial 'Dragon-Consecration Ceremony'... the deadline for the voting day to decide the next King is also less than a year and a half away. From here on, the merits of each camp’s claims will be questioned more than ever. We must look at the faces of the people around us and listen to their voices more than ever before."

"Wait, Crusch-san, I want to talk. But don't be in such a hurry. Right now—"

"—I AM!"

"—!"

Crusch’s words, which had begun to overflow uncontrollably, were suddenly cut off by a sharp cry that sliced through the drawing room just as Emilia tried to stem the tide with her emotions. Crusch’s teacup was slammed back onto its saucer, and tea spilled with a sharp clatter. Wilhelm instantly pulled Crusch’s hand away, draped a handkerchief over his master’s hand which had been splashed with tea, and immediately moved the cup back. During this, Crusch, who allowed herself to be handled, did not take her eyes off Subaru and the others for a single moment. Without looking away, her thin lips trembled.

"Am I... wrong...?"

"————"

The resolute, intelligent tone she had held until a moment ago was shattered, and her question was soaked in tears. In reality, no tears were visible in Crusch’s eyes. But her voice was crying. The sheer magnitude of the gap between her reason and her emotions pierced Subaru’s chest painfully.

Crusch knew. Because she was intelligent, possessed superior insight, and was a hard worker who had continued to face many responsibilities and challenges, it didn't matter whether Subaru and the others chose their words or not.

She knew that the way she had been saved was not befitting of the King she aimed to be.

"...What kind of stupid talk is that?"

Reflecting on the conviction that had been born within him, Subaru ground his teeth. He had to say it was a stupid, truly stupid idea. To say that the way she was saved was "bad"—it was as if it would have been better if Crusch were still suffering from the malice of "Lust." There was no such stupid talk. Why should a magnificent person like Crusch have her dreams and goals cut short by the actions of ridiculous people like the Witch Cult?

It was an irrational suffering. It was an absurdity she had no reason to taste. So what if she was saved by someone’s kindness? Thank you for saving me. I won't forget this gratitude and will continue to work hard from now on. —Was that not enough?

"—You’re not wrong at all."

Within his chest, there was an emotion that welled up along with an uncontrollable anger. Pushed by it, Subaru found himself standing up once more, firmly grasping Crusch’s hand across the low table. On Crusch’s white fingers, where the handkerchief had fallen, that hideous black mottled pattern did not exist. These were Crusch’s original hands, which no one had any reason to defile.

"Subaru, sama."

"You’re not wrong. How could you be wrong? Let’s do the Royal Selection properly. Let’s talk properly, think properly, and compete together properly. I’ll do whatever it takes."

It was a statement made with the expectation of being scolded or cursed for making another easy promise. They were rival camps. Anyone would think that it would be a great help to Emilia if Crusch, a powerful rival, dropped out of the Selection like this.

"But that’s not it. That’s not how it should be. The Royal Selection we all decided on, where we wanted to make our person the King, wasn't supposed to be decided like that."

"————"

"That’s why, Crusch-san, you’re not wrong."

He wasn't sure if his words had properly formed a sentence that led to a "therefore." However, at Subaru’s overwhelming momentum, Crusch was slightly taken aback, but she let out a breath as if something that had been taut was loosening.

"Geez, Subaru just went 'waah' and said almost everything I was going to say first. That’s cheating."

Perhaps sensing the change in Crusch’s atmosphere, Emilia, still sitting on the sofa, puffed out her lips and rebuked Subaru’s behavior. Suddenly realizing he was the only one who had gotten ahead of himself and heated up, Subaru’s ears turned red. Thinking "this won't do," Subaru hurriedly tried to return to his original position—

"—. Subaru-sama, that hand..."

"Eh? Hand?"

Having it pointed out, Subaru looked down at his own hand, which had just been holding Crusch’s. He thought he was being scolded for a terrible lack of manners, but that wasn't it. What Crusch’s amber eye was concerned with was not Subaru’s lack of manners, but—

"It is your hand, Subaru-sama. It was the same as my body... could it be that your hand also used the power of the 'Holy Dragon Church'?"

