Chapter Text
Useless…
To Regulus, continuing that search was completely useless. There was an overwhelming number of books, and the task of finding what the group—and he—needed seemed almost impossible. It felt like they were wasting their time in that place, as if they were trying to find a needle in a haystack; no, actually, it was more like trying to find a single black grain of sand in the middle of a vast desert.
It seemed that even Subaru had thrown in the towel in his efforts, since he was there chatting with Meili in such a calm, carefree manner, as if they were enjoying a peaceful walk in the park. Meili, for her part, appeared to be talking about her past and her mother, sharing her thoughts. Regulus, however, showed little interest in what she was saying, as the situation with her had left a bad taste in his mouth—figuratively speaking, of course.
Earlier, he had wanted to talk to her to find out what it was that she hated about him. Perhaps the real Regulus had a particular inclination toward girls like Subaru did, but he wasn’t certain about that. What worried him was not knowing how she might react; there was a chance she could start crying, which might create tension within the group.
The miasma might still be present, though it didn’t affect him; however, it did affect the others. As long as he kept his distance from both Meili and Shaula, everything should be fine—or at least, that was what he hoped.
But why deceive himself? He knew that, at some point, something would happen that would lead to Subaru’s death, inevitably triggering several loops of deaths. In those loops, Subaru might have to explain the situation indirectly, repeating the same story he had read about in previous arcs. The only thing Regulus knew, from what little he could anticipate of what lay ahead, was that the solution would take time to arrive.
Unless all of that could be avoided through the unstoppable force of Regulus. He would probably eliminate any threat that appeared in that place. He had already reached a level comparable to Reinhard’s, so what could possibly be more powerful than that?
In any case, Emilia viewed Regulus as her ace in the hole, which largely explained why the group tolerated him so much. It was like having a powerful army backing her up. Of course, as long as Emilia remained alive, Regulus would continue to be practically invulnerable.
Perhaps he should be a bit more daring and consider the idea of placing his heart within Anastasia’s or Ram’s heart. Who knew—maybe he could even risk placing it within Rem.
The Lion’s Heart, of course…
Still, he would have to be careful. It was only a thought, and he was aware that Emilia would reject such a possibility. Knowing her personality, she would likely slap him out of sheer repulsion at the idea. So it was better not to risk confirming it.
He didn’t fully understand how the Authority worked when it came to adding wives to his heart. According to his assumption, whenever Regulus felt some kind of affection for someone, his Lion’s Heart would activate automatically, adding another woman to his life. However, that raised an important question: how was it possible for Regulus to feel affection for someone? He had a rather twisted notion of love; in fact, none of his former partners even had proper names, as he identified them only by numbers.
Taking that into account, and considering the disdain he felt toward men, he couldn’t recall whether he had ever expressed himself directly on the matter. What he did know for certain was that Regulus represented a mix of various mental conditions, some of which might not even exist in his real dimension.
Perhaps it worked on any living being—even a pet or a man—he just didn’t know whether affection or attraction was required for the Lion’s Heart to function. If it was mere affection, there would be many possibilities; and if it was attraction, it wasn’t as if he had strange tastes—except for Sirius, of course.
It was possible that the original Regulus had always had a preference for women with beautiful, attractive faces, since looking at them easily left one in awe of their beauty. Even for someone with a narcissistic personality like Regulus, it was difficult not to feel at least a slight—or strong—attraction toward such women. Perhaps that was why he was quite selective when choosing the girls he associated with.
What was ironic about all of this was that the original Regulus had never had physical contact with a woman in his life; when he turned them into his wives, he did so only to use them as ornaments, as extensions of his power and ambition.
He was already imagining what he would say if asked: Why are you a virgin?
He would say something like: “And why does that concern you? You’re trampling on my rights! Do you know that? I don’t need those worldly things! I am perfect! No living being in this filthy kingdom has the right to so much as touch a single hair on my body. Do you really think something as irrelevant as virginity matters to me? I am the man most satisfied with himself! Do you understand? Of course you don’t! No one is capable of understanding my greatness and perfection! And besides, what’s wrong with being a virgin? I am not affected by the trivial and petty desires that plague others! My wives must remain healthy, pure, like blank canvases. That purity is what makes them perfect! It makes them worthy of being admired by someone as magnificent as me! Your questions are utterly absurd… You deserve nothing more than to fall to the ground and be devoured by worms!”
