Chapter 79: Rooftop Guardian
A/N: Hello again everyone! Here's this weeks chapter. I hope you all enjoyed last weeks debut. I'm working diligently on getting ACT IV (arc 4) written up as well! Hopefully with so many chapters this go around it won't take me so long of a hiatus next time.
Again, if any of you are confused on the events, this follows how Arc 3 began in the Manga version of the story, which had a lot of anime cut content. This chapter also features a tiny EX novels/Arc 7 spoiler in it, surprisingly. If any of you have kept up the Short Story releases (The "Provisional Paranoia" series released with Light Novels) you will also recognize it from there and see it's impact here. If aren't caught up that far, no worries, you will probably not even notice it! (Its that small, but like I promised in the very first chapter, I will warn you all of them, no matter how small!)
I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
***
Having bid the knight Julius farewell and giving him her thanks for his assistance, Emilia returned to an empty square outside of the Guard House.
Emilia: — — —
Poking his gray head out from her cloak, Puck spoke to the silent half-elf.
Puck: Looks like they ran off.
Emilia: I can understand Subaru running off... he's like that. But YN too?
Putting a paw to his chin, Puck theorized as to what had happened.
Puck: Maybe Subaru ran off and YN chased him? He'd try and bring him back.
Holding the green crystal around her neck, Emilia shook her head.
Emilia: I don't think so. YN would have succeeded in keeping Subaru here. If they're both gone, that can only mean he ran off with him.
Unsure of what to say to his daughter, Puck held his tongue long enough for Emilia to steel herself.
Emilia: Those dunderheads! We should go track them down.
Putting her hood back up, Emilia swiftly departed the square, hoping to find her two confidants and get a good explanation as to why they had disobeyed her request.
***
Taking cover behind a ruined wall, YN motioned for the woman in red and Subaru to join in with him.
In their efforts to escape the three, they had been pursued further away from the center of the Capitol, and into more and more ruined and slummy areas. While this gave them more opportunities for hiding and more routes to take, it had also chiefly worked against them.
YN: —Tch, there's a dozen or more now...
Peeping out from cover, YN could see the trio of thugs had grown into a small gang. As they had gone further into the slums, the thugs had called to their other companions to join them on the hunt.
YN: We're out of places to run now...
With the size of the group, they had them flanked on all sides. Each of the original trio it seemed was leading a small band of their own. Two groups were guarding the alleyway on either side of them, and a third was nearby on the opposite of the ruined building they currently hid inside of, cutting off any worthwhile attempt they could make to sneak through to the next alley over.
Hoping to only embed themselves further into the building they currently hid, YN kept watch while Subaru and the orange haired woman went further inside.
Watching as they approached more, Subaru suddenly returned.
Subaru: Hey, you're not going to believe who we found.
Turning to Subaru, YN raised a brow.
YN: 'Who?'
Not saying "what" or any other word that could be understood as finding some other object, Subaru had clearly meant they had found a person.
Leaving his vantage point, YN followed Subaru into the next room of the ruined structure.
???: Just how many more people do you plan on bringing in here? This isn't a hostel, damn it!
Subaru: Shhh!
Shushing the loud man's words, YN recognized the voice.
That's...
Sitting on the ground, the bald giant with large bushy eyebrows from YN's first day in this new world had once more appeared.
YN: Old Man Rom, wasn't it? It's good to see you again. Are you well?
Rom: Yeah that's me. I'm doing as best as I can with the loot house gone through. Glad to see you're breathing though, last I saw of you, you were down for the count.
Calming his voice as he addressed YN, he recalled the state he had been in when Reinhard had gone to launch his attack at the Gut Hunter.
That's right, it felt like I had the wind sucked out of me, but rather it was all from mana flooding inside my body.
But before YN could give it any more thought, Rom raised his voice once more as he turned his attention back to Subaru.
Rom: Now do you mind telling me how you got the entire neighborhood wanting your heads on a spike? And why is it you both seem to be getting involved with all sorts of lady-friends?
Woman: Do not look upon mineself with such eyes, you gnarled old tree.
Rom: Brat...
Unsure of how the rest of the conversation was about to go over, a new voice at the entrance where YN and the others had set foot in the ruined building could be heard.
???: I heard something here! It might be them!
