[User] "Julius?” As he was fast-talking his explanation, Julius’s lack of response felt suspicious. He called out to Julius, and after a few times, he heard Julius catch his breath.

[Assistant] “Ah, yes, I’m okay. I’m listening as well… I see, so, Lady Emilia…”

[User] “That’s awkwardly not quite the current topic, but…yeah. There’s her example, so it isn’t an entirely hopeless examination, either. So don’t get too worked up about it, okay?”

[Assistant] “Worked up? …If Lady Emilia was able to overcome the examination, then he…then Sword Saint Reid is not an insurmountable obstacle. Just knowing that is already an excellent result.”

[User] “Y-yeah. Right… As long as you understand that.” To his surprise, Julius had taken Emilia’s success better than he had expected, leaving him feeling a bit let down after having been so concerned about how to explain it. —No, it’s better this way. He just found out that someone else had cleared the hurdle that had tripped him up. I didn’t need to worry about that hurting Julius’s feelings. I guess I was just expecting his immature side to be bigger than it was. Or maybe the knight Julius Juukulius can’t really be measured on the same scale as me. Julius let out a long breath. And then he continued in an untroubled tone.

[Assistant] “Well then, do you think you can let me down now? If I let you keep carrying me, I might get motion sickness. Unlike a land dragon, you don’t seem to have a wind-repelling blessing.”

[User] “Just deal with the swaying and wind and be grateful for the ride. I won’t deny it’s tiring, but I’m not heartless enough to make an injured person walk it off. Emilia wouldn’t let me hear the end of it.” Shaking his head, Subaru swayed his body, readjusting to support Julius. Julius had been beaten up badly by Sword Saint Reid twice in one day. He had challenged Reid again despite not fully healing after the first loss, so his body should have been near its physical limits. Even if Reid’s attacks had been intended just to break Julius’s spirit and not his body. So Subaru steeled himself to finish carrying Julius the last half of the stairs, around two hundred more steps. But…

[Assistant] “—No, I can’t cause you that much trouble. It would be one thing if I was still unconscious, but fortunately, I’ve woken up. I can at least descend the stairs myself.”

[User] “Don’t be stubborn. Besides, not much point acting tough now. If your embarrassed to be seen being carried, then it’s too late. Everyone with us already saw… Shaula and Anastasia who were out, too, are the only ones who haven’t seen it.”

[Assistant] “Then that’s enough reason. I can’t allow the two of them…particularly not Lady Anastasia…to see me like this. Please let me down.”

[User] “I can tell you’re pushing yourself. Besides—”

[Assistant] “I said please let me down!” The outburst came without warning.

[User] “Whoa? !” Right after that, Subaru’s shoulder slammed into the wall.


[User] Julius had forcibly twisted himself. Subaru had turned himself toward the wall, but if he had not been fast enough, he might have gone tumbling down the stairs. But because he had to focus on protecting himself—

[Assistant] “—Ngh.”

[User] "You…dumbass! What the hell are you thinking? !" Leaning against the wall, Subaru turned back and saw Julius lying on the stairs a little bit lower down. He had slipped from Subaru’s back and slid down several stairs.

[Assistant] “I told you so! Oy! Just stay there, stupid. I’ll—”

[User] “You don’t have to come!”

[User] “…I can stand…on my own. I don’t need…to borrow a shoulder.” His elbows resting on the floor, Julius still held out a hand to stop Subaru. Then he took a deep breath and his face tensed as he somehow managed to force his body up. And leaning against the wall, he slowly, ever so slowly pushed his hips up, stretching his legs, clinging to the wall as he stood. “As I said. Standing on my own two feet is of no special achievement.”

[Assistant] Something about his downcast tone silenced Subaru for a moment. Julius turned his body around, and leaning his right shoulder and upper body against the wall, he sluggishly, at a baby’s crawling pace, started to make his way down the stairs. One step. Another step. Carefully…

[User] “It seems it will take a while, but there is no need to trouble you. More importantly, I’m sure the ladies downstairs are concerned. I find it hard to believe that you were the only one who was looking for me.” One step. Another step. “If possible, could you please let them know what happened? Of course, a proper apology and full explanation should come from me. Just let them know that you found me so that they are not worried.” Slowly, slowly. One step at a time. “…I admit I am reluctant to make this explanation myself, but it is unavoidable. If you could at least prepare the rough path ahead a little bit, I’d be greatly indebted to you. That said, I understand if my compounding debt means little to you at this point.” Julius continued speaking as he slowly proceeded to descend the steps by himself, not looking back at Subaru. Even at his snail’s pace, he was opening a clear gap with Subaru, who had stopped moving. It was a distance Subaru could easily cover if he was of a mind to. In order to answer Julius’s request, he would have to catch up and pass him. So Subaru’s legs started moving.

[Assistant] “I just have to talk to them a bit first is all.”

[User] “…Yes, that’s right. If Lady Anastasia has awakened… No, that’s enough already. Anyway, that is my request.”

[Assistant] Subaru started moving, and it would be easy to pass Julius.


[User] Julius breathed what almost seemed a sigh of relief as Subaru’s shoe rang out on the stairs. As if urging Subaru to go on ahead. …No, not urging, pleading…

[Assistant] Subaru believed that he understood at least to some degree what Julius was thinking. The reason he understood was the same reason he had immediately known that Julius had gone to challenge Reid again even though Emilia and the others hadn’t… Because it resembled something Subaru had felt before himself.

[User] “…Argh! Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it! Dumbass! You and me both!” Cursing in irritation, Subaru dashed down the stairs toward Julius. Not to pass him. Grabbing Julius’s left arm as he clung to the wall and stumbled awkwardly, Subaru forcefully wedged himself under his shoulder.

[Assistant] “Wha…? Subaru, what are you…?”

[User] “Shut up! What are you talking about, you can stand on your own?! I can see how hunched over you are! There’s no way I can just rush off and leave someone like that behind! Forget Emilia scolding me, I wouldn’t forgive myself if I did that!”

[Assistant] “But I—”

[User] “I wouldn’t want to lend a hand if I didn’t have to, either. Both my hands are pretty full of things as it is. If it really bothers you, then don’t look so pathetic anymore!” Subaru’s spittle-flecked shout silenced Julius.

[Assistant] Losing the strength that he had used to shake Subaru off, Julius hesitated to resist, and seeing that, Subaru started walking while forcibly lending him a shoulder to lean on.

[User] “I won’t say I know everything in your heart.”

[Assistant] “But, right now, right here, there is no reason for me to make you walk these stairs, this long, long stairway, all by yourself. I can lend you a shoulder. It’s not even a favor.”

[User] Talking about debts and favors is stupid. If we started counting those, then how much would I owe Julius by now? And I’d have to start counting from all the way back at the training ground in the castle. —I understand why you faced Reid even knowing you couldn’t win. That time…Subaru had been the same. At the time, Subaru had known he could not win, but he had still challenged Julius. Even after getting knocked down countless times, even after getting pummeled, he had kept standing back up and challenging him. Because there had not been any other way for him to vent the fury that had welled up in his breast. And at that time, when it was all over, after his argument with Emilia ended things, and he had been alone, it had been painful. He had wanted to cry.

[Assistant] …So how could I leave him to take these stairs all by himself? There was a heat in the pit of his stomach, just like then. But unlike then, he didn’t know where he should vent that fury.


[User] “…Subaru.”

[Assistant] "What?"

[User] “…I’m sorry.”

[Assistant] "Shut up." He answered, hoping that it did not sound like he was taking it out on Julius. The two of them slowly descended to the fourth floor together like that.


[User] "Stay here and rest until your wounds are properly healed, Julius! No buts!" Emilia shouted adamantly as she hurried the battered and bruised knight into the green room.

[Assistant] Following the initial relief at seeing Subaru and Julius after they finished the climb down to the fourth floor, that was Emilia’s immediate reaction. Being able to shift gears quickly is a virtue, and I appreciate the way she did it without allowing any back talk. If she doesn’t ask why, we don’t have to try to explain it, either. She must’ve had lots of things she wanted to ask Julius, too…

[User] "I’m sure you already said what needed to be said, so for now, he just needs to rest, and everything else can wait. Right?" Subaru shrugged as Julius sat down on the bed of plants.

[Assistant] "See?" Emilia, with her hands on her hips and an imperious look on her face, was still cute.

[User] "Of course. I have already caused you and Subaru far too much trouble. I will not behave so shamelessly as to go against request. I shall obey."

[Assistant] "So many words when a simple ‘I got it’ would—”

[User] "Right! Then that’s settled. You’re the one who is hurt and needs to rest and recover! Don’t worry about troubling us. That’s what it means to be comrades."

[Assistant] "Patlash, watch Julius, please. If something happens, whinny loudly to call us." Brushing aside Julius’s roundabout apology, Emilia turned to Patlash, who was also in the green room, recovering from her wounds.

[User] "I am ashamed that you would feel the need to go so far, Lady Emilia. I shall simply hang my head in shame here as I was told."

[Assistant] "Once you lose trust, it’s hard to get it back. On that point, there’s no one who can beat Patlash, who is always at the top of the class when it comes to trust. If he tries anything, bite him without holding back."

[User] Patlash whinnied, gladly accepting the request.

[Assistant] The most understanding woman in Emilia’s camp looked to be feeling responsible for letting Julius go alone before. "See? Patlash is saying ‘I won’t let this blockhead escape again.’"

[User] "It’s strange. For some reason, it really does look like she is saying that."

[Assistant] "According to our bilingual wartime advisor, that was at least the gist of it. She’s a proper lady, though, so it probably had a more ladylike ring to it." With how deep our bond has become, I’m getting better and understanding her even without Otto lately. But if I said that, she would swat me with her tail.


[User] "I shall focus on healing my wounds. Being able to recuperate in tranquility surrounded by ladies like this is quite the privilege."

[Assistant] "As a reminder, all the women in this room other than Anastasia are mine."

[User] "I do not belong to you… In fact, you’re my knight, so doesn’t that make you mine?"

[Assistant] "That is a crazy embarrassing appraisal that makes me insanely happy!" Emilia touched her finger to her lips as she made a rather bold statement that left Subaru feeling equal parts elated and anxious as he turned back to Julius.

[User] "Anyway, while you’re resting, you might feel the urge to curl up into a fetal position while thinking about what happened, but don’t forget Patlash is watching."

[Assistant] "Do not worry. I would not do something so unsightly. It would be too inelegant."

[User] "…Got your groove back, huh?"

[Assistant] "Mmm." Getting an answer that sounded like the usual Julius, Subaru felt a little relief, and his expression softened a bit.

[User] I’m glad I didn’t leave him alone on those long stairs. If that had at least helped a little bit, then the experience of the massive embarrassment Subaru had suffered at the castle would at least have served some good.

