"It's something you have to do even if you're seriously injured," Subaru said.
"I'm very interested - the alliance with my family is probably based on this consideration. Then, it's not like I haven't thought about what my family needs to do... Do you need help?"
"It's necessary, but... to be honest, I didn't expect it to be so difficult."
Looking around at the bruised expedition team, Subaru lowered his shoulders at his expected mistake.
"With so many casualties, we can no longer force them. Ms. Crusch also has a position and opinion that as the head of the family, she should not be emotional. This is already the case. It would be too inhumane to ask for help out of emotion," Subaru said regretfully.
Yuexing on the side nodded helplessly.
"——Then let me use this old bone for you to use."
The person who suddenly interrupted the conversation was Wilhelm who approached with steady steps.
The sword demon walked over with a step that showed no signs of injury, and handed Crusch the health care he held in his right hand.
"Lord Crusch, I would like to return the lent items here, and I would like to sincerely thank you for this. My sad wish can be realized in this way, thanks to Lord Crusch's assistance - thank you very much"
"It's just that my purpose coincides with your sad wish - that sword will be kept with you for a while. After that, if you don't wear the sword, it won't be able to play its due role.
"
"——Yes, thank you"
After Crusch briefly responded to Wilhelm's thanks, he looked at the moon and stars.
Wilhelm put away his sword and turned to Moon Star
The old swordsman looked directly at Subaru, then knelt on one knee on the spot. This was the highest etiquette that he had shown on the eve of the battle, showing the deepest respect to the opponent.
"Your Excellency Huang Yuexing, Your Excellency Natsuki Subaru, the success of this White Whale crusade is all due to your cooperation. The reason why I have survived so far has been fully realized, and it is also because of your appearance. Thank you.
,Thank you--I give you everything I have to show my gratitude."
Wilhelm dedicated most of his life to the sword, and spent more than ten years after that to achieve revenge.
Yuexing was speechless for a moment when he expressed his gratitude like this.
"The long-cherished wish was realized because of Mr. Wilhelm's own strength. He thought about defeating that white whale, investigated, trained, and fought perseveringly..." Subaru said from the side.
You experience setbacks again and again, and you may even almost give up because you are unable to achieve your obsession. It is impossible that you have never been tempted to abandon everything and get relief from your delusions.
The weakness of the soul, surrendering to oneself, and being ruthlessly blocked by fate. It is precisely because they know this better than anyone else that they can understand how much suffering Wilhelm went through before this obsession came true.
"For the wife I love so much, I even knocked down the white whale. It would be great if I could help to some extent. Although I don't know if it's appropriate to say this, but - thank you for your hard work." Yuexing solemnly said
said
Hearing Yuexing's words, Wilhelm raised his head and widened his blue eyes.
To the senior who has burned his love for his deceased wife for fourteen years and reached this point today, and who has finally won the battle against fate, these words are spoken to him for his hard work over the years.
"grateful"
Wilhelm's voice trembled and he answered briefly.
Then he lowered his head slightly, and after just a few seconds of silence, he stood up, turned his gaze to Crusch, and saw her nodding,
"I have obtained permission from Crusch-sama. I will entrust this body to Subaru-dono. Please use it fully to achieve your goal."
"This really helps a lot, but really?"
Subaru looked to Crusch for confirmation, and she nodded in affirmation.
Subaru looked worried at Wilhelm
When Subaru hesitated, Crusch shook his head and said it was okay.
"Phyllis!"
"Here we come, Master Crusch!"
Hearing Crusch's hearty shout, Phyllis quickly approached as if gliding
He jumped up and stood next to Crusch, the cat ears on his head trembling slightly.
"What's the matter, Crusch-sama, little Phyllis is busy at work, but listening to Crusch-sama's wishes is of course the top priority, nya."
"Are there any injured who are in critical condition?"
"Although we started to deal with the seriously injured, the number of people in danger has been completely reduced to zero, meow, and the emergency response of other people was flawless. Little Feili is a capable child, please praise me, meow."
Crusch touched Felice's head and said, "I know," and then nodded.
"Are the remaining wounded able to be transported? Well, Phyllis, the treatment in this place can be done here. From now on, you will go with Natsuki Subaru and the others to fulfill your obligations as an alliance."
"——Eh!?" Subaru was surprised.
Yuexing nodded
"I understand, little Phyllis is traveling with Subaru like this, and she still has to treat Lord Velu on the way."
"Sorry to trouble you"
"On the contrary, Lord Heim has to fight with swords, so we are not each other, Meow?"
There was no objection, Phyllis obeyed the instructions as a matter of course, and Wilhelm didn't show the slightest surprise. Watching the conversation between his master and the two followers, Subaru couldn't help but express confusion.