Subaru: Damn it. Hey, Old Man—
Having already got up, Rom gestured them into a nearby enclosed space that appeared to have at one point been a room. The giant, who was almost too tall to stand in the room, picked up a large piece of rubble, and placed it in front of the opening to the space the three had been ushered inside of, sealing them inside and hopefully hiding that there was an opening here in the first place.
Rom: Now all of you keep quiet and let me do the talking.
Returning to where he sat, the three heard footsteps approach into the area where Rom was.
???: Hey! In here—!
Rom: Do you lot want something? Or do you gutter rats not even knock when you barge into an old man's house?
???: Well well, if it isn't Grandpa Cromwell's new place of residence. You seen three idiots pass by here? One in a suit, one who looks like a worker, and one was a girl with a seriously big pair of—
Rom: The only three idiots I would have seen around here is if those other two were with you.
???: —Tch.
Recognizing the voice, it was the largest of the three thugs who YN had caught the fist of.
???: Yeah, well we heard voices in here. If you didn't see anyone, that must mean you might be going senile and talking to yourself after losing the loot house, huh old man?
Rom: I'm about to show you how hard this old man can still pack a wallop if you and your goons don't get out of here!
???: Alright, alright, sheesh.
Hearing the footsteps depart, there was silence for a moment or two before the ruble that kept them in place began to shift again from being moved.
Rom: Alright, they're gone.
Stepping back into the light, the three emerged.
Rom: Now, there aren't any free meals in this world. I want information in exchange for risking my hide for you hooligans.
Subaru: That's a fair trade.
Bumping the edge of his fist into his open palm, Subaru nodded in agreement, but not before the woman once again spoke up.
Woman: Your decrepit old hide was not risked for the safety of mineself. Had they found us, I would have dealt with it.
Rubbing the back of his bald head, Rom sat back down on the ground to inquire further.
Rom: Yeah I'm sure you would have.
Looking back to Subaru, the old man paid no mind to the haughty red dressed woman's defiance.
Rom: You sure to find yourself with some interesting people, just running about. But that brings me back to what I wanted to ask, have you heard from Felt at all?
Going into a deeper discussion, Subaru and Rom spoke more on the events that had transpired after YN had passed out and the Gut Hunter was dealt with by Reinhard.
Informing him how Reinhard had taken Felt after Elsa had retreated, Rom was surprised to hear this. After all, he himself had woken up in a Guard House barrack bed, fully healed, and not wishing to be questioned on his business endeavors of where he had been taken from, had promptly fled, leading him to really struggle with his "light fingered business" as Subaru had put it when the orange haired woman had inquired on their knowing of each other.
Going on to admit that Felt was like a granddaughter to him, Rom had broken his tough exterior shell and asked Subaru to find out anything he could since he was still seeking out Reinhard for the same reasons.
Subaru: No problem. I'll find out anything I can.
Rom: Thank you... Now then—
Getting up, the Giant was cut off by Subaru.
Subaru: Wait, how should I get in contact with you again? Should we try and find you here or—?
Rom: There's a man who sells fruit in the market district just south of the noble's district entrance. Hard faced fella with a scar. Just give him my name and he'll get you in touch.
Subaru: 'Hard faced fella with a scar'... No way it's the same guy...
Looking over to YN for confirmation, he hadn't had enough of a familiarity with the appa salesmen from before to give a definite answer, but he nonetheless knew what Subaru was thinking.
Rom: Well, all is said and done. I'll lead you all back to the main street, from there you should be able to get where you need to go.
Going to show them in the right direction, the four exited the ruined building and entered into the daylight once more. But, having a thought of concern cross his mind, YN spoke up.
YN: Uh, hold on a second.
Having remained silent this entire time, YN hadn't yet spoken that much in this entire debacle, and hadn't at all to the giant who had just helped them.
Rom: —?
Lifting one of his bushy brows to YN's objection, he continued to speak up.
YN: If those thugs see you with us, wouldn't that really hurt your reputation? Seems like you're barely getting by as is...
Putting his massively, leathery hand to his chin, Old Man Rom saw the point he was making.
Rom: Yeah, that is true. You're a sharper one, aren't ya? Even if you do get the life sucked out of ya by a little magic going on.