[Assistant] "I’ll be counting on you, Patlash." With that last request to his trusty steed, Subaru left the green room with Emilia. As they were leaving, Subaru could tell Patlash moved closer to Julius, and he heard Julius’s wry laugh at Patlash taking up guard. She was a smart dragon and took her instructions very seriously. With Julius’s state of mind and Patlash’s faithfulness, it should be fine not to worry about the people in the green room for now.


[User] "…Should I freeze the door closed?"

[Assistant] "Again, I’m amazed at the power of your imagination, but I think I’d rather keep that as a last resort. I don’t want to risk that upsetting the spirit of the room."

[User] "Mm, yeah. Hee-hee, it was just a thought. I was mostly kidding." Emilia stuck out her tongue cutely as she apologized for her joke.

[Assistant] Subaru’s lips softened at that reaction, but he did not mention that he was tucking away a mental note about that option. "Either way, we should leave the green room to its spirit. From the look of things, Patlash’s wounds are healing up nicely, so it shouldn’t be too long for Julius, either."

[User] "Mm-hmm, right. Julius’s wounds… They aren’t as bad as they look, so he should be better soon. It seems like that’s Reid’s style."

[Assistant] "…Good at holding back just enough, huh? We can’t exactly let Julius hear that, though." Emilia chose her words carefully, and Subaru scratched his head while agreeing.


[User] "For now, we should—"

[Assistant] "Focus on finding some way to overcome the second examination until Sir Julius’s wounds are healed, right?" A cold voice interrupted their conversation. Looking up, it was Ram, who was leaning against the wall of the passage, waiting for the two of them to come back.

[User] Subaru scratched his cheek. "Is my face really so expressive that you could tell exactly what I was thinking?"

[Assistant] "You just had a list of everything you were worried about pasted all over your face. Everyone and everything you are worried about at the moment are in that room right now, Barusu. That’s all."

[User] "That’s not true. I’m worried about everyone here, not just the people in the green room. Emilia and Beako obviously, but you, too, Big Sis."

[Assistant] "Hah!" Subaru flashed a thumbs-up, but Ram just snorted derisively.

[User] Emilia put her hand to her mouth and giggled. "It’s okay. Your feelings made it through to Ram."

[Assistant] "I think you’re a bit biased, but if you say so." Glancing at Emilia, who was smiling slightly, Subaru cracked his neck and started following Ram. She was headed toward one of the smaller rooms on the fourth floor.


[User] Stepping into the room…

[Assistant] "You are late. You kept Betty waiting. Is Julius all right?"

[User] "Don’t worry. For the moment, it seems like he’s over the hump. I’m sure he’ll be worrying about all sorts of things, since he has such a strong sense of responsibility, but he won’t despair now."

[Assistant] "If you say so, then I suppose Betty will believe it. In which case, it’s good to have one problem resolved." Beatrice nodded, and Subaru nodded as well before looking around the room.

[User] Sitting in a circle in the base were Subaru, Emilia, Ram, Beatrice… "Shaula, I want to ask you some more about that jerk."

[Assistant] "Eep! You look scary, Master! But—but I don’t hate when you get strict with me like that, either."


[User] "It’s just one more aspect of our love.”

[Assistant] “So it would seem, Master. How lewd…”

[User] “I’m being framed!” …And they were joined by a squirming Shaula and Meili, who had gotten used to following her around. Ram blaming him for Shaula’s crazed words was business as usual.

[Assistant] “Either way, first of all, thanks for your help looking for Julius. Even if I tell him not to bother, I’m sure he’ll apologize himself later, but for now, he’s safe.”

[User] “It’s fine. Like I told him, I’m just glad we found him safely. I’m sure everyone else feels the same, right?”

[Assistant] “I would prefer not to be grouped with Lady Emilia.”

[User] “Eh?! What do you mean? !”

[Assistant] Taking the lead, Subaru tried to move the conversation along, but a difference of opinion between Emilia and Ram quickly derailed it. “From your report, it is seemingly necessary for everyone who entered the tower to overcome the second examination. And yet Sir Julius challenged it again a second time on his own judgment. If a single misstep was made, this action would have inevitably caused a fracture between our camp and Lady Anastasia’s.”

[User] “Because Julius’s action might have led to everyone failing?”

[Assistant] “Yes. If that happened, everything we went through to this point would have been for naught. It is questionable whether the second-floor examiner would have allowed us to leave safely. Or that sham Sage there.” Ram glanced at Shaula after explaining herself to Emilia.

[User] Not expecting to be drawn into the conversation, Shaula pointed at herself. “Me? Sham Sage is seriously rude! I never claimed to be the Sage! My one and only name is Shaula, the name Master gave me! I’m for Master one hundred percent!”

[Assistant] “She is quite earnest, it would seem, Master.”

[User] “Quit looking at me when you say that! …And I can’t say you’re wrong about Julius, either.” Even if he did not really like how excessively she said it, considering the worst-case scenario, Ram’s analysis wasn’t wrong. Julius had exposed all of them to danger with his actions. Even considering the fact that he didn’t know the details of the examination yet. If anything, that made it all the more rash.

[Assistant] “I do not know Sir Julius nearly well enough to say it is unlike him. But even considering the Gluttony issue, he did not seem the sort of person to do something like that.”

[User] “I agree with that, but… My thoughts are different. Him screwing up like that is sort of like a male-only measles.” A disease everyone gets once. I’m not sure if I should really compare him running off on his own like that to it, but measles and chickenpox are a lot worse if you get them as an adult. Especially since it can be deadly. "This time, it wasn’t fatal. Just call it good enough for now.”

[Assistant] “…I just don’t want to be tripped up by someone else.” Ram murmured softly as she looked away from Subaru.


[User] "And you want to start a fight over that? Or do you want to talk things through? If you don’t decide, I’m not going to keep up with this." Just then Meili chimed in, stopping things there with the mood in the room on the verge of getting dark. Leaning against Shaula’s side, she was listlessly playing with her braided hair while looking around the room. "If possible, could you not fight? I don’t like pain or scary things."

[Assistant] "You… No, you’re right. It’s good having someone who can look at things with an outside perspective."

[User] "Really? Heh-heh-heh, then be grateful." Meili smiled a childish, innocent smile befitting her tender youth when Subaru thanked her.

[Assistant] "I’ll be counting on you going forward. It’s important to have someone who can look at things with a cool head."

[User] "So you say, but my job ended after we got through the desert, didn’t it? There’s nothing else I can do."

[Assistant] "But the more heads the better. And even if we made it through the desert, we’re all still in the same boat here inside the tower. Just chalk it up as your misfortune and let me rely on you."

[User] Meili was taken aback by Subaru’s unvarnished admission of intending to ask her for help. "I can understand why Petra is always worried."

[Assistant] "—? What about Petra?"

[User] "Nothing. More importantly, weren’t you going to interrogate the half naked lady?" Meili’s cheeks puffed out as she looked away. She stood up and started pushing Shaula’s back.

[Assistant] Shaula wasn’t going to be moved by those frail arms, but she still excitedly moved forward, kneeling down right in front of Subaru and lowering her head to the floor. "I am a fool, but please take care of me forever."

[User] "Your admirable attitude is appreciated. Then, regarding a betrothal gift… Ow, ow, ow, ow! Emilia?! Beako?! Why are you pinching me from both sides?!"

[Assistant] "Just because."

[User] "No particular reason."

[Assistant] Subaru had no intention of being pinched for no reason, but Emilia’s and Beatrice’s moods made him think twice about pressing the point. "A-anyway, there’s no mistaking that guy up there is Reid Astrea. So as a witness who knew him personally, I want to ask you, what sort of person was he?"

[User] "Absolute trash."

[Assistant] "You said that before, and we have confirmation ourselves having seen him."

[User] Shaula’s lips curled into an unpleasant look as she remembered the dead. "We have to get past him somehow. I want to get as many clues as we can for how to clear the second floor’s examination."

[Assistant] "Tell us about anything you can think of, no matter how small."


[User] “Sword Saint Reid’s personality, habits, relations, likes, dislikes, weak points. Particularly his weak points. Talk.”

[Assistant] “You’re really layin’ it on thick! You think I wouldn’t have gotten back at him if I knew his weak points?! He doesn’t have any!”

[User] “Tch. Useless.”

[Assistant] “This girl’s even more overbearing than you, Master…” Shaula pouted at Ram’s high-pressure attitude, but she just shrugged in response to Ram’s glare and then dashed behind Subaru to use him as a shield.

[User] “Why are you hiding? You’re definitely stronger.”

[Assistant] “It’s not about stronger or weaker. Probably because you’re scared, though, Master. I can feel it because our hearts are linked.”

[User] “Don’t blame me for you being scared.” Subaru, unable to relax as he felt something soft push against his back, grabbed Shaula by the neck and forcibly dragged her to where she had been before.

[Assistant] “Um… In the end, you don’t know anything about the examinations, right, Shaula?” He started to resume the questioning.

[User] “Of course not. Just that this isn’t the time to say something is all. Most likely, it will be revealed after all the tower’s mysteries are solved.”

[Assistant] “I see… That’s reeeally exciting.”

[User] “Emilia is naive, so don’t trick her.”

[Assistant] “Even if you don’t know the Sword Saint’s weakness, what about habits or something? If he has any particular habits while fighting, we might be able to use it to beat him.”

[User] “Habits, huh? Now that you mention it, when I tried to kill him for groping me, he kept scratching his butt while we were fighting! That’s something, right?”

[Assistant] “I think that was just him taunting you…”

[User] “Also, he’s weak against pretty women. I bet he would let pretty women through.”

[Assistant] “In which case, it would be just me and Julius left behind? That’s a terrifying thought.”

[User] “Maybe if you squint really, really hard…and someone pokes him in the eyes for good measure. Then he might think you’re pretty enough to pass…maybe…!”

[Assistant] "You’re cute to say that.” Subaru wrapped Beatrice up in his arms and rubbed her head when Beatrice tried her best to come up with a solution that wouldn’t hurt his feelings.

[User] “Either way, Emilia getting a pass was just a fluke. It was a lucky combination of him letting his guard down and the challenger being Emilia, I suppose.”

[Assistant] “Why do you say that?”

[User] “If Emilia had attacked to kill, he would never have let her attack hit him. So he let his guard down, and Emilia won.”

[Assistant] “Huh? Did you just compliment me?”

[User] “Betty did.”

[Assistant] “Ah, I thought so. Heh-heh. Thank you. That makes me reeeally happy.” Emilia celebrated Beatrice’s flattering analysis and the implied compliment while Subaru rewarded Beatrice with another head rub.

