In life, you just have to play with the cards you're dealt.
Whether it's birth, appearance, talent, skills acquired through hard work, or cultivated virtue, it all means the same thing.
Subaru was now aware that he lacked both of these things.
By some stroke of luck, Rem was the only one who fully accepted Subaru, but he was well aware that he was far from the ideal Natsuki Subaru that she accepted.
Compared to the ideal Natsuki Subaru, Subaru had fewer cards in his hand, and the quality of those cards was also inferior.
However, when it comes to the crucial moment, no one will listen to such whining.
Everyone has to play with the cards they're dealt.
All that's left to decide is when and how to play your cards, and how to bluff.
"--Moby Dick"
Of all the face-down cards, this one would likely have the greatest effect. Hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the room changed.
Crusch muttered, narrowing her eyes in curiosity, while Ferris glanced sideways at the person speaking with a sad look. Russell, a merchant by trade, frowned in disgust at the abominable name, and above all else--
「――――!!」
For an instant, everyone could feel a dark, rich sword energy sweeping through the room.
Crusch, who excelled in martial arts, Rem, who belonged to the demon race, and Ferris, who belonged to the Royal Guard Knights... They were all involved in the martial arts, and even Subaru and Russell, two people with little connection to the martial arts, felt a pressure that seemed to touch their very insides through their skin.
And, the source of this wasーー,
"My apologies. I still have a lot to learn."
Wilhelm, who had been closing his eyes until then, opened one eye and, without changing his expression, apologized. The old swordsman, who had been caressing every corner of the room with his sharpened sword spirit, touched the hilt of the sword at his waist, as if feeling embarrassed by the attentions of everyone,
"I apologize for interrupting your conversation. I would be happy to leave this opportunity, but…"
"No, you stay behind, sir. I want to hear your opinion."
Crusch rejected Wilhelm's quiet proposal, and gave Subaru a meaningful look.
She leaned her arms on the armrest, rested her cheek on her palm, and prefaced her question with, "So?"
"White whale, that's a bit of an abrupt word. Is it correct that the white whale you're talking about is the 'Mist Demon Beast'?"
"Yes, that must be it. A giant whale that scatters mist and swims through the sky. That white whale. I know the time and place it will next appear. I would like you to consider this information as a bargaining chip for an alliance."
"What do you think?" Subaru asked, tilting his head at Crusch and leaving the decision to her.
Crusch put her hand to her chin and took a moment to think things over. Then, before she could make a decision,
"May I ask you something?"
It was Russell who raised his hand and asked for the right to ask a question.
When Subaru nodded with a glance, allowing him to ask a question, he held up a finger and said, "Excuse me then."
"First of all, I must confirm something... Subaru-dono, do you correctly understand the value of knowing about the White Whale's appearance in advance?"
"…At the very least, we can reduce the number of peddlers and other people who get caught up in the White Whale's appearance. We can also review our cargo transportation plans in advance, so I think we can reduce the number of casualties."
"That's way too shallow a consideration."
In response to Subaru's unconfident answer, Russell spoke more forcefully.
He raised his hands dramatically and waved his arm towards the large window in the hall, pointing outside.
"Do you know how many lives have been lost because of the White Whale created by the witch? A caravan that was unfortunately swallowed up by the White Whale's mist and lost its whereabouts. A former royal knight order that aspired to slay the White Whale, but was routed halfway through. The White Whale is not just a gigantic, terrifying entity."
Russell's demeanor is filled with passion as he talks about the terror of the White Whale. Subaru now understands that this is a sign of his weakness and self-control, a desire to share negative emotions.
When faced with an ``enemy'' that is too powerful, people try to protect their own fragile hearts by displaying an attitude that praises the ``enemy's'' strength.
"The most important thing is to not encounter it. At the very least, the White Whale is a symbol of disaster for merchants, so if you can foresee its appearance, it will be worth more than a thousand gold coins!"
Clenching his fist, Russell passionately spoke about the value of the information Subaru possessed.
However,
"But-"
And then, all of a sudden, the passionate light in his eyes disappeared, he opened his clenched fists and waved his hands.
"The value of those ten thousand yen only has meaning if the accuracy of that information can be trusted. Subaru-dono, you said that you know the time and place where the White Whale will appear. However, if you do not have the means to prove it, then it is just wordplay to get you going."
"More or less, what I want to say is exactly what Russell Fellows said. I'd like to hear the basis for his statement."
Following Russell's lead and shrugging with a pleasant smile, Crusch questioned the veracity of the information Subaru had presented.
Subaru felt a cold sweat run down his back.
But, somehow he managed to keep his fearless smile from showing. As he held it in, he played his next card, which he had been hiding, as the girls got on top of him.
Cut it carefully, just as you had prepared it in advance.
"This is the reason why I know about the appearance of the White Whale."
He said, pulling the thing out of his pocket and slamming it down on the table.
As everyone saw it being slid to the center of the table in the center of the hall, their expressions stiffened slightly. -- And immediately after, a look of confusion appeared in their eyes.
"Natsuki Subaru"
"ah"
In response to Crusch quietly calling his name, Subaru puffed out his chest without fear.
Without commenting on Subaru's brazen attitude, Crusch pointed to the thing sitting in the middle of the table,
"What on earth is this?"
And so, this otherworldly item with a vivid black luster was thrust forward with all my might.
--He pointed at the cell phone and tilted his head at Subaru.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
It was only through a twist of fate, a series of coincidences piling up, that Subaru was able to know the exact time the White Whale would appear.
Generally speaking, twists of fate often bring about fatal situations for Subaru, but this time it worked out in his favor.
When Subaru encountered the White Whale in the third world, he had his cell phone in his hand.