Taking a jab at what had to have been the last thing he must have seen before passing out, YN felt a little strange simply being known as the guy who passed out a lot.
Rom: Hey, speaking of which, you're the one who had that... uhh, thing.
YN: —? 'Thing?'
Rom: Yeah, the thing you showed up with, before you tried cold clocking that Gut Hunter.
YN: Huh? My metia?
Taking his cell phone from his pocket, YN showed it to the giant.
Rom: No not that. The silver haired girl you both were trying to save left me a letter asking me to hold onto it for you. That brown thing, made of metal. I forget what she called it now, come to think of it.
YN: I'm really not sure what you're talking about.
With all eyes now fixating on YN, the woman dressed in red seemed to view him somewhat suspiciously. And with Rom frowning and getting an air of frustration to his voice, he tried explaining just what this mystery item was to YN.
Rom: Damn it you know good and well what I'm talking about. It had big clear windows all over it and it's a pain in the neck to move.
Putting his own hand to his chin, YN couldn't pinpoint what Rom was trying to say he had of his.
YN: Windows? 'Pain in the neck to move'?
Thinking out loud while he thought, Rom answered his self questions.
Rom: Yeah, for something with wheels it sure doesn't want to roll. If ya wanna move it, you still gotta pick it up, so it seems pretty useless as a dragon-less carriage, let alone one that could be pulled along...
'Dragon-less carriage?' What does he mean by—?
Suddenly, remembering, YN recalled the only other times people had said such a thing to him.
Emilia asked him to hold onto it, it's brown with windows all around it, and it rolls around... It's—!
YN: Oh shit! You mean my car?!
Subaru: How could you not remember that?!
While YN had been hard at thought trying to figure it out, Subaru had seemed to have guessed correctly several questions ago. Feeling somewhat embarrassed he hadn't gotten it all, YN scratched the back of his head.
YN: I guess, just between everything else going on it kinda slipped my mind.
Rom: The elf girl has been sending some coins every now and again for me to hold onto it in my overflow storage. But since that's my only storage now, and since I can't sell it, and since it's so damn big, the space is becoming more valuable than what she's sending. So, if you wouldn't mind getting it out of there pronto, it's that much sooner I can use that space to make some real money before I keel over of old age.
YN: Let's just get back to where we need to go and I'll be right over to come get it. Thank you for taking care of it!
Surprised almost to hear the genuine sincerity in YN's words, the giant looked away and rubbed the back of his head.
Rom: It's not like I could have sold that thing to anyone anyway. It's odd looking but it's no metia, that's for sure. It's locked up a street over from where the old loot house was, I'll be waiting near there.
Knowing he probably wasn't privy to how the car operated, Rom dropped the subject and gave them instructions on how to get back to the main street.
Proceeding onward, the three had begun their trek back out of the slums.
***
With the late morning having turned to afternoon now, they had finally reached an alleyway that at the end of it emptied out into a main street lined with stalls and vendors.
Complaining about the time that had been wasted, Subaru lamented how he knew Emilia would be more upset the longer they waited to find her again. With YN agreeing to that, Subaru had finally turned to the orange haired woman, saying this was where they were splitting up.
Further complaining that she hadn't "even given them a proper thank you for everything they'd done," Subaru boasted about how it would be bad if they were seen with her once they entered the main street ahead. Finding his assumption amusing though, the woman in red simply laughed at his worries.
Woman: There is a minute amount of pity growing from mineself for you. You play the role of the fool very well.
Turning her expression very serious though, her voice became lower as well.
Woman: But that is no saving grace of your own. You simply hide your own weaknesses under that persona.
Leaving Subaru somewhat shocked at her sudden analysis, she then turned to YN.
Woman: — — —
Silently staring at YN with daggers in her two ruby red eyes, the woman appeared to be struggling on how to judge him now as well, which only seemed to further sour her mood.
Woman: You carry an aura of disbelonging, being in positions and forming connections with others that are not meant for you. It's almost as if the Observers themselves know you shouldn't be here.
Feeling like he'd just received a prison sentence, YN's mouth went dry upon hearing such a harsh deduction.
'I don't belong here?' the 'Observers?' Huh?
Being left with more questions than points to reflect on, YN had not a clue on how to respond.
