Reinhard looked away from Yuji for a moment and raised his head, gazing at the night sky.
The moon shone high, full, enveloped by a few thin clouds, as if silently observing everything that had happened that night. The silvery light spread across the ruins of the bar, reflecting on the rubble, the puddles of water, the tired faces.
He remained silent for a few seconds, as if listening to something only he could hear.
"...Probably..." he finally said, his voice low and solemn, "This will be the last time we see the moon like this."
Emilia frowned slightly and also looked at the sky.
"What do you mean by that...?" she asked, almost in a whisper.
Reinhard didn't answer immediately. His normally calm blue eyes held an unusual seriousness.
"Big changes are coming..." he continued. "When destinies begin to intertwine like this... the world doesn't remain the same. Nor do the people."
He then glanced briefly at Yuji, unconscious in Emilia's arms.
After a few more words of farewell, Reinhard walked away silently. His footsteps echoed briefly among the rubble before disappearing into the darkness of the city, as if that almost unreal figure had never been there.
Emilia turned her full attention to Yuji.
Now, without the adrenaline of battle, his body seemed even heavier. Dried blood stained his torn clothes, and when she tried to adjust him better in her arms, she realized how deep the wounds were. Even those that had been forcibly closed by his effort still carried a strange weight, like scars that didn't belong only to his body.
"...This isn't good..." she murmured.
Puck reappeared, materializing in the air with a more serious expression than usual.
"He's at his limit, Lia. It's not just exhaustion... something's broken inside."
Emilia pressed her lips together. That reminded her of his gaze, not from now, but from before. A gaze of someone who seemed quite determined.
"We need to take him to the mansion..." she decided. "Ram will know what to do. And Roswaal too."
Puck nodded slowly.
"Good idea. You won't be able to handle all this alone."
_____
A short time later, the dragon carriage advanced along the stone road, illuminated only by torches and the distant glow of the moon. The earth dragon pulled the carriage with firm, rhythmic steps, while the gentle swaying made the interior creak slightly.
Yuji lay down, his head resting on Emilia's lap. Each of his breaths was heavy, irregular, as if his body were still struggling even in sleep. Sometimes, his fingers moved involuntarily, as if trying to grasp something invisible.
Emilia kept one hand on his chest, feeling the weak rise and fall, while the other gripped her own skirt, trying to contain her anxiety.
"He fought… even without knowing who I was…" she said softly. "He helped me, risking his life for people he doesn't even know… Yuji, you fool…"
Puck floated beside her, silently observing.
"People like that usually carry burdens that are too heavy…" he replied. "And they almost never ask for help, and I know that feeling very well…"
The road seemed too long that night. The trees slowly drifted by outside, and the cold wind entered through the opening of the dragonship, making Emilia's silver hair sway gently.
She looked at Yuji's scarred face, at the scar, at the marks on his hands.
"Just hold on a little longer…" she whispered, almost as a plea. "You've already done more than you should."
The dragonship continued on, cutting through the night towards Roswaal's mansion. And while the moon watched silently from above,
a stranger from another world was being carried to a place
where his destiny would truly begin
to intertwine with that world.
As the dragon-drawn carriage moved along the uneven road, Emilia distracted her own nerves by slowly running her fingers through Yuji's pink hair. The gesture was almost unconscious, repetitive, as if it could anchor him to that world or perhaps calm herself. The strands were rough, smelling of dried blood and dust, but still she continued, carefully, as she would with someone very fragile.
It was then that Ram saw the scene, her crimson gaze immediately falling on Yuji.
She didn't need to get very close to understand the situation. The torn clothes, the body covered in old and recent marks, the slumped posture of someone who had been forced to keep walking even after breaking. It wasn't just physical exhaustion. It was ingrained in him.
"...Hah." she said, with a cold half-smile. "What a pitiful sight." Emilia lifted her face, slightly startled.
"Ram…"
"He already looked like a beggar when I met him…" Ram continued, crossing his arms. "Now he's worse. He looks like something that was thrown away and forgotten by the side of the road."
