"You all should stay inside; I'll take care of this." Subaru declared before disappearing through the broken wall to confront Elsa once more.
Satella could only stare in disbelief at what she had just seen. She was utterly astonished by Subaru's display of prowess. The Bowl Hunter was notorious as an assassin and mass murderer in Gusteko, so witnessing him not only stand up to her but do so with such ease was beyond her comprehension.
Her mind started to replay all what they had been through since she met him.
Subaru was undoubtedly the strangest person she had ever encountered, which was saying something given her sponsor's appearance.
His clothing was among the strangest she had ever laid eyes on; even nobles didn't wear such attire, and the quality was unlike anything she had seen before, despite his insistence that he was no noble.
Then there was his surprising ignorance; he was in the capital city of Lugunica and didn't even know it. He mentioned coming from a place called "Japan," a name she had never heard before, whether it was a village or a city.
His sharp wit was also impressive, like when he correctly deduced the identity of the girl's father based on her looks and quickly came up with a plan to bribe someone for the information they needed.
And now, here he was, battling the Bowl Hunter and wielding magic she had never encountered before.
She had initially saved him in the alley, assuming he was about to be mugged, but in hindsight, he hadn't seemed worried at all; in fact, he was approaching them with a smile.
The most outrageous part, however, was how he treated her. Despite her unfortunate resemblance to the feared monster that had destroyed half of the world four hundred years ago, he was kind to her, joking and teasing her. The only other person who had ever treated her that way was Puck.
Back then, deep down, she felt a strong urge to trust him and accept his offer, yet she quickly betrayed that trust when he asked for her name. She lied, deceived him, gave him the name of the witch, but that didn't seem to faze him.
And now he had just saved her life; she had been blissfully unaware about that knife throw that could have killed her, and he was now fighting Elsa to protect her as well as the other two—most definitely the other two.
Satella was torn between feelings of gratitude for his unexpected help and a deep sense of shame and guilt for having doubted and deceived him.
Even though she couldn't assist him today, she promised herself that she would make it up to him in the future.
"...Woah." Satella looked to the side, it was Felt who said that. She was completely still, her eyes wide with shock, a look of disbelief frozen on her face. After witnessing the one-sided nature of the battle, that was all she could manage to say.
"Lady, just how powerful is your friend?" That was a question Satella was eager to find the answer to herself.
"Felt," the towering figure of Old Man Rom began, "when you mentioned getting a commission, did you know the client was the Bowl Hunter?"
"What? No way! I would never work for that bitch! Did you see how she wanted to kill us?" Felt exclaimed, her indignation clear.
"And what was the payment? Did it seem, I don't know, 'too good to be true'? Just like I warned you?" Felt looked down, nervously fidgeting with her thumb.
"Err–right. The payment was ten dragon coins. I accepted it without thinking or even consulting you. I'm really sorry," she mumbled.
Rom sighed and gently placed his hand on her head, almost engulfing it in a comforting gesture, much to her annoyance. "It's alright, just learn from this mistake. Don't let it happen again, okay?" he said, and she nodded quietly.
"Now, young lady," he turned his attention to the half-elf. "Do you think your friend can take her down, or should we make a run for it?"
"I… I'm not sure," she replied. He had been gone for a while; should she go out there to help him?
Just as that thought crossed her mind, a brilliant red light burst from outside, flooding the area in crimson. Satella, Felt, and Rom all shut their eyes against the brightness, and soon it faded.
She didn't know what that was, but she felt certain it answered her question; he didn't need her assistance.
Moments later, the man himself stepped through the shattered wall, a broad smile on his face. He appeared completely unscathed as he casually walked in.
"Yo, sorry for the delay. I had to deal with that pesky cockroach," he said with a nonchalant tone, as if discussing something trivial.
He then looked at the walls and sheepishly scratched his head. "Sorry about the wall by the way… And no, I'm not gonna pay for it."
"…" Satella didn't know how to respond to that. Luckily Felt was there to save the day.
"A cockroach?! You call the Gut Hunter, the deadly assassin that hunts people for their bowls, a cockroach?! And are you sure you delt with her? What if she comes back? Then what?!" she shrieked at him.
Suabru waved his hand to calm her. "Okay, okay, I get it, you're really loud. Look, I've dealt with her, so she shouldn't be a problem anymore, alright?"
