Although Emilia is so brave, it has been proved in the last episode that she cannot overcome the "trial" with awareness alone. At least for the next three days from now on, Emilia's mind will be defeated by her past.
Precisely because he knew this, Subaru's eyes looked tragic.
She knew that Emilia was in pain, to the point where she didn’t want to see it and couldn’t bear to see it.
so--
"Subaru...yes, do you think you can't trust me?"
"--Huh?"
Just when my mind wandered a little, I heard Emilia ask uneasily.
Subaru let out a breath of surprise, and Emilia shook her head gently on the spot.
"Because I let you see the ugly side...that's why you felt that you couldn't leave the "trial" to me...that's why you said you wanted to take my place."
"No, it's not because of this, it's just that there is no need to force yourself to face the past..."
"But! You can't overcome the "trial" without facing it! Yes, if you can't even do this, how can you be a king... People in the village and people in the "sacred domain" will also be unable to go out."
Turning a deaf ear to Subaru's words, Emilia hugged her shoulders and persisted, as if to scold herself for being a coward, her nails dug into her thin shoulders.
"Subaru loves me very much, but I can't keep doing this. Not long ago, Subaru got all bruised and bruised because of me... So, how can I let this happen again...!"
"...It doesn't matter, it won't be anything. Maybe my expression is not good, but this is helping each other, and the so-called people make their best use, right? It's just that I happen to get along well with the "trial", because I seem to have some
If you want to achieve your goal, let me do it. There will come a time when you have to work hard."
"That time, that opportunity, isn't it now? Because I hated it, I turned my back and ignored it, leaving the problem to Subaru to escape...then what would happen to me?"
Avoid unpleasant things, don’t look at painful things, and turn your back on sad things. If this makes breathing easier, you should do it.
"————"
However, Subaru is not sure about Emilia's cowardice
She didn't know why she couldn't speak, so she could only remain silent. In response, Emilia closed her eyes hard, faced down, and pursed her lips.
That look hurt Subaru's heart, and he almost made a sound when his head was empty——
"——Let's come here first tonight."
The person who said this briefly was neither Subaru nor Emilia. The person who spoke quietly walked around behind Emilia, put his pink and white palm lightly against her mouth, and then——
"……ah"
Feeling weak and unconscious, Emilia fell forward
Subaru hugged her quickly, made sure she fell asleep and exhaled peacefully, and then stared at the person who did this - Ram
"what have you done?"
"I just asked her to smell the spice that can calm her down. If she is rude in response, Balus will be angry."
"Your behavior is undoubtedly forced...but it is the most appropriate way. I'm sorry to cause you trouble."
"It's really strange to be apologized by Barus for Lady Emilia's matter. When did the Great Elf give up his position as Lady Emilia's protector?"
"I don't have that..."
I mean, I originally wanted to say this, but I knew that such an argument was unconvincing, so I could only hang my head in despair.
For some unknown reason, Puck suddenly stopped showing up. This situation made Subaru care about Emilia even more than usual. Therefore, he also knew that her mind was being drained away as she reluctantly faced the "trial".
And Emilia herself is aware of this
"Hmph! Looks like that's the end of the story."
Subaru was speechless, and Emilia was unconscious. Looking at them, Gaphiel felt bored and snorted from his nose. Although he was dissatisfied with his attitude, he could not refute it.
Tonight's conversation ends here. This is undeniable, but——
"The conversation with Her Highness the Princess will have to wait until tomorrow... I hope~"
Listening to Jaffier's next words, Subaru couldn't reply a single word.
…
"——Can you borrow some time? I want to ask you something."
In the settlement at night, lit by a bonfire, Subaru said he wanted to ask Ryuzu something.
"Ah~? Is there anything else you want to say?"
There were two figures who turned around after being stopped - Kafir and Ryuzu. Subaru scratched his cheeks and said to the unhappy Kafir and the expressionless Ryuzu:
"Don't look like you're looking for a fight, I just want to ask."
"Are you asking? If I can answer it, of course it's no problem. What do you want to ask, Mr. Si?"
After repelling Javier who looked like he was about to bite someone, Ryuzu accepted Subaru's question. While grateful for this attitude, Subaru tilted his neck.
"Speaking of which, Ms. Ryuzu originally lived in that house. So where will Miss Ryuzu spend the night while Emilia and the others are staying there?"
"...bastard, why are you asking this, ah~? Let me make it clear first, if you dare to attack the old woman, try it. I will never forgive you... It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! What are you doing, stinking old woman!?"
"You're talking nonsense, Jia boy. After all, how could you think that a young man would attack this old man at night? Just use your head to know that he was just asking."
Squeezing Gafir's waist, Luzi sighed in annoyance. Of course, Gafir's suspicion was wrong, but Luzi's statement about attacking the old man at night was also hard to accept.