The words were harsh, but her gaze wasn't one of pure contempt. There was analysis there. Evaluation. Like someone observing something broken and trying to decide if it can still be fixed.
Ram moved closer, leaning in to observe Yuji's face. His eyes were closed, but even so, his furrowed brows betrayed unease. He seemed to be struggling with something even in his sleep.
"He's not just injured..." she murmured.
Emilia squeezed Yuji's hand lightly, as if wanting to protect him from those words.
"He saved me... more than once..." she said softly. "Even without any reason."
Ram straightened up.
"People like that are troublesome, Emilia-sama..." she replied. "They feel the need to save others because they don't know what to do with themselves anymore."
For a moment, only the sound of the dragon's clatter and the wind filled the silence. Puck watched, too quiet for his usual self.
Ram looked away at the road ahead.
"Even so..." he added, almost indifferently, "If he made it this far alive carrying all this... then he must be incredibly stubborn."
Emilia replied with small giggles, "The kind that doesn't die easily, right?"
Emilia resumed playing with Yuji's hair, more slowly now. Her heart was still heavy, but with a strange feeling that, despite everything, he had arrived at the right place, even if he didn't know it yet.
The dragon-drawn carriage continued steadily towards the mansion, while the night seemed to close in around them, silently guarding the weight of that encounter between worlds.
_____
In Yuji's mind, there was no pain.
There was no sound.
Only a dense, heavy emptiness, as if he were submerged in something thicker than water. There was no ground, no sky—only darkness. And in the middle of it, him.
Standing.
Alone.
Or at least that's what it seemed. Gradually, something began to form in front of him. It didn't come with footsteps, nor with any sound. It simply… appeared. A silhouette cut out in the darkness, unstable, like smoke trying to take human form.
Yuji narrowed his eyes.
"...Where... am I?" he thought, but not even his own voice seemed to exist there.
The silhouette moved.
No, it trembled.
A strange pressure spread through the void, making Yuji's chest tighten. It wasn't cursed energy, but it resembled the feeling of being in front of something that shouldn't be confronted.
Then, the figure spoke.
The voice didn't come from a specific place. It echoed directly inside him, sharp, full of irritation.
"You shouldn't be here."
Yuji felt a shiver run through his entire body.
The silhouette seemed to lean slightly forward, as if staring at him… even without a visible face. There was anger there. Not explosive, but deep, ancient, like something that had been disturbed out of turn.
"This place isn't for you."
"This world… isn't yours."
Yuji instinctively clenched his fists.
"...Then why am I here?" he thought, forcing his own will against that pressure.
The figure reacted.
For a brief moment, the darkness around her stirred, as if something were being forcibly restrained.
The anger in her voice mingled with something harder to define. Frustration. Discomfort. As if Yuji's very existence there was a mistake someone couldn't prevent.
"Go back."
ordered the silhouette.
"Before you sink even further."
Yuji felt the weight of those words.
Even without understanding where he was, or who that female presence was, one thing was clear:
it didn't want him to stay there.
And yet…
he was there. Something warm enveloped Yuji's hand.
At first, he thought it was just another illusion of that emptiness. But the touch was different. A small hand. It wasn't oppressive, nor distant. It was small. Fragile. Real.
His fingers reacted before his mind. A slight squeeze in return.
The darkness began to recede.
The weight on his chest gradually lessened, as if he were emerging from a very deep abyss. Distant sounds began to exist, the soft creaking of wood, the rustling of fabric, a tranquil breath that wasn't his own.
Yuji slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was a ceiling he didn't recognize. Delicate ornaments, well-cared-for wood, a simple yet elegant chandelier. It wasn't a hospital. It wasn't the jujutsu school, much less the village.
He blinked a few times, trying to organize his thoughts.
"...Where...?"
His voice came out hoarse, almost nonexistent.
