…

{ 3rd Pov }

"It's the White Whale," Wilhelm muttered, clenching his fists as he stared at the massive corpse of one of the strongest Mabeasts in the world.

"Someone got to it before us," Crusch said through gritted teeth, her eyes narrowing in frustration. Her fists tightened by her side.

It was supposed to be her hunt. The victory that would skyrocket her camp's reputation.

All her planning. All that effort. Gone, just like that.

"My, my... Who do you suppose slayed this beast, Julius?" Anastasia asked with a sly smile, glancing toward her purple-haired knight.

"I'm not certain, Anastasia-sama," Julius replied, his tone thoughtful. "But that pillar of light... it resembled Reina Van Astrea's technique."

Wilhelm's fists clenched even tighter as he turned to face Julius.

"Sir Julius. Are you saying Reina killed the beast?"

Julius shook his head slightly. "I only meant that the attack looked similar to her style. I recall the pillar of light she unleashed during her battle with Divine General Cecilus—it was even more powerful. But that one was pure white, not blue."

"Couldn't it— Ya be another one of the Ten Swords of Power?" Felix chimed in, tail flicking as he raised a brow.

"You're right," Wilhelm muttered, staring down at the massive corpse.

For years, he had waited. For years, he had vowed to slay this damn beast.

And now, with his only wish lying dead before him—fulfilled by someone else—he felt nothing but emptiness.

"So, what do we do now?" Anastasia asked casually, breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?" Crusch glanced at her, visibly confused.

Anastasia smirked. "If the person who slayed the White Whale doesn't come forward... maybe we can claim the credit."

"What are you saying, Lady Anastasia?!" Julius asked, clearly horrified by the suggestion.

"We can just say that blue beam of light was one of your attacks, Julius," she said, smiling innocently.

Crusch's glare was sharp enough to cut steel.

"Absolutely not. Whether the person reveals themselves or not, I refuse to take credit for something I didn't do."

Anastasia sighed, clearly unimpressed by Crusch's unwavering sense of justice.

"Fine. Let's give it a few weeks. If nothing comes of it... we take the credit."

"That is not what I meant!" Crusch snapped.

"Ugh, so the corpse is still here, huh?"

A familiar voice echoed out of nowhere—startling everyone.

Subaru had appeared, just like that.

Julius and Wilhelm instinctively drew their swords the moment Subaru appeared—only to relax slightly upon recognizing him.

"Nyah! W-What is that?!" Felix yelped, pointing at the floating chunks of meat hovering behind him.

"Ah, that? That's the Sin Archbishop of Greed—Regulus Corneas," Subaru said casually, dropping the bomb.

"T-The Sin Archbishop of Greed?!" Crusch gasped, immediately unsheathing her weapon as everyone around tensed up.

"Relax. He's technically alive because of his Authority… but he's no threat anymore," Subaru added, trying to calm them. Crusch narrowed her eyes but didn't move, sensing he wasn't lying.

"Zero," Anastasia spoke up, her tone sharp, "may I ask why he's in that condition—and with you?"

"To be honest, I'm not really obligated to answer that," Subaru replied flatly.

"T-The audacity—!" Julius began, but his words died in his throat as Subaru turned his gaze on him.

For a moment, it felt like death itself had descended. Julius froze. He didn't even dare breathe.

The rest could feel it too—a suffocating, murderous aura that wrapped around them like chains.

"Listen closely," Subaru said, tiredly. "I'm not your servant. I don't owe you anything. I'll speak however I damn well please."

"I'm just here to check on the White Whale's corpse," Subaru said plainly.

"S-Sir Zero... did you slay the White Whale?" Crusch asked, eyes wide. The entire group stiffened, holding their breath for his answer.

"Yeah. I did. Also took down the Archbishop of Sloth... and forced the Archbishop of Gluttony to retreat," Subaru added, dropping another bomb without a hint of drama.

Wilhelm choked, emotions surging within him—shock, disbelief... and anger.

He clenched his fists, heart heavy.

"Old man, I can feel it, you know? Your emotions. Your frustration," Subaru said quietly, sensing Wilhelm's turmoil through his aura.

"I... I apologize," Wilhelm finally said, voice low. "I spent so many years chasing revenge. And now that it's over—without me even raising a sword..." He trailed off.

Subaru let out a sigh. "I get it. I really do. But it came after me first. It was kill or be killed."

Wilhelm slowly nodded, still processing it all. Around them, the soldiers whispered in awe—staring at the boy they once dismissed, now the slayer of a legendary Mabeast.

"Silence!" Crusch snapped, and the murmurs instantly stopped.

"Sir Zero," Anastasia spoke, her voice calm and curious, "what do you plan to do now?"

To Anastasia, no matter how strong Zero was, he still needed to follow the laws of the Kingdom.

"Isn't it obvious? The Emilia camp will be taking credit for slaying the White Whale, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, and the Archbishop of Greed—once I'm done dealing with this guy," he said, gesturing toward the floating remains of Regulus.

Anastasia let out a quiet sigh.

'That half-elf's camp… They have the worst reputation among the candidates, but this? This will change everything. Their standing will skyrocket—they'll become one of the strongest contenders,' she thought, biting her lip.

A part of her wanted to strike him down right there. If she could defeat Zero and take the credit, it would secure her place as the leading faction.

But even she knew how foolish that idea was.

This boy had slain the White Whale—something not even the legendary Sword Saint could do. And he'd crushed not one but two Archbishops.

It wasn't a feat just anyone could replicate.

Still, she had to try something.

"Sir Zero… have you ever considered switching camps?" she suddenly asked, catching everyone off guard.

It was unlike her to bring up something so serious without preparation. Normally, she'd call for a formal meeting to even propose such a deal.

However, if Emilia's camp had already claimed credit by the time she met him again, any deal would become meaningless.

She was a merchant through and through—and timing was everything.

"How about it?" Anastasia said, tilting her head slightly. "If you join my camp, I'll grant you access to all my resources. And you said Miss Emilia was your friend, right? If you join me, I'll treat you as my equal."

She laid all her cards on the table.

It was a calculated move. Anastasia assumed Zero was prideful—someone who saw Emilia, a Royal Candidate, as an equal at best, not a superior. Offering him a lesser deal would've been a fatal misstep. You didn't bargain lightly with someone who just did the impossible.

Before Subaru could answer, Crusch stepped forward.

"What? To say that in front of me—!" she said, voice rising. "Sir Zero! I have an offer as well. If you join my camp… I will make you my fiancé. You will share in my authority, my privileges, and my power."

Everyone froze.

Even Subaru was taken aback.

"Lady Crusch?! What are you saying?!" Felix gasped, visibly shaken.

Anastasia's smile faded, her expression darkening. Crusch's proposal wasn't just bold—it was better.

If Subaru accepted, he wouldn't just be her partner. If she won the throne, he would essentially become the King—second only to her, perhaps even her equal.