"Ah, no, this was more... violent, or rather, the result of a 'bang,' but I don't know the details myself, so it’s actually a bit of a scary story."

In fact, Subaru’s hand had now regained its original skin tone, but the process by which it happened was quite violent and not something anyone should be made to imitate. To put it plainly, it was "burned off and regrown." —Currently, his leg could be said to be in the same state, but he had no intention of testing if it would regrow if he burned it off.

"—It’s..."

"————"

Subaru, who had been opening and closing his hand while reflecting on that extreme treatment, suddenly felt like he heard a faint whisper and instinctively held his breath. He blinked and looked at Crusch in front of him. With a feeling of "surely, that couldn't be."

"Crusch-san, first, rest your body slowly. After that, I also intend to do whatever I can, just like Subaru said first."

"...Thank you. You might regret it, you know?"

"I believe the current me knows the difference between regrets I can have and regrets I shouldn't have better than the old me."

However, the sense of incongruity and doubt that had pierced Subaru was pushed aside by the conversation between Emilia and Crusch, which seemed appropriate for Royal Selection candidates. In fact, Subaru and Emilia’s proposal was nothing more than "sending salt to the enemy," but even if they beat Crusch by avoiding it, they could never truly be happy. That was why this proposal and declaration of intent were in line with the wishes of the Emilia camp.

"—Phew."

After that exchange, Crusch let out a sigh tinged with fatigue. She had just recovered and her strength had not returned, and there had been an emotional scene. It could be said that it had become a sufficiently long session for Crusch’s physical strength.

"It’s about time we took our leave. Emilia-san."

"You’re right. Thank you for meeting us even though you’re so tired and it’s a difficult time."

"No, it is I who should apologize for not being able to provide much hospitality. Wilhelm, could you see everyone out?"

Prompted by Rem, Emilia brought the meeting to a close, and the smiling Crusch spoke to Wilhelm beside her. Wilhelm bowed and accepted, and as Subaru and the others prepared to leave, Crusch also stood up to see them off. And—

"Thank you very much for today. I was happy to see you."

"————"

Apologizing for the discourtesy of seeing them off from where she stood, Crusch bid Subaru and the others farewell. For a moment, Subaru hesitated to say something—

"—Subaru-dono, I shall see you out."

As if sensing that, he was interrupted by Wilhelm.

"I apologize for my rudeness earlier."

On the way to the entrance of the mansion after leaving the drawing room, Wilhelm, who was leading the way, spoke up. At those words, Subaru, who was holding hands with Beatrice, widened his eyes, thinking "I knew it."

" I noticed you stopped me at the end. ...But, I didn't even know what I was going to say there myself."

"Even so, I overstepped my bounds by interrupting a guest’s words. It was out of concern for Crusch-sama, but I apologize for my discourtesy."

"...Wilhelm-san, you noticed too, didn't you? Crusch-san’s... condition."

"Of course, she is far from her best, and will need rest for a while longer. However, even if her body and heart recover..."

Casting his eyes down, Wilhelm did not say what came next. However, Subaru could roughly guess what he hadn't said. No one had explicitly said it there. But because Crusch herself felt it more than anyone, such poignant emotions had spilled out. Besides—

"Ferris must be frustrated too. He probably wants to support Crusch-san the most right now, but his body won't listen."

Emilia also spoke worriedly, looking back toward the drawing room they had just left. At Emilia’s words, Wilhelm’s throat made a faint sound as he walked ahead. Then, without stopping his pace, he spoke in a solemn voice, "Emilia-sama."

"Earlier, I told you a lie."

"Eh? A lie?"

"Yes. —Regarding Ferris."

At the words and name, Subaru and the others all looked at each other. A lie regarding Ferris, Wilhelm had said. In his explanation, Ferris was unwell and resting, but—

"No, that’s weird. In the first place, wasn't Ferris someone who didn't get sick?"

"No matter how you look at it... um, he’s not Reinhard-san, after all."

"Of course, Reinhard is off the charts, but Ferris is also one of those who is off the charts in that sense."