In the dark carriage's driver's seat, he searched for a light so he could check the map, and turned on his cell phone, which he had just managed to find in his luggage.
The cell phone, with only a little power left, cut through the darkness with light and achieved its purpose perfectly.
However, right after that, they ended up encountering the White Whale, so not only did they have to check the map, but even securing a dragon carriage and other means of transportation ended up being a wasted effort.
"That time, that moment."
The dragon carriage that had been traveling next to him disappeared, and Subaru held up his cell phone to strain his eyes into the darkness.
Then, from the darkness, my eyes met with a giant eye that seemed to peer into my direction.
Immediately afterwards, Rem's preemptive attack had thrown them into combat, but the image of the world being chopped up like a continuous photograph, like a stop-motion photograph, as it was sent flying through the air with the roar of the white whale and a slash from its tail, was burned into Subaru's mind.
And within that sequence of photographs, there was the cell phone, flying in the air and free from Subaru's hand - facing towards him, the screen clearly displayed "15:13."
The moment you are summoned to another world, day and night suddenly change, so that time cannot be used as an indicator of time in the pure sense. However, if you think of it as a dividing line at another time, it does have great significance. Above all,
"It's not surprising if you don't know. This is what they call a magical device that was unearthed in my hometown. This is the basis for what I'm saying."
--The cell phone of unknown origin itself can be a useful weapon in negotiations.
His eyes widened at what Subaru had said, and it was Russell who was the first to reach for his phone. Just before his fingers touched the phone, he seemed to realize he was too distracted and asked Subaru for permission, "Can I touch it?" He nodded and watched as Subaru picked it up, then,
"It's a very strange-feeling material. It feels like metal, but isn't. The surface is smooth... Shall I open this?"
Opening his Subaru Galapagos flip phone, Russell let out a small cry of surprise as light began to leak out.
The wallpaper displayed on the screen was usually a picture of an anime character, but before the meeting started it had been changed to a more conventional clock face. Even if you operated it randomly, the only thing that would come up would be a memory screen with a small number of registrations.
"It glows and the picture changes... no, but I can't make out the content. I see some letters I've never seen before, or maybe a picture..."
The screen displayed an animation of a ticking second hand, but the people of this world, where the shape of a clock is completely different, could not comprehend the meaning of the clock face displayed. The same goes for the numbers showing the time at the bottom of the screen, which at best could be interpreted as a geometric pattern wriggling about.
This was only natural, as Subaru felt the same emotions every day.
"It's a special character, I don't think anyone can read it."
"But you can use it well... is that right?"
"That doesn't mean I can use all of the features though."
Subaru carefully chose his words in response to Crusch's question.
When facing Crusch――No, when Crusch was present, there was one condition that must be avoided at all costs.
In order to avoid that landmine that he must not step on, Subaru's brain had poured all its energy into choosing the words he wanted to say.
"In other words, what you're saying is that this magical device acts as a sort of 'alarm stone' that warns of the approach of the White Whale."
"I don't remember hearing about this warning stone, but I think it is."
Judging from the name, it's probably a type of magic ore that acts as an alarm for this world.
It responds to sounds, presences, and the movement of mana, emitting lights and warning sounds, and determining that it is a tool for the surrounding area.
"A magical device that warns of the approach of the White Whale... is that it? How's your judgment, Russell Fellow?"
"Honestly, I'm at a loss. Magical objects vary greatly from one to the next, and it's rare for identical objects to be excavated. Things like conversation mirrors, for which methods for replicating have been established, are the exception among exceptions... Therefore, it's difficult to say whether this magical object is truly used or not."
When asked to comment on a tool he had no knowledge of, Russell avoids making baseless guesses. At present, Russell's position is still one of being neither on Subaru's side nor on Crusch's side, but of a well-intentioned third party.
The progress of the negotiations would greatly affect his own position. Naturally, his eyes were critical as he tried to decide whether it would be to his advantage to side with Subaru or Crusch.
As a result, when Russell refused to give her an answer, Crusch frowned in confusion,
"In that case, we can't find any way to verify the veracity of the matter. It's difficult to accept your claim at face value. So, what should we do?"
"It certainly is a troubling situation. I wish there was at least some way to prove it."
Spreading his arms, Subaru turned to face Crusch with a gesture that seemed to indicate he had given up. She closed one eye suspiciously at Subaru's attitude and words, let out a small sigh of "Hmm," and then,
"Should we actually get close to a magical beast and try making a sound? Or is there anyone who can prove that this magic device is a tool that reacts to magical beasts?"
"I'll correct one thing."
Subaru raised one finger and shook it in retaliation towards Crusch,
"Magical devices don't react to magical beasts themselves. If they did, they would just ring out indiscriminately to the magical beasts living all over the place."
"--In other words, it only reacts to threats from magical beasts?"
Crusch responded to Subaru's warning, then she tried to laugh it off by saying, "That's such a convenient story."
However, before she could respond,
"--a"
"Yes," someone muttered in a small voice that sounded similar to understanding.
Whoever it was, it was Rem, whose finger was still on Subaru's sleeve.
She put her hand over her mouth as if ashamed at having intervened in the conversation, but before I could hear her apology,
"Your reaction is intriguing, Rem. Do you have any idea what it is?"
Hearing Crusch's questioning voice, Rem's eyes flashed over Subaru's profile for just a moment. Seeing the expressions of gratitude and concern, Subaru nodded to reassure her,
"If there's something, you can tell me."
"--Yes. If you say so, Subaru-kun."
After receiving permission, Rem took a step forward, then turned to Crusch and gestured to the cell phone on the table.
"Since it is something that happened within the territory, I cannot go into too much detail, but the other day there was a commotion involving magic beasts. Even your master, Roswaal-sama, acknowledges that Subaru was the first to take action to settle the situation."