And Subaru?

Well… he was tempted.

Because, damn. She was hot.

Really hot.

{{T/n: I never understood valuing girls just for their looks. I loved mine for her kindness — saw her beauty through it. But I lost it.}

If he hadn't gotten used to Reina's and Emilia's otherworldly beauty, Subaru could've said—without hesitation—that Crusch was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Crusch, on the other hand, had made her proposal after careful thought. Not only would it skyrocket her reputation, but unless the other camps pulled off a miracle, this would effectively end the royal selection race.

Besides, she had always known she'd eventually enter a political marriage. But marrying Zero—the man who had slain the White Whale and two Sin Archbishops—was far better than tying herself to some pampered noble.

Truth be told, her ideal husband had always been someone strong and brave. Subaru didn't just meet those standards—he exceeded them.

"I won't lie... I'm very, very tempted," Subaru said with a sheepish grin. "After all, Miss Crusch is an incredibly graceful and beautiful woman."

Crusch blushed at the compliment, her usually composed expression cracking for just a moment.

Anastasia clenched her teeth, her sharp gaze flickering toward the duchess.
'Well played, Duchess. Really well played…'

She was confident in her own charm—cute and clever—but she knew she couldn't match Crusch's regal presence.

Then Subaru sighed.

And just like that, everyone held their breath.

'Will he accept Anastasia-sama's offer instead?!' Julius thought anxiously.

" Both of your proposals are quite good."

" But… I refuse!"

A silence fell. Subaru could practically hear the devil on his shoulder screaming in disbelief.

There was a brief silence.

"May I ask why you refused?" Crusch finally spoke, her voice calm but searching. She met his gaze steadily, unable to comprehend his reasoning. From her point of view, the proposal she'd made wasn't something any sane man would easily turn down.

She was a leading Royal Selection candidate. Duchess of the Karsten House. A brilliant strategist, an admired leader… and, objectively, a stunning woman.

So why?

"It's not because there's anything wrong with you," Subaru began, his tone respectful. "If anything I said came off as rude or dismissive, I sincerely apologize."

He paused, then continued with a sigh.

"It's… a matter of principles."

"Principles?" Crusch repeated, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Yes," he nodded. "I made a promise to Emilia. In front of the Royal Knights, nobles—hell, the entire capital. I said I'd stand by her side. If I back out now just because of a tempting offer, what do my words even mean? If I betray that, then I'm nothing more than a liar driven by convenience."

His expression was firm, his voice unwavering.

He was thinking with his head. Not with his hormones.

Crusch slowly nodded, processing his words. "I understand… I should've considered your circumstances more carefully. My apologies, Sir Zero."

Subaru sighed lightly. Both of them, in their own way, felt a pang of regret. There was no denying they'd have made a strong match.

"Hmph!" Anastasia huffed abruptly, snapping the moment. "Julius. Everyone. We're leaving."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel.

Her mind was already racing—calculating, planning—because one thing was certain now: Emilia's camp was going to rise in fame. And she needed to counter it.

Fast.

Felix, meanwhile, felt a mixture of anger, jealousy, and happiness.

He was angry because Subaru had rejected the offer she made—she had literally offered herself to him!

And he? Rejected her.

He was jealous because his Lady had even made the offer to take him as her spouse.

And he was happy because Subaru had turned down his Lady's offer.

Yeah, Felix was full of unbridled emotions.

Crusch, on the other hand, gave a small nod to Subaru. She wasn't going to try to convince him any further; she had her dignity.

The fact that she had even offered herself showed just how highly she valued Subaru.
What a pity… now I think he's the perfect man to be my husband, she thought, tasting the flavor of regret once again.

Man… I must have crazy willpower to reject her offer, Subaru thought, turning away.

Meanwhile, Crusch, her camp, and Anastasia's entire camp began preparing to depart.

While they hadn't fulfilled their objective, the White Whale was still dead.

Wilhelm, meanwhile, felt extremely weak… he felt empty, devoid of any purpose.

Theresia, I failed... he looked up at the sky, a tear falling down his cheek.

"Before I leave… Sir Wilhelm, there's something I want to talk to you about," Subaru said, garnering his attention.

Crusch, Anastasia, Felix, and Julius all turned their gazes toward them.

"What you did to Reina was unforgivable…" Subaru said.

Wilhelm slowly turned to face Subaru, his eyes distant—lost in the memories of battles long past and a woman he had loved beyond all else.

"…What is it, Sir Zero?" he asked, his voice raspier than usual, worn down by emotions he could no longer suppress.

Subaru walked up to him, his gaze calm but sincere. "I know what it's like to lose someone important. To live with the kind of pain that gnaws at you, day in and day out."

"But that doesn't mean what you did was right. You owe her an apology." Subaru said, before teleporting away.

Wilhelm looked down, recalling everything he had said to Reina.

He couldn't be a good husband, a good father, a good grandfather.

He himself felt guilty for what he had done to Reina. He had been clouded by anger… and had called his own granddaughter a 'monster.'

He clenched his fists. He had ignored what Heinkel had done to his daughter all these years.

He had ignored how he abused her… and now, with the White Whale dead, he realized what he had truly lost in his pursuit of revenge.

Wilhelm Van Astrea had done the unforgivable.

….

Subaru returned to the mansion, his mind heavy with urgency. He needed to visit Regulus' wives as soon as possible—now that the Sin Archbishop of Greed was good as dead, they were vulnerable to unexpected danger.

But first, there was another pressing matter.

Roswaal!

He couldn't let that guy cook up whatever scheme he was cooking—unsupervised, that man was a walking disaster waiting to happen.

Sigh... later, Subaru thought. For now, he decided to meet with Beatrice.

With a soft thud, he pushed open the doors to the Forbidden Library.

"Hmm… it seems you've returned from the Capital, I suppose," Beatrice said, barely glancing up from her book, not at all surprised.

Then, without missing a beat, she added, "I take it you've dealt with the Witch Cultists, I suppose?"

"Yes… and I got this after defeating the Sin Archbishop of Sloth," Subaru replied, choosing his words carefully as he reached into his coat and pulled out the glintstone.

Beatrice's eyes widened. "I-Impossible… it's Geuse!" she gasped, rushing toward him.

Seeing the desperation in her eyes, Subaru handed her the stone without hesitation.

"He's… just sleeping," she whispered, cradling the glintstone gently in her hands. "But his Witch Factor is gone… which shouldn't be possible."

Her gaze slowly lifted to meet Subaru's. Her voice trembled slightly, but her expression was firm.

"Who are you… truly? In fact—"

"I've already told you…" Subaru said bluntly, standing still under the soft light of the library. "I'm someone from beyond the Great Waterfall… and perhaps, the Sage Candidate."