He sat carefully on the bed. His body still ached, but not like before. It was a dull, tired pain, like after a training session that went too far. He looked around.
The room was beautiful. Clean. Too tidy for someone like him.
Light sheets. A window through which the soft daylight streamed in. A polished wooden dresser. No sign of battle. No smell of blood.
And… no one.
Yuji put his hand to his chest. His heart was pounding. Too fast.
"It wasn't a dream…" he murmured.
He stood up, feeling his legs a little shaky, but obedient. He walked to the door and opened it slowly.
On the other side, a corridor.
Far away.
Too long.
The wooden floor stretched out in front as if it had no end, flanked by pale walls and doors lined up in perfect symmetry. Tall windows let in light in soft bands, creating shadows that seemed to repeat endlessly.
Yuji took a step out of the room.
Then another.
The sound of your own footsteps echoed in a strange way, as if the corridor were larger than it actually seemed. He looked back for a moment, the bedroom door was still there.
He looked ahead again.
The corridor continued. Property. Silent.
Yuji swallowed.
With a heavy heart, he started walking, not knowing if he was heading towards someone…
or just deeper into that unknown place.
Yuji stopped in the middle of the corridor.
The more I walked, the more the feeling became clear: no matter how many steps I took, the landscape didn't change. The windows, the doors, the light… everything was repeated like a broken pattern. A corridor that led nowhere.
"…I understood." he muttered. "So it's that kind of place."
He took a deep breath and looked around more carefully. Unlike Japan, where instinct meant surviving a curse, there he felt something else, as if space itself was observing his choices.
The doors.
There were dozens of them, maybe hundreds, lining the walls. Each one equal to the other.
Yuji approached the closest one.
"If I keep walking forever, I won't get anywhere…" he thought.
He placed his hand on the doorknob and pushed.
The world has changed.
The smell of old wood and paper filled the air. The silence in the hallway was replaced by something denser, almost respectful.
Yuji entered.
It was a library.
A huge library.
Towering shelves stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with books of all sizes, colors and thicknesses. Some shelves looked so old it was a miracle they were still standing.
Soft lamps illuminated the room with a warm yellowish tone. The air was still, as if time had decided to rest there.
And in the middle of all that…
A girl.
Little girl, sitting on a library ladder, with an open book on her lap. Her blond hair fell in long curls, almost touching the floor. The dress was too elaborate for someone so short, with details that resembled something ancient, noble... and out of place, as if it were a doll.
She looked up slowly.
The light blue gaze met Yuji's with a mixture of boredom and suspicion.
"…Who are you, I suppose?" she said, with a peculiar, almost affected tone. "This library is not a place for just anyone to enter."
Yuji blinked, a little surprised.
It wasn't direct hostility. But it wasn't welcoming either.
"Ah… sorry, my bad there." he replied, scratching the back of his head. "I got lost. The hallway outside never ends."
The girl closed the book dryly, crossing her legs.
"Natural." he responded. "That's just an annoying mansion trick. People who don't belong here tend to wander around until they give up, I suppose."
She looked him up and down. The scars. The posture. Too tired for someone so young.
"You have a strange smell.." added the little girl.
Yuji swallowed.
"…Yeah. It's been a while since I really took a shower..."
The girl sighed, resting her chin on her hand.
"Hmph. That's not what I meant, I suppose..." She made a slight gesture with her hand.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Beatrice slowly descended the stairs, the book closing on its own and returning to the shelf. His steps were short but steady, echoing softly between the gigantic shelves.
She stopped right in front of Yuji.
"Stay still." he said, extending his small hand without asking permission.
Before Yuji could ask anything, her fingers touched him.
In the next instant, Yuji felt as if something was going through him inside.
It wasn't pain. It was worse.
His energy, everything that had sustained his body since he learned to fight, was pulled away at once, as if someone had forcibly ripped out his soul. The cursed energy reacted reflexively, trying to expand, but it was compressed, analyzed, dismantled.
— …?! — Yuji lost his breath.
His legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, then to his side, hitting the library floor with a dull thud. The vision went dark for a few seconds, and the body simply didn't respond.
"Tch…" he forced his voice. "What… did you do…?"
Beatrice watched him from above, her expression too serious for someone so small. His eyes had no trace of guilt.
"Just checked, I suppose," he replied. "If you were an enemy, I would have erased you completely right now."
Yuji's eyes widened slightly.
"Erased me…?"
"Yes." She crossed her arms. "Your body is strange. So is your soul. There's something inside you that shouldn't coexist like this, I suppose."
She crouched down beside him, bringing her face closer.
"It's as if your body was shaped to be a vessel, but you didn't come with hostile intent. You're too broken for that."
Yuji breathed hard, trying to compose himself.
"...Y-You could have warned me before you touched my little body like that..."
"And give you time to react?" Beatrice replied dryly. "I'm not that careless."
She stood up again.
"Consider yourself lucky. If it was someone connected to that woman who roams the shadows of the mansion…" The little girl paused for a moment. "It doesn't matter."
The weight on Yuji's body began to slowly decrease. The energy returned, albeit messily, as if it had been moved by force.
He propped himself up on his elbow, still dizzy.
"So… I passed the test?"
Beatrice looked away with a slight hmph.
"For now..." he replied. "But that doesn't mean I trust you, strange human."
Yuji's consciousness went out once again, like a dim light bulb that someone insisted on turning off before giving it time to cool down.
When he came to, the first thing he saw was that ceiling again.
Same as before. Well taken care of. Too handsome for someone like him.
"…Ah. Not again…" he murmured, blinking slowly.
The body was heavy, but not as heavy as before. The feeling was that of someone who overslept after pushing themselves beyond their limits. He took a deep breath, trying to get his bearings.
....
It was then that he heard voices.
"He's awake, dear sister." said one, in a clearly unimpressed tone.
"Impressive how easily he faints." replied the other, with a smile that Yuji could hear just by the tone. "It looks like a sack of potatoes, dear sister."
Yuji frowned.
"…It hurts more because of the brat than because of the fight..." Yuji thought.
He turned his head slightly to the side and then saw them.
Two very similar girls standing next to the bed.
One with blue hair, gentle posture, hands clasped in front of the body. The look was worried, but there was a hint of relief there.
The other, with pink hair, a bored expression, arms crossed and a provocative half-smile on her face.
"Good morning, professional fainter..." commented the one with pink hair. "Have you lost count of how many times you've deleted today?"
Yuji blinked a few times, trying to focus better.
"…You are…" the memory clicked. "Oh!"
He let out a short sigh.
"It's you guys... What a coincidence..."
The blue-haired one got a little closer.
"Again, I am... Rem" She tilted her head slightly. "And this is my dear elder sister, dear Ram."
"Older by two minutes, dear Rem." corrected Ram dryly.
Rem kept the same face, ignoring the comment.
Yuji tried to sit up, but Ram reached out and gently pushed his shoulder back onto the mattress.
"Don't even think about it." he said. "You blacked out after Beatrice touched you. One more sudden movement and you'll black out again. Then I'll start charging you rent on your bed, thanks to Beatrice."
"Beatrice…" Yuji murmured. "So that's the name of the little girl from the library…"
" 'Little girl'. " repeated Ram, raising an eyebrow. "Watch your words. She doesn't like it."
Rem looked at Yuji more closely now, observing the scarred face, the scarred hands, the empty space.
"You really have come a long way, haven't you?" she asked, softly.
Yuji looked up at the ceiling again.
"…Yeah. You could say yes…"
Ram let out a short laugh.
"Hah. From the aggressive appearance, it must be one of those refugees from Vollachia"
Despite the words, Yuji noticed something curious.
They were there.
The bedroom door opened carefully.
"Yuji?" the soft voice came before he could even turn his face. "Everything is fine?"
He recognized it right away.