Thankfully though, after only a few silent, tense moments, a familiar voice chimed out from the main street they were headed towards, akin to a silver bell.
???: I've finally found you two!!
Running up was none other than YN and Subaru's reason for being in the Capitol.
Emilia: We've been looking everywhere!
'We've?' Who else—?
???: Look at you Princess, making new friends so quickly.
Whipping her fan back out, the woman in orange, "Princess," immediately spoke with an air of familiarity to the newcomer.
"Princess": Very good, Aldebaran. Your timing is impeccable.
Praising the helm'd man, YN got a better look at him as he approached with Emilia.
With one comically large, and thick looking knight's helmet adorning his head, the man wore a yellow, shredded blazer, and cloak over his body. On his rear he had a large sword, clearly meant for cleaving by its shape. He wore "shoes" that resembled a samurai's as well, but what really struck YN as this man's unique characteristic was—
He's only got one arm...
A one armed swordsman, rough and tumble looking to boot.
With all five meeting together in the middle of the alley, now including Puck as well, the conversion had drifted to banter between Subaru, Aldebaran, Emilia, "Princess" and the gray cat on the topic of Subaru's reaction to this swordsman being familiar with the orange haired woman who had just been following them around for the last few hours.
As the talk had moved more to Aldebaran and "Princess" speaking, Emilia quietly questioned Subaru as to why he was with "this woman."
Subaru: Ahh, Emilia-tan, is that a bit of jealousy I hear—?
Emilia: Stop playing around and give me a serious answer!
Surprising him and YN with her outburst, Emilia's words were filled with emotion, and a painful one at that.
She's really not messing around.
Just thankful he wasn't the current cause of her frustration, Subaru was jerked back into the conversion with Aldebaran criticizing his usage of "-tan" in regard to Emilia.
Aldebaran: You're rather bold to call her that in front of other people so casually. Or are you just that clueless?
Having his attention pulled away from Emilia once more, YN stayed quiet off to the side, still mulling over what this "Princess" had said to him just prior.
But just as he realized Emilia had once again been booted from the conversation, YN felt a small tug on his sleeve.
Turning to his side, there was Emilia, still in her "eared" cloak she had adorned when they had left to venture into the Capitol. Keeping her head down, YN could barely see her face under the shadow her hood left, but an emotion that teemed on the edge of "desperation" covered her face and filled her voice as she quietly questioned YN next.
Emilia: YN, I would have thought you of all people would have stayed, but you must have had a good reason, right? You must have just been chasing after Subaru and got caught up with... her.
Feeling the fabric she grabbed on his sleeve tighten from her grip, Emilia seemed on the verge of tears almost.
Is Emilia really this jealous about this? I really should play wingman for Subaru here and calm her down—
Emilia: You can be the one I can trust the most here.
Cutting off his own thoughts, Emilia continued after a brief pause, as if becoming more and more emotional as she awaited a reply. But YN was made more speechless by how her words sounded.
Why—? What is this about? Surely it can't all just be because of this woman...
Emilia: Can't you—?
Grabbing his same arm with her other hand, Emilia stepped closer, allowing the sunlight to hit her face and reveal that her amethyst eyes were soon to overflow with tears.
As her shaky voice seemed to cling to him as hard as her hands were, a sudden new, but familiar voice cut her off.
???: We've finally found ya!
As everyone turned their attention to the voice, Emilia released YN's arm and took a step back to where she had just been. With no one else present having seen their brief exchange, a tense situation quickly was beginning to brew.
Taking up the entirety of the alley from where they had just come from, a small army, led by the same trio of thugs had appeared.
???: You all are a lot of trouble to track down, you know that?
Aldebaran: —Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen—? That sure is a lot of gutter trash to be gathering in one place. I lost count.
Rubbing his helmet like one might rub their forehead, the knight in ragged clothing seemed not at all concerned with the thugs approaching.
Subaru: You all sure are persistent, aren't you?!
Larkins(?): We always make sure to deal out the payback when owed, so I think we'll start with your loudmouth—.
???: —No, he's first.
Cracking his knuckles and approaching from behind a few of the other hooligans that had gathered, holding their sticks and other makeshift weapons, this one was unarmed, like he was before.
Him again...
Standing tall and proud was the largest of the thug trio once more.