Rom let out a sigh and gently patted the girl's head, even as she tried to shake him off. "We trust you, kid. And don't stress about the wall; I'll handle it myself. That troublemaker was the one who started it all, anyway."
"Ah, great! I didn't have the cash to fix it anyway," he replied. "Now that that's settled, can we get her insignia back?"
Felt finally broke free from the giant's hold. "Alright, you can have it back. That thing caused us a lot of trouble, anyways." She rummaged through her pouch for the insignia.
"I'm sorry for taking it and causing so much trouble. You seem like a really nice girl," she said, and Satella returned her smile.
"It's fine, I can see you were just trying to escape this place. I wouldn't want to stay here either," she replied, smiling back.
Just as Felt was about to hand over the insignia, a voice interrupted them.
"Excuse me for intruding, but is everything okay?"
---------------------------------
Strolling through the capital's streets was a striking figure who easily captures the eye—a man clad in a pristine white uniform, his fiery red hair short and vibrant, and his piercing blue eyes sparkling with intensity. At his side hung a sword that exuded an air of intimidation.
This was none other than Reinhard Van Astrea, widely recognized as the Sword Saint.
Renowned as one of the greatest fighters in the world, he bore the weight of immense responsibilities and duties each day, leaving him perpetually occupied.
However, today seemed to be a stroke of luck, as he had secured a day off—a rare occurrence. Yet, on such days, he often found himself at a loss for what to do.
With a constant stream of obligations and those in need of his assistance, after all, it was all he could do to atone for his sins of being a monster.
So, he decided to take a leisurely stroll through the capital, immersing himself in the beautiful scenery and greeting any enthusiastic children who approached him.
As the day wore on and the sun dipped below the horizon, Reinhard prepared to head home and get ready for the next day. Just then, he sensed something unusual.
A surge of energy, unlike anything he had felt before, radiated from his left. He turned to see a brilliant red flash lighting up the night sky, originating from the slums.
His instincts as a knight kicked in; such a flash could only signal trouble, and innocent lives might be at risk.
With a powerful leap, he soared into the night, the wind rushing past him until he landed at the scene.
The devastation was evident—trees were uprooted, dirt was strewn about, and any structure in the vicinity lay in ruins.
Fortunately, there were no casualties, so there was no need for a rescue; His divine protection of life sensing told him so.
He scanned the area and noticed a gaping hole in the wall of what appeared to be a tavern. Without hesitation, he entered and found four individuals inside: a small girl with blonde hair and striking red eyes, hauntingly reminiscent of the fallen royal family; a towering figure wielding a club; a silver-haired half-elf he recognized as Emilia; and a peculiar man dressed in an even stranger outfit.
"Excuse me for intruding, but is everything okay?"
---------------------------------
Subaru's gaze snapped to the newcomer, his surprise mingling with a sense of alarm. 'Where the fuck did he come from? I didn't sense anyone nearby!'
As everyone else reacted to his sudden appearance, Subaru used his Six Eyes to get a better look.
What he saw nearly took his breath away.
"Ahh, Reinhard!" Satella squeaked, clearly recognizing the man. "It's nothing! Just a little misunderstanding, that's all!"
"I apologize if my words offend, but that's hardly a minor misunderstanding, Emilia-sama," Reinhardt replied, surveying the room and completely overlooking Satella's frantic gestures to not say her name.
"Right, about that," Subaru interjected, trying to regain control of the conversation. "Emilia lost her insignia earlier today. We tracked it down here but ran into the bowl hunter. I've already dealt with her."
Emilia visibly flinched at the mention of her real name.
"The bowl hunter, I see… I nearly failed again." he muttered to himself. Well, um…"
"Subaru."
"Ah yes, Subaru-san. I am grateful, as is this kingdom, for your handling of such a notorious criminal while safeguarding the lives of those here." He bowed slightly, but Subaru waved it off.
"It's nothing, really. No need for all that thanks. She was just a weirdo. I was only doing my job."
"I understand… and may I assume those are the thieves, Emilia-sama?" He glanced at the giant and the girl, who both tensed up.
Emilia perked up at the inquiry. "Um—yes, they are… they're not in any trouble, are they?" she asked anxiously.