[User] “It sounds cool saying his reaction changes depending on whether there is an intent to kill, but that’s just a given because of who he is. There’s no saying how serious he was or will be.”

[Assistant] “…His expectations need to be turned upside down."


[User] "Barusu is right; we don’t know how demanding he will be, but we cannot allow him to get serious."

[Assistant] "We can’t…let him get serious?" Ram was still deep in thought as she continued.

[User] Picking up on that thought, Subaru furrowed his brow.

[Assistant] "Correct. Lady Emilia was acknowledged by the examiner because she managed to convince him to offer significant concessions and then cleared the new bar… The standard for passing the examination is quite fickle."

[User] "I agree the line is fuzzy. It reflects the examiner’s temperament."

[Assistant] "So we have to make it so he enjoys himself while also setting out a standard that is sufficient for the examination. Doing that and then making the examiner lose is the requirement for clearing the second floor."

[User] Hearing that explanation from Ram, it clicked for Subaru. We should probably assume that winning by brute force is impossible now.

[Assistant] "Still, though, it’s not like we can just say best two out of three at rock-paper-scissors, either…"

[User] "Um, working at finding conditions that Reid will accept… Put that way, this examination is also a really difficult test."

[Assistant] "Difficult, but more like this is a really sadistic test in an entirely different way from the one on the third floor."

[User] After testing knowledge (from a different world), now it is testing strength (against the world’s strongest). In both cases, the real goal of the examinations is something different from the surface level. So even if the two tests are different, they are both clear manifestations of the maliciousness of the Sage who made this tower.

[Assistant] "—It’s not like there’s a rush, is there? You can just take your time and have fun with me."

[User] "Even if you say that." Shaula, who was casually sitting cross-legged on the ground, cheerfully chimed in. Subaru’s face stiffened, but she did not mind it. Her eyes were just gleaming happily.

[Assistant] "You all can just stay here as looong as you want. Since I waited hundreds of years for you to come, Master."

[User] "That’s…"

[Assistant] "Take as long as you need, and just clear the examinations normally. I’ll always be watching. However many days, years, or centuries it takes." There was a weight to her words that could not just be laughed off. She was in a good mood and smiling, beaming with affection for them. Shaula had said it. It was forbidden to leave without completing the examinations.


[User] If that rule was broken, even if it was Subaru who she adored as her master, she would not show any mercy. Even if she is friendly, even if she is affectionate, that doesn’t mean she is an ally. When it comes to clearing the Pleiades Watchtower, the person tasked as the Star Guardian… Shaula is…

[Assistant] “Just have fun with me here!” …not an ally who can be trusted. Subaru felt it painfully clearly when he saw her smile there.


[User] In the end, they held off on making a decision with their planning meeting for clearing Electra. From the way things were going, they were not going to make any sort of real breakthrough in terms of plans, but the biggest reason they put off a decision was Subaru’s stomach rumbling.

[Assistant] “Now that I think about it, I woke up after two days and then immediately started trying to clear this tower, didn’t I…? My stomach is aching bad." While the conversation was stalled, his stomach gurgled loudly, and for the first time, he realized just how hungry he was.

[User] I can’t fight on an empty stomach… Well, technically I can, but being hungry does mess with your ability to focus and think. And as a result of that rumble, they decided to move elsewhere.

[Assistant] “Honestly, it was probably for the best that happened anyway…” A plan for the second floor, the general theme of the examinations here, the test maker’s sadism coming into focus, and the clearer idea of just how dangerous Shaula is—she already merited close attention from how strong she was, but her blockheadedness and the way she so easily gets along with us completely defused our sense of caution.


[User] “You can just take your time and have fun with me.” Days, years, or even centuries… Or I guess it’s more, the way she so unabashedly said that helped me finally remember just how dangerous she is. “I don’t intend to do it, but if for some reason we stop here at the tower and leave, she’ll become our enemy…” I’d rather avoid that. Both because of the cold calculus of combat strength and for sentimental reasons. Aside from her, though, thinking about clearing this place… There are all kinds of concerning points weighing on my mind.

[Assistant] “But worrying about stuff that far out won’t solve anything, either. The first thing you always need to do is to plant your feet firmly in the ground today in preparation for tomorrow. And for that—”

[User] “—I should eat up so I’m not hungry.” Beatrice had interrupted Subaru’s words with her finger held up.

[Assistant] "Correct." His stomach rumbling had been the impetus for ending the conversation, so he was taking a stroll around the tower—more specifically, the fourth floor they had made their living area—while waiting for food to be ready. Accompanying him, holding his hand tightly while they walked, was Beatrice. Holding hands regularly was so that Beatrice, Subaru’s contracted spirit, could collect mana directly from him, since his gate was deficient.

[User] “Besides, you were worried about me while I was asleep these two days, right? Today, you can relax, and I’ll dote on you all you want.”

[Assistant] "What a silly thing to say. This is just collecting an extra surplus of mana to make up for you slacking off while asleep. Betty wants to be in top condition at all times in this tower. To avoid being unprepared.”

[User] "So you say, but you still held my hand without absorbing mana while I was asleep."

[Assistant] “That had nothing to do with mana. It was for topping up Betty’s heart, so it’s unrelated.” She was proudly asserting it had nothing to do with mana, but Subaru thought that just made it all the more adorable and embarrassing, so he refrained from commenting on it. Either way, he was in complete agreement with what she was saying. The strength of their combination was in more subtle tricks.


[User] “All right, Beako. I’m fine. So absorb my mana until you’re big and bloated!”

[Assistant] “Betty won’t get big and bloated from absorbing lots of mana! And there’s not much point in you getting all enthusiastic about it since it is not as if you have that much mana to begin with.”

[User] “Whoa, hey now. What should I do then?”

[Assistant] “That! Is! Why! You should at least eat up and rest properly to restore your stamina and build up mana reserves. And devote yourself to taking care of Betty. That is your responsibility.”

[User] “So basically like I’m recovering from getting sick. And also there was a trace of your loneliness at being left alone that seeped in there… Whoops.” Subaru managed a flexible expression that was half frustrated and half smiling at Beatrice’s adorableness.


[Assistant] And in front of them, at the end of the passage, Emilia suddenly turned the corner.

[User] Emilia's eyes widened when she saw them.

[Assistant] “A bucket? Still focused, even at a time like this, huh? Practicing music?”

[User] “Heh-heh, what are you saying? It’s true mister bucket is always helping me with my music practice, but I know this isn’t the time for that.”

[Assistant] “That’s true. So then why the bucket?”

[User] “Mister bucket is helping with his intended job.” Smiling at Subaru’s question, Emilia held out the bucket.

[Assistant] Oh, it’s full of water, so I guess mister bucket is back to his old job. But that just raised another question. “Where did the water come from? It’s desert all around the tower, right?”

[User] “Ah, that’s not true. If you go way, way past the tower, you’ll reach the great waterfall, and there’s a reeeally big amount of water there…”

[Assistant] “You went that far to get a single bucketful of water? For me?”

[User] “I would do that much if it was for you, but that’s not what happened this time. The spirit in the green room actually provided us nice and clean water. Neat, right?” Emilia seemed proud of the source of the water, but it was the line before that that made him happy.

[Assistant] Being willing to go all the way to the great waterfall to get water for his sake. That meant a lot. “While I’m digesting all that happiness, though… That spirit is really something. Not just healing wounds, it can even do something like this?”

[User] “If it was just making water, Beatrice or I could manage somehow with magic, but…”

[Assistant] “The miasma in the air in the desert and here is too dense. It would be wisest to avoid using mana that has been exposed to it for so long to create drinking water if possible.”

[User] Their explanations cleared up some things. During the trip, they had taken care of drinking water using magic.


[User] “So sort of like atmospheric pollution…or I guess mana pollution caused by miasma? I guess it would be bad to drink water from that then?”

[Assistant] "It is not as if there is some immediate dramatic impact on the body. But imbibing significant amounts will lead to outsize internal miasma buildup. In the worst case, it could lead to developing the same sort of demon beast–attracting trait that you have." The thought makes Betty shiver.

[User] “It is definitely pretty hard to live with that trait, if I do say so myself…”

[Assistant] “So we’re using water purified by the green room spirit as much as possible. We did that the two days you were sleeping, too.”

[User] “Huh, you don’t say?” Subaru was impressed at the explanation of living conditions that had been going on while he was unconscious.

[Assistant] “Still, though, even with water, there’s a limit to food. We only prepared food stores for about a month before we entered the desert.”

[User] “Mmm, right.”

[Assistant] “But it’s not like I plan on still being here in a month.” Subaru smiled as a little bit of concern appeared in Emilia’s eyes.

[User] “Besides, it’s just been one day—or three I guess, since I just had a late start—and we cleared the first examination, and you made it through the second one no sweat.”

[Assistant] “It wasn’t that easy…”

[User] “It’s okay to say it was easy, since we can pull out bluffs and tricks here.” Holding up a finger pompously, Subaru pulled Beatrice’s hand, moving her and then resting his chin on her head. The two of them looked up at Emilia.

[Assistant] “It doesn’t matter if the enemy is the strongest Sword Saint ever. That one-eyed chopstick pervert asshole… Between my tricks and Beako’s strength, we’ll beat the tar out of him.”

[User] “Right. Beat the tar out of him.”

[Assistant] “Beat the tar out of him…”

[User] “That’s a phrase you don’t hear too much anymore.”

[Assistant] “No fair! You and Beatrice were the ones who just said it!”

[User] Emilia’s cheeks reddened when she realized she had fallen into their trap.

[Assistant] “Mm, got it. I understand. It sounds almost simple when you say it. But it’s reeeally reassuring to hear.”

[User] “Yeah, just have faith, expectations, and love for me."


[User] “That’s why I became your knight.”

[Assistant] “Right, I’m counting on you, my knight.”

[User] “You didn’t deny the love part, so now I’m at a loss for what to say…”

[Assistant] “…?” Subaru wasn’t sure what to do when his half-joking request for love passed without comment.

[User] “It’s a bit late now, but you being the one to get the water is weird. This is a knight’s job… Well, I guess not really, but it definitely fits more on the retainer side of the lady/retainer equation.”

[Assistant] “It’s fine. You’re my knight, but I don’t want to have that sort of relationship. I want you to stay beside me. As long as you do that, it’s fine. Just let me take care of getting the water while you are recovering.”

[User] “What’s this?! I might just die of a happiness overload!”

[Assistant] “Also, I’m in charge of dinner tonight! I want to take care of everything myself!”

[User] “That is the difficult thing with Emilia. They both sound like they might be the real reason.”

[Assistant] Beatrice sighed at Emilia’s energetic response.

[User] I don’t have time to be getting dejected.