???: I'm gonna make sure my fist goes right through that ugly face of yours this time.
Seeing he was gesturing to YN with his taunt, he stepped to meet it.
YN: I guess if it's a fight you want—
Sending mana to all of his limbs, his magic mixed with his adrenaline in preparation for the bout he was entering, except as he honed in on his opponent, a blur of silver filled his vision.
Emilia: Absolutely not!
Holding her hands out wide, Emilia had stepped in front of YN, frowning at him.
Stopping, YN was surprised that she had stopped him.
Emilia: Your Gate still needs to be treated.
Feeling a bit of annoyance towards her for a change, he felt a frustration that she wasn't recognizing the danger they were in.
YN: I'll be sure to hold back.
Shaking her head side to side and clenching her eyes shut, Emilia puffed up her cheeks as she went to speak.
Emilia: I'll speak to them. If there's still a fight, I'll be the one to—
Puck: Umm, Lia, I don't think it's worth getting into an argument over.
Surprised her spirit wasn't on her side, Emilia seemed almost insulted.
Emilia: Puck! Now is not the time for—!
Puck: Lia, Lia! What I'm saying is that I don't think it's going to be either of your fights.
Seeing a shadow quickly overpass Puck and Emilia, YN had tried to look up to see what it was, but was too slow.
Subaru: Is that—?!
*SLAM*
Like a meteor impacting from above, something, or rather someone had impacted the large thug challenging YN, sending him straight into the ground, hard enough to ruin the pavework of cobblestones that made up the alley's roadway.
Turing to see the cloud of dust that now hung in the air, Emilia no longer blocked YN.
Emilia: What was—?
Subaru: They jumped from that tower! It's—
Tracing the arc the assailant had jumped from, Subaru's finger pointed from a steeple roof a block or two away to where the impact had just occurred.
???: After following YN-kun's scent, it leads to this disturbance. What is the meaning of this?
As the dust cleared, YN's eyes homed in on the very first detail he saw.
A short, black dress fluttered upward as the air settled, revealing the top most part of the thighs that had once before rendered his mind unable to think. Seeing how the garter belt that held the person's leggings up slightly bulged the soft skin around them, YN did not even need to wait for her hair to appear out from under the settling dust to know it was the hue that calmed his heart as it always did.
Rem: Anyone who wishes to harm Rem's YN-kun must first go through her.
Forcing words from his mouth, YN could barely speak through his astonishment.
YN: Rem—?! R-Rem? How did you—? Where were you—?
Casting aside the scowl she had given the even more speechless thugs, Rem smiled as warmly as she could to YN as she turned to acknowledge him.
Rem: Is there something YN-kun wishes to ask of his Rem?
With the dust completely settled, the destruction the oni had left was apparent.
Standing in what was essentially a crater of destroyed stone pavement, YN noticed it wasn't the stonework directly below Rem. Pointing at it, his mind was still left in shock.
YN: Uhh, Rem, he's not dead is he?
Below Rem's shoes, standing on him like a rug, was the same largest thug from the original trio that had been challenging YN only moments earlier.
Looking down below her, Rem slightly shifted her weight on her two dress shoes that were firmly planted on the thug's abdomen.
???: Agghh... Ahhh...
Hearing the thug croak as Rem moved about, she shot a wink accompanied by a thumbs up to YN.
Rem: He is only half-dead!
Sighing, YN slumped his shoulders that had been tense with anticipation.
YN: That's a relief then...
Larkins(?): What's a 'relief?!'
With a mix of fear and concern, the middle sized thug with his two daggers took a step back as he spoke.
Hearing the posse of hooligans and thugs begin to have the shock effect of her entrance wear off, Rem turned back to face them, and unlike YN had seen in a long time, saw her dark side come full front and center.
Rem: Rem assumes that these men are threatening the safety of YN-kun and Emilia-sama?
Speaking in a cold, formal tone that still sent shivers up YN's spine, he swallowed his own fear as well.
When she gets like this, it's always almost like she's not even the same girl!
Emitting a powerfully threatening aura as she took a single step forward, off the large thug, the crowd of punks before her flinched as the fractured stonework below her step cracked.
YN: Rem.