"An incident involving a magical beast - you noticed the precursor to it with this magic device?"
"It was the kind of thing that required too much intuition to notice without any reason."
Fearfully, Rem tilted her head slightly and peered at Subaru.
She had likely been privately pondering in her own way how Subaru had sensed the incident with Juggernaut.
Her doubts, or rather her genuine doubts, were being resolved by the 『Magic Device』 Subaru had presented.
"――――"
Crusch's gaze pierced her as she heard Rem's quiet answer.
His sharp gaze poured his entire attention into Rem's eyes, giving the illusion that he was trying to see right into them.
It was only a few seconds, but the time had passed, and I felt an overwhelming sense of intimidation that drained my strength.
"---I'm not lying."
Crusch showed a certain degree of understanding and trust in Rem's answer.
Hearing her words, Subaru struggled to keep the obvious relief from showing on his face, but in his heart he couldn't help but clench his fists and pump his fist in excitement.
Of course, everything Subaru said about the functions of the magical device, the "cell phone," was nothing but nonsense.
It was a farce of bluff after bluff, and if the truth of its lies became known, it would be an act of disrespect in what was supposed to be an equal negotiation, and a barbaric act that would warrant an execution.
However, Subaru managed to cover up this bad situation by carefully choosing his words and directing the conversation.
Subaru never once lied in response to Crusch's questions.
A cell phone was not the kind of device that would randomly ring in the presence of a demonic beast, and Subaru, who had been lazy even about using the email function, was not one to master its functions.
When there were situations where he couldn't get through without telling a lie, he managed to avoid them by remaining silent or changing the topic, but what he considered to be the most difficult challenge was having a third party confirm the function of the 『Magic Device』.
He managed to achieve this by guiding Crusch's interest towards Rem, who had unconsciously spoken in Subaru's favour.
Subaru had predicted that if he mentioned that the "Magical Device" reacted to the threat of magical beasts, Rem would connect it to Juggernaut. In fact, Rem had connected the incident with Juggernaut's cell phone, and her reaction had perfectly caught Crusch's interest.
Rem was simply stating what she believed as a fact.
However, that was a different understanding from the truth.
"It's as if you can tell if someone is lying."
"If I may boast, that is indeed the case. Observant eyes--that sounds nice, but in reality it is the blessing of the 『Divine Protection of the Weathervane』 that was bestowed upon me."
Subaru had intended to tease him, but Crusch responded with an unexpected reply.
Subaru had always thought that the "ability to see through lies" that Crusch had spoken of in the previous world was due to her keen eyesight, but,
"To watch the wind is to use something invisible to the eye as a basis for judgment. Naturally, I can see the 'wind' surrounding the other person. Naturally, such winds will blow beneath someone who speaks lies. ーーRem had none of that."
"Oh, really? I didn't know that."
"The winds of unrest are blowing, Natsuki Subaru. Well, it would be extremely unfair to be unaware of my Kazami's divine protection at the negotiating table."
Subaru couldn't hide his inner turmoil at how Crusch spoke so nonchalantly, and gave a stiff smile.
A blessing that allows one to see through the truth of the other person's words whether they like it or not, a kind of cheating technique. Even a simple determination of YES or NO can be a nefarious tactic in a situation where one is trading cards in negotiations.
Anyway,
"Regardless of your current attitude, what Rem said was not a lie. At the very least, it provides evidence that you have the means to sense the threat of magical beasts in advance."
Crusch, who questioned the validity of Rem's words and placed her trust in her own ``Divine Protection of the Weathervane,'' overlooked the underhanded loophole Subaru had prepared.
Subaru feels guilty about deceiving such an honorable person, but he doesn't show even a trace of the pain inside him on the surface. Because, at a fundamental level, he understands that saying he had no intention of lying is no excuse.
Both sides made their positions clear and agreed to face each other in negotiations.
So, he shouldn't feel guilty about choosing a way to discard the cards he has in hand that will make him look good to his opponent. And it would be extremely rude to not even be prepared to follow through on the "lie."
"Can you trust the effectiveness of magic devices?"
"That's also premature. Even though it's obvious that there are no secret connections, it doesn't change the fact that you're defending your family. This is a decision that could affect the future of the royal selection process—and ultimately, the future of the kingdom. It can't be made rashly."
Subaru's plan to persuade her here was of course dashed.
Information about the appearance of the White Whale appears to have gained a minimum level of credibility, but only to the point where it can continue to be discussed without being laughed off.
To raise that level of trust and draw out the answer Subaru desiredーー,
"--Can we join in on the magical device business?"
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room, different from any that had been there up until then.
Surprised, Subaru turned around in a panic and saw a person leaning their back against the open door of the hall, raising their hand and making a gesture as if they were about to knock on it.
"It's strange that the person who called me is the one who's most surprised."
When she saw Subaru's shocked expression, her soft features loosened into a mischievous smile, and she gently ran her fingers through her own wavy, light purple hair.
Her soft, downy hair reaches down to her waist, and her gentle features naturally give off a sense of comfort to others. However, deep in her eyes, forming a smile, she glares at you with a watchful gleam, and inside her head is a demon of the world of economics, with numbers lining up in a competitive fashion.
"--Anastasia Hoshin."
Crusch murmured the visitor's name in a quiet, low voice.
In response, Anastasia, whose name was called, smiled and said, "Thank you."
"What's this? I was called out and came out in a hurry, but now you're starting business negotiations without me. That sounds like an interesting business opportunity… Are you saying you're including us in it?"
Anastasia said this with a cheerful tone, contrary to what she was saying, as she crossed the hall and headed towards the center.
Subaru gasped as she walked, his eyes filling with weakness for just a moment as he looked behind her. The open door slowly closed, and all visitors except for her were――
"Julius won't come, so don't worry, okay?"