Beatrice's eyes widened slightly. "S-Sage Candidate?" she repeated, surprised. But there was something else in her voice—sadness. This wasn't the answer she had hoped for.

"And for you," Subaru suddenly said, kneeling down to face her properly, "if you want… only if you truly want—I will be 'that person.'"

The words echoed in the stillness of the library. Words she'd been longing to hear for centuries.

"You're Betty's… that person?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Subaru smiled softly. "Whether I'm that person or not—it's not up to destiny. It's your choice, Betty. You have the right to decide."

She trembled.

"Y-You're trying to trick me again, aren't you?! I've waited four hundred years for that person! I don't have a choice!" she cried out, puffing her cheeks in frustration, but her voice broke near the end.

Subaru looked her in the eyes. "The Witch of Greed—Echidna," he said slowly.

Beatrice flinched.

"She created the idea of 'that person' as a test. An experiment. To see whether you… truly have free will."

"SHUT UP!" Beatrice screamed, releasing a violent burst of magic toward Subaru, trying to hurl him away.

But the swirling spells vanished the moment they touched the golden aura cloaking him.

"It's the truth, Betty…" Subaru said softly, not moving. "I've seen the future—with my own eyes."

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" she screamed again, shaking her head as tears spilled down her cheeks.

"You're saying Betty's been waiting four hundred years… for nothing?! For a 'that person' who never even existed?!" she shouted, lashing out with her magic again, and again, and again.

Each blast hit him—but they dissipated harmlessly.

To him, the attacks were nothing.

But to her, they were everything.

They carried her sorrow. Her frustration. Her anger at the world. At Echidna. At him.

If only he'd said he was that person.

If only he'd lied.

She would've believed him.

But he didn't—because that person never existed.

Subaru stepped forward through the storm of magic.

And then—he gently wrapped his arms around her small, trembling frame.

"I know…" he whispered. "You've waited so long. Dutifully, faithfully… It must've been lonely. Painful. Devastating."

Beatrice froze.

"But if you take my hand, Betty… If you choose me," he said softly, "then it won't be lonely anymore."
"S-Several people have tried to take advantage of Betty… for her knowledge… for her powers! How are you any different?!" she barked, tears brimming in her eyes.

"There is a difference, Betty," Subaru said, locking eyes with her butterfly-shaped pupils.

"They were after your knowledge and power… But I am after you. I want you," he said firmly.

"Even if I agree, so what?! You're a human! You'll die and leave Betty alone! Just like everyone else did!" she shouted, stumbling a step back.

"Everyone dies one day… That's just life," Subaru said quietly, "but memories—they can be forever. And even if I'm gone, my memories will stay with you. My Spirits will stay with you. And maybe… my children, and their children, will stay by your side too."

He stepped closer.

"Beatrice, I promise—if you choose me, I'll tell you bedtime stories, bring you the sweetest sweets this world has to offer… I'll make you smile. I'll make you happy. And I swear… you'll never be lonely again."

She trembled, voice cracking. "Y-You're not 'That person'… Why aren't you?! Why couldn't you be?!" she cried—not at him, but at the cruel fate that mocked her devotion.

Subaru gently knelt before her.

"If you want, I'll be 'That person'… Or maybe I never will be. But I can promise you one thing, Betty—no, Beako—"

He looked up, eyes unwavering.

"—I'll be better than the one who left you waiting for four hundred years."

He extended his hand.

"Choose me, Betty."

"I—You are not that person!"

"No… I'm not. But it's time for you to make a choice."

"Shut up! You're not that person!" she screamed, eyes burning with desperation.

"Yes," Subaru said, voice calm but resolute. "But I'm better… So choose me."

Those two words—Choose me—started ringing in her mind, looping like a broken recorder, echoing in every corner of her heart.

Her breath trembled as she finally looked at him, really looked at him.

"…Do you promise to never leave Betty… until death do us part?"

"I do."

"Do you promise… that you'll tell Betty bedtime stories… and hold her hand wherever you go?"

"I do."

"D-Do you promise… that you'll treat Betty to the sweetest sweets in the world… and that you'll never, ever leave me alone again?"

Her voice cracked like fragile glass.

"It's a difficult one… but I do," he whispered, pulling her into a gentle hug. Her small hands hesitated—then wrapped around him tightly.

He scooped her up and began spinning in slow, playful circles.

"You know… I always wanted a younger sister. And Betty is the best younger sister, I suppose!" he laughed, warmth radiating from his voice.

Beatrice blinked in surprise, then let out a soft giggle as he set her down.

"My real name… is Natsuki Subaru," he said, meeting her eyes.

Her butterfly-shaped pupils widened—and slowly, a radiant smile bloomed across her face.

"Subaru…" she breathed.

"Yes," he nodded.

"Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru!" she cried, throwing her arms around him again, clutching him as if the world would end if she let go.

"Yes… I'm Subaru. Your Subaru."

And after four hundred years of loneliness, sorrow, and waiting…

The contract had finally come to an end.

…

"So, you intend to go after his wives now, I suppose?" Beatrice asked, her small hand still gently intertwined with Subaru's.

"Yes… I'm sorry, Betty. But it seems I've got a mountain of things to deal with. Starting with saving Regulus's wives," he replied as they walked through the hallway—toward the secured room where the barely-alive remnants of Regulus Corneas were sealed.

"Though… I'll need Reina's help with something," Subaru added, lifting a hand and taking a stance.

"With this Sacred Treasure—I summon the Sword Saint! Reina!"

Beatrice blinked. Her brows twitched as she watched her contractor dramatically strike a pose like he was on stage.

"…Shameless fool," she muttered, but there was the faintest smile on her lips.

A golden flash lit the room—and within a blink, the fabled Sword Saint appeared.

"Zero! I'm here!" Reina's voice rang sharp and clear. She looked ready for battle—but her gaze quickly dropped to where Subaru's hand held Beatrice's.

A pause.

Her eyes narrowed. A tick of jealousy flared within.

"…Isn't that the Great Spirit of Yin?" she asked flatly, pointing at their joined hands.

"Yes. And she's not just my contracted spirit…" Subaru said proudly, puffing his chest. "She's my Imouto too!" 

Reina blinked, then gave Subaru a long, unreadable look.

"Betty is the best Great Spirit, in fact!" she declared with the poise of a queen, chin raised, eyes closed.

Reina's lips twitched. She looked away, struggling not to smile. "Ah… I see," she said, voice low, like someone grappling with a fundamental reality shift.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she briefly questioned if a union between Spirit and man had ever truly worked.

…Nope. Can't imagine it.

(A/N: Meanwhile, Geuse and Fortuna are rolling in their spirit graves.)

Then her eyes drifted to the grotesque remains of Regulus—still alive, barely.

"And who's this?" she asked, her tone shifting to cold professionalism, finger pointed at the twitching pile of flesh like it offended her soul.