Knowing he should probably at least attempt to get her to show restraint, YN called out to the maid with murderous intent.
Rem: Yes, YN-kun?
Instantly losing her dark presence and returning her voice to her normal, sweet self, Rem's slightly blushed face smiled at her name being spoken by the one who held her heart.
Somewhat caught off guard by how quickly she had switched moods, YN scratched his cheek.
YN: Hold back some, would ya? If you kill them all, that would be an awful big mess to clean up.
Smiling brightly at his request, Rem clapped her hands together once softly.
Rem: YN-kun is as kind as ever. Just as Rem expects her Hero to be.
Turning back to them, Rem returned to her cold and formal tone that accompanied her threatening aura.
Rem: Rem shall—
Giving them a smile like she had YN, she tilted her head as she did. Rem finished her sentence with a mix of her cold tone she had used on the thugs, and her voice of kindness that she spoke to YN in.
Rem: —only half-kill them!
***
Having left the scene with only a few passed out thugs, the entire altercation had only lasted one round house kick, a few punches, and several countering disarmaments before the gang of thugs retreated with their tails between their legs. Taking their fallen comrades with them, little more was said between Emilia's group and the duo that was Aldebaran and "Princess" before they each went their separate ways.
As the four began their journey back to the inn they were staying at, they stepped back onto the first main street.
Emilia: Honestly, that was far too much trouble you got everyone wrapped up into, Subaru.
Raising a brow at her, Subaru defended himself.
Subaru: 'Me?!' You're blaming me? Me and YN both saved that orange haired girl from—!
Emilia: —She didn't need saving.
Coldly cutting Subaru, Emilia's tone of annoyance returned, shining the spotlight back on her current disapproval of their actions.
Turning to Rem to get some kind of clue, Rem only silently shook her head to YN, signaling there wasn't much she could say here in the open.
Emilia: Now then, we're headed back to the inn and neither one of you are to leave anywhere, got it? We've had enough excitement for the evening.
Slumping his shoulders, Subaru lamented.
Subaru: Yes, Emilia-tan...
As he went to agree, YN had recalled his commitment to Old Man Rom.
YN: Wait a second. There's something I need to do first.
Surprised to hear YN of all people object, Emilia at least let him say what it was, nodding at him to explain.
YN: I told Old Man Rom I'd be by to pick up my car— dragonless carriage he's been holding onto.
Giving YN a weak look, Emilia shook her head.
Emilia: I'm sorry but it's going to need to wait just a bit longer.
Are you kidding me?
YN knew if his word wasn't enough to move Emilia, then there was no chance she'd be convinced otherwise.
Why is she acting this way as of late? First it's being critical of Subaru, then it's getting upset at that "Princess" lady, and now this? She's been really hard to deal with recently...
Seeing the glimmer of frustration in his eyes though, the one person he could count on the most spoke up to assist him.
Rem: Emilia-sama, you permitted Subaru-kun to travel about the city under your supervision to honor the promises he made, correct?
Being caught off guard by the maid's question, Emilia fumbled with an answer.
Emilia: Y-Yes, that's true.
Staying in her formal tone, Rem continued.
Rem: Then would it not be fair to do the same for YN-kun as well?
Confused, Emilia looked at YN for an answer as to what she meant, but was instead informed by the blue haired maid yet again.
Rem: While Rem was shadowing them both under Roswaal-sama's orders, she is somewhat certain YN-kun had promised the Giant he would retrieve his belongings from him today.
Emilia: A... A promise?
Changing her tone to be much softer, Emilia looked to YN again as Rem concluded her reasoning.
Rem: With the distance it was hard to overhear exactly what was said, but Rem would not have brought it up otherwise unless she had a suspicion.
I see what she's doing.
Beginning to see Rem's strategy here, the group stopped, and with Emilia staring directly at YN, she asked a question.
Emilia: YN, did you make that promise?
Scratching the back of his head, he nervously smiled back at the half-elf as he contemplated his answer.
Rem is getting Emilia to cave into letting me go by exploiting the weight she puts on promises. I'll have to praise her for this later.
Looking at Rem, she stood to his side, eyes closed while smiling with satisfaction, knowing headpats were in her future.
I know I keep thinking about it, but it's obvious her and her sister were trained to think this way. Being a 'maid' is only a cover, I swear.