"--!"
Anastasia noticed Subaru's inner impatience and whispered as she passed him. When she received Subaru's surprised gaze on her profile, she shrugged her shoulders in a troubled manner and said, "Oh no, no."
"Right now, Julius is under house arrest, as ordered by the captain. He's in the middle of his punishment for leaving someone else's child without his master's orders. What a troublesome knight."
"Be careful..."
Subaru can't hide his surprise at being informed of a fact he didn't know, as he parrots the truth.
The incident at the parade grounds had been the unanimous decision of the Royal Guard Knights, and he had assumed that Subaru's embarrassment would be buried without ever being made public.
Glancing sideways at Ferris, he smiled back at Subaru as if he didn't know anything. If he knew and hadn't told Subaru about it then - that was pretty harsh.
Or perhaps, if Subaru had been the same person he was just half a day ago, upon hearing that story, he would have simply laughed at Julius' situation, saying it was a good thing, and would not have considered it a lesson to himself.
Perhaps his knight knew this.
Anyway,
"I was called... so was it Natsuki Subaru who called you?"
"She's a cute girl who's your attendant. In reality, I would have turned her away... but she's someone connected to the Royal Selection, and on top of that, I heard that she's going to sell information on the 'White Whale,' so I couldn't help but come."
Anastasia, responding to Crusch's question, looked at Subaru.
Meeting her gaze, he nodded and pulled his chin in, and Subaru felt the situation change dramatically.
--With this, everyone I wanted to invite to these negotiations was gathered together.
Crusch as an equal alliance partner. To compete with Crusch, they added Russell, who represented the merchants of the royal capital. And then, adding Anastasia, Crusch's rival and rival to Russell――
"Excuse me, there is something I would like to ask you, Subaru-sama."
"Oh, what is it, Mr. Russell?"
Russell asked, holding up his hand and bringing Anastasia into his field of vision.
As Subaru nodded, he touched his own beard and prefaced it with, "I don't think that's the case, though,"
"I would like to know the true reason why you were invited here, Lady Anastasia. You are a candidate for the royal election, and the Hoshin Company, though a newcomer, has an influential voice among the merchants of the royal capital. Since my position in this meeting has become unclear, I have no choice but to ask."
"Would you get mad if I said it was to weigh the pros and cons?"
Subaru closed one eye and responded, and the atmosphere in the room instantly changed.
Russell's face showed signs of displeasure at his fears being confirmed, and Crusch's expression also looked grim as she closed her eyes. Anastasia was the only one whose demeanor hadn't changed, but the glint in her eyes, like that of a carnivorous beast stalking its prey, didn't waver one bit.
"So, is this what you're saying, sir? — You'll have Anastasia Hoshin and our family compete to see who can offer the most information on the 'White Whale,' and then you'll choose an ally."
"――――"
"If that's the case, then that's a very rash choice, Natsuki Subaru."
Crusch slammed her energy into the silent Subaru, rising from her chair and standing in front of Anastasia. Naturally, with the height difference between the two, Anastasia had to look up at him,
"Ah, that's so sweet, Crusch-san. A person who stands at the top terrified of being pushed down from below... looking at that face gives me chills."
"I wouldn't say it's a good hobby. However, if you are a lord who believes that what you desire is the right path, then perhaps it is only natural that you would make such a decision....But it won't change my way of being."
Deflecting Anastasia's provocative words and actions with a straight face, Crusch averted her gaze from her and pierced Subaru with a sharp glare,
"It's as you have heard, Natsuki Subaru. If you are hoping for an auction to begin between our family and the Hoshin Company, then I would say you are mistaken. Our family has no reason to cling to information about the White Whale like the merchants do. Therefore, the reason we are going along with your plan is…"
"Oh, you jumped to conclusions. You two need to calm down."
Subaru said this while inwardly panicking as he pointed his palm at Crusch, who looked as if she was about to call off the alliance negotiations before even considering the White Whale.
Crusch was put off by Subaru's words and kept her mouth shut. Behind her,
"You're jumping to conclusions, so you're saying the purpose isn't to get the candidates to jack up the prices?"
Russell, who was surveying the situation, his eyes shining with hopes of taking advantage of the situation, tilted his head in confusion. Subaru nodded in response to his question, "Yes," and
Subaru: "I don't think I can make someone swim in my palm that easily. I know very well that my hands are small. Even holding one hand is enough for me."
As he shook his empty hand in frustration, it was gently wrapped in a warm palm from the side. It was Rem. She gently wrapped her arms around Subaru's fingers, which were beginning to tremble, and as he turned to face her, she nodded with a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Well, holding someone's hand like this is the best I can do..."
"Oh, yeah, thank you for the meal. So, what happens next in the story?"
"Thank you for your patience. Well, you see..."
Subaru feels uneasy as Rem has begun to make more physical contact with him since he confessed his feelings to her, but the warmth of her palm gives him courage and he resumes the conversation.
"I played the White Whale card, invited two of the most representative merchants in the royal capital, and created this grand situation… but on top of that, there's something I'd like to propose."
Subaru snapped his fingers, drawing everyone's attention, and bared his teeth in a ferocious grin.
Confident and confident, without showing any sign of weakness or hesitation, Subaru slowly snapped his fingers and pointed them at Crusch,
"Listen, can I have it?"
"---It was I who interrupted you and drew the wrong conclusion. Therefore, I have an obligation to consider your proposal. Please state it."
Crusch stood with her arms crossed and faced Subaru with a dignified presence.
The wind of intimidation that blew towards him was growing stronger, and he couldn't help but feel goosebumps breaking out on his skin. Even Anastasia was looking at Subaru in the same way, and the pressure assaulting him was simply doubled - if she had been alone, she would have made fun of him, laughed him off, and run away.
