[Natsuki Subaru? That name... is he from Inazuma?]
Ei showed a trace of surprise.
'Maybe it's written differently. After all, in the world Kuki was in before, they all had Inazuman-style names too.'
She was used to it.
"By the way, I haven't asked yet—why are you here?"
While tending to Old Man Rom's wound, Emilia shot him a look of obvious disdain as she questioned him.
"Huh?"
Subaru visibly flinched. Even the Shogun could see his body tremble slightly. He was ridiculously easy to read.
"Natsuki Subaru, right? Why are you here? Don't tell me you're with them too, trying to steal my badge?"
Emilia narrowed her eyes and asked coldly.
"N-No, no~! Emilia-tan, you've got it all wrong!"
He waved his hands frantically.
"...Emilia...tan?"
Emilia tilted her head in confusion. What kind of strange nickname was that? Subconsciously, she glanced toward the Shogun beside her.
And how did he even know her name? At the beginning, in front of everyone, he had called her "Satella." He was definitely suspicious!
She kept her brows tightly knit as she stared at the tracksuit-wearing boy, a trace of hostility flickering in her eyes.
"Uh..."
Subaru scratched his head awkwardly.
"He obviously doesn't look like he's part of their group. Just look at how he's dressed. And he's pretty stupid, too."
The Shogun rose to her feet and casually smoothed out the folds of her skirt, casting the boy a speechless look.
"That's true... He really doesn't look the part. Even if he were a thief, he'd be way too conspicuous."
Emilia nodded in agreement.
"Wasn't this guy saying earlier that he wanted to trade for the badge? He said he was going to return it to its owner. You don't know him?"
Felt asked in confusion.
"!" ×2
Both Emilia and the Shogun reacted at the same time, turning to look at the now flustered boy. However, their surprise stemmed from different reasons—
Emilia was surprised by his stated intention—to "return it to its owner." Meanwhile, the Shogun's thoughts ran deeper. Why did he know Emilia had lost her badge? Emilia clearly did not know him at all.
"Emilia..."
She called softly.
"Hm? Shogun?"
Still crouching, Emilia looked up at her obediently.
"(Do you know him?)"
The Shogun crouched down as well and asked quietly.
"(No... I don't know him at all. I only saw him once before in the marketplace, but I never mentioned the badge to him.)"
Emilia whispered back.
"(...)"
The Shogun nodded and cast another look at Natsuki Subaru, her eyes deepening with thought.
[As expected... Shogun.]
Ei's voice sounded again.
'Mm.'
She nodded internally.
Considering how he had looked on the verge of death in the previous rewind—and the black energy that had surged from his body—it was not hard to conclude that the cycle of reincarnation was tied to him. If so, it made sense that he would already know Emilia would lose her badge.
Which meant...
He must have encountered Emilia from the very beginning. Otherwise, how could he know the badge belonged to her?
Then, while searching for the badge, he found this so-called "Rom's loot house." But due to some circumstance, he was killed here by Elsa, who had been waiting. By the time she entered the room, everything had already happened—and she had stumbled into the aftermath by accident. It all lined up perfectly.
Only...
Why had she herself also rewound alongside him? And with her memories intact?
Unclear... Forget it. Understanding this much was already progress.
"..."
During this time, Emilia found herself momentarily distracted by the Shogun's exquisite profile. She quickly shook her head and refocused on Old Man Rom, who had been injured by her earlier ice attack. Under her treatment, his wound had gradually improved. Though not fully healed, he could at least move again.
"Is he your grandfather?"
She glanced at Felt, who was watching him anxiously.
"Yeah. Not my real grandpa, but he might as well be. He's my only family."
Felt answered in a low voice.
"...I have a family member too. But at critical moments, they're always buried in sleep and can't help at all."
Emilia gave a faint, wry smile.
Hum~
The final trace of light faded from her palm. Finished, she stood and clapped her hands lightly.
"Is it done?"
"More or less. He just needs some rest now. And next time, don't steal. There are plenty of people far more ruthless than me."
She reminded them. The Bowel Hunter from earlier had killed without even blinking. If she and the Shogun hadn't been here tonight, everyone in this room would have died.
"I-I got it..."
Felt nodded obediently. So compliant now. Emilia smiled inwardly. After all, she was still just a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old child.
Tap tap~
"Oh, It seems I've arrived too late?"
A young man's voice drifted into their ears, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps.
"?" ×N
Everyone, including the Shogun, turned to look.
A handsome young man stood there, dressed in immaculate white knight attire, with fiery red hair and clear blue eyes. His bearing was refined and courteous—unmistakably that of a knight.
"Reinhard? What are you doing here?"
Emilia recognized him and asked in confusion.
"Good evening, Lady Emilia. And this... beautiful lady as well. I am Reinhard van Astrea, a member of the Royal Capital Knight Order."
He stepped forward and offered them a knight's salute as he introduced himself. The Shogun looked at him with mild irritation. For some reason, her first impression told her they would not get along.
Reinhard...
Wasn't that the name Puck had mentioned before? The one he suggested she spar with?
"Ah, you're...!"
Subaru, who had been mostly silent until now, suddenly pointed at him in recognition.
"Yo~ We meet again, Subaru~"
Reinhard greeted him with a playful, almost teasing tone. For a moment, the air seemed filled with an inexplicable sense of camaraderie.
"Why'd you come here?"
Subaru ignored the greeting and asked instead.
"Ah... well, I saw signs of battle in this area and came to check. Especially that particular slash—someone's strike left its mark across the sky. Isn't that right, milady?"
Reinhard's gaze shifted meaningfully toward the Shogun, his eyes narrowing slightly in playful provocation.
"Indeed... I wonder if a certain someone would care to take it on?"
The Shogun's brows furrowed faintly before relaxing. A subtle smile tugged at her lips as she returned the tease.
"...Heh. You're right. It would be a shame not to receive such a magnificent strike. However, that 'certain someone' just happens to be on holiday today. So I'll have to decline."
Reinhard answered smoothly, without a hint of embarrassment.
"Is that so? What a pity."
She replied just as calmly.
"You two~! The tension's practically sparking between you!"
Emilia complained wearily at the pair trading veiled barbs.
"My apologies, my apologies~ Hahaha!"
Reinhard laughed it off.
[Pfft. Do not be so childish...]
Ei chuckled softly, her tone indulgent and utterly doting toward her treasured daughter.
Hmph~
The Shogun gave an adorably indignant huff in her heart, prompting Ei to smile once more. The child had grown increasingly expressive lately. Was this what they called adolescence? As her emotions became richer, such reactions surfaced more often. Ei found it deeply gratifying.
"By the way, Reinhard, how do you know him?"
Emilia asked curiously.
"Ah, we happened to meet earlier. He was being harassed by a group of thugs, so I stepped in to help. I found him rather interesting and thought I might make a friend of him."
He explained.
"I see..."
"Lady Emilia, could you recount what happened here? I should at least file a report."
He bowed slightly as he asked.
"...Aren't you on vacation?"
The Shogun interjected pointedly.
"Ah... Well, even on vacation, one cannot simply ignore matters at hand. Heh heh..."
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"..."
She was speechless. Why did this guy feel so punchable?
Over the next few minutes, Emilia explained the course of events to Reinhard, who was now acting as the de facto officer. Naturally, she also mentioned the matter of the badge.