Subaru sighed and quickly recounted everything—from the battle against the White Whale to the hellish confrontation with the Sin Archbishops, and finally, his contract with Beatrice.

Reina listened in silence, her expression unreadable, until the story ended. Normally, she'd shine with admiration.

But not now.

Instead, she walked forward and suddenly wrapped him in a tight hug, her voice trembling.

"Why didn't you call for me…?" she whispered. "You could have died."

Her voice cracked, the frustration and worry bleeding through. "Am I that worthless? Do you not trust me…?"

But the questions weren't for Subaru.

They were for herself.

He gently patted her back and said, "I made a promise, Reina… that I would become someone worthy of being your Lord, didn't I? Now you can proudly be my Knight. After all, I'm the one who slayed the White Whale and the Sin Archbishops of Sloth and Greed."

"Y-You did it for me?" The realization hit her. Yes, he could have called her—could have relied on her—not that she would've minded. But knowing he chose to risk his life for her…

She felt warm inside. An intense desire to make him hers welled up within her.

She hugged him tightly. "I understand. It would be too selfish of me to say anything more. But… I want to become your Knight."

She broke the hug and looked into his eyes. "I, Reina Van Astrea, want to become your devoted Knight—the sword that slays your enemies. So please… let me be your sword."

She knelt before him, and Subaru was stunned.

'Today's been wild… First, I slay two Archbishops, then make a contract with Betty… and now this?' he thought.

"Um, don't we need some official ceremony or something? You know, for swearing fealty or whatever?" he asked awkwardly. He wasn't exactly well-versed in this kind of thing.

"No, only official Knighthood requires a ceremony. So I pledge my loyalty to you—do you accept it?" she asked, eyes locked on his.

"I accept," he replied. I mean, what else was he supposed to say?

In just the past two days, more had happened to him than in his entire life.

She smiled and bowed her head. "Hereby, I, Reina Van Astrea, dedicate my sword and life to my one and only Lord."

"Good. Now that you're my Knight, I can finally tell you my name—it's Natsuki Subaru," he said.

"Natsuki Subaru…" she repeated softly. The name engraved itself on her heart—it was the name of the Lord she had sworn to serve.

"Reina," he said, gently placing his hands on her shoulders and helping her stand, "I promise I'll become a Lord you can be proud of."

There's no need for that, she wanted to say. All she really needed was an excuse to stay by his side, to protect him… and maybe, just maybe, make him hers one day.

That was how selfish her heart truly was.

{ T/n: Question, who loves Subaru more? Reina or Envy.}

"Now, Reina, I have a quest for you," he said.

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"I want you to return to the Capital and deliver the news of the White Whale's demise, as well as the deaths of the Sin Archbishops of Greed and Sloth, to the Council. Tell them that I handled it—and that the Emilia camp is taking credit," he said.

"My Liege… do you plan to serve that woman?" she asked, somewhat dissatisfied. In her eyes, Lord Subaru was far above some half-elf who couldn't even stand firm on her own.

"No. I consider Emilia an ally. I'll fully support her claim to the throne, and in return, she'll provide her resources to aid me," he explained calmly.

Reina let out a soft breath of relief.

If that woman dared to treat her Lord like a servant, she wouldn't have hesitated to send her head rolling.

'Still, she's gotten into the role pretty fast, huh?' Subaru mused, glancing at her—unaware of the murderous thoughts flashing behind her serene expression.

"Very well, My Liege. I shall deliver the news to the Council of Wise Men and return to your side to carry out my duties," she said, bowing slightly.

He nodded. Having her around ensures everyone's safety.

Even if things went south with Roswaal, he wouldn't need to fear him.

He knew that, with his Aura, Psychic abilities, and Spiritual prowess—especially now with the empowerment from the two Swords of Power—he surpassed Roswaal.

But Roswaal was the type who might snap once cornered.

And you should never underestimate crazy people.

Thus, Reina departed, teleporting back to the Capital to deliver the news.

Meanwhile, Subaru unrolled the world map and discussed the location Gluttony had revealed—the hidden place where Regulus' wives were being held captive.

"It's southwest of here… even farther than the Royal Capital, in fact," Beatrice said, tracing a route on the map.

He nodded.

'If I run at full speed, I can get there in a few minutes', he thought.

It wasn't an exaggeration—he had calculated it. His current speed clocked in at nearly eight kilometers per second, something he confirmed using his psychic abilities.

By all logic, such speed should require insane levels of force and energy—but somehow, he could do it naturally, like he had developed a special affinity or ability tied to speed itself.

Another mystery to ponder later, he noted mentally.

"Hey, Betty, you know I can act as a Spirit Anchor, right?" he said, glancing at her.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "You want to see if Betty can Anchor to you, I suppose?" she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.

Subaru instinctively took a step back. The sheer sparkle in her eyes gave him goosebumps.

The analogy of someone being inside him felt a bit too violating—not to mention the cursed memory of those pregnant Subaru fanfics from his past life. He visibly shuddered.

"Very well, let's check it out, I suppose!" Beatrice said cheerfully, placing her hand on his chest before vanishing in an instant.

"Betty?" he called, glancing around.

"I'm here… inside of you. And I must say, it's wonderful," her voice echoed warmly within him.

"W-Wonderful? In what way?" he asked, sweating nervously. Goddamn those fanfic writers. They've ruined Re:Zero for me.

"It's your soul," she explained, matter-of-factly. "It has two distinct colors. One is orange—warm and vibrant—and the other is transparent with a faint golden tint."

She sounded like she was describing a lovely grove in a forest rather than his soul.

"I personally prefer the white one more," she added casually.

"Right… Anyway, time to bag up what's left of Regulus," he said, slipping the corpse into a bag. He coated it with his Aura just to make sure it wouldn't disintegrate or fly off mid-run.

"Alright, I'll start heading for the destination. Please guide me, Betty."

"Do not worry! Betty is the best guide, I suppose!" she replied proudly, her tone haughty and smug.

Subaru stepped outside and began running at a moderate speed, waiting until he was a fair distance from the village and the mansion before picking up the pace.

"Very well, turn to the left... A little more, and perfect!" Beatrice instructed, her voice clear in his mind.

Subaru nodded, coating his body in Aura to avoid repeating his previous mistake. He bent his knees slightly, preparing himself for the jump.

With a powerful thrust, the ground cracked beneath him as he shot into the sky, soaring several hundred meters high. He scanned the horizon, then adjusted his trajectory before landing with a heavy thud that sent dust flying in all directions.

He took off, his body becoming a blur, legs moving in a frantic, almost unnatural rhythm.

His figure tore through the landscape like a force of nature, leaving sonic booms in his wake, each step reverberating with immense force.

Thankfully, his thinking speed was 1000 times faster than the average person's, allowing him to process the world around him in slow motion. He weaved through obstacles effortlessly, taking detours with ease as if the world itself had slowed down just for him.