"――――"
The sensation of his tightly gripped palm comes back to me.
She hadn't called him by name, nor had they communicated any kind of code. Subaru was simply happy to hear Rem's feelings.
With just that, Subaru can even fight against witches.
Close your eyes, hold your breath, and feel thoughts and oxygen flowing through your brain.
It should come along. I thought and thought and thought. I reminisced about the world once, twice, three times, countless times, gathering together all the information I had gathered, and came up with a picture of my prediction.
It's not confirmed. I haven't heard it from anyone. But there is information that can be gleaned from these negotiations, and the picture suggests one possibility.
Is this just a convenient illusion, or is it a miracle that will prevent his three deaths from being in vain? Now, the battle begins.
"Crusch-san, it's you."
"――――"
"My information will definitely be useful in your plan to defeat the 'White Whale'."
--Subaru's information about the future and Crusch's goal.
The mutual desire to obtain the "White Whale" was the very reason why Subaru had judged her - Crusch Karsten - to be a suitable ally.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
--For an instant, silence fell upon the hall, giving each person time to think.
To Crusch, to Anastasia, to Ferris, to Wilhelm, to Russell.
Each of them listened to what Subaru had just said and closed their eyes, as if to carefully consider what it had said.
That silence, which must have lasted no more than a few seconds, became an immense pressure that began to squeeze Subaru's mind.
My stomach groaned, my organs screamed, and a high-pitched pain like an iron bar being hit directly on my skull vibrated the roots of my teeth.
He took a gamble. He went for it.
From this point on, unlike the flow of the conversation up to that point, it was not something I could clearly simulate. I couldn't imagine the other person's reaction, and I had no choice but to adapt to the flow of the situation.
The first thing to consider is how Crusch will respond.
"Let me question your thoughts, Natsuki Subaru."
As expected, it was Crusch who broke the silence and spoke the first words.
She uncrossed her arms and pointed one finger towards Subaru,
"Where did that crazy idea come from? Why do you think our family is plotting something like that?"
His voice was flat and showed no sign of agitation or confusion, and no emotion was conveyed.
Subaru, overflowing with the dignity of a leader and naturally assuming a respectful attitude, averted his eyes and prefaced his statement with, "Um,"
"Rem."
"yes"
"Just give me a good pat on the back."
"yes"
After I said it, I realized, "Oh, I may have gone too far," but it was too late.
There was an immense impact, an intense, dry sound, and Subaru had the illusion that all his organs had fallen out of his stomach from the force of the impact.
Of course, she had likely gone easy on him in her own way, but the shape of her small hand was clearly imprinted on his back as a red mark.
Putting that aside, Subaru steeled himself from the pain and heat, and turned to face his surroundings who were watching the exchange in shock, wondering what was going on.
"Sorry for the unsightly behavior. I just needed a pep talk."
"...Everyone has experienced the feeling of hesitating before taking on a challenge. I don't blame you. Before taking on something big, I also fall back on a superstition I was taught a long time ago: write the word 'enemy' on my palm and swallow it, so that the opponent will be swallowed up in return."
"Crusch-sama, Crusch-sama. That's a spell that Feli-chan taught me quite some time ago. Do you still remember it?"
Ferris approached her and whispered about the prank he had committed. Crusch frowned in slight surprise and said, "What..."
"Was that a lie?"
"It wouldn't be a lie if the fact that it was unique was enough to dispel the doubts in Crusch-sama's heart. Feli-chan, I'm happy I could be of help to Crusch-sama."
"I see, you were thinking of me. In that case, I forgive you."
Seeing Crusch easily fall for Ferris's sweet words makes it seem like the negotiations have become a lot easier, which gives me some encouragement.
Anyway, as Anastasia glanced at the somewhat absent-minded exchange between master and servant, she put her finger to her lips, tilted her head and said, "Hmm."
"I also do spells before important business negotiations. I put gold, silver, and copper coins in a bag and jingle them next to my ear, and it gives me courage... What's with that face?"
"I just thought to myself, this is not the kind of conversation you'd expect from someone competing for the top spot in the country."
Subaru dismissed them as a small matter and turned a blind eye to what they said.
Anastasia pouted in dissatisfaction at Subaru's reaction, and while fiddling with the fur shawl she was wearing at the Royal Selection today,
"Well, that's enough of a breather... I'd also like to hear more about what we were talking about earlier. Can I have a conversation with you?"
"Ah... I'm sorry for making you feel so concerned."
He muttered softly, the latter part barely audible. Anastasia responded with a small wave of her hand, without commenting on whether she had heard him.
It was clear that her current exchange had been a scheme to buy Subaru time to gather his thoughts. It was highly possible that this was what Crusch and the others were saying, but taking advantage of her kindness, Subaru organized his thoughts and spoke.
"The first time I noticed something strange was when I heard that iron products - specifically, weapons - were being bought and sold at high prices."
Slowly, as if savouring the information, Subaru picked up the scattered information.
It is a wealth of information that I learned in the first, second, and third world.
"There's a place that has amassed a large amount of weapons and armor that were previously worth next to nothing. Crusch-san's place is one of them, but if you wander around a business street or something, you'll find quite a bit."
One of the traveling merchants who accompanied me laughed and asked if they were preparing for war.
In fact, Subaru had read that Crusch was preparing for war.
The difference between their thinking and ours is that their opponents are not humans, but powerful magical beasts.
"It seems like they were gathering weapons at a fairly rapid pace, considering it was affecting the market. They were in such a hurry, and on top of that, they were gathering weapons in the royal capital instead of on their own territory. It's only natural to think that something might be going on, right?"