And finally, the person in that imagined scenario would die—not without wearing a smile on their face, of course. What a character Regulus was…
Setting aside his thoughts, which had taken the form of internal monologues, Regulus realized he could hear footsteps approaching him. He tried to feign disinterest, occupying his mind by reading a book. However, he soon noticed that the person in question had stopped right beside him. Casting a sideways glance, he confirmed it was Anastasia, who seemed absorbed in observing the books on the shelves, as if he didn’t exist at that moment.
He raised an eyebrow, realizing that she clearly wanted to interact with him. What he found peculiar about the situation was that Julius was nowhere to be seen; normally, he always accompanied Anastasia as her knight. Even though Regulus was part of the group, it was no secret that Julius didn’t particularly like the idea of him and Anastasia interacting too much.
This reminded him of that day at the lodging…
Unwilling to recall such an embarrassing moment, Regulus adopted the gesture of clearing his throat, even though he didn’t really need to. Then he focused his gaze on Anastasia and spoke to her in a tone that tried to sound casual.
"So… have you found anything that might be useful?"
She took a few seconds to respond. She didn’t look away from the books immediately; instead, she ran her fingers along the spine of a random one, as if weighing it before speaking.
"Useful… that depends on what each person considers useful in a context like this place…"
"Anastasia," Regulus interrupted, making an effort to sound conciliatory. "I apologize for saying this, but please don’t start rambling. I asked you a simple question, do you understand?"
Anastasia looked at him with mild surprise, as she hadn’t expected Regulus to be bothered by that kind of wording—phrases she often used when she wanted to avoid giving a direct answer.
It wasn’t an exaggerated reaction, but for someone like her, who was used to controlling the flow of any conversation, that brief silence spoke volumes.
"Well…" she murmured, tilting her head. "That was unexpected."
Regulus closed the book he was holding with a soft thud, placing it back in its spot.
"Right now, I’m not in the mood for mind games. If you have something useful to share, go ahead; if not, that’s fine too."
For a second, Anastasia watched him with renewed attention, as if she had just discovered an interesting crack in a wall she believed to be solid. Then her smile returned, though it was different—less commercial, more sincere.
"Alright, alright. Let’s get straight to the point, then," she admitted. "The truth is, we haven’t managed to find the answer. There’s nothing that tells us what the next step should be or how we can move forward without taking risks."
"I expected as much..."
Anastasia looked at him with open curiosity, not bothering to hide it.
"And why do you sound so disappointed?" she asked.
"It was inevitable that, sooner or later, you’d reach this point. A dead end. Eventually, you’ll be trapped in ignorance—or rather, when you fail to see what’s most obvious."
Anastasia raised both eyebrows, then crossed her arms lightly.
"What a discouraging stance," she remarked. "Answers don’t always come easily, as if they were served on a silver platter, you know? Sometimes you have to wallow in the mud like a piglet."
"I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about having a better view of what’s behind you."
"From my perspective, I think you do," she replied firmly. "You sound exactly like someone who believes the world should only make sense when it aligns with their own logic."
Seeing Regulus narrow his eyes in irritation, it seemed Anastasia had struck the right chord.
"No." He moved his hands as if separating points in the air. "What I’m trying to say is that this place doesn’t value effort, but rather persistence without question. It’s not about learning—it’s about questioning what’s right in front of you."
Anastasia fell silent for a few seconds. Then, in a calm voice, she repeated words Regulus immediately recognized:
"I'm sure that, just like the others, you too will make difficult decisions."
"...I don’t quite understand how you see me," Regulus said, frowning. "You change your tone too easily."
Anastasia seemed to be trying to interact with Regulus in a different way, almost as if she were playing a role. Or perhaps her perception of the world was so singular that, at times, Regulus felt the urge to open up sincerely to her.