His speed peaked, and the ground beneath him began to scorch from the sheer intensity of his momentum. He pushed forward, faster than a comet, feeling the wind whip against his face as he neared his destination.

"We're here," he said, his voice steady, despite the incredible pace. "Now, all we need to do is find the castle."

...

Regulus' wives lived in an ancient, crumbling castle, secluded from the world, where they carried out every task by themselves.

Cleaning? Sewing clothes? Farming for food? Trading goods?

All of it—they did alone, day after day, while their so-called husband treated them with utmost cruelty.

"Subaru—no, Zero—before we go looking for them, can you show me your Authority?" Beatrice suddenly asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

Things had happened so fast, he hadn't yet taken the time to properly examine his new Authority of sloth that he acquired from Petelgeuse.

He had felt something latch onto him the moment Sloth's Authority was torn apart—but he hadn't tested it until now.

"Sure," he shrugged, then concentrated. Using an Authority was instinctual—it required focus, an inner guidance to fully manifest.

Slowly, several spectral hands emerged from in front of him… It felt weird to him.

He tested them one by one. With a single hand, he grasped a nearby boulder and hurled it. It rocketed through the air, smashing through several trees before finally stopping. He then summoned more hands, experimenting. When he exceeded sixty-four, a sharp pain pierced through his skull—an apparent limit.

"So? Can you see them—the Unseen Hands?" he asked Beatrice.

"No… and Authorities often differ between users. You should test what unique trait yours possesses, I suppose," she replied thoughtfully.

He nodded and attempted to mimic the ability of the Envy Natsuki Subaru—phasing the hands through matter.

To his surprise and delight, it worked. If he willed it, the hands could pass through solid objects and directly touch their intended target.

The realization exhilarated him. These were invisible hands capable of lifting dozens of tons each, and they could phase through matter with ease.

Compared to the standard Unseen Hands, these were vastly more powerful.

"Invisible Providence," he murmured, smiling. "Let's name this Authority Invisible Providence."

With this Authority, his combat abilities had taken another significant leap forward.

Now, he wouldn't need to waste Psychic energy on moving things—this power could handle it. He could reserve his Psychic energy solely for telepathy and teleportation.

"Now that the test is complete, let's see if we can find Regulus' wives," he said, activating Aura in his eyes to gain Aura Vision. He grabbed Regulus bag using Invisible Providence and scanned the area.

"Hm… About a kilometer from here, I can see several Aura signatures—dozens, actually," he reported.

"This new ability of yours is most impressive. You must explain it in detail when we return, I suppose!" Beatrice said, clearly fascinated.

"Sure," he replied, starting to run toward the cluster of Auras at a slow pace. He soon reached the location, startling a woman in the process.

"Who are you?" the woman asked, her voice devoid of emotion. Her face was a mask of indifference, as though nothing could faze her.

"You're one of Regulus' wives, aren't you?" he asked. She simply stared at him, her expression unchanged.

"Yes," she admitted. "If you value your life, I suggest you leave immediately. If my husband returns, he'll kill you without hesitation."

Subaru chuckled, as if he'd heard a good joke. The woman, however, remained silent. His laugh had drawn the attention of other women nearby. They approached, their eyes fixed on the unfamiliar man.

"Who is it, Number 187?" asked one of them.

"An outsider," 187 replied coldly.

Two additional women joined the group, though they too remained silent.

"Shall we inform Number 184?" asked 187.

"Oh man, it kinda hurts my heart hearing you refer to each other by the numbers Regulus assigned you," Subaru said, tossing the floating bag in front of them.

They stared at the bag, then back at him, expressionless.

"Go on. Open it. I guarantee you'll be surprised," he said, and 187 hesitantly stepped forward to inspect the bag's contents.

"A-Ahh!!" she cried out, recoiling in horror. Her emotionless mask shattered as she fell backward in shock. The other women gasped, their expressions breaking for the first time as they gazed upon the dismembered remains of Regulus.

"I-Impossible… Husband-sama?" one woman whispered in disbelief.

"It must be a fake," another said quickly, trying to regain composure.

"It isn't, ladies," Subaru said confidently. "That man is indeed Regulus Corneas. And he was defeated—by yours truly."

They stared at him, unable to comprehend that Regulus could actually lose.

"How about you gather the rest of the women in the castle?" he asked calmly.

'Could it be… Is that really his corpse?' 187 thought. She stared at the remains, the reality dawning on her.

"Very well. I shall gather them," she said, much to the shock of the others.

'If that really is him… then we might finally be free. And if not? Well, death wouldn't be worse than this hell we live in,' she thought grimly.

Before long, all of Regulus' wives had assembled in the castle's grand hall.

"Is it true? That body… is that our husband?" asked Number 184—her name was Sylphy.

"Yes," Subaru replied. "He's still technically alive, though—just in a coma."

Several women shrieked at the revelation.

"Will he kill us when he wakes?"

"We disobeyed his will, didn't we?"

"Then I guess I will die…"

They began muttering disturbing things.

"Ladies! Chill out! Why are you all assuming you're going to die?!" Subaru shouted, snapping them out of their spiraling thoughts.

"Listen carefully. I'm here to kill him for good. Regulus' Authority—the Authority of Greed—grants him invincibility for five seconds. However, he extended that time by sharing his heart with his wives," Subaru explained, shocking them all.

"Wait… So he was invincible… because of us?" Sylphy asked, lips trembling.

He nodded solemnly. "Unfortunately, yes."

"That bastard was able to slaughter our families… because of us?!" she whispered, her voice cracking. Her life—everything—had become a twisted, cruel joke.

"You're not to blame. His Authority worked based on who he perceived as his wives. It had nothing to do with your own desires," Subaru said, bringing a small degree of relief to them.

"Currently…" he paused, pointing toward a woman. "She's the one carrying his heart."

Number 211's eyes widened in horror. "I-I'm carrying his heart?!"

All the women turned toward her in unison.

"If I die… then he dies as well!" she exclaimed, a manic smile forming on her face as she rushed toward a nearby knife.

Subaru intercepted her swiftly.

"Sigh… It's not your fault. Killing yourself won't solve anything—the heart would just transfer to someone else, Stand here I will fix it" he said firmly.

He used Telekinesis to gently lift her into the air, forming a cross-like pose.

Concentrating deeply, he released his psychic energy and merged it with aura, forming a detailed 3D map of her inner structure in his mind.

Then, using Invisible Providence, one spectral hand phased directly into her chest—crushing the second heart beating beside hers.

Splurt.

Regulus' corpse suddenly spewed blood, and the dim light in his eyes flickered out.

"H-Husband-sama… is dead?" one woman whispered, staring in disbelief.

At that moment, the Greed factor latched onto Subaru. He felt it—something new embedding itself alongside Sloth within him.

A new Authority began to form, rooted in the desires within the orange section of his soul.