"So it's far-fetched to link this to the White Whale. There's not even a single word about the White Whale in the story. It's true that our family is collecting weapons and iron, but don't you think that this is for the purpose of defeating the White Whale? It's possible that they are simply gathering military strength, ignoring the outcome of the royal selection process and instead plotting to take control of the country by force."
"There's no reason for me to do something so outrageous, and I know that I'm not that kind of person."
If the person facing me is big, I think I have the ability to see it well enough not to miss it.
There are few people whose character, even when viewed from afar, is as unwavering as Crusch. How could one even question someone who embodied words like honesty and integrity?
In response to Subaru's response, Crusch muttered a short "I see," then looked at him with an interested look,
"Even so, I am a little surprised. I had thought for sure that you were going down to the lower wards in the middle of the day just to distract yourself from your boredom, but perhaps it is I who am lacking in insight. Please forgive me for underestimating you."
"Yeah, that's right. I wasn't just playing around or anything."
Seeing Crusch sigh in admiration made a prickly feeling of guilt begin to grow. In fact, her assessment was quite correct. The contempt she had been judging Subaru's humanity with in hindsight was enough to confirm her previous judgment.
Shaking his head and regaining his composure, Subaru continued, his eyes fixed on Crusch.
"When I found out they were collecting weapons, I naturally thought of preparing for war. The question was what they were fighting against... but a certain merchant let it slip."
"Monkey, merchant."
Picking up on the flow of events from their wanderings around the lower district up until now, Subaru lightly blurred out the parts that gave him hints. Crusch closed one eye in response to the part Subaru had blurred, and looked meaningfully at Russell with the other eye.
Russell stepped back in awe at the sight of her, shaking his head and hands to deny the allegations. Crusch, not seeing any lie in that attitude, merely sighed in some dissatisfaction.
In fact, it would be impossible to detect any hint of lies from Russell in his current state.
However, his suspicions were not wrong. The one who had spoken the words that made Subaru think Crusch was aiming for the White Whale was none other than Russell.
The first time I met Russell in his previous world was when he was returning from Crusch's mansion after finishing their discussion.
At that moment, it seemed as though the meeting between him and Crusch had fallen through, but Subaru had never forgotten how he answered Wilhelm's question as he was leaving.
--If Crusch's plan came to fruition, it would be good news for them as merchants.
If he had made that statement in anticipation of Crusch becoming king, then it didn't make sense that the meeting had ended in failure. On the other hand, what if there was another possibility that would have benefited Crusch and Russell - and by extension, the merchants of the royal capital?
"Although Crusch-san is almost the sole leader in the royal election, it seems that she isn't well-received by the merchants. A fruit seller I'm familiar with was just complaining about it."
"I won't deny it. It's most profitable to get money from wherever it is. I will admit that there will be taxes on business in my territory."
However, she agreed with what Subaru said and continued,
"I intend to give back to them in the form of ensuring public safety, but I understand that it's hard to convey the benefits from that to an outsider."
"In reality, unlike the people who benefit from Crusch-san's territory, the merchants in the capital can only judge Crusch-san's character based on superficial information."
It is true that as a ruler, she manages her territory well.
However, those who are not in a position to see her skills with their own eyes can only judge her based on the superficial information they have seen and heard.
Just as Emilia is shunned simply for the fact that she is a half-elf.
She too is disliked by those who only see the negative side of her harsh way of life.
"So I thought about it. I know that Crusch-san doesn't like people who judge others only by their appearance, but there are times when you have to win over such people. In that case, what can you do to improve the opinion of such people…"
"If you judge people based on the bad things you say about them...then you should replace that bad thing with good things."
Anastasia took over Subaru's sentence and stated her conclusion. Then, as if reflecting on what she had just said, she looked up slightly and with a smile on her face,
"Well, that's a convenient story. Things aren't that simple, and there's a good chance that your calculations were wrong in the first place. Aren't you misinterpreting things to suit your own convenience?"
"I can't deny it. There's no doubt that Crusch-san is collecting weapons and is trying to do something big to get the merchants on her side. But whether that's connected to the White Whale is just wishful thinking. It could just be that I know the White Whale will appear soon, so I'm linking it to that."
However, Subaru continued, looking straight at Crusch.
Crusch's expression showed no emotion as Subaru gazed upon her, and he could not see into her inner thoughts. However, no words of denial came out. Then,
"I'll say it again. Regarding the alliance between Emilia and Crusch, what Emilia's camp can offer is the sale of mining rights for magic ore in the Great Elior Forest, and information on the time and place of the appearance of the White Whale. In short, the subjugation of the magic beast that has been causing a stir in the world for so long――that is the honor!"
"――――"
"If what I'm saying is irrelevant and you don't agree with it at all, then just cut me off. If it's wrong, then I don't mind if you just make the deal purely for information on the appearance of the White Whale."
Perhaps even just that information would be enough to turn the two merchants present into a profitable business and save face for Crusch. There was also a good chance that the opinions of the merchants in the royal capital would turn more favorably towards Crusch.
However,
"But if your goals and my desires collide--"
Subaru spread his hands and held them out in front of him, asking Crusch for help.
To take her hand, prove the value of the future Subaru saw, and tear down those walls.
"Let's defeat the White Whale. Let's go hunting."
That strange being, that powerful, nightmarish magical beast.
A symbol of disaster for the peddlers, and the seed of a loathsome memory for Subaru.
Subaru proposes to Crusch that they defeat the fog beast.
"Let me ask you a question."
Looking down at Subaru's outstretched hand, Crusch raised a finger in his direction.
Subaru intuitively senses that this question is the final hurdle he must overcome to overcome her.
Up until this point, Subaru had managed to evade the power of her 『Divine Protection of the Weathervane』. And yet, he had succeeded in drawing out his objective, the crucial moment of the negotiations.