"Stealing an insignia is usually a serious offense… but I'm off duty today, so I'll let it slide." The tension visibly eased between the two.
Felt especially seemed to relax the most, her shoulders dropping and posture slumping. "Wow, how the hell did a usual commission turn into this? Here, big sis, take this. I don't want it anymore."
Just as she was about to pass it over, it glimmered, catching the attention of Reinhard and Subaru. Reinhard quickly seized her wrists.
"Ow! What the heck?! Let go, you're hurting me!" she yelled, struggling to escape but it was no use. Rom was instantly on high alert.
"This can't be happening," Reinhard murmured, fixing his gaze on the girl. "What's your name?" He looked at her intently.
"It's felt!"
"And your last name? How old are you?"
"I've never had one, and I'm about fifteen—hey, let me go!"
"You should listen to her, Astrea." The giant warned, raising his club threateningly.
"I'm afraid I can't overlook this." Reinhard raised his hand to her face and knocked her out, triggering Rom into a charge.
"You bastard—" Before Rom could react, Reinhard did the same to him, rendering him unconscious. He then hoisted both the girl and the giant over his shoulder, creating a rather amusing sight due to their size difference.
"What's going on, reinhard? Are they in trouble? If it's about the insignia then I forgive them for it" Emilia said, a frown on her face.
"While it's not a minor offense, it pales in comparison to what I need to investigate. I'm sorry, but I can't share any details; it must stay confidential. You'll hear from me soon." Just as Reinhard was about to leap away, Subaru called out to him.
"Wait! Before you go, can I get your name?" Subaru asked. Reinhard blinked, realizing he hadn't introduced himself.
"Oh, right. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Reinhard Van Astrea, known as the Sword Saint." He said, bowing gracefully with the two still in tow.
"Sword Saint? I've never heard that before." Reinhard stood in disbelief. It was hard to fathom that someone didn't know what a Sword Saint was, and his divine protection confirmed Subaru's honesty.
"Anyway, you seem like a great guy, so let's be friends, okay?" Subaru grinned.
Reinhard was in disbelief; the idea that someone would want to be friends with a monster like him seemed impossible. His only companions were two knights, and that was mainly due to their professional ties. So, the thought of a random person wanting to befriend him without any strings attached was astonishing.
"Of course, it would be an honor to be your friend, Subaru-san," he replied, beaming with joy.
"I'd love to chat more, but duty comes first. Let's meet again soon," he added before vanishing through the opening.
Once he was certain Reinhard was gone, Subaru exhaled a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
This Reinhard was incredibly powerful, even more so than Subaru himself.
When he first arrived, he was taken aback because he hadn't sensed anyone. Attempting to use his Six Eyes to get a better look, he quickly turned it off, overwhelmed by the sight.
The mana radiating from Reinhard was so dense and bright that it felt like staring directly at the sun. His Od was filled with so many Divine Blessings that Subaru could hardly keep track.
'Reinhard Van Astrea… If we were to fight, he would've beaten me in an instant,' he thought.
Yet, he didn't feel worried or disheartened; quite the opposite.
This indicated that there were individuals who surpassed him in strength, and that he wasn't always the exceptional one like he was back home.
It also meant he could finally live a normal life, just as he had always desired.
"Did you really just ask him to be your friend?" Emilia interrupted his thoughts with a curious look.
"Yeah. Dude seems pretty lonely, and I think he could use a friend. I wouldn't mind being that friend," Subaru replied. Out of everyone, he felt he could relate to Reinhard. Being the strongest often came with a sense of loneliness, and Reinhard's reaction clearly showed that.
"Anyway, now that you have your insignia, let's get out of this place. I'm tired of being here," he said, stepping out of the loot house while Emilia followed him at a slower pace.
As they walked away from the slums, Emilia remained quiet, unsure of what to say. When they finally left it and reached the city proper, she gathered her thoughts and spoke up.
"Subaru, there's something I need to tell you," she began, her voice shaky.
"Hmm? What's on your mind?" He paused and turned to face her.
"Um… I-uhh," she stumbled over her words before finally finding the courage to continue. "I'm sorry."
"You're sorry? For what?" he asked, intrigued.
"For lying to you about my name. I told you it was Satella when it wasn't, and I'm reeeeeeally sorry for that," she admitted, her gaze dropping in shame.