'Using psychic energy and aura allows me to perceive souls… even my own,' Subaru thought, watching a dark, star-like fragment attach to his soul's orange aspect.

Sloth was attached to the pure white section—the part that was uniquely 'Subaru,' which seemed to be the reason why only he could use that Authority.

Finishing his soul observation, Subaru gently brought the still-floating woman back down.

"There it is—" he began, only to stop mid-sentence as he saw a woman kicking Regulus' corpse.

Another soon joined her, stomping repeatedly on one of the severed limbs.

"Die! Die! Die! DIE!" she screamed with hysterical laughter.

'Did she just go full psycho?' Subaru shuddered.

More women joined in—some spitting on the body, others smeared in blood, laughing through their pain.

Sylphy, especially—she was the most unhinged. She bit into a chunk of Regulus' flesh and spat it out.

"You fucker! How dare you kill my family! You deserve worse than this, scum!" she shouted.

"Zero, this is… revolting. He must have treated them like disposable pawns for them to become like this, I suppose," Beatrice said, her voice filled with disgust.

"Ah, Betty, should I let you out?" he asked, unsure, watching more women desecrate Regulus' remains.

"I'll stay inside, I suppose," she replied flatly. 'Not to mention… it's comfy here,' she thought, contentedly curling deeper into his soul.

He stayed quiet, waiting for the women to calm down. What began as hysterical rage soon gave way to something else—grief.

One woman suddenly broke down into tears. Then another. Soon, the room echoed with the sobs of dozens of women, crying like children.

'Previously they were acting like revenge maniacs… and now they are crying? Subaru didn't understand the complex emotions flowing through them.

However seeing them breaking down, made his heart clutch.

He walked over to the loudest girl—Sylphy—and gently wrapped his arms around her. She froze.

"There, there… He's gone now. He'll never hurt you again. Ever," he said softly, loudly enough for all of them to hear.

He gently patted her back, and she clung to his clothes, drenching them with her tears. Her cries slowly faded into quiet sobs.

As he tried to move, she held on tighter, her trembling hands refusing to let go, her face full of desperate reluctance.

He sighed, then stepped over to another crying woman, gently hugging her as well and patting her back.

"You're all safe now. I've killed him for good. So stop crying… and instead, let's laugh. Let's shout it together—Victory!"

"…"

Silence.

'Okay… I'm officially terrible at comforting women,' he thought, embarrassed.

Then—someone giggled. Another chuckled. Soon, laughter began to bubble up throughout the hall.

Dozens of women laughed, not mockingly, but freely—for the first time in who knows how long.

"You're horrible at comforting women," one of them said through her laughter.

'Ouch! Right in the heart…' he thought, an imaginary arrow piercing his soul.

...

Reina Van Astrea was standing before the Council of the Wisemen, particularly Miklotov and Bordeaux as she broke the news to them.

"The beast that haunted the world for 400 years, the White Whale, and the Sin Archbishops of the Witch cult, representing Greed and Sloth had been slain" She said earning gasps from them.

"The White Whale had been killed?"

"Not only that, two Sin Archbishops of the Witch Cult are dead?!" Miklotov expressed his shock alongside the others.

He was the brain of the Kingdom, so he knew the best what it meant for an Archbishop, much less two to die.

Archbishops were thought to be invincible, there had been cases of them annihilating cities, and the best of the best losing against them.

Even the so-called Archbishop of Pride died only when the Divine Dragon Volcanica made a move.

It showed how great was the death of a Sin Archbishop.

"Have you killed them, Miss Reina?" asked Miklotov while stroking his beard, after all it would made complete sense if Reina has slain them.

"I would like to inform you that I have not killed them… It was my Lord, sir Zero who slayed the Beast that haunted the world for centuries" she said.

"Zero? There is no… No- Wait a minute was it that bodyguard?" asked Miklotov as his eyes narrowed.

She smiled and replied: "Yes, It was Zero who bravely slayed the beast, and brought judgement to the two Sin Archbishops. I have sworn my fealty to him"

Her answer shocked everyone, as they never expected for the Sword Saint to swear her loyalty to someone.

Bordeaux's eyes narrowed as he considered the implications of what he had heard.

Sword Saint, Reina Van Astrea was a monster, a catastrophe if unleashed.

In fact, more than a decade ago they passed the Reina Law, which meant she was not allowed to leave the Kingdom unless given the order from the throne itself.

She was also not allowed to use any of her Divine Protections to manipulate people in any way.

She was also not allowed to be unchecked, having to give regular reports of what she did.

She was chained… and now she has sworn her loyalty to someone completely irrelevant to the Kingdom.

Bordeaux had searched about Zero's identity after his fame rose by defeating the 'Finest of Knights' and what did he found? Nothing, not even a hint from where he came from.

This had made him suspicious and now hearing Sword Saint swearing her loyalty to him…

"Reina Van Astrea… Since you have sworn your loyalty to someone, I ask of you. Who will be your first priority? Your Liege or the Kingdom?" his words caused an uneasy silence.

Reina Van Astrea's face became impassive before forming a smile, one that caused Bordeaux to shudder.

"It is simple, my first prior-"

"Silence!" Miklotov interrupted her.

"There is no need for such questions. We all know where Sword Saint's loyalty lies, rather we should be worried on how to take the news of the White Whale's and Sin Archbishops' deaths"

"Reina Van Astrea, do you have someone else to testify it?" asked Miklotov.

"Yes, Lady Crusch, Sir Julius, Sir Felix, Sir Wilhelm Van Astrea and many other soldiers have seen the corpse of the White Whale, lying beside the Flugel tree and they had talked with my Liege, confirming he had killed it" she replied.

"Very well. Knights! Summon them! As for you Reina, you are dismissed" said Miklotov and she gave a small bow before parting.

"Miklotov why did you interrupt her? We must know whether her loyalty is shaking or not" asked Bordeaux, other Sages also looked at him.

"There is no doubt… Her first priority is her Lord" Miklotov said surprising them.

"Damn it! Then why did you…" He stopped as he realized something and became terrified

"Do you realize it now? If Sword Saint's loyalty has been truly shaken… and if there is a fallout, what do you think will happen to us?" he said.

"We cannot defeat the Sword Saint" admitted another Sage.

"Yes, we know what kind of monster she is, and if that monster is against us, it can very well destroy our Kingdom" Miklotov said.

"We must approach this situation carefully… we are indeed afraid of the Sword Saint, and we should be considering her abilities. But if we take a radical approach, it will end very bad for us" Miklotov said.

"What do you suggest Miklotov? What should we do?" asked Bordeaux.

"First we must consider why the Sword Saint swore a fealty to someone… who is not even a noble of Lugunica" he said and everyone nodded.

"Perhaps, he is controlling her?" one suggested horrifying others.

"If that's the case, then what can we do? Do you think we can take on someone who can slay Sin Archbishops and White Whale and easily control the strongest successor of the Sword Saint?" Bordeaux snorted.