Giving an answer to Emilia though, YN shrugged, still unable to outright lie.
YN: If Rem thinks I did, I'm willing to trust what she remembers.
Keeping eye contact with YN for a moment more, Emilia's amethyst eyes seemed to be judging his answer. After a few short moments though, and with Subaru looking back and forth between the two over and over again, Emilia put her hands on her hips and huffed in frustration.
Emilia: Fine, fine, but it's going to make us late for being in time to receive Roswaal before we return.
Feeling hope at the fact that things were going his way, YN tried to reassure Emilia she was making the right choice.
YN: Don't worry, if things go right, we'll actually end up back at the inner quicker if we go get my ca— dragonless carriage then if we just walked right back to the Inn.
Emilia: I'll be the judge of that. But fine, let's get a move on then.
Rem: Actually, Emilia-sama—
Holding up the group for one more thing, it was Rem this time.
Rem: Rem would like to stop by the market on the way back for a few items that could be taken back to the Mansion by Nee-sama once she leaves. Things we do not normally get the chance to procure from Arlem.
Emilia: Alright, I'll keep watch over these two then by myself.
Going to bow, Rem suddenly stopped, as if thinking of something.
Rem: Um, if Emilia-sama wouldn't mind actually, could she please accompany Rem? There are some, umm... opinions and choices she would like Emilia-sama's input on.
With some uncanny nervousness in her voice, YN noted Rem was continuing to scheme for something here. Wishing to do nothing but support her, he waited for the right opportunity to do so.
Emilia: I don't think I can just leave these two alone again—
YN: Don't worry, Emilia, I'll make sure Subaru stays out of trouble.
Subaru: Hey— hmph!
Covering his mouth to halt his speech, YN denied Subaru the right to complain and ruin whatever Rem was also trying to do here, whatever that was.
Emilia: Alright... I don't really like that all my ground rules are being trampled on here, but I'll accept it. For now.
YN: Thank you, Emilia.
Taking Subaru by the sleeve though, Emilia pulled him away.
Emilia: In case you get separated, I'm going to show you some landmarks you can look for to find your way back, got it?
Taking Subaru off to the middle of a nearby square, Emilia began pointing off to various steeples, the Keep, and other things explaining while she did.
Leaving YN and Rem alone for a brief moment, she clasped his hand.
YN: You're not coming to the big reveal? Don't you wanna see the car?
Rem: Rem really does, but she was being serious about needing to gather a few things for the mansion. Rem simply lost track of time watching her handsome YN from afar.
She could be a really good stalker if she wanted to!
Somewhat flattered by her sincerity though, YN couldn't help but smile.
Oh well, if I'm being stalked by a girl as cute and kind as Rem, I guess that's not such a bad thing.
YN: I see. I gotta ask as well though, what was the point of getting Emilia to not come as well?
Thinking Rem must have seen or thought of something he had missed, YN genuinely inquired as to why the blue haired maid had gone that route.
But, giving him a bashful look, Rem slightly fidgeted with her hand she held his with, and somewhat looked away as her face became tinted pink with a tinge of embarrassment.
Rem: To tell the truth, Rem didn't want Emilia to be able to ride in it before she could.
Letting YN's hand go and poking her two index fingers together, he could only shake his head and smile. Giving her a few pity headpats for her honesty, he couldn't fault her either.
YN: Don't worry, as soon as me and Subaru are back, I'll let you ride co-pilot, how about that?
Looking up to him with blindingly bright eyes filled with excitement and an open mouth smile as wide as could be, Rem pushed herself into YN with enough force to get him to stagger back a step or two, and enough strength in her arms to squeeze the air right out of his lungs.
Hugging her in return, Emilia and Subaru returned.
Emilia: Well, Rem, are you ready?
Breaking from YN's embrace at the call of her employer's sponsor, she quickly patted her dress flat of the wrinkles she had obtained from her hug, and addressed her.
Rem: Yes, Emilia-sama.
Watching as the girls departed, Rem waved back to YN, blowing him a kiss as they rounded the corner and left from their sight.
Turning to YN, Subaru seemed excited as well.
Subaru: Let's go see that noble steed of yours.
***
A/N: See you all next week everyone! We have a special chapter art for that one!