[Assistant] “This stupid tower… There isn’t a map, but I’m sure if there were one, it would be in the most annoying place. I hate these kinds of buildings that feel like they were a mess from the initial design stages…” That was Subaru’s conclusion after having walked around the tower with Beatrice to get a feel for things while waiting to eat.

[User] “What are you saying now? Given how nasty the examinations are, there is not much point commenting on how twisted the person who made it all is. It has been clear for a while.”

[Assistant] “Ah! You were bad-mouthing Master just now! This shrimp just badmouthed Master, who made this tower! If you think you’ll get it easy for being a kid, you got another thing coming! She deserves to be scolded! And all coddling that hasn’t been collected on should be given to me!” Shaula triumphantly leaped at Beatrice’s grumbling.

[User] “Give it a rest already…” It wasn’t even really grumbling, but it would be a pain to explain it.

[Assistant] “Come on. Don’t keep causing a fuss. You too, Shaula. Behave.”

[User] “Ehhh, I can’t accept that. This is discrimination. Discrimination, I say.”

[Assistant] “If she really did something bad, then Subaru would properly scold her. And it’s only normal to take special care of little children. You and I both just have to accept that, Shaula.”

[User] “Betty does not like the idea of being treated as a child like it’s only natural…”

[Assistant] “Now, now, this is the time to show the magnanimity that comes with age.” Subaru laughed wryly as he tried to soothe Beatrice’s ruffled feathers.

[User] They had gathered again at the base to eat.


[User] “May I say one thing before we begin eating, Lady Emilia?” Julius, who had been the last to come to the room, interjected. He had been thrown into the green room to focus on healing, but him showing his face wasn’t because he had an empty stomach.

[Assistant] Emilia, who had arranged everything for the meal, nodded. “Of course, go ahead. I don’t have a reason to say no.”

[User] “With Lady Anastasia not present, you are the person who should be most respected here, Lady Emilia. And yet, I have already caused you such trouble through my selfish actions. Though it is woefully late, I must address it.” Julius shook his head while elegantly elaborating.

[Assistant] “How laudable. If only you had understood that sooner.”

[User] “We already get enough mindlessness from Barusu. It is only natural to lose faith in someone who acts without thinking. I hope you can convince us you won’t do it again.” Ram icily addressed Julius’s impulsive decision in the harshest terms. The coldness in her eyes was the same as usual, but her expression felt stiffer than normal.

[Assistant] “Ram, that was too much.”

[User] “…My humblest apologies, Lady Emilia. I shall be more careful henceforth.” Ram apologized when Emilia called her out.

[Assistant] “I have caused you much trouble, Ms. Ram, and everyone else as well.” Understanding that, Julius recognized that her harshness was the just deserts he had earned and bowed his head without argument.

[User] “All right! Julius apologized, and I accept. So as far as I’m concerned, this conversation is over.” With a clap of her hands, Emilia answered Julius’s apology.

[Assistant] Subaru nodded as well.

[User] Beatrice nodded as well.

[Assistant] “I already said what I wanted to say, so the rest is just a samurai’s mercy.”

[User] "Same for Betty. Just make it up with your efforts going forward.”

[Assistant] “…Sorry…” Julius closed his eyes at their responses.

[User] “No one ended up dying, so that’s good enough, isn’t?


[User] “Mister knight doesn’t really bother me.”

[Assistant] “If Master says no problemo, then that’s enough for me. No espresso.”

[User] “You’ve got the wrong word there…” Meili’s response was disinterested, probably more out of genuine disinterest than any intention of being nice.

[Assistant] Ram was the only one who had said anything one way or the other in response to Julius’s apology. She just closed the robe draped over her shoulders and looked down at the food. Julius silently accepted that. And so did Subaru and the others. The rest is between them to resolve and not something for anyone else to butt into.

[User] “All right then, let’s eat. Ram and I prepared the meal today.”

[Assistant] “No fire was used, but it should be mostly fine other than being a bit rough.”

[User] “Right. It’s reeeally mostly fine… Wait, isn’t that a weird way to put it?” Emilia moved the conversation along, recollecting herself, but she cocked her head at Ram’s elaboration. Ram did not follow up further, though. Anyway, with that exchange, they began their meal in the tower.


[Assistant] “…Why are you staring? Do you have a complaint?”

[User] “…It’s nothing. Just even after traveling for a month, I still can’t get used to the idea of you being able to cook.”

[Assistant] “And I was wondering what you would say…” Ram did not hide her exasperated sigh at Subaru’s comment. "The reason I don’t go into the kitchen at the mansion isn’t because I can’t cook. I just don’t. Steamed potatoes are one thing, but ordinary food I leave to Frederica or Petra.”

[User] “I see… Okay.”

[Assistant] “Indeed… Why are steamed potatoes special, Betty wonders.” Ram frowned, as if a bit unsure what she said herself. Subaru let out a tiny sigh.


[User] “Anyway… Not that I couldn’t have guessed, but you’ve really got no grace at all when it comes to eating.”

[Assistant] "Mgh, mgh… Huh? You say something, Master?” Shaula is stuffing her face as Subaru glances over at her.

[User] “The half naked lady is really packing it in… Are you really that hungry?”

[Assistant] “More like this is way too delicious! I didn’t think I cared that much about food, but I’d be willing to apprentice under the half-demon to get this flavor.”

[User] “Eh? Apprentice under me? For cooking?”

[Assistant] Shaula did not stop moving while Meili spoke, swallowing the food in her mouth in one gulp while pointing over at Emilia, nodding wildly at that question. “Food this good is something else. There’s no hiding from my eyes. I’m gonna learn to cook better, grab Master’s heart through his stomach, and make sure he doesn’t get a wink of sleep.”


[User] "Your true ambition is showing."

[Assistant] "I understand how you feel, Shaula. But the path of cooking is reeeally difficult and perilous. If you have the resolve despite that, then I’ll consider taking you on as an apprentice.”

[User] “You’re really audacious when it comes to the strangest things sometimes, Emilia.”

[Assistant] Ram probably made about three quarters of the food. Emilia talking big about the depths of cooking and Shaula getting way too impressed by amateur cooking are both pretty hilarious. "But our food supply is going to be an issue…" It was a troubling problem for Subaru.

[User] Before his eyes, Shaula was grinning and almost in tears as she stuffed her mouth, and Emilia’s nurturing instincts were stimulated seeing that, so she would surely add more food going forward.

[Assistant] I had counted on one month as our time limit considering the food we had, but… “We might not have even that long, at this rate…”


[User] They finished their dinner, cleaned themselves using the spring water (mostly just wiping down their bodies), and then split up for the day. It was time for bed. Now that I think about it, a chaotic all-night meeting to figure out how to clear this tower might have been the right way to approach things, but it’s also hard to imagine coming up with an answer that way right now. Future me will just have to find a solution to those problems, even if that’s a bit too easygoing. “It’s not like it’s a problem where a solution is gonna just randomly present itself. We’ll need to take our time with this test.”

[Assistant] It is what it is. Worst case, there is the option of just challenging it again tomorrow without any extra planning. Just trial and error rather than trying to approach it from every angle—what happens in the event of a fatal error is concerning, but at the very least that asshole doesn’t seem to be intent on killing us. And we might even find a clue while talking to him, like how Emilia managed to get concessions by just asking. “Even so, we still need to be able to analyze what comes, so that means eating and sleeping enough to be able to function at peak performance.” Rubbing his cheeks with both hands, Subaru tried to shake off all the various issues that were troubling him. So we’re done for the night. Everyone is going back to the carriage to sleep in preparation for tomorrow, but…

[User] “Subaru, Betty will be with Emilia and the others in the carriage.”

[Assistant] “Mm? Ah, right. Sorry, Beako. Don’t stay up all night or it will keep you from growing. If you stayed small forever… Well, you’d still be cute. All right, make sure you stay up all night.”

[User] “You needn’t worry. Betty won’t grow any larger than this. She’ll be cute forever, so going to bed early isn’t a problem.” Beatrice yawned and waved casually as she left.


[User] "Take care of her for me, Emilia. I’ll see you tomorrow." She was holding Emilia’s hand as she walked away.

[Assistant] "Mm-hmm, see you tomorrow. You shouldn’t stay up too late, either." With that, and without blaming him for staying up late in the first place, Emilia headed down the great stairs to the lower floor.

[User] Seeing them off, Subaru stretched a bit and walked through the hall on the fourth floor. His goal was easy to find. The vine-covered door to the green room. There…

[Assistant] "Subaru?"

[User] “…Oh, it’s you.” In front of the room, he ran into Julius, whose eyes widened seeing him. Julius had just been heading into the green room himself, and his eyes narrowed for a moment seeing Subaru, but he quickly nodded in understanding.

[Assistant] "I see. It appears we both came here with the same intentions."

[User] "Though for different people… Should I leave it to you for tonight?"

[Assistant] "No, I should yield to you. You were unconscious for two days. You were able to confirm her safety, but I’m sure she was looking forward to the night as well."

[User] “…Well, if you’re going to say that, I won’t argue." Scratching his head awkwardly at that elegant circumlocution, Subaru glanced over at Julius. It doesn’t look like he’s forcing himself, but I was never the best at reading people’s faces. If he’s hiding it, I wouldn’t be able to tell.

[Assistant] "Are you okay with that? You must want to stay by her side." Subaru heaved a sigh and just straight up asked what he was wondering.

[User] Julius smiled faintly. "Yes, if possible, I would like to be by Lady Anastasia’s side until she wakes up. But when she does awaken, I hardly know what I should say to her first. I am also unsure of that."

[Assistant] "The first words should just be something like ‘I’m glad you woke up. I was worried about you.’ Right? The real problem is what you say after that. As for those words… Well, that’s up to you."

[User] "Heh."

[Assistant] "Why are you laughing? That was a pretty serious answer." It had been a carefully considered answer, but it didn’t seem to satisfy Julius.

[User] Turning on his heel, Julius faced away from Subaru, who looked hurt by the laugh. "What an unrestrained idea. I’m jealous."

[Assistant] "It’s annoying that it sounds like you’re calling me an idiot. Hey, where are you going?"

[User] "I yielded the room to you. I am returning to the carriage to rest. I am a little tired today." Julius raised his hand while walking away. He’s recovered enough to say “a little tired” after what happened with the examination? Or is that just a front, too? I really can’t tell. I can’t tell, but…

[Assistant] "Julius, it’s better for you to wait for Anastasia to wake up. I’ll wake you up when I’m done. You should wait for her."

[User] "Just so you know, I definitely have a lot more regrets than you do.


[User] "This is just my advice to you based on them, so take it for what it is.” That was the last thing Subaru said as Julius’ back disappeared down the hall. He didn’t respond, but it won’t turn into a problem. At the very least, Subaru had that much faith in him.