He wasn’t sure what Anastasia’s true intentions were in speaking to him like that; rather than discomfort, it stirred a strange mix of comfort and unease within him.
Anastasia extended her arm, pointing a finger toward Regulus’s eyes, as if she were peering into his memories.
"I have to admit, I don’t perceive you the same way others do anymore… I no longer see you as a former Archbishop. I don’t even see you as a constant danger."
Regulus raised an eyebrow, finally holding her gaze.
"...Oh? Really?"
"I see you more as… an ignorant man filled with too many delusions. Someone who doesn’t seem to possess power of his own, but rather something borrowed—or perhaps misunderstood."
"...You don’t speak like someone who truly believes that," he replied, showing no sign of offense.
"Maybe because I’m still reflecting on it," she admitted, her voice slightly hesitant. "But tell me—do you really identify with the image of someone who comes from an extremist cult? You don’t behave like them. You don’t think like them. And that… is strange."
At her words, Regulus formed a faint smile, and after a brief silence, spoke with a subtly mocking tone.
"Curious… because you don’t seem to me like the cunning, greedy merchant who wants to become a ruler."
Anastasia’s eyes widened, visibly surprised.
"Oh? I don’t?"
"No," Regulus continued. "You seem more like an imitation. Someone trying to take on a role that’s far too big for her, chasing something she doesn’t even seem to understand herself."
Anastasia’s smile slowly faded, and a trace of insecurity appeared on her face as she looked away, unsure how to react.
"That’s quite a bold accusation," she said quietly, her voice carrying restraint in every word. "Especially coming from someone like you..."
She kept her gaze averted, weighing whether his words hid real danger or were merely an unnecessary provocation.
Regulus watched her in silence, his eyes fixed on her as he noticed a subtle hint of uncertainty in her expression. It was a small but meaningful crack—enough to tell him he had touched something delicate inside her.
Even so…
"Relax," he suddenly murmured, lifting a hand lazily. "I was just joking."
Anastasia turned to him, completely bewildered.
"...Joking?"
"I was dragging it out on purpose," Regulus continued, tilting his head slightly. "You looked too serious. I thought it’d be interesting to see how you’d react when someone answered you on equal footing."
For a brief moment, she looked at him with doubt, as if deciding whether to believe him or not. Then a soft pink hue spread across her cheeks, and little by little, her smile returned as she brought a hand to her temple.
"What a twisted way to flirt," she murmured, a mix of disbelief and amusement in her voice. "You almost made me rethink a few things, you know?"
"I didn’t mean to traumatize you," he replied with feigned seriousness. "Though I have to admit, it was rather entertaining."
Anastasia shook her head in disagreement, though her smile remained. Then, taking a small step forward, she confidently extended her hand.
"Then let’s leave things as they are. Perhaps… we could be good allies in the future."
Regulus looked at the offered hand but didn’t take it right away. His expression shifted abruptly, hardening as any trace of his earlier carelessness vanished.
"For us to become partners… you’d need to help me betray Subaru."
Anastasia froze like a statue.
"What…?" she uttered in disbelief.
"What I need is for you to seal him inside a magical seal for a thousand years," he continued, maintaining the same serious tone. "It’s not complicated at all. Just a small logistical detail we’d need to consider."
Anastasia slowly withdrew her hand, her smile disappearing completely, replaced by shock and concern.
"Are you serious… or is this another joke?"
He made an exaggerated grimace and leaned back against the shelves, clearly signaling that his words weren’t meant to be taken seriously.
"Of course I’m joking."
"...What a relief..."
Hearing that, Anastasia released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and after a brief moment, a small laugh escaped her lips.
"That was terrible… really. For a moment, I thought we were being serious."
Regulus simply shrugged. He often forgot that this kind of interaction could help prevent unnecessary tension.
Curiously, Anastasia was one of the few people with whom this kind of communication sometimes flowed with ease.