In any case, the purpose of the question just now is completely different from the original question. Subaru coughed lightly and said:
"The two of you just opposed my proposal. I want to know the real reason. Can you tell me?"
"...As I just said, the liberation of the "Sanctuary" must be done by Lady Emilia herself, because that is the expectation of boy Ross."
"You said it was Roswaal's idea, about this..."
The memory of his heated argument with Roswaal in the last cycle came back to life, and Subaru frowned as he didn't understand why.
The threat of the Witch Cult, and the liberation of the Sanctuary through "Trials" - Roswaal bluntly said that these are all layouts, which can be used as Emilia's merits. Subaru also agreed that this will help the king's selection, but this idea
It's simply not something that humans can come up with.
"Miss Lutz, do you support that guy's idea?"
"Make no mistake, I hate that guy as much as you do, but things are not that simple."
"I understand how boy Si feels, and I don't think it's very comfortable. However, as a representative of the settlement, I must consider what will happen after the barrier is lifted."
Not understanding what Ryuzu said, Subaru wrinkled his face to express his confusion. Seeing this, Gafir scratched his head impatiently.
"Let me tell you, even if the barrier is lifted, the guys who live here will not disappear. After their lives and residences are changed, who will take care of the old man and the old woman who can't even tell their left and right?"
"——So, that's it. After the barrier is lifted, even if you are officially welcomed into the territory... the fact that you are under Roswaal's care has not changed. That's why, Ms. Ryuse, you are like this."
"Going against Ross boy's ideas will jeopardize our position, so I have no choice but to apologize to you boys."
"...I always feel that I can't trust Roswaal anymore."
The favorability level had already shrunk in the previous round, and what he said now made his chest feel even more disgusting. After hearing Subaru's answer, Ryuuz smiled bitterly, and Gafir clicked his teeth again.
"In short, our requirements have been stated. The one who accepts the "trial" must be Her Highness the Princess. This has nothing to do with whether you are qualified or not. I just don't like you accepting the "trial""
"Can you please stop calling Emilia "Her Royal Highness"? It sounds like sarcasm."
"You're not allowed to use half-demon and you're not allowed to use her princess? You're complaining too much. Besides, you're being protected so well. What should you call her if you don't call her your princess? Tell me, Sir Knight?"
Javier said this provocatively, and bent his waist to observe Subaru's reaction from bottom to top. Subaru accepted the provocation and thought for a moment, then raised his index finger to point at him.
"Can you say what you said just now, Lord Knight, again?"
"Someone is so touched, you bastard..."
Standing between the shy Subaru and the dumbfounded Kafir, Ryuzu raised his hand, covered his mouth and yawned softly.
"Boy Si, are you done talking? I'm not good at staying up late. We'll talk about the rest tomorrow."
"It's very incongruous to say such words with that kind of appearance... But I understand, I'm sorry to stop you."
"Hmph! "Misty Yabengaom", you, please stay away from my grave."
"Although I don't understand what you mean, I know your intention. I have already paid my respects to the grave tonight."
Watching Ryuzu, who was sleepy, and Gafiel, who spoke sarcastically until the end, leave, Subaru looked up at the starry night sky.
The sky is full of stars, because there is no light pollution on the ground, so the stars shine extraordinarily
"Even though I feel so cheerful, the situation is very harsh..."
Subaru patted his cheek to encourage himself and said
"What do you think, Yuexing, what do you think?"
After hearing this, Yuexing thought for a while and then said
"Roswaal's purpose is nothing more than to get Emilia "recognized". You and I can participate in the "trial" on her behalf, and the credit will be credited to Emilia. But if we do this, we will live in
Those involved here will not recognize this credit.”
"I understand this too. No matter how you think about it, if Emilia liberates the "Sanctuary", everything will go smoothly, but..."
"——Barrus thinks Lady Emilia can't pass the "test"?"
Turning around, he saw that it was Ram who had tidied up Emilia's dormitory. Her words made Subaru shake his head with a grimace.
"It can't be said that there is no chance, but you also know that it is difficult to get results in a short time, right? And the problem of enchantment does not allow us to spend too much time dealing with it."
"Yes, at least, I hope it will end within three years when the winner of the King's Selection is decided."
"It took you too long!"
"The villagers are not willing to wait for such a long time to pass the "trial". Whether it is a mental burden or food problems, some problems will arise soon. People have accumulated pressure due to the sudden evacuation.
Coupled with the fact that the residents of the "Sanctuary" are forced to share their food, dissatisfaction will naturally appear."
Yuexing shrugged helplessly
"What needs to be done before things turn into that? Do you have any proposals?"
"The easiest way is to leave the "Sacred Area" as soon as possible"
The proposal was the same as the previous round of hostage liberation case.