[Assistant] “…Excuse me…” Shaking his head, he set aside his concern for Julius and pushed open the door, stepping into the green room. It was lit by a faint light, subsumed by a massive amount of green like always, and there were two girls sleeping on beds of grass inside. The closest bed was Anastasia’s, and farther in was Rem.

[User] "And the farthest back is you." Looking up, Subaru saw Patlash looking entirely natural, as if that state of things was expected. Not only that, but Subaru’s trusty steed had left half the bed open, making space for Subaru to sit on the side next to the bed where Rem was sleeping.

[Assistant] "You are a land dragon who is wasted on a guy like me.” Laughing a bit, Subaru scratched his cheek and availed himself of Patlash’s consideration, sitting on the bed and smiling softly at Rem, who was resting peacefully on her bed. “Julius said she was waiting for night to fall…” He’s wrong, though. That isn’t it at all. Rem isn’t the one waiting for a time when I can talk to her without any interruptions. It’s me.


[User] “…Ugh?” Raising his head, he slowly stood up. His consciousness found its way back to reality, escaping the fog of dreams. “I was…asleep?” Putting his hand to his chin, he was surprised that he had been sleeping. He must have passed out at some point while talking to Rem. Because he had laid his head down, there were marks on his cheeks from the leaves. Running his fingers over them…

[Assistant] "I must have been pretty tired, too…huh, Patlash?" Subaru turned to look at the reason he had woken up. Patlash had batted him with her tail.

[User] Why did she wake me up? But he did not have to ask his beloved dragon to get the answer. It was obvious to see. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something strange and did a double take.

[Assistant] “…No way…” Of the two beds in the room, one—the one Anastasia had been sleeping on—was empty. Subaru felt a chill.

[User] "A-after I said all that to Julius…" Because I took a nap, I didn’t even notice her going… No, it’s not just that. “She woke up… So then what…? Where did she go? The bathroom? Without waking me up?” Anastasia—or more precisely Echidna—leaving the green room without saying anything to Subaru, who was asleep there, too, wasn’t a good situation. Why did she do that?


[User] “The bed is still a little warm… I have to find her.” It’s still warm, and also Patlash woke me up. She probably didn’t leave that long ago. "Patlash! Watch Rem for me! And thanks for waking me up!" Waving at her short whinny, Subaru raced out of the room.

[Assistant] "But she’s Foxidna now. She wouldn’t be that straightforward. In which case…" I can’t cover it all myself. It’s embarrassing that I fell asleep like that, but I should let the others know so we can all look for her… “Huh?” He was about to go downstairs to alert everyone when he caught his breath. It was a stunned, confused reaction. A reaction to seeing something unexpected, something that should not have been there. "" As his eyes widened, something calmly cut across his field of view. It was a single bird with white wings spread, flying gracefully through a somewhat narrow passage. "A bird…? Why here…?"

[User] Subaru was taken aback by the bird that should not have been there. There aren’t any windows or any holes in the outer wall of the tower. It is completely sealed off, and the only connection to the outside is the door on the fifth floor. “…Ngh! W-wait!” Sensing that something was definitely not adding up, Subaru frantically chased after the bird, which was getting farther and farther away. He had hesitated for just a moment, unsure whether he should tell someone about Anastasia’s disappearance and the bird and if he should ask for help. But Subaru chose to follow the bird.

[Assistant] Subaru chased and chased with all his might, and finally…"—?! It disappeared? That’s impossible.” Subaru’s voice cracked when he reached the end of the passage. The hallway was an arc that followed the outer wall of the tower, but it did not connect in a single loop. About halfway through the loop, there was a wall blocking the way forward. Using a clock as a reference, there was a wall connecting twelve o’clock and six o’clock, creating a block no matter which side they were approached from. Already knowing that, Subaru had assumed he would be able to catch the bird unless it could somehow open a door or get inside a room, but… “It doesn’t seem like it flew into the wall, either.


[User] “What happened…?” Unable to find a trace of where the bird disappeared to, Subaru looked around in confusion. Unfortunately, he could not find a room nearby that the bird might have escaped to. It had suddenly appeared, and it had suddenly disappeared, too. It almost felt like a dream, but…

[Assistant] “…This is a feather, right?” Picking up a white feather that had fallen to the floor, Subaru got evidence that the bird really had been there. He could at least take that back to the others to say that the bird had existed. But that did not solve anything.

[User] There aren’t any clues as to where Anastasia disappeared to… “No, wait… There has to be something here, where the feather was…” Thinking that, Subaru started looking all around the floor and the walls near where the feather had been. He touched, poked, and prodded the stone floor, ceiling, walls, and rooms nearby. But there did not seem to be anything hidden, and he started getting impatient as time passed. I really should have called for someone…

[Assistant] “Ah? !” He touched the floor where the feather had been with his palm. Just when his fingers were about to brush against the wall, they passed right through it. It wasn’t an optical illusion. Slowly holding out his hand, he could not touch the wall.

[User] “I’m sure I checked this wall already…” Making sure he wasn’t going crazy, Subaru touched the wall again. The wall was there from his waist up, but below that point, it was a trick. An illusion that seemed to block an entrance. It reminded him of the cultists Petelgeuse led who had created a hideout in a cavern using a similar trick.

[Assistant] “Nothing ventured… How many times is this now?” Crawling on all fours, he was able to slip under the wall. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to go through and see what came of it. The bird probably passed through here, flying low to the ground. If it goes outside or connects to another part of the tower…

[User] “Pwuaah!” It was dark after passing through the wall, but it was shorter than he had expected. Passing through the fake wall, Subaru inhaled like he was coming up for air. For no particular reason, he had held his breath while crawling through the darkness. And he noticed the outside air—a cold breeze—against his face.

[Assistant] “…Ohhh…” Opening his eyes, he slowly let them adjust to the outside after the dark passage. What he saw before him was a scene looking out at the night desert from a place far, far higher than he could have imagined. There was a black sky filled with shimmering stars. And…


[User] "And at the other end of the tunnel was a land of snow.” It was a joke that did not really describe the odd scene before him at all. He had passed through a wall and not a tunnel, and it wasn’t a land of snow, but a cold desert breeze and the night sky that awaited him. Stars shone bright while a black sea of the desert extended far, far into the distance all around them. None of it connected to what he said at all. Instead…

[Assistant] “…Natsuki?” Hearing Subaru’s hoarse murmur, someone with light purple hair fluttering in the breeze turned toward him. She gently held down her hair as her green eyes met Subaru’s. It was just the person he had been looking for.

[User] “…It’s a great spot for a view on a night stroll.”

[Assistant] Hiding his shock, Subaru shrugged at Anastasia as he changed the subject.

[User] Anastasia smiled slightly. “Yeah. It’s definitely a nice view. But it’s a shame the scenery itself is all black. It would have been different if there were at least a town to see in the distance.”

[Assistant] “Well now, I don’t know about that. It’s not so bad. Like the sea at night. And more than anything…” Subaru pointed up instead of out.

[User] Drawn by that, Anastasia looked up at the night sky filled with stars. “The air is cool and clear, so the stars look super bright. It’s pretty romantic, right?”

[Assistant] “The stars surely are lovely… I guess because at this height we’re above the miasma hanging over the desert? Looks like we can see the stars that were hidden before.” Looking up, Anastasia’s lips softened.

[User] Seeing that, Subaru stopped about five yards away. And…

[Assistant] “…So what’s your excuse?”

[User] “Excuse?”

[Assistant] “Slipping out of bed in the middle of the night, slipping into a secret passage no one knows about, all so you can enjoy the night breeze and play with some birds? That’s way too suspicious.”

[User] Anastasia had a curious look on her face, but Subaru doggedly followed up.


[User] “It makes sense why you might be uneasy about that, but…” Anastasia put her hand to her cheek. “But secret passage is selling it a bit hard, ain’t it? You wound up here, too, didn’t you?”

[Assistant] “That’s… The bird guided me here, ish.”

[User] “Which is the same as me. I was wanderin’ around the tower for a stroll when a bird came flyin’ by. I followed it after wonderin’ what was goin’ on, then found myself here.” Anastasia’s eyes narrowed as she spread her arms and mimicked a bird flying. It went without saying that wasn’t a convincing explanation.

[Assistant] Subaru did not have any evidence to disprove it, but he refused to believe such a convenient story, putting himself up on a special pedestal in the process. “These birds—”

[User] “What’s with these birds?”

[Assistant] “Ngh. That’s what I want to ask.” Her evasiveness is really uncomfortable, and the way that the birds all feel like they’re quietly watching us seriously bothers me. I can’t read anything in their eyes. The birds, the balcony… What is she thinking?

[User] “Is that the bird that was flying during the sand time?”

[Assistant] “These are definitely the birds Ram used her Clairvoyance on. I don’t know what happened to them after we reached that field of demon beasts…looks like they made it here safely, though.”

[User] Anastasia’s lips curled ever so slightly into a wry smile as she tickled the throat of the bird. The bird did not react, and Anastasia sighed. “They’ve been like this the whole time. I’m pretty much puzzled by it.”

[Assistant] “From my experience, it’s basically impossible for me to believe that.”

[User] “What do you mean?”

[Assistant] “Whenever I run into some sort of situation like this carelessly, it’s pretty much always life-threatening.” He had a wealth of experience when it came to careless actions that led to near-death experiences. The oldest was when he went wandering around the mansion at night and got himself beaten to death by Rem. Omitting many, many other examples, Subaru had more or less come to the conclusion that careless actions always lead to danger. And his current situation was extremely dangerous…

[User] “Relax. I’m not thinkin’ about anything like that. I don’t have any hostility toward you. Or anyone else in this tower…Well, except the examiners.”

[Assistant] “Shaula and Reid?”

[User] Anastasia’s expression soured when Subaru said their names, and he noticed.

[Assistant] “Ah, right, you didn’t hear since you were asleep. The guy on the second floor… That’s Reid Astrea. The first Sword Saint. Apparently, he was summoned from the past, or at least that seems like what’s happening.”

[User] “This tower sounds more and more crazy the longer we’re here… What was the guy who made it thinking?” Hearing that, Anastasia responded with a stunned reaction, followed by a short follow-up. Sensing the Kararagi accent slipping from her tone, Subaru inhaled sharply. Up to then, he had by and large interacted with her as if she were Anastasia, or at least that was what he had tried to do.


[User] "…It’s just the two of us here right now, so want to talk openly a bit?”

[Assistant] "Hmm…”

[User] “Honestly, talking to you while you’re wearing someone else’s skin is… Whatever you say, I won’t ever be able to actually believe it. So…”

[Assistant] “You want to talk to me instead of me acting like Ana." In an instant, Anastasia’s tone changed as she responded to his proposition. Her whole being transformed instantly like someone had flipped a switch. Even though she still looked exactly the same, it was like a completely different person was standing across from him. The feeling in her eyes, her thoughtful expression—it all changed.