After a few minutes, the group gathered: Emilia, Anastasia, Julius, Subaru, Beatrice, Meili, and last—and least important—Regulus. When Regulus joined, Meili pretended she hadn’t been laughing moments ago and distracted herself with other things.
That girl…
Given the practical uselessness of the Taygeta Archive, the group decided to change priorities: instead of wasting time with the countless books of the dead, they needed to find a way to ascend to the next floor of the Pleiades Watchtower. Emilia’s physical attempts to find an exit failed, confirming that they could not advance by force.
Julius and Anastasia agreed that the archive was far too vast to be exploited by such a small group. Julius proposed a long-term solution: inform the kingdom and gather more people, even an “army,” to take advantage of the site’s historical and strategic value now that the barrier had disappeared.
Anastasia returned to the idea of bringing outside help into the tower, though she confessed her fear. It wasn’t just the logistical difficulty; by putting herself in the tower’s creator’s shoes, she suspected that this challenge had been deliberately designed to punish any attempt to “make the trial easier” by involving more people.
From that twisted perspective, bringing reinforcements could go against the original intent of the test.
Subaru called Shaula and decided to question her directly. Shaula admitted that there were secret rules to protect the tower and that if anyone tried to leave without completing the trials, she would be obligated to kill them. Although she said it awkwardly and nervously, it was clear that this was not a personal choice, but an obligation tied to a promise or contract beyond her own will.
Shaula finally clarified the rules:
"It is forbidden to leave the tower before completing all the trials."
"It is forbidden to break the rules of the trials."
"It is forbidden to disrespect the library."
"It is forbidden to attempt to destroy the tower."
There was no fifth rule, but the second one was especially unsettling: if they didn’t know all the rules of the trial, they could break them unknowingly.
"Wait a moment."
Regulus raised his hand to ask for a moment to speak. Emilia, who seemed somewhat uneasy about the tower’s rules, nodded, granting him the chance to talk.
"Summing up what we’ve discussed so far, it’s clear that outside help cannot be a viable solution, since that would immediately turn us into enemies of Subaru’s acquaintance. Therefore…" He paused, taking a moment to reflect on what he was about to say. "I could consider the option of getting rid of her." He then pointed seriously at Shaula.
"What?!" Shaula exclaimed, visibly shocked to receive a direct threat from the person she least expected.
Shaula was powerful—far too powerful for the group. No one had the ability to become a problem for her, except the person pointing at her.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Subaru exclaimed, immediately stepping in front of Shaula, clearly and visibly angry. "What the hell is wrong with you?! You don’t have the right to talk about killing someone with that expression on your face."
There was no surprise in Regulus’s eyes at Subaru’s reaction.
"You’re jumping ahead before I even have the chance to explain my point of view. Besides, I never mentioned killing anyone. Please don’t attribute to my words something I did not say."
"Oh, really?" Subaru snapped irritably. "Because pointing at her like that and saying ‘get rid of her’ doesn’t exactly sound like inviting her out for tea."
Julius placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to act at any moment. Beside him, Anastasia looked thoughtful and concerned, torn between considering Regulus’s words as a mere joke or believing he might actually be serious.
For his part, Regulus had a very clear view of the situation. Although Shaula seemed to be a guide, her knowledge was only partial, and there were rules they still didn’t know. Regulus believed that if they managed to keep her away from the group, everything could become simpler for everyone. Moreover, he thought that decision might help prevent one or two tragic outcomes.
"That’s not right…"
Without warning, Emilia stepped up beside Subaru, staring seriously at Regulus. Even Subaru was surprised to see that expression on her face.
"Emilia…"
"Explain yourself," she said. "Now!"
Regulus lowered the hand that had been pointing at Shaula and spoke calmly.
"We are obligated to continue the trials according to the rules we know—and perhaps others we don’t. Shaula is obligated to kill us, which makes her a danger in many situations. Therefore, the most sensible thing is to exclude her and keep her at a distance…"
"Hey!" Shaula interrupted, showing no sign of fear or feeling threatened. "I’m just stating what I know. I haven’t threatened anyone at any point—I’m just giving a warning!"