Now, the final showdown was upon us―― Subaru held his breath, wondering what she would ask.
"Are you certain that you know the time and place of the White Whale's appearance?"
--Ah, it's no good, Crusch.
Muttering softly to himself, Subaru swallowed a breath and added the words to it,
"Yes, that's true."
--Then you can't lie to me.
"I guarantee the time and place of the White Whale's appearance. I'm willing to risk my life for it."
This information was obtained literally at the risk of his own life and the cost of others' lives.
There is no doubt about its reliability, and now is not the time to back down.
"---Although there are some questionable points, I should say it's impressive that you were able to see through our intentions."
Letting out a small sigh, Crusch closed her eyes in resignation as she answered.
At first, Subaru couldn't grasp what that answer meant. But as the words slowly sunk into his mind and took shape, the outlines became clearer,
"Well then..."
"I have doubts, I have doubts. There are many points that don't make sense to me, so it's hard to agree with them right away. But."
Crusch grasped her hand, which had been pointed up, and then pointed it towards Subaru. The hand he had held out was grasped by hers from above,
"I will believe in the spirit of the lord who created this situation, and in my own eyes."
The negotiation is successful.
One man, watching the two of them shake hands, relaxed his shoulders dramatically - Russell. He took an exaggerated breath, shook his head in exasperation, and said,
"It was a bit nerve-wracking, but I'm glad it came to fruition. Subaru-dono, I'm sure you kept your promise before the meeting."
"Oh, sorry for getting the short end of the stick, Mr. Russell. Once we've defeated the White Whale, I'll give you my cell phone, just like I promised."
As the two shook hands, Russell relaxed his cheeks, and Subaru responded with a mischievous smile. Hearing their conversation, Crusch in front of him blatantly frowned,
"So it did get through after all."
"I'm the one who called you here, you know? After Crusch-san and Russell-san's talks broke down in the evening, I went to visit Russell-san and we talked to a certain extent."
"I hope you don't take it badly. In fact, we didn't intend to show any unnatural support. After all, this is a relationship that we have in mind with an eye towards the future after the alliance is formed."
As Subaru and Russell spoke nonchalantly, Crusch closed her eyes and snorted.
After exchanging information with Rem prior to the negotiations, Subaru immediately contacted Russell. When the talks broke down, Subaru caught up with Russell as he was leaving Crusch's mansion and returning to his home, and brought up the matter.
With no fear of his partner seeing through his lies, Subaru proceeded as if he knew about Crusch's plan to defeat the White Whale from the start, and managed to secure the reluctant cooperation of the few people in the royal capital outside of Crusch's camp who knew of her plot.
The monster alarm talk using the cell phone had also gone according to the pre-arranged plan - although, in reality, the cell phone did not function as an alarm, and this had not been informed to Russell.
Hearing these answers, Crusch then slowly turned her gaze to Anastasia. She returned Crusch's gaze with a gentle smile,
"What's wrong, Crusch-san?"
"I understand the connection between Russell Fellow and Natsuki Subaru. However, that makes your position unclear. Why was you summoned here?"
"Well, one reason is to make it sound more persuasive."
Anastasia looked around the room with amusement, touching the fur of her scarf.
"There are two candidates for the throne and one of the capital's leading merchants. With so many people gathered at the alliance negotiation venue, it's not like I can give out careless information or make careless remarks. So, just by me being here, what she says will carry more weight, right?"
"No?" Anastasia asked, tilting her head, reading Subaru's thoughts.
Inwardly breaking out into a cold sweat, Subaru could only silently give a polite smile and cover it up. In fact, that was exactly what he had been hoping for when he called out to her.
It would be as expected if they had even the slightest bit of hope that they would gather the candidates for the royal election and not spew out a bunch of lies. However, Anastasia seems to be a tough opponent, as she was able to read through that and decided to participate.
"Then what's the other reason?"
"That's much easier. --We do it."商人Akindo
Anastasia puts her hand to her mouth and laughs unpleasantly, then bounds forward.
Then, as Subaru and Crusch were still holding hands, he gently placed both of his hands over them,
"I fully support your defeat of the White Whale. For us merchants, the existence of the White Whale is a matter of life and death, so if you could defeat it, that would be a great help. And if you could also favor the Hoshin Company with the preparations and other matters, then I would have no complaints."
"Please wait. In that regard, the Royal Capital Merchant Association should have priority. Lady Anastasia, if you are going to cut in line, I would like you to do so with discretion."
It was Russell who stepped in and spoke out against Anastasia's business acumen.
The merchants exchanged glances, sparks flying as Crusch, who had overheard what they had said, looked at Subaru with some doubt in her eyes. And then,
"Wait. From what you said, it seems we don't have much time."
"I didn't get to the crucial part, but the way the conversation was going on gave me that impression. Aren't you actually a bit worried?"
Seeing her narrowed sidelong glance, Subaru involuntarily choked on his breath.
However, things have come to this point, and concealing any more information would cause problems.
"Yes, that's right. According to the magic device, the White Whale will appear in about 31 hours from now. The location will be… near the Great Flugel Tree."
"Thirty-one hours…!"
"The Great Tree of Flugel"
Crusch gritted her teeth at the short time they had left, while Anastasia tilted her head in confusion at the location they had appeared from.
Yes, it's a race against time. Information about the time and place of the White Whale's appearance is only valuable until the moment it appears.
If your goal is to defeat the White Whale,
"We must deploy a subjugation force to the Leafous Highway within the next 31 hours and take down the White Whale as soon as it appears."
"What is needed for that is..."
Subaru responded to Crusch, who quickly understood the situation, and looked around the room at the people in the room. Then, as if to take up Subaru's words, an elderly swordsman stepped forward - Wilhelm.
