A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 3 - Part 14

"Fuck off." I stood behind him and spanked his ass with my sword... the wooden one.

"What do you think you're doing, nya?!" He yelled in my face, blushing.

"Just giving in to my intrusive thoughts." I looked away and whistled.

"You can't spank Ferri! I'm not a girl, you pervert!"

"What's wrong, do you have fragile masculinity?"

The cat boy dug his claws into my shoulders and shook me.

"Apologize right now and promise not to do it again!"

"Sorry, I won't do it again. Not with weapons."

"You were thinking something weird, weren't you!?"

"I didn't do it." I lied.

"Yes, you did." A familiar, powerful voice spoke from behind Felix. It was a girl with dark green hair and orange eyes.

"Lady Crusch... It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ignoring the fact that she detected and exposed my lie, I bowed respectfully to greet her.

"I was looking forward to speaking with you, especially after hearing your debate with Mr. Rickert."

"Are you referring to the official with the thick mustache?"

Crusch gave a slight smile upon hearing my description of the man.

"That's the one. By pointing out the contradiction between questioning the Dragon Tablet and defending the Pact tooth and nail, you managed to trip them up over their own words. It was very clever."

"I was just pointing out the obvious." I dismissed the compliment modestly. "Anyone who isn't blinded by arrogance can see that. The problem is that not all the conference guests possessed that virtue."

Knowing what Crusch was like, I changed my vocabulary to aristocratic mode.

"Although it's not elegant to say it, you're right. By the way, I'd like you to visit my house when you can." Before I could get my hopes up as usual, Crusch explained. "Sir Wilhelm expressed his desire to see you again, so you can meet him there."

"I'm honored. I assure you I'll go, Lady Crusch."

Then I changed my tone of voice to a more casual one, looking her straight in the eyes.

"Anyway, I'd already thought about paying you a visit."

***

Since there were a few hours left before the return trip, Emilia and I went for a little walk around the city.

"I couldn't believe it when they told me you were fighting Julius!"

"Why? Were you afraid I'd embarrass you by losing the fight?"

"I did think you might lose, but what worried me was why you were fighting. I thought you two..."

"Oh, I see." I laughed. "Did you think we were fighting over you? What a self-centered girl! Even if you are a beautiful half-elf, that's very immodest of you."

"I never thought of anything like that!" Emilia waved her hands, embarrassed by my comments. "Besides, I don't understand how you can say 'beautiful' and 'half-elf' in the same sentence. It doesn't make sense."

"Of course that makes sense! Haven't you looked in a mirror? You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

I smiled, delighted by the blush on Emilia's face as I continued to compliment her appearance. Although she was embarrassed, I was very nervous. It didn't show in my expressions or my breathing, but the crazy heartbeat in my chest was evidence of the strange love Emilia made me feel.

"If you put on that cute face, you'll make me want to say those things to you all the time."

"No way! If you do that, I'll... I'll cool your food with my magic!"

Did she just call me a glutton? Well, she's not wrong about that.

"It's a sacrifice I'm willing to accept."

"Boo! You're a dunce!"

Just now, the perfect girl from a fantasy world got childishly angry and called me a 'dunce'.

God, thank you for remembering that I am your son. I promise I will honor your kindness by getting a harem and dressing my women like nuns for my- for your pleasure.

Ah, that's not a realistic thought. Let's return to the not-so-pleasing reality.

"Leandro, look over there!"

Suddenly, Emilia pointed to a spot where quite a few people were gathered. We looked at each other and nodded simultaneously before running into the crowd.

I noticed Kadomon among the people gathered. Isn't this supposed to be his work schedule? Did he take a break or something? Bah, none of my business.

"Mr. Kadomon!" I slapped him on the back to get his attention. "What happened here?"

"Something quite serious, lad." His expression was grim. "The head of the merchants' guild, Russell Fellow... He was found dead in his office."

"Oh, that makes sense. The death of such a figure could have a huge impact on the city's economy, and even the entire kingdom... Wait a second. Russell Fellow, you said?"

In response, Kadomon nodded. At that moment, I had a bad feeling that manifested itself as a chill spreading throughout my body.

That name was very familiar. He wasn't just an extra, nor a 'new' character like Nadir.

Looking back, I remembered him as the blond man who had helped Subaru make a deal with Crusch. He was a significant figure.

"This shouldn't have happened."

Somehow, I managed to make my way to the scene's focal point. There lay the body, lying on a stretcher covered with a blanket.

There were some uniformed men standing around him. They were knights.

I looked for someone I recognized among them. Luckily, I saw Felix walking into the building. Steeling myself, I decided to go inside.

"Sorry, no civilians are allowed inside." One of the knights stopped me firmly.

"I'm not a civilian. Felix, tell your friend to let me through!"

The cat boy turned around in surprise upon hearing my voice.

"Leandro? What are you doing here nya?"

"Investigation! Please let me help!"

I clasped my hands and looked at the femboy with my best puppy face. He sighed and gestured to the knight at the entrance, who immediately moved away.

"Thank you."

I nodded to the knight, who was just doing his job. Then I approached Felix.

"Do you have any idea what happened to Mr. Russell?"

"It's very strange... His injuries are something I've never seen before. We also found these on his body; some were on the floor and others were embedded in the office wall."

He showed me some used revolver bullets, stained with blood, of course. I almost threw up.

"Leandro? Are you okay, nya? You've gone pale."

"Fuck... Holy shit!"

I wanted to rip my scalp off with pure rage and remorse at that moment. I didn't need to examine Russell's body to know what kind of injuries he had... and what weapon had caused them.