"Oh, yeah? Then why do you intend to kill me?"
"What?!"
"Regulus, shut up!" Emilia said firmly.
Regulus fell silent, an offended expression on his face, while Subaru watched in shock at what Regulus had said. His gaze shifted to Emilia, realizing that her behavior suggested she knew more about the situation.
"What does Emilia mean?" Subaru asked, intrigued and somewhat confused.
Emilia kept her eyes on Regulus for a few more seconds, making sure he understood the warning. Then she took a deep breath and turned toward Subaru.
"It’s not something I can explain. But Regulus… knows things he’s not saying. And this is not the moment to provoke him—or Shaula."
"He knows things?"
"Emilia," Beatrice interrupted, visibly annoyed. "Betty and Subaru are part of your camp. Subaru has proven himself trustworthy countless times. Even here, hiding things like this can be counterproductive, I suppose. If you’re going to place more trust in this man…" pointing at Regulus, "then Betty wants to apologize for what she’s about to say, but I think someone like you is not fit to be Queen."
"Beako!" Subaru exclaimed, turning to her. "That was… that was too much."
"It wasn’t, I suppose," Beatrice replied, crossing her arms, her voice trembling slightly. "Betty is just saying what she thinks. In a situation like this, deliberately hiding information can cost lives."
Emilia’s face showed sadness and surprise. Over time, she had learned to endure comments that hurt her, but when the words came from someone like Beatrice—someone with vast experience and whom she cared for deeply—they truly struck her heart.
Emilia lowered her gaze slightly. Her fingers gently tightened around the hem of her sleeve, a small, almost unconscious gesture.
"I’m not hiding information on a whim…" Emilia murmured.
"Then explain it, I suppose," Beatrice insisted. "Because from where Betty is standing, it looks like you’re choosing to trust someone who has been our enemy… over Subaru."
Subaru felt an uncomfortable pinch in his chest—not out of jealousy, but because of the obvious tension between the two.
"Hey…" he tried to mediate. "This is getting way off track."
"No," Julius intervened. "This is exactly where we need to stop and clear things up."
All eyes turned to him. His hand was no longer on his sword, but his posture remained alert.
"Regulus… your words have not only caused confusion, but distrust. If you know something relevant to the group’s safety, now is the time to say it."
Regulus held Julius’s gaze for a moment… before shifting it to Emilia.
It was only a brief pause, waiting for her approval.
Emilia noticed.
Even with the sadness still lingering on her expression because of Beatrice’s words, she nodded slowly, giving him permission to continue. Her voice, however, was firm.
"This time… be clear."
Beatrice frowned, clearly annoyed. Subaru, meanwhile, placed a hand on his head, trying to calm her—and, in a way, himself. Meili yawned with little interest, rocking on her heels. Shaula watched everything with a strange expression, hard to define. Anastasia, on the other hand, looked at Regulus attentively, as if weighing the future consequences of every word that came out of his mouth.
"First… I apologize. I spoke without properly measuring the impact of my words. It was not my intention to cause this reaction or to turn anyone against anyone else."
Subaru looked at him with suspicion, but did not interrupt.
"When I mentioned ‘getting rid of’ Shaula, I wasn’t talking about killing her. I meant excluding her from the decision-making process. Keeping her… on the sidelines." He paused briefly. "But I admit I expressed it in the worst possible way. That said," Regulus continued, "my frustration comes from elsewhere. At first, I thought that resorting to outside help, as you suggested, could be a valid solution. But after hearing the rules… I realized it isn’t. And that discouraged me more than I expected."
"Does that justify what you said?" Julius asked.
"No… which is why I’m apologizing."
There was a brief silence. Then Regulus added, lowering his tone slightly:
"I also have to admit something else. The reason I didn’t actively participate in the first trial… wasn’t disinterest."
"What?"
Regulus looked at Emilia again. She hesitated for a moment… then nodded once more.
"It was because Emilia forbade me to."
"Huh?" Subaru’s eyes widened. "Emilia, what…?"