Emília entered the room with light steps, her hands clasped in front of her body, her gaze full of concern. Puck floated right behind her, as if he had just woken up.
"I heard what Beatrice did..." she continued, approaching the bed. "I was scared you were hurt again."
Yuji blinked, a little embarrassed.
"Ah... it's okay..." he replied. "Worse has happened."
Ram let out a tch.
Rem, on the other hand, looked relieved.
"Glad you're awake." she said. "We thought it would take longer."
Emília leaned in a little, analyzing his face, as if trying to confirm with her own eyes that he really was okay. Only then did he relax his shoulders.
"Good…"
Yuji turned his face to her more attentively now. The silver hair, the eyes, the gentle expression. That's when the penny dropped once and for all.
"…Wait."
He frowned.
"Do you… live here?"
Emília blinked, surprised.
"Yes. I live in Lord Roswaal's mansion."
Yuji slightly widened his remaining eye.
"In Roswaal's mansion…" he repeated in disbelief. "The same Roswaal I came to thank?"
Ram smirked.
"That's right, Yui-j. The eccentric owner of this place."
Yuji remained silent for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling again, as if he were rearranging everything in his head.
The girl he helped in the city.
The village that welcomed him.
The mansion where he woke up.
Everything was connected.
"...Wow..." he murmured. "What are the chances of that?"
Emilia let out a little laugh, bringing her hand to her mouth.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't know you were looking for Roswaal-sama. If I had known, I would have said so sooner."
"No, it's alright..." Yuji replied quickly, shaking his head. "I didn't ask properly."
Puck crossed his little arms.
"In the end, you ended up here..." Puck commented. "It seems like destiny, don't you think?"
Yuji didn't answer immediately.
Destiny.
The word sounded too strange for someone who had just been pulled from a war.
He looked at Emilia again, this time with a small, tired, but sincere smile.
"So… in the end, I was saved."
Emilia blushed slightly. "I was the one who was saved," she corrected, in a low voice.
The room was silent for a moment.
"Well, since the patient miraculously survived…" Ram began, turning towards the door. "...let's let him rest before he faints for the fourth time, excuse me, Emilia-sama."
"Hey!" Yuji called, somewhat offended. "I only fainted twice… I… think."
The sisters opened the door.
The two left the room still exchanging low and clearly provocative comments, the sound of giggles echoing down the hallway.
"He looks like a lost puppy, dear sister," said Ram.
"Yes, yes, dear sister. A flea-ridden puppy," replied Rem.
The door closed.
Yuji let out a long sigh and looked at Emilia.
"...Are they always like this?"
Emilia tilted her head, a little embarrassed.
"W-well..." she admitted. "I-I'm sorry!"
Yuji's eyes widened slightly.
"No need to apologize."
"I-I know, but..." she replied, smiling slightly. "Even so, I'll give them a scolding later!"
Yuji chuckled softly, for the first time without effort.
"Good luck with that."
Emilia gestured with her hand.
"Can you walk?" she asked. "I think getting some fresh air might do you good."
"I can," he replied, carefully getting up.
They left the room and walked through the mansion's corridors. This time, the place didn't seem endless. Just large. Alive. Like a real house.
They passed through a double door and, as they crossed it, the fresh day air enveloped them.
The mansion's courtyard opened before them, wide and silent. Well-kept grass, tall trees, the distant sound of insects.
Yuji took a few steps forward and raised his face.
The sky.
Even during the day, some stars filled everything, in absurd quantity. No skyscrapers. No artificial light stealing the brightness. Just the sky, vast and tranquil.
He stood there, motionless.
"...How beautiful," he murmured.
Emilia approached and stood beside him, also looking up.
"Do you like the sky?"
Yuji hesitated before answering.
"I love it, it's what..." "It gives me encouragement!..." he began, choosing his words carefully. "But it's been a while since I stopped to pay attention to this..."
He clenched his fist slowly.
"It's... quiet here."
Emilia watched him out of the corner of her eye.
