human
Julius:  "But you are likely right to be concerned.”
gpt
Julius:  The pair’s shoulders sank together as he agreed with Subaru’s concerns.
human
Subaru:  Looking at them now, he couldn’t tell how many had the courage not to flinch from involvement with the Witch Cult. “Well, having them run off is bad. We’d lose the hauling capacity, but more importantly, I don’t want the leftovers to get wind that something’s up.”
gpt
Subaru:  It was callous, but they were already involved in a callous situation. If ignorance helped them get cooperation on happier terms, it was doubtless better for both sides. “You don’t like what I’m thinking, do you?”
human
Julius:  “I would not call it elegant. But I am not foolish enough to dwell on that in an emergency. Everything has a time and a place. And in this case, I believe the conditions of time and place have been fulfilled.”
gpt
Subaru:  “Roundabout, but that’s a yes, huh?” Accepting Julius’s roundabout consent, Subaru met the eyes of the other expeditionary force members to see what they thought of the matter.
human
Subaru:  Fortunately, Wilhelm and Ferris did not raise opinions to the contrary; thus, the proposal to explain the circumstances while glossing over the important parts passed by consensus. “To begin with, it’s possible I have to lie to the villagers to get them evacuated, too, so maybe I should just think of this as a rehearsal…” Concealing the involvement of the Witch Cult was a necessary measure to avoid needless panic. Subaru told himself that for his own benefit as he stepped in the direction of the nervous merchants. “Er, thank you very much for coming all this way. Since I’m the one who sent for you, I’ll explain the circumstances.”
gpt
Merchants:  "…You did?” Seeing Subaru step forward as a representative, the traveling merchants looked at one another with surprised faces.
human
Subaru:  Their reaction brought a pained smile over Subaru as he recalled the leading lights in the expeditionary force. With the aged Wilhelm and the chivalrous Julius present, no one had expected Subaru to represent them. Accepting that as the natural reaction, Subaru switched mental gears. When he did so, he realized that the lineup of traveling merchants contained familiar faces, particularly one smack in the middle of them. “You’re…right, I don’t remember your name, but you introduced me to Otto the first time. And a bunch of others were helping out when I ran into the White Whale for the first time.”
gpt
Merchant:  "First time? White Whale? What are you talking about?”
human
Subaru:  “Sorry, just talking to myself. So about what’s gonna happen from here on out…” His deeply moved words threw the man off, but Subaru papered it over with a smile. Incidentally, he searched to see if Otto was among the traveling merchants, but apparently, he was not. Apparently, the connection between his fate and that of the young man hauling a large amount of oil had been severed.