[User] Echidna—turned around and leaned her bag against the short balcony. She started to rub the head of the white bird that had stopped on the railing. “It’s the first time we’ve spoken like this in a while.” And accepting Subaru’s proposition, she smiled faintly. “Not going to come here?”

[Assistant] “No, I’m not great with heights, and the safety measures look incomplete, so I’ll pass.”

[User] “Even if you let your guard down, it’s not like I’m going to push you over the edge.”

[Assistant] “I can’t trust that sort of comment. You sound just like the original.”

[User] Hundreds of yards up in the air, with a waist-high rail as protection. Echidna invited him over innocently enough, and she furrowed her brow at his refusal. “You mind? I’ve asked you before, but could you stop lumping me in with that original Witch? If I’m being blunt, there’s not a lot more annoying than being compared to someone you don’t know. Even if it was the person who made me.”

[Assistant] “That also… No, you’re right. Sorry. I’ll try to fix that.” She was speaking in Anastasia’s voice and looked just like Anastasia.

[User] Even that sounds just like what that Witch would say, but if someone said I resembled Echidna, I’d want to sue for defamation of character, too. “By the way, how can you so casually touch those birds? Aren’t you afraid of them all suddenly swarming up and pecking you to death?”

[Assistant] “Your imagination is a lot more scary than they are. Don’t tell me that’s also your experience talking?”

[User] “There was a time that a bunch of cute bunnies jumped me.” Ever since then, he was always a bit nervous around large groups of animals gathered in one place. I can say with confidence that there wasn’t any easy death in all my loops, but that memory was particularly bad.

[Assistant] “…With how pale your face is, I won’t force you to explain. I don’t feel particularly close to them, either.” His face had apparently turned visibly pallid and convinced Echidna to quickly pull her hand back from the bird. Then, placing her hands on her knees, she looked at Subaru again.


[User] “So then, you proposed talking openly… So what exactly did you want to talk about with me now that I’m not acting like Ana?”

[Assistant] “As a first topic, your connection to this place and these birds.”

[User] “I can’t tell you anything different than the answer I gave as Ana. I was led here by a bird just like you were. To that end, I don’t really have any clue why. But…”

[Assistant] “But?” Subaru was almost let down by that unchanged answer, but the slight hook at the end made him raise his eyebrows.

[User] Echidna hesitated for a moment at that reaction before continuing. “Honestly, I’ve been meaning to ask you the exact same question.”

[Assistant] “Me?”

[User] “Maybe it sounded like a joke in Ana’s tone? I ended up here because it was like I was being guided. And now that I’m here, I’m talking to you… You, standing between me and the way back into the tower.”

[User] “The caretaker of this tower, Shaula, knows you. Or at the very least, she is interacting with you as if that is true. Taking that into account, saying this now that we are here just the two of us might be unfair, but…”

[Assistant] Caught up in what Echidna was saying, Subaru did not interrupt her. She paused for a second before asking her question. “Who are you, Subaru Natsuki?”

[User] “Who am I? What’s that question supposed to…?”

[Assistant] “Going back to before Pristella… A year ago, after the ceremony celebrating the slaying of the White Whale and Sloth, Ana decided to investigate you.” Echidna was revealing a part of the strategy that Anastasia’s camp had worked on. A theory for how to compete with her opponent Emilia and Emilia’s knight, Subaru, who had just received a valorous commendation. But even Anastasia Hoshin, the great merchant who lead the Hoshin Company…

[User] “Your identity was a complete mystery. Ana grumbled that she only just had the barest level of information. And that was probably more about what the people around you had done than you yourself.”

[Assistant] Hiding the details of my identity… If someone in our camp was actually involved in that, the obvious guess is Roswaal, followed by Otto or Clint.

[User] “Either way, the furthest back she could find anything about you was right before the start of the royal selection, when you were involved in an incident that allegedly happened in the capital. According to Sir Reinhard’s testimony about discovering Felt, who would become one of the candidates, apparently, you were involved somehow. But that’s all.”

[Assistant] There could not be records any further back than that. With that final piece, Echidna’s—or, in this case, Anastasia’s—retracing of Subaru’s footsteps was pretty much perfect. Other than the fact that it was incomplete as far as she was concerned.

[Assistant] Echidna’s eyes narrowed as Subaru struggled to think of what he should say.


[User] Me not being able to tell people about my returning by death and not being able to explain what I know from that has caused plenty of problems before, but this is a first. Subaru Natsuki’s origin, him being an unknown person, was the chain holding him back this time. "I’m…"

[Assistant] "And now that I’ve tediously laid it all out like that."

[User] “…Huh?” Subaru’s expression was grim as he struggled to figure out how to say something, anything in response.

[Assistant] Echidna merely spread her hands. "Yeah. Ana’s and my understanding of you is that you are an unknown, rookie knight who has achieved multiple great feats… That was where we stood until Pristella. But that impression changed a bit during the battle with the Witch Cult and the journey to this tower." Her tone was so light that it caught him off guard.

[User] ""I hope you can forgive me, but it’s only natural to feel a bit uneasy and on guard when we’re burning the midnight oil, just the two of us, together in a place where no one else can see." Crossing her arms, Echidna smiled as she cocked her head.

[Assistant] Subaru listened to her all the way to the end in stunned silence as he moved his dry lips, seriously struggling over how to take that. But while he was struggling with that, he noticed it.

[User] That she was clutching her hands on her knees tightly enough that her fingertips had gone pale. “…Are you…genuinely scared?”

[Assistant] "That’s an upsetting thing to say. What exactly is your relationship with Shaula?" She answered his question with another question.

[User] "I’ve never met her before. I don’t know anything about her."

[Assistant] "Is it really just coincidence that you solved the third floor’s examination that quickly?"

[User] “…It is…”

[Assistant] "And you just happened to notice a hidden passage and followed it when I happened to be here?" She pelted Subaru with sharp accusations.

[User] But the series of questions was telling Subaru something. "Imagine how I feel…"

[Assistant] "But even so, for various reasons, I calculate the likelihood that you are hostile to me to be low. I’d appreciate it if you considered the fact that I told you all that a demonstration of my sincerity." Putting her hand to her chest, Echidna explained what she was thinking.

[User] The more Subaru felt like the artificial spirit Echidna’s behavior matched the Witch of Greed Echidna, the harder it was for him to believe her no matter how much she demonstrated her sincerity. That was the residual stench of the Witch. "I…get…what you are saying. I…understand. Whether I believe you or not…is a different matter…"

[Assistant] "It is really obvious how conflicted you are."

[User] "For the sake of argument, say we met here by coincidence.


[User] "So then what is this place? Why do you think there’s a balcony here?"

[Assistant] "I have a theory about it. Three days ago…do you remember what happened in the desert?"

[User] "Three days ago, so before we reached the tower? It’s more than a little bit chaotic, but…"

[Assistant] "While we were being chased by oiran bears, we were attacked by a white light. Apparently, that was Shaula’s work, right? So that’s what this is."

[User] "Her vantage point for watching the desert?" Subaru snapped his fingers when Echidna finished. Her hypothesis made sense. And Shaula had used what she called her Hell’s Snipe to hit anyone who started to come close to the tower. Thinking about it, I had wondered where she did it from since there weren’t any windows or anything to look out from…

[Assistant] "Most likely, there are several places just like this one all around the tower’s outer wall. From the look of the desert out there, this isn’t the angle we approached from."

[User] "And the birds?"

[Assistant] "The birds are a puzzle. They don’t react when I touch them. But they do seem to have body warmth, so they aren’t fabrications. If possible, I’d like to autopsy one, but…" Looking down at the bird beside her, Echidna’s eyes were callous and cold. But she pulled her hand back and looked at her fingertips.

[User] "I can’t strain Ana’s body any more than I already have. It would be simple if you strangled the bird for me, but…"

[Assistant] "If it’s something that needs to happen at some point, then sure, I guess…" Since being summoned to this world a little over a year ago, Subaru had gotten used to hunting birds and wild rabbits. Of course, killing something for food was a far cry from killing it for an experiment…

[User] "Eating it after killing it would be more…"

[Assistant] "Right, there’s also the problem of food stores. So I’d like to request, say, twenty of them."

[User] "I’m sure they would start moving if I killed one, wouldn’t they?"

[Assistant] "…I can’t deny that." Echidna pensively covered her mouth when she heard Subaru’s concern. The birds did not react to their violent conversation. They simply watched the two outsiders in silence. Subaru stopped himself from going further down that line of thought when the idea of a sky burial came up.

[User] "If we’re doing that, we should make proper preparations first. For now, it can wait."

[Assistant] "They don’t seem like they’ll run away, either. Okay, that’s fine then. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine learning anything useful from examining these birds anyway."

[User] "Please stop saying things that make it sound like your inquisitiveness or lust for knowledge got the best of you."

[Assistant] "…?" Echidna really did not seem to know anything about the Witch’s temperament, but even so, the way her actions seemed to resemble the original made it impossible for Subaru to relax. So he ignored that and asked a question aimed more at the un-Witch-like spirit Echidna part.


[User] "I didn’t really check too deeply before, but what’s going on with Anastasia?"

[Assistant] “…No changes yet. Ana is still sleeping deep in this body. I’ve never inhabited her body this long, either, so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t getting anxious.”

[User] "Anxious?"

[Assistant] "Like I told you before." Echidna touched her borrowed body’s chest, implying that Anastasia was sleeping in that location as she closed her eyes. "It’s been a month now that I’ve been borrowing her body. I didn’t exactly take things lightly before, but…the feeling that her life is continually being shaved away is still heavy.”

[User] "So I have to give her body back to her as soon as possible." Echidna finished with that.

[Assistant] The details made Subaru realize that he had been taking their situation too casually. At the same time, Anastasia’s handicap felt almost too large. "Can she really take the throne with her body in that…messed-up condition?"

[User] "Do you mean that Ana should give up her right in favor of your master?"

[Assistant] “Gh! This isn’t a joke! That’s not what I meant at all! I—”

[User] "Ana will never withdraw. She won’t give up, either. I know that much."

[Assistant] Subaru stepped forward and raised his voice, but Echidna sharply cut him off. Overwhelmed by the force of it, Subaru blinked. And then slowly, carefully…

[User] “…Does Anastasia really want her own country that badly? Even if she might have to give it up again before long?”

[Assistant] "It might be shorter than the time an average person has, but Ana will use that short time far better than anyone else. And Ana has her own reason for not being able to give up on the throne."

[User] Subaru’s voice was weak.

