human
Subaru:  “What should I do to call it out?”
gpt
Ram:  “She responds to the name Ia. As she cannot respond to commands that are too complex or beyond her power, please do not forget to be as considerate as when approaching any lady.”
human
Subaru:  Apparently, in other words, read the mood—not Subaru’s strong suit.
gpt
Ram:  “Now then, Barusu, will you finally put your cowardice aside?” Ram, looking tired of waiting, cut into the pair’s conversation. She was leaning on a fence, and her jaw was firm as she indicated the road running from the village to the mansion.
human
Ram:  “Or do you intend to let a defenseless girl, her mana all used up, walk such a dangerous mountain road alone?”
gpt
Subaru:  “More like you ran out of gas doing friendly fire. To be honest, I didn’t know you had that in you…” He was genuinely surprised at her combat ability. She could even take Wilhelm on, if only for a short period. However, he could not wipe away his disappointment—including at how a crucial scene had gone up in smoke.
human
Ram:  “Had Master Wilhelm been at full strength, I would not have lasted ten seconds. After all, my power has fallen two steps…no, four steps from its peak.”
gpt
Subaru:  “Why’d you make it double Wilhelm’s? Stubbornness?”
human
Ram:  “Pride.”
gpt
Subaru:  It was an exceptionally Ram-like statement, and for that matter, it was likely the literal truth. Subaru couldn’t even imagine how astounding Ram had been before she had lost her horn.
human
Subaru:  “That probably accounts for why Rem dwelled on it so much…”
gpt
Ram:  “Did you say something, Barusu?”
human
Subaru:  “Nothing at all, Big Sis. If I spill the beans that much, it’ll make for more scary people to deal with.”
gpt
Ram:  “—?” Ram was suspicious about his demeanor, but Subaru avoided saying any more at that juncture. He was hesitating about Rem—her little sister—and all the feelings Subaru bore toward her. More than any other, it was thanks to Rem that Subaru had overcome his trials at the royal capital and was standing there. In that moment, the importance of Rem’s existence rivaled that of Emilia’s inside Subaru. But considering the time and place, explaining those difficult-to-describe emotions to her older sister just wasn’t happening there and then. He could face that, and all the other concerns, after everyone had overcome the current state of affairs.
human
Subaru:  “We have to explain the alliance, too, so we should grab Ferris and head to the mansion, huh?” Someone from the Crusch camp was required for smoothly clearing up the misunderstanding from the letter of goodwill incident. They’d leave most of the expeditionary force to guard the villagers, with several heavy hitters joining him on his way up to the mansion.
gpt
Subaru:  “So about Ferris… What’s he up to anyway?” Subaru, searching for any sight of the kitty-eared knight in the village, finally spotted him at a corner of the village square. There rested the merchants’ dragon carriages in a line; Ferris was surrounded by their owners, engaged in some kind of argument.