"I was worried," Emilia said, gently clenching her hands. "I thought Shaula might see him as a threat."
Shaula tilted her head.
"Huh? Me?"
"I thought… I thought you hated him. That if he caught your attention too much, you might attack him."
Subaru immediately turned toward Shaula.
"Is that true? Would you be capable of…?"
"Hey, hey!" Shaula raised both hands defensively in response to Emilia’s words. "Don’t put weird words in my mouth."
Then she looked Regulus up and down, frowning.
"It’s true that he has the face of an idiot," she added bluntly, "but I wouldn’t kill him just because."
"Thanks for the clarification," Regulus muttered.
"That said," Shaula continued, "if he breaks a rule, he’d be the first one I’d kill."
"The first one…?"
"Of course," she replied with a shrug. "And afterward, even if it wasn’t personal, I’d kill all of you too."
She said it without malice, merely as a warning.
"But don’t worry. As long as you follow the rules, I’ll remain the same Shaula as always."
Regulus crossed his arms, adopting a serious posture.
"And that’s where the issue lies," he began to explain. "It’s not that I wish to eliminate anyone at all. The problem is that as long as there are rules—and an enforcer who is obligated to carry them out without exception—we are all walking on a tightrope. Even if I only mentioned this to you, Emilia, if Shaula were to become a threat, I would be obligated to stop her. You know that better than anyone."
Emilia closed her eyes for a brief moment. It wasn’t a gesture of exhaustion, but rather one of acceptance.
"…I know," she replied in a whisper.
When she opened her eyes again, her gaze didn’t settle on Regulus, but instead drifted toward the ground in front of her.
"And that’s precisely why I want to apologize to all of you. It wasn’t right of me to keep something so significant to myself. I also apologize to Shaula for having thought that way about you."
Shaula blinked a couple of times, clearly bewildered by the direct apology.
"Huh…?" She tilted her head. "Well… I guess that’s fine. It doesn’t bother me much if people think weird things about me."
Beatrice pressed her lips together, glancing at Emilia from the side.
"…If Betty was too harsh," she murmured, "then Betty apologizes as well, I suppose. But that doesn’t change the fact that this tower is unknown to the group. And hiding information here can be dangerous."
"Beatrice…" Emilia smiled faintly. "I promise not to do it again. Not without a reason that truly justifies it."
"Thank you…" Subaru said, scratching the back of his neck. "Really. I don’t like feeling like we’re all walking blind."
"Then we agree on something fundamental," Julius added. "We cannot afford internal divisions. Nor unfounded assumptions. Regulus…" He looked at him sternly. "Your intentions may not have been malicious, but your words almost led us into an unnecessary confrontation."
"I understand, and I’ll take responsibility for that."
Anastasia, who had remained silent until then, broke the silence with a gentle clap, seeking to disperse any lingering tension.
"Well…" she commented, offering a cautious smile. "At least now we’re all clear on where we stand. That’s no small matter, especially given our current circumstances. With that said, I think it’s time to continue with the trials."
"Sure! But where would the stairs to the second floor be?"
"I think it’s pretty obvious," Regulus replied, thinking of the most straightforward possibility.
"There you go again with those supposed insights," Subaru retorted, his tone skeptical.
Regulus shot Subaru a puzzled look. What had happened earlier still bothered him; passing the first trial didn’t turn him into Re:Zero’s Nostradamus. In truth, he was merely making observations about what seemed most evident to him.
"Well, why don’t you share it with us?" Anastasia continued, suggesting he explain his discovery.
————————————————————————
Regulus pointed out an enormous staircase that led directly from the room to the tower’s second floor, a structure so obvious that Emilia found it unsettling she hadn’t noticed it before.
They concluded that something had been mentally steering them away from that room until the third-floor trial was resolved. The staircase seemed to exist to prevent anyone from becoming trapped or crushed after clearing the previous test.
As they moved forward, Subaru reflected on how abnormally fast they were progressing through a tower that had remained unchanged for more than four hundred years, recalling his past exploits and their impact on the world’s history. Emilia, worried about his lack of self-esteem, tried to offer him emotional support, though Subaru didn’t feel particularly uplifted by her words after what had happened in the library.