[Assistant] Echidna’s was filled with faith in Anastasia. And the reason for not giving up that she mentioned. That was…

[User] "Because that is what she wants." At some point, Echidna had stood up straight and walked over to Subaru, standing face-to-face with him in the middle of the balcony. She said that while looking him straight in the eye. Subaru was frozen in place. It was a different sort of weight from the Pleiades’s examination pushing down on him. He could not move, and no words came to his lips. Echidna did not say anything, either. With the two of them frozen there, the only sound that split the night air was the beat of wings from behind, coming to join the resting flock. Another bird coming to the balcony… From behind…

[Assistant] Subaru had not moved from the start and still had the wall of the tower at his back. If the noise was coming from behind, then it was coming from inside the tower. Echidna and Subaru had been brought there by the flapping wings of a bird. So then naturally, a third set of wings would also…

[User] "What are…you talking about…?" A voice that sounded almost dumbfounded, as if some core belief had been shaken.


[User] At that sound, all the birds spread their wings at once and leaped into the air with a thunderous noise.

[Assistant] Taking to the night sky, toward the desert shrouded in darkness. Leaving Subaru and Echidna feeling as if they had been left behind on a deserted island. And Julius Juukulius as well.


[User] In the wake of the flock of birds leaving, an abyss descended over the balcony. The unnatural-seeming birds did not hesitate to spread their wings and leap into the dark sky. As if to say that falling into a sky that held no support was more comfortable than remaining there.

[Assistant] "What are you talking about?" The air was electric with tension as Julius repeated himself without stumbling over his words.


[Assistant] "Argh, Natsuki, stop it with that obvious look."

[User] "Huh?" While Subaru froze, Echidna smiled elegantly while poking his chest gently.

[Assistant] "Sorry, Julius, but we weren’t tryin’ to leave you out. I was just talkin’ with Natsuki a liiittle bit about some business for after we finish this trip."

[User] "We left the green room because Rem and the land dragon are there. I wasn’t really worried about them hearing, but it just feels strange talkin’ about secret things when other people are around, right? So we changed scenes…and just happened to stumble onto this place. That’s all." Putting her hands together in front of her chest, she cocked her head slightly.

[Assistant] "Beg your forgiveness."


[User] "You…are not Lady Anastasia, are you?”

[Assistant] "I…would like you to explain the situation. You cannot cover it up or hide it further. Even I cannot simply accept that any longer.” Julius interrogated Echidna head-on after a brief moment of hesitation.

[User] "That’s not—” Echidna started to argue, but—

[Assistant] “I was quite clear that I could not simply accept that.” Julius drew the sword that he had replaced for his broken one and pointed its tip at Echidna’s white neck.

[User] “Julius, wait! That’s…”

[Assistant] “You too, Subaru. I only wish to know the truth.” Entirely calmly, Julius asked them to come clean.

[User] Echidna caught her breath and could not move with the sword pointed at her. Her eyes looked at Subaru for some help, but he couldn’t think of any way of recovering, either.

[Assistant] “How much did you hear, Julius?”

[User] “…From the part regarding Lady Anastasia’s body.” Julius’s voice was hoarse as he answered the question. Whatever he had heard was more than enough to make him emotional and lose any semblance of calm. But even so, at least on the surface, he was still keeping his cool. Or else things had gone so far off the map that he had blown past getting emotional.

[Assistant] “…I’m an artificial spirit that has spent many years together with Ana. My name is Echidna.”

[User] "During the fighting with the cultists in Pristella and since then, Ana’s consciousness has been slumbering inside her body. Because of that, I am the one moving her body instead of her. I have been pretending to be her since that day.” Echidna had also decided that there was no way to cover things up once it got to that. She coolly, without any preface, began to explain things in a matter-of-fact tone. How she had switched with Anastasia during the fighting in Pristella and faced off against the Archbishop—and how Anastasia did not reawaken after the fighting was over. How she had hid that from Julius, Ricardo, and the rest of the Iron Fangs, and had set out for the Pleiades Watchtower in search of a way to restore Anastasia. —And that Subaru alone knew her secrets.


[Assistant] “…Why share them with just Subaru?”

[User] “He was unaffected by the Archbishop’s authority and was the most removed from the confusion of the moment. And he is a spirit mage contracted with Beatrice, an artificial spirit of a similar origin to mine. Though I did not particularly consider sharing everything at first, either. It was just…”

[Assistant] “… Just?”

[User] “…He saw through the fact that I was pretending to be Ana. So I told him.”

[Assistant] There was a powerful shock in Julius’s eyes as he heard how Subaru came to be the only one who knew that Echidna was inhabiting Anastasia’s body. The reason Echidna had hesitated for a moment had to be because she had expected that reaction. It was only natural.


[User] Subaru noticing Echidna’s pretense meant…

[Assistant] “So something that could be noticed by an outsider of minimal connection should have been noticed by the man who regarded himself as her first knight, huh…?”

[User] “Wait a second, dumbass! That isn’t a fair thing to say at all!”

[User] “The situation…the situation was just bad! It was already a huge enough incident, and you were already at wit’s end yourself! And not just you! Ricardo and Mimi and the rest of them were, too. Me noticing was just… It was just by chance!”

[Assistant] Latching onto Julius’s self-deprecating comment, Subaru tried to stop him from blaming himself, but he could not find anything to say to ease Julius’s feelings at not having performed his duty as her first knight.

[User] What could he have really done? Can he be blamed for it? With all his achievements, efforts, everything he had built up in his life as a knight crumbling like a castle of sand, fading from the minds of the master he had sworn fealty to, the comrades who he had sworn to raise her to the throne together with, the friends he had spent so much time fighting alongside as a knight, and so many others, how could anyone order him to stand back up? How could anyone expect him to be resolute? To be refined? To behave like a proper first knight? Who could do that?

[Assistant] If being a knight meant not being allowed to be hurt like every other human was allowed to be hurt, then being a knight was a curse on Julius Juukulius.

[User] “It is the job of a first knight to always elevate such chance accidents into something more definite.”

[Assistant] “Gh! What is a first knight supposed to be… If that’s it, then a pain-in-the-ass title like that is better off—”

[User] “Don’t tell me to discard it, please. I… Right now, the thought of even a single thing slipping away from me is absolutely terrifying.”

[Assistant] Subaru’s random attempt at consolation was easily swatted aside by the ideals of chivalry that Julius lived by.

[User] The feelings Subaru wanted to vent stopped in the back of his throat, and he could not say anything as Julius shook his head.

[Assistant] “Returning to the subject at hand… Echidna, what is your goal?”

[User] “…To return this body to Ana. The primary reason I guided us to the Pleiades Watchtower was that rather than the victims of Gluttony and Lust.”

[Assistant] “So you do not desire the present state of affairs. Which means you have not found a means of restoring Lady Anastasia… What if I were to kill you?” Julius’s eyes narrowed as he asked a dangerous question made all the more threatening by his sword still being pointed at Echidna.

[User] She averted her eyes and touched her breast.

[Assistant] “I do not have any way to prove that I am not just an evil spirit that is making up excuses in order to take over Ana’s body."


[User] "So if you decide that I am lying and try to exterminate me, I can’t stop you.” Pausing for a moment there.

[Assistant] “But the most likely case would be that Ana’s consciousness would not return, leaving just a husk of her former self… In the worst case, it might disrupt her bodily functions, and she could even die.” She answered Julius’s hypothesis with her opinion and then raised her hands. “Of course, that could just be me saying whatever I can in order to avoid dying. I cannot say for sure that my death would not resolve things. If that would grant Ana a long life, then I would not mind it. I don’t want to die, though.”

[User] “Why would you go so far for Lady Anastasia?”

[Assistant] “Ana and I are incomplete. The relationship between a standard spirit and spirit mage might not be the right parallel to use as a comparison, but…” Echidna looked between Julius and Subaru. As if jealous of the two of them who were able to have proper relations with spirits. “I love Ana. I’ve been by her side since she was just a small child. So I don’t ever want to abandon her. I want her to be happy. That’s my reason.”

[User] “Julius, the reason I didn’t tell you the truth is because I didn’t want to cause any unnecessary confusion. Ana wanted to keep my existence secret if at all possible, and she successfully did until the events in Pristella. All thanks to her stubbornness.”

[Assistant] But that secret, years in the making, came out because of the clash with the Witch Cult. Not only that, the price of her secret had put her life in danger…

[User] “I…understand your relationship with Lady Anastasia.” The sword at Echidna’s throat slowly withdrew. It slid audibly into its sheath as Julius looked down, his long eyelashes framing his fallen eyes. “It is difficult to believe all of it, but believe it I must. At the very least, it would be rash to act hastily against you at the moment.”

[Assistant] “I…see. I’m glad you are taking it rationally, Julius. I’m sure Ana would be happy, too.”

[User] Letting go of the hilt of his sword, Julius was silent, not answering Echidna’s words. But it was something far removed from acceptance. He still had deep feelings of embarrassment over what had happened. But he brushed that regret aside with a blink of his eyes. “I would like to confirm: If you are manifesting by using Lady Anastasia’s Odo…then the more you exert yourself, the more burden is placed on her body. Correct?”

[Assistant] “It is. Your understanding is correct. Eating balanced meals, getting a good night’s sleep, some light exercise…just general good health practices, but those are best for minimizing the amount of Odo used.”

[User] "I see. In which case…why did you do something so rash on the second floor?”

[Assistant] “The burden that outburst placed on Lady Anastasia’s body could not have been light."


[User] "That’s…" Julius’s observation was correct, and it was a thing that had bothered Subaru, too.

[Assistant] Echidna bowed at the waist. "I’m sorry. I blundered. Um, it’s embarrassing saying this as an amateur, but it was a strategic decision."

[User] "A strategic decision?"

[Assistant] "At that point, I did not know anything about whether the examiner intended to kill or not. In the worst case, we might have completely lost the combat potential you represented. And Reid Astrea had his back to me… It looked like a chance. Though, not only did it not turn out well, it actually caused more problems. So…sorry." With that, Echidna raised her body.

[User] "Understood. I would ask you to refrain from rash acts going forward. For Lady Anastasia’s sake."

[Assistant] "I understand."

[User] "Wha—? !" Subaru’s eyes widened at their exchange, and he stomped the ground.

[Assistant] "How can you just accept—?"

[User] "I accepted it. And Echidna has agreed to refrain from rash acts going forward. What more is to be said? Apologies for your being caught up in this due to the circumstances. However, this is a problem between the two of us as members of Lady Anastasia’s faction. It is not something for you to trouble yourself over."

[Assistant] Subaru grit his teeth. "It’s my choice how I take things!"

[User] "So you may take things as you wish, but you won’t allow me to address my own problems? …Like how you chose not to tell me about Lady Anastasia and Echidna?"

[Assistant] "Ngh."