Just then Phyllis looked at the moon and stars
"That's it, Meow. The remaining half of the expedition members who don't have any big problems...a little over twenty people, Meow? These are brought to Yuexing Meow to help, please take care of me?"
"It's too casual! Is this really okay?"
"I believe Master Crusch will be fine."
"I forgot to mention it. Little Rem wants to stay... rather, I want to go back to the royal capital with Master Crusch to recuperate——, you understand?"
"Why!"
Strong opposition came after Phyllis's winking declaration.
Rem, who had been listening to the conversation with her ears open, glared at Phyllis fiercely.
"Rem is fine. Subaru is about to go to a dangerous place again. What will happen if Rem is not around?"
"Even if you say so, your body can no longer move, right? You have almost been suppressing a white whale by yourself, and you have been firing advanced magic continuously... Little Rem's body is now in a state of exhaustion of magic power. Meow, as a healer
, I can’t let you mess around anymore~ Do you understand?”
"But!" Unable to agree, Rem, thinking this way, propped up his body and his tone became more and more excited.
However, the body that could not be fully propped up was shaking and trembling,
Yuexing ran over and gently held Rem in her arms.
"This is very dangerous... Please just listen to Phyllis and don't act too recklessly."
"But! Rem hates this. It's too painful and I can't bear it."
Looking at Subaru next to him, Rem's blue eyes filled with tears.
“When Yuexing is in trouble, Rem wants to lend a helping hand before anyone else, wants to be able to push Yuexing from behind when he is confused about the future, and wants to be able to push Yuexing when he wants to challenge.
Whenever possible, I can be with you, so..."
Yuexing couldn't help but blush a little when she heard Rem's tearful words full of love.
Yuexing gently caressed her head
"It's no problem. I'm no longer what I used to be. I will protect myself, okay?"
"Besides, how could I let Rem worry about me?"
Rem looked up at Yuexing with slightly trembling eyes, and whispered
"The moon and stars belong to Rem forever..."
"I understand." Yuexing nodded.
"Yuexing is Rem's hero..."
"Since you are a hero, you have a mission that you must complete, right?"
Rem breathed with a forbearing expression, but relaxed after a while.
"I understand, Rem's hero is the strongest."
She cried and said with a smile
"Yes, it is"
…
Crusch took the wounded, including Rem, and recovered the beluga's head before returning to the capital.
Yuexing and the others asked half of the expedition team to serve as their escorts, and took the other half to the Mezas territory.
Represented by Wilhelm and Phyllis, there are a total of twenty-four members of the expedition team accompanying Subaru.
Although it is much less than expected, it is still a reassuring combat power.
Moreover, it’s not just these members of the expedition team who are traveling with them——
"Ah——, by the way, it's really good that everyone can be taken by the little brother!" Ricardo said
"Captain——! Mimi too! Mimi worked very hard too! Super——very hard——!"
One is Ricardo, who was seriously injured and left the battle line, but has now recovered, and the other is Mi Mi, who still retains his childlike innocence even in a life-threatening battle.
Not only these two people participated, but also ten survivors of the orc mercenary group Iron Fang. The other injured were led by deputy captain Heitaro and went to the royal capital with Crusch and the others.
"Speaking of which, my brother has obviously consumed so much energy, why are you still so energetic?"
"Hetado's body is too weak! Too weak! It's so—so—shameful!"
Mimi laughed loudly at her brother's weakness
But according to Subaru's judgment, it's probably just because this sister has so much physical strength.
"Although the Sa family became like that in the second half of the White Whale War, don't worry, because the lady has taken good care of it. After that, I want to make a splash with my real goal."
"You said you wanted to show off for your real target. Did you say that because you knew what I was going to do..." Subaru said.
"It has something to do with the Witch Cult, right?"
Ricardo suddenly lowered his voice, leaving Subaru's words stuck in his throat. Subaru couldn't help but hold on to the earth dragon that was bearing his weight, and then heard the dark earth dragon whispering as if he was worried about him.
Looking at Subaru's stiff profile, Ricardo showed his fangs and smiled.
"Don't be so surprised. The most important thing for a businessman is the freshness of the information. After all, Sajia was hired by the young lady. It's not just my brother's business. I've heard a lot about other things. It's not for nothing that my ears are so big."
Subaru smiled bitterly.
Yuexing, who was riding on the earth dragon, was surprised, but also felt Anastasia's palace and scheming.
Having said that, since we continue to travel together, it is necessary to share information with Ricardo and the Iron Fangs. If possible, I want to gather the people of the expedition team and talk about it together.
And it also depends on whether the insurance Subaru laid down before departure is in progress.
"Ah, it seems we can join together."
"ah?"
Hearing these words, Subaru hurriedly turned around, but his eyes could not see through the darkness that shrouded the plain at night. He could not identify what he saw, and could only tilt his head to express confusion.