A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 5 - Part 22

"You're a disconcerting person, Leandro Lagostena. I've never doubted my Divine Protection so much as I do right now. Do you really think you can pull off such an unprecedented feat? Not only do you intend to kill one of the three great mabeasts, but you're convinced you can do it without losing a single life during the battle. How can you think like that when you're sane? Or have you gone mad?"

"I'm a little crazy, but crazy doesn't make me stupid, it actually enhances my imagination."

Crusch nodded, still smiling at me.

"It takes a great deal of imagination to have such a conviction. If what you claim is true, what do you want in exchange for those weapons?"

My face darkened noticeably, and the air around me seemed to chill. I'd been practicing my act to make this feel real.

"I want you to lend me a portion of your forces to repel an invasion of the Witch Cult into Roswaal Mathers' lands."

Hatred seeped through my voice like drops of water through a crack. The intensity of my gaze was comparable to Wilhelm's when the White Whale was mentioned.

"I see, that makes sense." Crusch commented. "Are they already there?"

"No, but I know they'll be there soon. Emilia has just become a public figure, after all."

The Duchess narrowed her eyes for a moment, looking at me with a hint of understanding.

"Is that why you approached Emilia? You knew from the beginning that the Cult would attack her, and you want to use her as bait?"

"That's one of the things that motivated me, yes."

"It seems I've underestimated you. You have a fearsome mentality."

Again, Crusch changed her opinion of me in amazement.

"However, what your proposal implies is that my faction collaborates with Emilia's. What makes you think what you're offering is enough for me?"

"I haven't told you everything yet. I know exactly where, when, and when the White Whale will appear."

Once again, my words shocked everyone present, except for Rem, who was already aware of this information.

"But I also thought this might not be good enough. So I brought something else to the table."

Just like Subaru, I offered a share of the magic stone mining rights in Elior Forest, in Roswaal's domain. I was happy to think I was making the damn clown lose money.

However, Duchess Karsten was still not satisfied.

"One last question. How do you know the details of the White Whale's next appearance?"

"Let's just say I'm pretty good at guessing what might or might happen in the future."

My answer was short and ambiguous, but Crusch didn't protest this time. I wasn't lying, so I had the right to say only what was necessary.

Furthermore, my honesty was backed up by everything I'd said under lie detection. Crusch knew this, and found it disconcerting.

"The future?" She grimaced. "I really don't want to doubt my Divine Protection, but this isn't helping..."

"I know, I'm amazing, aren't I?" I winked at her.

"Just a little." She unexpectedly joined in. "Don't let it go to your head."

"We will achieve victory without a hitch. Even if I have to die, I will make sure everything goes smoothly."

I stood up and approached her with an outstretched hand.

"And that's not a lie either, huh?"

Raising an eyebrow in surprise, Crusch accepted my handshake to seal the deal.

***

I was at Crusch's residence, hours before departure.

"Come on, Leandro, choose nya."

"I remember this."

I was seeing a good number of earth dragons lined up. I had to take one to use as a mount during the expedition.

I didn't waste any time on them and searched for one in particular. I finally found it: a familiar black dragon, the slender type, with beautiful golden eyes that emitted a serene gaze.

"Hi, we've met before."

I placed my hand in front of her, and as I expected, the dragon gently pressed her head against my palm. I laughed happily and scratched her chin like she was a kitten.

"Wow, it's just like Grandpa Wil said." Felix murmured, seeing my interaction with the dragon.

"I chose her. Her name will be Patrasche."

Although I could have given him another name, I felt it would have been disrespectful to do so. Anyway, I was already used to that name; there was no point in changing it to a new one.

"Her?" Rem looked at Patrasche when she learned her gender.

"Oh, you have experience with earth dragons?" Felix tried to guess.

"Not exactly." I petted Patrasche a little more and then walked away. "I'll be back soon."

Felix stayed behind, and we returned to the mansion, where quite a few soldiers had already gathered; Anastasia and her mercenaries were also there.

She and Russell lent me their assistance with this plan, partly out of gratitude and partly out of convenience.

"So you're the boy who saved the boss! My name is Ricardo, Captain of the Steel Fangs!"

A towering beastman with canine features came to greet me. I smiled and reached out to pat him on the head, as if he were an ordinary dog.

"Good boy."

My peripheral vision caught Anastasia covering her mouth at my boldness. The furry man opened and closed his mouth in embarrassment.

"You just..."

Ricardo spoke slowly, his gaze hidden under a shadow and his voice intimidatingly deep.

Beside me, Rem prepared to defend me if the mercenary decided to attack. But what happened next was very curious.

"Man, that was unexpected! You sure know how to say hello!"

Ricardo burst into laughter, splattering saliva all over my face. With some difficulty, I kept my poker face and wiped the substance away with my hand.

He slapped me back, but on the back. My body suffered the impact of what felt like a sledgehammer blow to my spine. Still, I didn't make a sound to betray my pain.

"This son of a bitch is so strong... He almost took my lungs out with that slap."

I had to put up with Ricardo until Crusch appeared, commanding attention with her presence. After her came the veterans Wilhelm had summoned.

One of them came up to thank me for making his desire for revenge possible, which made me feel uncomfortable, but not because of the situation itself.

Every time something like in canon happened, I felt like an imposter taking Subaru's place.

It was uncomfortable living someone else's life, but it wasn't like I was doing it on purpose. Subaru wasn't here, so I took his place.

After a while, Crusch determined it was time to leave and gave a motivational speech that lifted the spirits of the soldiers, both the young ones who were nervous and the veterans eager to get to work.

"Now the hard part is really going to start..."

I clenched my hands tightly, trying to give myself courage and stop my body from trembling. I had to prepare myself for what was coming.

So, we finally headed to Lifaus Road, heading for the Great Flugel Tree.

"Time to speedrun."