[User] "Apologies, I’ve said too much… But it is the truth." With that cold, quiet counter, Julius looked away.


[User] "I have no intention of arguing. For Lady Anastasia’s sake, it is necessary to find a means of resolving this situation as soon as possible. Echidna, I would like to get your full and complete support in that as well."

[Assistant] "…Yes. Given I couldn’t hide it from you, there’s not much reason for me to keep pretending to be Ana. Of course, only if I have your permission to speak in my own voice using Ana’s body."

[User] "It matters not. It will just be an even greater spur for me to work to return Lady Anastasia." It was a terribly self-harming resolve, and Echidna looked saddened by it. But Julius was looking up at the sky and couldn’t see it. For the first time, he seemed to realize that the miasma did not block the night sky from the balcony, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at the twinkling stars. "There is no reason to stay here any longer. We should return inside. Tomorrow, we must tell Lady Emilia and the others about Lady Anastasia’s body and the truth about Echidna."

[Assistant] "Okay, I understand. I’ll prepare myself for that." With that, Julius gently took Echidna’s hand as she started moving. It was surely the exact same action he would have taken for Anastasia. Whatever the contents of the body, his fidelity to Anastasia was unchanged. Even if she was slumbering deep inside her own body, and even if she had forgotten him completely.

[User] "Julius!" Feeling a sharp pain as he watched him go, Subaru called out. Being forgotten from others’ memories, but them still remaining in your own head. Clinging to those feelings and desperately struggling… I understand that path painfully well. "Even if I’m forgotten, I will never forget." That feeling alone can be enough to spur you on.

[Assistant] Julius stopped but did not turn around, still holding Echidna’s hand. despite the fact that his heart must have been on the verge of breaking, he remained agonizingly straight and tall, and that really annoyed Subaru for some reason. "Do you really not have anything to say to me?" He had kept quiet about Echidna, about Anastasia’s body. Just hours earlier, he had promised to switch out time in the green room with Julius, only to break that promise and have a secret conversation with Echidna on the balcony. He could explain it. He had his reasons. It had not been done maliciously. But malicious or not, reasons or not, excuses or not, that would not set a heart free. So just scream and shout and curse. Vent your anger at me. Subaru did not know if that was really for Julius’s sake or just for the sake of his own guilty conscience. And Julius would surely never do that. He wouldn’t scream and vent his grievances…

[User] "—I do."

[User] "I understand.


[User] "I understand what you were thinking, why you hid the truth from me. I know it would never be done maliciously. It was only out of concern and consideration for me. And I agree with your judgment. Were I in your position, I would probably not have told you, either."

[Assistant] "…But even so…" He looked up to the sky, and he struggled to speak. "…I did not want you or Lady Anastasia to think me unfit as a knight.”


[Assistant] "—Barusu?" Stopping at the unexpected sound, he saw Ram ahead of him in the hallway. Out for a late-night stroll, she looked Subaru up and down with her pink eyes. "You look quite dejected. Disgraceful."

[User] "…Big Sis?"

[Assistant] "…That was fast. What are you doing at a time like this?”

[User] “I could ask you the exact same thing… But I can imagine what you’ve been doing until now perfectly well.” Subaru’s cheeks tensed. Seeing that, Ram shrugged. “I’m sure you were grumbling your pointless complaints to Rem. No matter how cute and magnanimous my sister is, you should stop foisting all your hardest problems onto her.”

[Assistant] "…Ahh, that. Well, yeah."

[Assistant] His eyes widened slightly at the Ram-like objection, and then he smiled bitterly. It wasn’t as if she had guessed what he was thinking, but it was a prediction based on what he had done day in and day out for so long. She was right. He had passed more than a few nights beside Rem. I even did tonight, too. It’s natural she would assume I’m coming back from that. But it wasn’t just that today…

[User] "Stop looking so pathetic."

[Assistant] "Agh."

[User] “Dejected, pathetic. You are already a vulgar man, and that only makes it worse. You’ll bring Lady Emilia’s dignity into question for having you as her knight. Shape up.” Ram flicked his forehead as he looked down. The force of it made his eyes water, but his complaint was silenced, seeing Ram snort in disinterest. If anything, he was relieved…

[Assistant] "…I dunno, but that’s just like you, Ram."

[User] "Hah."


[User] "Spare me your sickening thoughts.” Ram’s expression furrowed in heartfelt disgust as Subaru rubbed his forehead.

[Assistant] "So what have you been doing, Ram?”

[User] “Obscene.”


[User] "Don’t try to end the conversation there. It was just getting started…" Shrugging at that bristling response, Subaru exhales a bit and then looks behind Ram—toward where she had been walking from. The fourth floor was fairly big, but there were not really many eye-catching points, either. Just the green room, the luggage that had been brought up from the carriage, and…

[Assistant] “…The stairs to the second floor?”

[Assistant] “You didn’t go up there by yourself, did you?”

[User] “Relax. I’m not that reckless. Even if I didn’t see him for myself, I’m not so pretentious to think I can do something about Reid Astrea on my own.”

[Assistant] Subaru’s lips curl as he has a bad premonition, but Ram denies it as if the idea was laughable. He could see a bit of unhappiness at Julius’s rash decision peeking through, but bringing that up would just be picking at the thorns sticking into his own heart. “I see, so something happened with Sir Julius. A fight?”

[User] “Am I really that easy to read?”

[Assistant] “A combination of you being easy to read and Ram being too wise. The latter is the more important factor, so you don’t need to worry… Actually, no, you should worry about being easy to read, too. If you are ever tortured, they will discover all our secrets in no time.”

[User] “That torture scenario is too scary.” Subaru kneads his cheeks, but Ram just narrows her eyes.

[Assistant] Realizing that she had meant it fairly seriously, Subaru shudders. Certainly, considering his position, either as part of the royal selection or just people hostile to Emilia more generally, it wasn’t impossible that someone would try something as outrageous at that. I’ll keep that in mind. "But that aside, why are you here then…?"

[User] “I didn’t go up to the second floor… I just tried to go up.”

[Assistant] “Didn’t you just say you weren’t that reckless? Don’t tell me you were trying to catch him sleeping.” Subaru did not mind the attitude of using whatever it took to win. He could understand if Ram had that in mind and had been waiting for Reid to go to sleep so she could sneak in and kill him. The problem was even if they could pull off a sneak attack like that, it wasn’t like they could do something about him just because he happened to be asleep.

[User] “Unfortunately, that sort of attack is impossible. I turned back partway up the stairs. That is just how monstrous he is. He makes Garf look cute.”

[Assistant] “Garfiel is pretty cute once he gets attached to you…”

[User] "I’m not talking about behavior—I mean their threat level."

[Assistant] That would mean she wasn’t denying that he acted cute, but they were in the middle of a serious conversation, so Subaru furrows his brow without touching on that. “I’m sure of it. If we don’t hold back at all, then he’ll just respond in kind.


[User] "As we discussed, we will have to find a way to satisfy him without making him get serious.”

[Assistant] “…You went up to the second floor alone just to confirm that?”

[User] “Don’t make me repeat myself. I didn’t go up to the second floor. It is too difficult for me as I am now.” Acknowledging a plain and simple lack of strength on her part, Ram was warning him that proper preparations would be vital in order to challenge the second floor.

[Assistant] Hearing that they would have to take their time reminded Subaru of the conversation with Echidna and Julius, darkening his expression. "Barusu?”

[User] “Hmm? Ah, it’s nothing… Well, not nothing, but for now it’ll have to wait. There’ll probably be more to say about it tomorrow, though.”

[Assistant] “That’s rather cryptic.”

[User] “As much as I’d like to say more, it’s not my place to talk about it. If I don’t at least do that much, there will be no coming back from it.” It was already a fissure that might not be recoverable. He did not want to go hammering the wedge even deeper into it.

[Assistant] Ram did not seem to be convinced by his weak attitude, but she relented. “Either way, the second floor… Finding a way to get past Reid will take time. At the very least, it would have been better if Shaula had known anything even a bit more useful.”

[User] “Well, her not being much help on this is true, but don’t take it too far. If she didn’t help us, we both would have been charred ash down under the sand.”

[Assistant] Thinking about that was enough to make him more willing to cast a kind eye on her sham Sage act. It would be weirder to clear an exam with the help of the examiner anyway.

[User] “Say all the sweet things you want, but there will come a time when you hit a dead end.”

[Assistant] “I don’t insist on being perfectly righteous, either. I just take it case by case… This time doesn’t cross the line for me yet is all.”

[User] “How carefree. Ram can’t take such an easygoing stance.” Making her dissatisfaction known, Ram shrugged helplessly. And she slowly turned around.

[Assistant] “Ram should sleep soon, or it will cause issues tomorrow. I’m going back to the carriage.”

[User] “Ah, yeah. Um, I…” It was hard to explain why it was hard for him to go back.

[Assistant] While he was struggling to respond, Ram just turned her head and sighed. “Do as you please. If you hold us back because of your lack of sleep, I’ll twist it off.”

[User] “Yeah, sorry… Wait, twist off what? !”

[Assistant] “I’ll leave that to your imagination.” Waving her hand, Ram walked toward the stairs going down. Not touching on the areas he did not want to deal with and counting on his ability to help himself stand back up was her own way of showing her concern.


[User] Watching her slender back move away, Subaru raised his hand, even knowing she could not see it. "Good night, Big Sis. See you tomorrow.”

[Assistant] “…Ram isn’t your big sister. Stop calling me that.” Lately her refusals have been losing strength. Like she’s gradually getting to the point where she’s just reluctant to admit it.

[User] Saying that, Ram disappeared down the hall, and Subaru cracked his neck.

[Assistant] “Now what to do…” I can’t go back to the carriage. And going to the green room is hard, too. In which case, I need a place where I can either rest until tomorrow or else someplace where I can do something useful. “If I’m just sleeping, then any room works, but…” The room where the luggage had been left that had served as both meeting room and dining room would work for option one. The luggage had been set out without too much thought, so he could push some things together to make a bed. It would be a little uncomfortable, but he could accept that as just deserts for what he had done. As for option two… “Thinking about how to handle Reid.” Honestly, that would be the most constructive thing. There are a lot of problems right now that would be a lot closer to being resolved if we finish clearing this tower. And I can’t say for sure, but it would probably be a big change for the better in the current situation. Like they had discussed earlier, the plan for dealing with Reid was to find some method of making him genuinely satisfied without him getting serious, a rather vague concept. At the very least, if we could firm it up a little bit… “—Right.” As he was thinking that, Subaru snapped his fingers. A eureka moment struck, and he decided where to go. “If this works well…” He could not say for sure, but it definitely had the potential to move things forward by a giant leap. Getting excited at that thought, Subaru quickly hurried there.