"Yes, especially at night..." she said carefully.
Yuji nodded slowly.
"Emilia-sama." the voice came from behind them.
They both turned around at the same time.
Ram and Rem were there, side by side, with the impeccable posture of mansion maids, as if all the mockery from before had never existed.
"Lord Roswaal is calling you two..." the sisters said politely.
Yuji blinked.
"He's calling us... Okay, let's go."
"Exactly." the sisters replied in unison. "Come quickly."
Emilia sighed lightly.
"Understood." "Come on, Yuji."
They walked through the mansion's corridors again until they reached a large, silent room. The atmosphere was elegant, with antique furniture, heavy curtains, and a strangely solemn ambiance.
And there she was.
Beatrice.
Seated in an armchair far too large for her size, swinging her short legs, with an open book in her lap. Her expression was the same as always: bored, slightly irritated, as if everything around her was a nuisance.
"Hmph." "So the strange human is still alive, I suppose..." he commented, without taking his eyes off the page.
Yuji opened his mouth to reply, but—
"BETTY~!"
Puck flew in front of them, spinning excitedly in the air.
The effect was immediate.
Beatrice's book slammed shut. She jumped up, her blue eyes widening.
"...Little Brother Puck?!"
In a second, the cold, authoritative aura simply vanished.
She stood up from the armchair and practically ran to him, her steps too quick for someone who normally seemed so indifferent.
"Why did you take so long, I suppose?" she said, puffing out her cheeks slightly. "You disappeared without warning, I suppose! That was very rude!"
"Ahaha, sorry, Beako..." Puck replied, scratching his head. "Some things happened."
Beatrice crossed her arms, looking away, clearly sulking.
"Hmph. Idiot."
But the next second, she was closer to him than to anyone else in the room.
Yuji watched the scene in silence, confused. Emilia approached Yuji and said, "They're both Artificial Spirits."
That was the same girl who had drained his energy without warning.
He leaned slightly toward Emilia and whispered,
"...Is she always like this or...?"
Emilia smiled, amused.
"Only with Puck."
Beatrice finally seemed to notice Yuji again. Her gaze became serious again... for about two seconds.
"...You're still here," she said. "It surprises me that you're walking around so calmly."
"I'm tough." Yuji replied sincerely.
Beatrice made a hmph sound, but didn't seem as hostile as before.
She glanced quickly at Emilia. Then at Yuji.
Yuji felt a slight shiver, but it wasn't fear. It was that strange feeling of being watched by someone who knew more than they were letting on.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Lord Roswaal still hadn't appeared.
Puck floated a little higher, turning towards Yuji with a broad smile.
"Hey, Yuji..." he said. "I don't think I thanked you properly yet."
Yuji blinked, surprised.
"Thank me?"
"Yes," Puck continued, crossing his little arms. "For protecting Emilia back in Lugnica. Even without knowing who she was. I owe you one."
His smile softened.
"As her contracting spirit… I'm quite particular about this sort of thing."
Yuji looked away, scratching the back of his neck.
"Ah… I just did the obvious." "Even so..." Puck insisted. "Thank you."
Emilia smiled slightly, but sincerely, nodding her head.
Yuji was about to reply when—
"HOHOHOHOHO~!"
An exaggerated laugh echoed through the room, completely breaking the mood.
The door opened theatrically, and a tall man entered, walking as if on a stage. Long, two-toned hair, heavy makeup, clothes too extravagant for any standard of good taste.
Yuji's eyes widened.
"...And who's the court jester?" he blurted out without thinking.
Silence fell like a blade.
Ram put a hand to her forehead.
Rem's eyes widened.
Beatrice frowned.
Emilia immediately turned red.
"Yu-Yuji!" she said hurriedly. "T-that's Lord Roswaal!"
The man put his hand to his chest, dramatically offended… for about half a second.
"OHO~! What a charming introduction!" he said, bowing slightly. "I'm flattered to be called a court jester on our first meeting."