Would he forgive her, or would he scold her for not being honest? Even though she was used to such reactions, the thought of it coming from him hurt her deeply.
An awkward silence hung in the air until suddenly, a chuckle broke through.
She looked up to see Subaru laughing, but it wasn't the mocking kind she had feared; it felt more like a light-hearted response.
"That's it? Emilia, you had me thinking you were some kind of monster that eats babies with that tone," he teased.
"W-what? I don't eat babies!" she exclaimed, her lips forming a pout. Why did he always have to tease her? This guy…
"Chill out, Emilia, it's just a bit of fun. And honestly, I figured you were lying long ago." He said, watching her eyes widen in disbelief.
"Y-you knew?! Since when?"
"Right from the beginning. You hesitated when you introduced yourself, and your body language was all off. In my experience, people act like that only when they're really bad at lying, like you, Emilia."
Emilia was once again taken aback by his keen observation; it was impressive how he picked up on her cues. But she wasn't fond of that last comment.
"I'm not a bad liar! I can lie if I want to… I just haven't had much practice because Puck said only bad girls do that, and I'm not bad!" She pouted even more.
"Of course, I believe you. So, is that everything, or is there something else you want to share? I'm all ears."
She nodded slowly, gathering her thoughts for her next question. "Why did you help me?"
"Hmm?"
"You knew I was lying, that I deceived you, so why did you still help me? You could have just walked away and forgotten about me." She locked eyes with him. "So why, Subaru? Why did you help me?"
Subaru took a moment, as if considering his response carefully. "Because you're a good person, Emilia."
"You didn't know that! I was just a stranger to you!" she shouted.
"True, but when you saw me getting mugged, you could have easily ignored me and moved on, yet you chose to stay and help me, a complete stranger, from being robbed."
"But you could have handled them. They were nothing compared to Elsa," her voice trailed off, her gaze dropping to the ground.
"I could have, but back then, you didn't know that. I was just a man on the verge of being robbed, and you couldn't allow that to happen, even while facing your own issue."
"…"
"And then there was Plum, when you could've easily ignored her like the rest, you chose to waste precious time helping her find her parents."
"…"
"And Felt, you forgave her when you had every right to have her punished. The law would have supported you, but you didn't want to go down that path."
He stepped closer and gently lifted her chin, their eyes meeting through his shades. "You might doubt yourself and think you deserve to be judged for your appearance, but that doesn't matter to me." He gestured toward her heart.
"Because you have a heart of gold, Emilia, and I would be glad to have someone like you as a friend. Just like Reinhard"
'He wants to be… my friend?'
That word felt strange to her, something she had never truly known or experienced.
But hearing him express his desire to befriend her, a silver-haired half-elf, made her jump in happiness.
She beamed.
A soft, sincere smile.
"If that's what you wish… I wouldn't mind having you as a friend, Subaru."
Subaru returned her smile, captivated by her beauty. The way her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, casting a gentle glow, and the joy radiating from her smile, along with the sparkle in her amethyst eyes.
His heart raced at the sight.
"To celebrate our friendship, how about we reintroduce ourselves? I'll start."
He pointed to himself, still grinning. "Name's Natsuki Subaru! Just an average guy trying to live an ordinary life. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The name "Natsuki" was his mother's maiden name, so to honor her, he decided to choose it.
But it also held two meanings: a declaration and a promise.
A declaration of his detachment from the Gojo clan, no longer being Subaru Gojo, "The pride of the Gojo clan."
And a promise to live his life freely, without any chains or expectations.
Emilia couldn't help but giggle. Hearing Subaru refer to himself as an average guy was as absurd as saying the sky is green; it just didn't add up.
"You're a funny guy, Subaru."
"A funny guy, Eh? So I'm not a 'weird person' anymore?" She nodded, and he let out an enthusiastic, "Yes!"
"My name is Emilia, just Emilia. No last name," she replied.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you… Just Emilia." She gave him a playful pout, and he chuckled, prompting her to laugh along.
After a moment, they both fell silent, relishing the comfortable atmosphere that surrounded them.
Subaru finally decided to speak up. "Hey Emilia, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Do you have a couch I could crash on for the night?"
"I do, but why would you want to crash on a couch? That sounds strange to me. Is it a hobby?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
Subaru simply facepalmed.