Setting aside Reinhard, the "World’s Most Surprising Human" who could fly while carrying a dragon carriage, Ferris was a healer—and the holder of the title of "Blue," said to be the strongest in the Kingdom. Subaru had once witnessed Ferris calmly returning from a scene where a dragon carriage had been blown to bits after being caught in a Witch Cultist’s suicide attack. Ferris was what you’d call a "super healer," familiar from manga and anime. Of course, he had run out of mana and had been focusing all his efforts on Crusch, so it couldn't be said for certain that what happened then still applied now.

"As Subaru-dono noticed, Ferris is not bedridden. Right now, he is not in this mansion."

"Not in the mansion? That means..."

"—To the Royal Cemetery, if you would."

Without answering the unexpectedly surfaced question, Wilhelm briefly stated the name of the place and guided Subaru and the others to the mansion’s entrance. The Royal Cemetery—just hearing the name, the purpose seemed obvious. However, Wilhelm’s true intention in telling Subaru and the others about that place was—

"No matter how much shame I pile upon myself, I am currently in the service of Crusch-sama. I cannot act against my master’s wishes. —Please, lend him your ears."

Bowing deeply, Wilhelm saw Subaru and the others off. The color of distress etched into that wrinkled face felt like a prayer—a problem that even the "Sword Demon" could not solve with his sword, yet one he wished to see resolved even at the cost of his own anguish.

△▼△▼△▼△

—The Royal Cemetery was located at the very back of the noble district of the Royal Capital, Lugnica.

As the sound and the characters suggested, the place was a cemetery—a resting place for those whose souls were prayed for, with numerous gravestones lined up to mourn the dead.

"There was the White Whale subjugation, right? I heard the graves of the people who participated in that battle and lost their lives are also here."

"I see. I’ve been too heartless for never having come here. I didn't bring flowers today, so I’ll have to prepare properly next time."

"You’re right. We have to say 'thank you' and 'good job' to many people."

Passing through the black iron main gate, which didn't have a single speck of rust, what spread out before them was a stone-paved approach laid out in a geometric pattern, and rows of grave markers formed to surround it from both sides—not a single one of the gravestones standing there could be called a simple monument. Some were crowned with statues of knights boasting of their deeds in life, and some were built like small temples with exquisite carvings telling the history of a clan. Banners engraved with family crests swayed in the wind, and colorful bouquets offered by mourners gave the only touch of life to the world of gray stone.

"As expected, nobles are show-offs even with their gravestones. ...Excluding the flashiness, it’s close to the impression of cemeteries I’ve seen in Western movies or TV shows, I guess."

Well-maintained lawns and stone-paved approaches spread out around a gentle hill. It was a space where cool, lonely winds blew, without the Japanese-style gravestones, wooden grave tablets, or buildings like shrines and temples that were familiar to Subaru.

"Come to think of it, I haven't really thought about it... are people who die here cremated? Or buried?"

"Basically, it’s cremation, I suppose. When a living being loses its life, the soul... the Od, leaves the body. A body that has lost its Od will only let its form crumble away, and it is unbearable to look at, in fact. That is why, before that happens, we show that the body, like the Od, has finished its role, I suppose."

"I see, so it’s not for disease prevention, but because of the way existence works."

Thanks to Beatrice, who answered his question immediately, the mechanism made sense. No wonder the many zombies that were resurrected during the "Great Disaster" in Vollachia weren't in incomplete states like having rotten bodies or missing limbs. In those cases, the bodies were formed from clumps of earth based on the shape of the souls used for resurrection. That was why those zombies had been resurrected into this world in their forms from when they were alive.

"In that case, the destination of the soul... the Cradle of Od Lagna or whatever it was, was a pretty precious place. Like the Sanzu River or the end of time."

"Don't go saying such scary things all of a sudden, I suppose. The Cradle of Od Lagna is not something to be spoken of even as a joke, in fact. It is rumored that if you accidentally make eye contact with it, your sanity will be stolen, I suppose."

"No, it’s not a joke, really... but, that was just something Louis said on her own, so I wonder how much credibility it has?"