He broke his silence and
"First, the formation of the extermination force. This itself has been going smoothly since several days ago. In fact, the preparations are to coincide with the time when the White Whale will appear. The fact that it happened to coincide almost simultaneously with the start of the Royal Selection is due to Crusch-sama's incredible luck, I think."
"That's quick! When will the White Whale appear?"
Subaru exclaims in surprise, wondering if there is a pattern.
In the previous world, judging from what Otto and others said, the White Whale's appearances were completely random in terms of location and time, which is why it was feared as an elusive monster that appeared out of nowhere.
"It's all thanks to old man Vil's determination. He's been thinking about it for the past 14 years and doing all sorts of things."
Ferris was the one who answered Subaru's question. He stood next to Wilhelm and touched the broad-shouldered old man's arm,
"I'm not worried about their training and morale because Old Man Vil is there, but I can't deny that we're not fully prepared. If we heard that Crusch-sama had come to the royal capital with her army, things would have become chaotic in many places, so I had everyone gather secretly."
"Indeed. Although I can't say that my weapons and tools are fully prepared yet..."
Wilhelm nodded at Ferris' words. However, the old man turned his sharp eyes to Subaru, then to Anastasia and Russell,
"That is why you two are here together, Subaru-dono."
"Well, I suppose something like this could happen, right?"
Scratching his head, Subaru responded to Wilhelm's words with humility, albeit weakly.
Receiving Subaru's reluctant affirmative reply, Russell touched his chin,
"We have already mobilized the union and are making preparations. We will gather all the necessary items from stores throughout the capital by tomorrow afternoon."
"The same goes for the Hoshin Company. Anything outside of the union is our territory, and we have lots of other things for sale, so look forward to it."
Following Russell, Anastasia also declared her strong support.
She then looked towards Crusch, who seemed to want to say something, and stuck out her tongue.
"A merchant never misses a business opportunity. That's why I answered the call. Ah, the moment when you can sell something to someone is irresistible."
Not hiding her trembling, Anastasia puts her hand to her cheek and laughs with an ecstatic expression.
Combined with her flushed cheeks and lovely features, it makes for a very picturesque sight, but since at heart she is a miserly person, it's hard to say she's particularly endearing.
"It's the same with things, but if you're selling something, the best thing to do is to give it as a favor. It has no physical form, no loss -- and it doesn't even have a price tag."
"I know we're allies now, but listening to him again, this merchant is really scary!"
Subaru screamed, and Anastasia replied in high spirits, "It's fine, it's fine." Seeing this exchange, Crusch sighed as if she had been deflated, and
Subaru: "Blocking the way before the negotiations even began, huh? I see. So in this situation, it was me who lacked resolve. I'm impressed, Natsuki Subaru."
"It just means that my preparation and review went well. To be honest, I'm really relieved."
This is the first stage of negotiations, breaking through one of the hurdles that must be overcome.
Even though it was the result of extensive preparations, it was still a very fine line. The fact that the Irregulars sided with Subaru is also something to reflect on.
nevertheless,
"You managed to save face by staying in the royal capital, Rem."
"--Yes. As expected, Subaru-kun is wonderful."
Saying this, he gently shook the hand that had been held by Crusch and the others, and shared the victory of the negotiations with Rem.
Thinking about it, she was probably the one who was happier than anyone else about this negotiation coming to fruition.
When she first remained in the royal capital, she was unable to confide in Subaru, and so she must have approached the negotiations with Crusch in solitude. She negotiated with all the authority she was allowed, and yet she was unable to maintain the alliance. If the negotiations had failed, the predicament of Emilia's camp would not have changed, and with Subaru's treatment in sight, it was unclear what would happen next.
There is no doubt that all the anxiety had worn her down both physically and mentally.
I wonder if I was able to give her back something to make up for all that anxiety and worry I had caused her.
If that was the case, then that was the only thing Subaru was happy about.
and--,
"--Subaru-dono."
As Subaru exchanged joy with Rem, a voice suddenly called out to him.
Looking up, he saw Wilhelm, who had come up close to him, looking at him with a serious gaze. Subaru naturally felt himself straighten up as he looked up at him, and the old man took a moment to catch his breath,
"Thank you."
With that brief statement, he knelt down and bowed.
Subaru couldn't hide his surprise at Wilhelm's sudden behavior. However, he was the only one to react like that. The others all looked as if they understood Wilhelm's actions to a certain extent. Even Rem and Anastasia.
"I have the same gratitude for you as I do for my master, Crusch-sama. I am grateful that you have given me, an inadequate person, the opportunity to avenge my master."
"Um, well...huh?"
"I'm sure you've already seen through it, Subaru-dono, but I'll say it again."
Wilhelm ignored Subaru's confusion and removed the sword and its sheath from his waist.
Then he placed his sword on the floor and took a deep bow with his hands on it.
"The name I gave myself before, Trias, is my old family name. I married the previous Sword Saint, Theresia van Astrea, and disgraced the last seat in the Sword Saint family line—I am Wilhelm van Astrea."
Taking a deep breath, Wilhelm's eyes lit up with ambition,
"I am grateful for the kindness of granting this old body the opportunity to slay the hateful demonic beast that stole my wife."
Wilhelm's words penetrated deeply.
Everyone in the room listened to his words, waiting for Subaru to respond.
Pushed by that expectation, Subaru took a small breath, and,
"Ah, yeah. I, of course I knew. Naturally, I assumed that Crusch-san would join us in defeating the White Whale--"
"Natsuki Subaru"
Crusch interrupted as he answered tentatively.
She looked at the faltering Subaru, and, still holding his hand, whispered,
"A wind of lies is blowing, sir."
And for the first time, he had seen through Subaru's lie, proving the effectiveness of the ``Windvane's Divine Protection.''