Chapter 39 39: “A Small Arrogance”

In Emilia's heart, she believed she had already confessed to Subaru long ago — even if he had turned her down at the time.

But that didn't stop her from pouring every drop of her love onto the Subaru standing before her now!

Whatever Subaru thought, she would agree with!

Whatever Subaru wanted to do, she would find a way to make it happen!

It was just... she had probably come on a little too strong.

So strong that Subaru had decided something was wrong with her — that her mind had gone a bit sideways?

And then, racking his brain for a solution, he had landed on this approach: correcting her, guiding her back toward a normal set of values?

The thought made Emilia press her fingers lightly over her lips, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Natsuki Subaru.

Sure, there was a small twinge of embarrassment over how eagerly she had thrown herself at him.

But there was still a chance to fix it — so that was fine!

What filled her heart far more right now was a helpless, melting fondness for this behavior that was so unmistakably, so perfectly Natsuki Subaru.

That awkward stubbornness of his. That gentleness buried beneath the scolding — the part of him that was quietly terrified she might get hurt. And underneath it all, that tiny, distinctly Subaru-flavored streak of... pride.

Honestly, who else in the world could possibly be like this?

Just picturing him agonizing over exactly what to say — that clumsy, dead-serious expression on his face as he worked it all out — sent a sweet, fizzing warmth dancing through the very tip of Emilia's heart, like a feather brushing somewhere it shouldn't.

"Good grief..."

She couldn't help murmuring under her breath. Heat crept quietly up her cheeks, while the corners of her mouth curved upward entirely against her will.

Whatever embarrassment she'd felt had been swept away completely by the warm tide now brimming inside her.

All that remained was a nearly giddy urge — to call him out on his little scheme right this instant!

Of course, she wouldn't actually do that.

This was a lesson Subaru had gone out of his way to prepare just for her!

Since he'd put so much thought into it, the least she could do was play along properly.

Right, so next time... next time Subaru made some strange request, she would go along with it exactly as he asked!

If Subaru handed her a rou jia mo with a pill hidden inside — she would secretly spit the pill out, and then devour the rou jia mo with great enthusiasm!

"...So, did you catch all that? Emilia-tan?"

Natsuki Subaru finally brought his lengthy lecture to a close and looked at her expectantly.

"Mm... yes! I heard you, Subaru!"

Emilia snapped back to attention with a start and answered loudly at once.

Catching the strange, puzzled look Natsuki Subaru was giving her, Emilia immediately realized her reaction had been off.

So, in a slightly flustered rush, she rattled off a summary along the lines of what Natsuki Subaru had been driving at.

"Subaru wants me to value my own feelings more instead of bending over backwards to please others with no limits — is that right?!"

Natsuki Subaru found himself nodding before he even thought about it.

Not bad.

But then, almost immediately, an instinctive impulse welled up inside him:

After the stick, it was time for the carrot!

And so, riding that impulse, the words left his mouth before he could stop them.

"Right. So, tonight... meet me in the courtyard. There's something I want to say to you, Emilia-tan."

The moment it was out, Natsuki Subaru blinked — surprised at himself.

He'd had the thought, sure, but he hadn't expected to just come out and say it so directly.

He paused to reflect, and recalled the odd behavior he'd been noticing in himself ever since he walked into the dining room.

No — it wasn't just the dining room. It had started earlier than that. It had begun after the battle at the Stolen Goods Warehouse.

Thinking carefully, Natsuki Subaru turned his attention inward, reviewing all the changes he had noticed in himself.

After the battle at the Stolen Goods Warehouse ended, his physical strength hadn't changed much — but his mind seemed to have sharpened considerably.

Whatever he thought about, whatever problem he turned over in his head, came faster and clearer than before.

It was hard to describe. It was as though an extra processor had simply appeared from nowhere, raising both the floor and ceiling of his mental processing power.

He hadn't paid it too much attention at first — not until today. Not until right now.

Natsuki Subaru realized that beyond simply becoming sharper, he had also gained what could only be called a "special" ability out of thin air.

An instinct, almost — a preternatural ease with which he could see through the behavior and inner thoughts of the people around him.

Just like the way he had read Emilia earlier: naturally, effortlessly, he had been able to deduce her mental state, her truest thoughts.

And from there, think through the appropriate response to "heal" Emilia and help her find her way back to herself.

Under other circumstances, Natsuki Subaru might have worried whether a change like this came with side effects.

But this mysterious force acting on his mind reminded him of those memories that had suddenly surfaced in his head before he crossed over.

Naturally enough, he filed this sudden change under the category of one of his own "cheat abilities."

And yet — deep in the back of his mind — Natsuki Subaru "arrogantly" overlooked something in those future memories he had received:

He had never spontaneously gained any ability or talent out of nowhere in them. Not once.

Natsuki Subaru shook his head, banishing the stray thoughts, and brought his attention back to the present.

"Now then, Rem..."

Natsuki Subaru rose from his chair and turned to face Rem on the other side of the table.

"I'll be staying at the manor for a while longer, so I'll need some new clothes made. Would you take my measurements?"

As he spoke, Natsuki Subaru raised an eyebrow toward the head of the table where Roswaal sat, and said in a light, easy tone:

"No objections, Roz?"

"But of course~ Subaru, please, do as you like."

Roswaal spread his arms wide and smiled, utterly unbothered.

Before the next trial that the Gospel pointed toward — the next ordeal it had in store for Natsuki Subaru — he had no intention of making any unnecessary moves.

Everything, for the sake of his teacher's resurrection.

"Oh, Subaru's measurements, I of course already know — wait, actually, I'll go right now!"

Rem had instinctively been about to say that naturally, as husband and wife, they knew each other's measurements by heart.

But the very next instant she caught herself — they weren't the married couple of several years from now. That was still far in the future.

Right now, the two of them had only just met.

Even if — not so long ago — she had done something so forward, so shameless toward Subaru in her moment of confused desperation!

The memory made Rem's face flush red all over again, but she quickly steadied herself, a firm resolve settling into her eyes.

It didn't matter that Subaru didn't know her well yet. She would use every means she had to make herself unforgettable to him.

Even if she had come back from years in the future, even if she had to start from zero — that was perfectly fine!

She would put her whole heart into building new memories with Subaru. Precious ones. Ones that would never fade.

"Subaru, I'll lead the way — please, follow me."

Rem gave a small bow, then made her way to the dining room door and glanced back at Natsuki Subaru, waiting for him to follow.

"Rem, shouldn't you use an honorific when addressing a guest? Calling him Subaru so familiarly — isn't that a little too intimate?"

Watching Rem lower her eyes demurely and prepare to lead Subaru away — wearing the smug, satisfied look of someone about to enjoy a very private moment alone with him — Emilia felt an inexplicable flare of irritation rise in her chest, and the words slipped out before she could stop them.

"Emilia!"

Natsuki Subaru, who had already taken two steps toward Rem, turned back with a helpless groan.

Faced with Natsuki Subaru's gaze, Emilia's expression shifted at once.

She pressed her lips together, looking utterly put-upon and wronged, and arranged her face into the picture of innocence.

"It's... it's what Subaru said," she murmured plaintively. "That I should take my own feelings seriously..."

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