Warned by the frowning Beatrice, Subaru recalled that pure white space where he had spent what could be called a dense time, for better or worse. Louis Arneb, who acted like the gatekeeper of that place, had called it the "Corridor of Memories," and while it had such aspects, it was unclear what that place specifically was. Now that Louis’s consciousness had vanished somewhere and she had been reborn as Spica, there was no way to be sure.

"If I had to say, I could find another of Reid’s books and look inside, prepared for a terrible time, but..."

"—Um, I know you’re in the middle of a conversation, but is it okay if I speak too?"

"Eh?"

"We came here to look for someone, didn't we? It was Ferris-san, right?"

Having her sleeve tugged, Rem asked Subaru as he turned around. Rem, who had a look of deep questioning in her eyes, naturally didn't know Ferris’s personality. Being brought to a cemetery like this, she must have felt out of place.

"Ah, my bad, my bad! Uh, the person we’re looking for now has cat ears and a 'kyarun' kind of feel. He has a tail too, and he’s quite cute, so I think you’ll know him when you see him."

"...I’d like a little more helpful information."

"No, I think I gave quite a few hints... ah, even though I said cute, it’s not a Beako-style cute, but a Petra or Meili-style cute. He’s about as tall as me."

"I see, there is a difference in cuteness then."

Rem, who had been holding up the Beatrice she had picked up and was staring intently at her face, nodded as if convinced by Subaru’s explanation. Beatrice herself had a look of deep doubt at that conviction, but the fact that she was unaware of the fine details of her own cuteness could be called a charm point. In fact, cuteness came in all shapes and sizes—cute-leaning beauties, beauty-leaning cuties, and so on. However, even after sharing Ferris’s characteristics like that—

"I wonder what Wilhelm-san’s attitude was about. I’m worried."

"—The fact that he knew where he was, and yet wanted us to go talk to him, too."

"Mm, you’re right. I’m happy when people consult us or rely on us, but I felt like neither Crusch-san nor Wilhelm-san showed us that side of themselves very much."

Subaru could also nod at Emilia’s feeling. What he understood was that some kind of problem had occurred in the Crusch camp, and Wilhelm was unable to move on his own to solve it. Subaru could, of course, think of something that might have triggered that problem. But even if that existed, the bond of the Crusch camp was strong. They were the two who had been bound by the longest and firmest bond, more so than any of the other Royal Selection candidates. The depth of that feeling had not vanished even if Crusch’s "memories" were lost—at least, that was what Subaru had felt and believed. However—

"————"

Staring down at his own right hand, Subaru glared at its lifeline. What crossed his mind was when he had rudely grasped Crusch’s hand and she had looked back at it. She had looked at Subaru’s hand, and upon learning that it had been freed from that black pattern, and hearing that it was not through the power of the "Holy Dragon Church’s" miracle—

『—It’s unfair.』

She had said that in a voice so faint it seemed it might vanish.

"It wasn't a mistake, was it..."

He sincerely hoped it was, but Subaru didn't possess such convenient ears or self-consciousness. That was unmistakably a dark, honest thought that had leaked from Crusch’s lips. To be honest, it was a shock. But if he wished to not even allow Crusch to say such a thing, that would be pure arrogance. More than anything, Subaru understood painfully well the reason why Crusch would blurt that out.

"...I can't possibly talk to Crusch-san about that."

Crusch, who was the party involved in the turmoil and whose body had just recovered, now carried the possibility of suffering countless wounds to her heart. Could he really ask Ferris, her knight, about what he couldn't ask her directly? That wasn't a certain thing either. But he knew that if he just went back to his companions like this, he would only continue to carry an endless, answerless agony.

"Hmm, I don't see Ferris anywhere."

While thinking like that, Subaru and the others had realized they had made a full circuit of the cemetery. It was by no means a small area, but since it was a cemetery located in the noble district, many of the dead resting here were seen as those who had carried the heavy responsibilities of the Kingdom, and their treatment after death was more than appropriately respectful. The further back into the cemetery they went, the larger and more careful the scale and treatment of each grave marker became, making it easier to distinguish the faces of the few mourners. It was hard to believe they had overlooked Ferris. If only they knew who he had come to the cemetery for, it would be a different story.