Determined to continue, Subaru led the ascent as if he were searching for treasure, carrying Beatrice along with him. However, the staircase seemed endless, and the space began to behave strangely, as if it were warping. Suddenly, the staircase ended abruptly, and Subaru and Beatrice were swallowed by a white light, reappearing in another white room, similar to the one from the third-floor trial—an infinite, white space that heralded the start of a new test.
"Again, this room?"
The only thing that stood out as different in the white world was the staircase they had just climbed. Emilia and the others who had followed Subaru began to appear one after another.
Anastasia, who arrived last, looked around uneasily.
"Another white room? Don’t tell me we somehow ended up back on the third floor."
"I don’t think so. There were fifty-four steps to go from the fourth floor to the third, but these were four hundred and forty-four. That’s almost ten times as many steps."
"You counted them?"
"Heh, heh. To be honest, counting the steps on staircases has kind of become a hobby lately... Huh? Is that a sword?"
"It seems so..."
"The trial should be starting. That’s probably the signal."
"This time it’s not a monolith. It’s a sword."
Julius’s yellow eyes narrowed as he looked at the object protruding from the ground in the center of the room. As he said, it was different from the slab on the third floor.
A sword stood upright, its tip embedded in the white ground. The bare blade emerging from the floor struck Subaru as terrifyingly beautiful.
It had no ostentatious decorations. And he couldn’t judge the quality of the craftsmanship or the material. But the way it stood there—without excessive adornment, with only the minimum amount of steel necessary—seemed beautiful to him.
"So, is this supposed to be some kind of selection sword or something...?"
Julius raised an eyebrow at Subaru’s comment, but managed to restrain himself.
"Alright... who’s going to pull out the sword?" Anastasia asked, even though it seemed obvious who was meant for the task.
Almost immediately, several gazes converged on Regulus.
After all, he was the one who had solved the first trial, the one who had noticed the invisible staircase, the one who seemed to see patterns where others saw confusion. Even Subaru, albeit reluctantly, glanced at him, as if expecting him to step forward.
He simply shook his head.
"No," he said plainly.
"Huh?" Emilia was the first to react. "What do you mean, no?"
"I don’t like expectations," Regulus replied, crossing his arms. "I’m not as clever as I seem, and I have no interest in becoming the group’s ‘solve-everything’ guy."
"Even so, you’ve shown truly impressive observational skills."
"That doesn’t mean I’m the automatic solution to every inconvenience," Regulus replied. "I’d rather you come to me only when it’s truly indispensable. Like, for example, to fight. Not to draw some mysterious sword just because it seems obvious."
"Wow, that’s a bit selfish," Anastasia retorted, more teasingly than with any intent to offend.
"You’re not entirely wrong..."
Emilia looked at him with narrowed eyes, as if she were about to say something, but stopped. Instead of pressing further, she gave a small nod. She respected his decision, even if she didn’t fully understand it.
Now for the second-best option.
"Well, if there doesn’t seem to be any immediate danger..." Subaru looked at the sword embedded in the white ground. "And if this is another weird puzzle from the tower... then I’ll go."
"Subaru..." Emilia murmured.
"Relax," he replied with a slightly forced smile. "If something goes wrong, you know..."
He didn’t finish the sentence. Beatrice gently squeezed his hand before letting go.
"Be careful, I suppose."
Subaru thanked her, took a moment to steady himself, and approached the sword with somewhat slow steps, taking into account everything that had happened.
Soon, he was close enough to touch it. At that moment, it began to feel real. Unlike the monolith, it didn’t seem to be some kind of mysterious object.
"Still, to think the day would come when I’d face this kind of orthodox fantasy... well, not so orthodox if I’ve got someone who used to be my enemy nearby..."
Murmuring to himself before the sword embedded in the ground, Subaru took a deep breath and extended his hand to grasp the sword’s hilt.
It happened right after.
—"The fool who succeeds in obtaining the celestial sword shall receive his sanction."—