"I truly believe that's not the case… There must be another underlying reason, perhaps admiration, respect or" Miklotov paused for a moment "Love."

"Love?! Sir Miklotov you surely jest, how could the Sword Saint fall in love?" asked a Sage.

"Hoho! Nothing is impossible, and if this loyalty is brought by such feelings than some scheme, then it is better."

"First we must verify about the White Whale's demise, and then see Zero's stance and try to tie down him to Lugunica if we must" he explained.

"What better way to tie him down, other than to confer him a title of Nobility?" Bordeaux grinned.

"At the same time, we must secretly prepare for the fallout with the Saint" Miklotov said causing everyone to become serious.

"We must not try to have a fallout with the Sword Saint at all costs, only as a last resort. If we can control Zero, we can control the Sword Saint" Miklotov said.

"We shall discuss the measures later; it is not as if we do not have dozens of measures for the Sword Saint" Bordeaux snorted.

"Very well, first we should confirm the deaths of the White Whale and the Sin Archbishops"

They nodded, everyone getting ready to do their parts.

...

'How did we get to this?' Subaru wondered as he looked around.

Sylphy was drooling on his left shoulder, another girl was sleeping peacefully on his right shoulder sitting next to him and another woman was lying on his lap.

Many women were lying all around him.

"Number 227, the blood is cleaned," said a woman.

The other woman nodded, and then looked at Subaru who was covered in Regulus' blood that he got from the women snuggling to him.

"You all! Wake up! To make such a mess of our saviour's clothes!" Number 227 snapped.

The women woke up, Sylphy yawned and rubbed her cheek against Subaru's shoulder.

'Is this what they call a harem, I suppose?' Beatrice asked emotionlessly, however one could tell she was jealous.

'Why are so many women after my contractor?!' If not for the fact all the women had gone through so much pain and trauma, she would have started blasting El Minya.

"I am sorry, we had soiled your clothes" Sylphy said with guilt, having regained her mind.

She also blushed realizing how close she was to Subaru.

"Don't worry, you all have been through a lot. Let's all clean up, take a bath and prepare to leave this place" Subaru said patting while her head.

She felt her heart beating rapidly.

Unlike her self-proclaimed husband Regulus, she preferred to have Subaru as her husband.

Subaru was so caring towards her.

"Sir Zero, let us help you to take a bath" suddenly a woman suggested, as if a trigger was pulled.

All women's eyes were fixed on Subaru, who shuddered.

"No need!" He quickly used aura and all the blood stains vanished from his clothes as if they never existed, even the foul smell was gone.

All the women's faces fell, their disappointment was immeasurable and their day was ruined.

'There is no way I would take a bath with them; last thing I want is to evolve the entire situation into some sort of orgy!' He thought. He knew that these women were being pretty affectionate with him.

Some might have already fallen in love with him, however he doesn't want to take advantage of the situation when they are so much emotionally disturbed.

Some had their entire families slaughtered by that man, how the fuck will their dead families feel if they knew their saviour is doing their daughter or wife from behind, while surrounded by several other women?

Thus, Reina was saved from the fate of becoming a cuck.

…

Reina finally returned, manifesting by Subaru's side.

She looked around to find many women, some of who were surprised by her sudden appearance.

"Don't worry! She is my Knight, and her name is Reina" Subaru said waving his hands, and they calmed down.

"My Liege, are they?"

"Yes, they are that Sin Archbishops' wives. Right now, they are preparing to leave." he said.

"It will take a considerable amount of effort to return them to their homes." said Reina.

"Yeah, I have a plan for that" he said and suddenly Betty came out and yawned.

"I had a good sleep, I suppose" she said and then looked at her contractor.

"Say Betty do you have any way to get them out of here?" Subaru asked his trustworthy loli spirit.

"I can teleport them to my library, however it would take a huge amount of mana, I suppose" Beatrice said, not betraying her contractor's trust.

"Fantastic! Mana is the last thing that I am deprived of!" Subaru grinned and grabbing the loli's hand he injected a huge amount of mana in her.

"~Ahhh!~"

Suddenly there was silence, Subaru had a blank look, and so did Reina, however their internal thoughts were very different.

While Reina was wondering whether to draw her sword, Subaru felt guilty for making Beatrice like this.

(A/N: Reina: There is nothing in this world that my sword cannot solve!)

Beatrice, somewhat embarrassed, didn't think much of the incident, instead she looked at Subaru with shining eyes.

"My contractor is the best! In fact!" she looked at him happily, as it was the first time in her life that she had gotten so much mana at once after 400 years!

Subaru sighed in relief and asked: "Do you need more mana?"

"It is more than enough to send these women to the mansion, I suppose."

"Good, Reina let's talk about what happened with the Wise men once we finish rescuing them"

Finally after a while all the women had gathered.

"Okay everyone! I have something important to ask of you all!" Subaru said, Beatrice and Reina standing by each of his sides.

"First we will be going to a mansion where I live, and after that it will be up to you on what to do next." Subaru said.

Many of them had sad expressions after hearing his words, while some were still emotionless, unable to recover from trauma as well.

"So I have a proposal for all of you! You see, I am going to start a company. A merchant group if you understand, and I will need a lot of employees, so how about you being the first batch of my employees?" he said, surprising not only them but also Reina and Beatrice.

"Of course, it is for those who have nowhere to go… or don't want to return back to their homes. If you want to leave, I will help you to return to your homes after a few days" he said in a measured tone.

Almost all of of their families were slaughtered, they had no place to return. Even if they had somewhere to return, they didn't want to. A few were forced to be abandoned due to the Witch cult's threat.

They had formed a bond with the other women who shared the same fate, they were akin to sisters now.

"Is it okay Lord Zero? We don't know much about trading…and how to handle such qualified work." a woman said.

"Don't worry, you all will get the training for free" Subaru smiled.

It wasn't the modern world, where you need over the top-class education for something which can be learned by a few months of training.

Not to mention, since he had saved them, their loyalty will be guaranteed.

They were the best employees, and since it will help both of them, it was a win-win situation.

Many women were deeply moved by his proposal, some even almost had hearts in their eyes as they looked at him.

Seeing the group of beautiful women staring at Subaru as if looking at their future husband, Reina's bitch-o-meter went haywire.

She quickly got in front of Subaru and said "I am Reina Van Astrea, and the loyal Knight of Lord Zero. I promise, for those who want to return to their past lives, I will give my full support!"

Although Reina wasn't the current head of Astrea family, she was filthy rich.

Even the two thousand Holy Gold coins that Subaru got from the clown was just a mere drop in the bucket in front of her resources.

So, she was more than ready to take it upon herself to send these hot women away from her Lord.

She thought at least half of them would choose to return, but unfortunately for her, expectations never met reality.