"I’ve looked around, but I don't see the woman with the characteristics you described."

"Strictly speaking, he’s not a girl... no, but it doesn't matter for his appearance, so that’s fine."

"—? The only other place that stands out would be that building, I suppose."

While looking suspiciously at Subaru, who had omitted a detailed explanation, Rem pointed to a white building sitting on the central hill, with the gravestones lined up neatly in the vast grounds behind it—a mausoleum. Wrapped in a solemn and sacred atmosphere, the way it commanded the surrounding gravestones as if they were subjects who had sworn loyalty to their master was proof that it was a resting place for the chosen. Since this was the Royal Cemetery, and if that was the resting place for the dead who were treated specially within it—

"—It looks like a mausoleum where members of the Royal Family are resting."

"Then, the people of the Royal Family who passed away are inside there..."

The Royal Family, who were the trigger for the start of the Royal Selection, and who had carried the great role of succeeding the venerable lineage of the long-lasting Kingdom of Lugnica until the present day, only to meet an abrupt end. In front of the mausoleum where such people were buried, Subaru finally understood. —The solemn atmosphere drifting in this place; in a sense, this was a miniature of the Royal Capital. If the Royal Castle was a symbol of authority for the living, the mausoleum was the same for the dead—

"...As expected, we can't just casually visit the graves of Kings, can we?"

"Normally, a Royal mausoleum would be under heavy guard, I suppose. There are many who would try to do something bad with the ashes of those with power, in fact. It is lamentable, I suppose."

"But, we could at least ask who is inside... ah, just at the right time."

Although the mausoleum was the only place they hadn't checked, it wasn't a place they could easily enter. The possibility of Ferris being there was also that much lower, but since they had been entrusted by Wilhelm, they didn't want to go back with a half-finished job. Just as he was thinking that, Emilia pointed sharply at the entrance of the mausoleum. Then, just as she said, a figure was coming out of the mausoleum.

It was a person dressed in a slender, navy-blue swallow-tailed coat. From the beauty of their movements as they turned their back, one could strongly feel their respect and care for the mausoleum. Since they were coming in and out of the Royal mausoleum, Subaru wondered if they were the manager of the cemetery or mausoleum, or something similar, as he followed behind Emilia, who had started running.

"Um, excuse me? About the building you just came out of, I wanted to ask if a child we’re looking for was inside."

Emilia, who had run up, spoke to the person without hesitation. Her boldness might have invited the other person’s wariness, but there were guards at the entrance of the cemetery, and since their identities had been verified when passing through the main gate, it was assumed there were no suspicious persons in the grounds. Subaru hoped that their intention would be conveyed to the other person—

"—Emilia-sama?"

The person in the swallow-tailed coat turned around and stared at Emilia, speaking in a voice mixed with surprise. Looking at the person from the front, Emilia stopped in her tracks with a gasp. And Subaru and the others also witnessed that person past the stopped Emilia. Standing there was—

"...Geez, you saw me at a weird time, nyan. It was Wilhelm-oji, wasn't it?"

Ferris spoke with a faint smile that was neither exasperation nor self-deprecation—his slender frame clearly wrapped in a man’s swallow-tailed coat, he shrugged at Subaru and the others.

"————"

Subaru was speechless at the sight of Ferris with his back to the mausoleum entrance. Even before now, there had certainly been times when Ferris had dressed like this—specifically, when he wore the uniform of a Royal Knight and dressed as a man. However, that had the justification of being the official uniform of the knight order, and even that had been infused with his own characteristic way of showing himself off.

But on the person in the swallow-tailed coat before them, there was no such ingenuity or artifice. What that meant was—

"...Ferris, what happened?"

"Don't make such a face and voice like it’s the end of the world. It’s nothing much to you guys. It’s just—"

With that faint smile and lowered eyebrows, Ferris started to tilt his head—and stopped. It almost looked as if he were signaling a break from such gestures. Without betraying that impression, Ferris continued. That was—

"—It’s just that I’ve been dismissed as Crusch-sama’s knight. So, Ferri-chan is finished, and I’ve gone back to being Felix Argyle."