Only four women out of seventy-nine were willing to return back to their homes as their parents were forced to abandon them.

However, the rest of them decided to stay.

Out of nowhere she got an additional seventy-five competitors.

...

"That's the last one," Subaru announced, counting as the final woman, carrying her belongings and other essentials, crossed into the library. She gave Subaru a grateful bow before moving further inside.

"Hmph! Far too many footprints in my precious library! Who is going to clean this mess, I suppose?!" Beatrice pouted, her small arms crossed as she scowled at the now dirtied floor of the once-pristine library.

"Isn't there some kind of magic that can clean all this?" Subaru asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow. However, Beatrice simply sighed.

"If there were magic spells for every little inconvenience, I would have already found you, dragged you here, and made you my contractor a long time ago, in fact," she grumbled with a slight huff.

"Uh, alright then. I guess I'll have to try something myself," Subaru said with a shrug. He quickly found a bag made from rough fabric lying around. Channeling his Telekinesis skill, he created an artificial vacuum by manipulating the air, sucking all the dust, dirt, and debris scattered across the floor neatly into the bag.

"There, all done," Subaru declared after finishing, dusting off his hands with a small sense of satisfaction.

Reina, who had been watching intently, clapped her hands excitedly. "That was amazing! As expected of my Lord! His finesse extends even to cleaning duties!" she praised him enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

'At this rate, even if he were to just sneeze, she'd still find a reason to praise him,' Beatrice thought, twitching her eyebrows in mild exasperation. Nevertheless, she quickly masked her expression and puffed out her chest.

"Well, as expected of my contractor, I suppose," Beatrice added, giving her own praise, changing her colours.

Subaru looked at the two of them, completely speechless. He could only pinch the bridge of his nose, trying to calm himself from the overwhelming, almost ridiculous amount of praise he was receiving.

Suddenly, a loud, desperate cry echoed through the mansion.

Without hesitation, Subaru grabbed Beatrice and bolted towards the source of the scream, his heart pounding. Reina immediately followed after them, her sword hand twitching reflexively. They raced through the halls and burst into the kitchen, only to find a chaotic scene unfolding before them.

Standing there was a woman wearing a maid's uniform, her blonde hair tied neatly behind her, and her green eyes filled with tension. She had one of the women hostage, gripping her firmly by the arm.

"Tell me! Why the hell are all of you here?!" the maid growled, her voice firm and demanding, though the confusion in her eyes was evident. However, her expression quickly shifted to one of shock upon seeing Beatrice—and beside her, Zero and Reina.

"Release her. Quickly," Subaru said, his tone sharp and full of irritation. How could things go so wrong within just a few minutes of taking his eyes off the situation?

"Do as my contractor commands," Beatrice added firmly, her voice carrying undeniable authority.

The maid—Frederica—recognized Beatrice immediately. Although she hadn't seen Reina or Subaru (Zero) before, Beatrice's presence was enough to make her reconsider her actions. Quickly, Frederica released the woman, who fled to another panicked woman standing nearby.

"I-I—what is going on here?" Frederica finally asked, looking bewildered.

Subaru rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Let me guess. You're one of the maids working here?"

"Yes, that's correct," Frederica answered, giving a respectful bow. "I am Frederica Baumann, one of the head maids of this mansion. A few days ago, I was called here by Ram to assist with household duties, as the workload was becoming overwhelming for her alone."

Subaru gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Got it."

"You must be… Lord Zero if I am not wrong" Frederica guessed and Subaru nodded.

Frederica turned her attention to Reina, who she did not recognize. Although she had heard tales of the famous Sword Saint, she had never seen her in person. And frankly, she hadn't expected the Sword Saint to appear here, of all places.

"I am Reina Van Astrea, the current Sword Saint and a loyal knight sworn to Lord Zero," Reina introduced herself proudly, deliberately emphasizing her loyalty as she raised her voice slightly, shooting a proud look at Subaru.

Frederica's mouth fell open in shock. She looked between Reina and Subaru in utter disbelief, her mind struggling to process what she was hearing.

"I am also Zero's contracted spirit, in fact," Beatrice declared smugly, grinning wide as she dropped yet another bombshell onto the poor maid.

Frederica opened and closed her mouth several times, resembling a fish out of water. No words came out. What was she even supposed to say to all of this?

Sensing Frederica's distress, Subaru quickly decided to defuse the situation. "Anyway, why don't we move to the guest room? I'll explain everything properly there. Also," he added, turning to the women who had been held hostage, "Are you alright? You aren't hurt, are you?"

"We were startled, but we are fine. No injuries at all. Thank you so much for your concern, Lord Zero," the woman who had been grabbed answered gratefully, bowing her head.

Subaru smiled slightly, relieved to hear they were unharmed.

Meanwhile, several other women had gathered around the kitchen doorway, peeking inside with worried faces, clearly wondering where the earlier scream had come from.

Seeing the gathering commotion, Subaru sighed deeply once again. Could he not catch a single break today?

After patiently reassuring everyone and clarifying the misunderstanding, the women finally returned to their tasks, preparing dinner for everyone as originally intended.

Subaru led Frederica into the guest room, sitting down comfortably on a large sofa. Beatrice perched herself casually on his lap, and Reina sat closely by his side, both acting like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Subaru began explaining the entire situation to Frederica, who listened intently.

"I see..." Frederica said thoughtfully after he finished. "When I saw those women entering the kitchen with large bags, I found it extremely suspicious and acted purely on instinct. Thankfully, I didn't hurt them."

"We brought a significant amount of food supplies from the castle's storage to ensure the women would not face any shortages once they relocated here," Subaru explained, understanding the source of the confusion now that everything was laid out.

"I shall apologize to them later," Frederica said sincerely, bowing her head in remorse. "Furthermore, I will personally help organize their accommodations. This mansion is large enough to offer comfortable lodging to all of them for the time being."

"However," she added thoughtfully, "once the others return, we will likely need to discuss a more permanent solution regarding their residence."

Reina nodded in agreement, but her expression grew a bit colder as she turned to Frederica. "We shall address that when the time comes. For now, in the absence of Lord Roswaal Mathers, Lord Zero will be acting as the current master of this mansion," she declared with an edge of warning in her voice.

Frederica immediately straightened up, realizing her mistake. "I-I see. Then, please forgive me for my earlier discourtesy," she said, standing up and bowing once again respectfully.

Subaru waved his hand dismissively, smiling warmly. "No need for all that formal stuff. Just treat me like a friend. There's no need to stress yourself out over something so trivial."

Honestly, Subaru had no intention of becoming one of those prideful nobles whose arrogance was bigger than their penis. (Ayooo)

"Anyway," he continued with a relaxed sigh, "let's not dwell on it too much. For now, let's just take it easy and relax a little."

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, a different kind of commotion was beginning to brew back in the Royal Capital of Lugnica.

To be continued...