He straightened up, smiling too broadly.
"Roswaal L. Mathers, at your service~."
Yuji froze for a moment.
"...Ah."
He blinked.
"Oops... Sorry about that."
Roswaal brought his hand to his face, pretending to wipe away a non-existent tear.
"Ah~ youth is truly cruel… but refreshing."
His eyes then fixed on Yuji.
The smile remained.
But something behind it…
was analyzing.
"So you're the boy who helped the people from the village…" said Roswaal, his voice still playful. "Interesting. Very interesting." Yuji felt that shiver again.
Unlike Beatrice.
Unlike Elsa.
This man seemed to see him completely.
"Let's talk calmly, shall we?" Roswaal continued. "I have many questions for you~."
Emilia stepped forward, worried.
"Roswaal, please…"
"Don't worry, Mrs. Emilia~" he replied, opening his arms. "I don't bite."
Yuji thought, too serious for the situation:
"...This guy has a strange energy..."
And, for the first time since arriving in that world,
he was sure of it.
Yuji took a deep breath and stepped forward, straightening his posture.
"Mr. Roswaal…" he began, a little awkwardly. "I wanted to thank you for helping me. For letting me stay here… and for taking care of me."
Roswaal tilted his head, bringing his hand to his chin as if pondering something extremely profound.
"Oh? Thanks so early in the morning? What a polite young man."
Emilia sighed, relieved that Yuji hadn't said anything worse this time.
"It was no problem at all..." Roswaal continued, walking towards the exit of the room. "After all, helping visitors from other lands is..." he paused dramatically, "...a great pastime."
Yuji frowned slightly.
"Other lands...?" Yuji thought.
"We'll talk about that later..." Roswaal replied, giving him an enigmatic smile. "For now, breakfast. Important conversations are better with a full stomach."
Shortly after, they were seated at the dining room table. The atmosphere was cozy, with the morning light streaming through the tall windows. The table was laden with bread, fruit, and hot dishes with comforting aromas.
Yuji observed everything for a moment, almost suspiciously.
It had been a long time since he had last sat down to eat without haste.
He brought the first spoonful to his mouth.
And stopped.
"...It's very good!" he said sincerely, even before finishing chewing.
Roswaal smiled contentedly.
"I'm glad you liked it~."
Then she elegantly pointed to the other side of the table.
"But the credit isn't mine. Rem prepared everything."
Rem, who was standing beside the table, gave a slight bow.
"I'm glad you liked it," she said, in her usual calm voice.
Yuji looked at her and nodded.
"Really. Thank you!"
For a brief moment, Rem seemed surprised. Just a tiny detail: a blink, a slight softening of her expression.
"...You're welcome," she replied, without showing much emotion.
Ram, sitting nearby, glanced sideways.
"Well, if you're good in the kitchen, I presume Ram is good at cleaning." Yuji hid a smile behind his cup.
Rem looked up. "Yes, but I'm good at all household chores."
...
"Wait, really? What's she good for then?"
That breakfast was simple.
Roswaal rested his elbow on the table, interlacing his fingers with a curious smile painted on his face.
"Now then~" he said, humming the words. "A young man appears in Lugunica, wounded, exhausted, penniless… and, according to what Ram told me…" he glanced amusedly at the pink-haired maid, "...unable to read or write."
Ram tilted her head slightly.
"He seemed more lost than a newborn puppy, Roswaal-sama."
"Hey…" Yuji murmured, but didn't have the strength to retort.
Roswaal turned his gaze to him, his colorful eyes shining with interest.
"So tell me, Yuji-kun~" he spoke in a voice too soft to be innocent. "What did a young man like you come to do in this country?"
The question hung in the air.
Yuji felt a slight pang in his chest. He thought of the battles, the blood, his sensei…
But he swallowed it all down.
He felt he couldn't tell the truth.
Yuji scratched the back of his neck, looking away.
"I… come from a distant place…" he said carefully. "Very distant. I didn't arrive here by choice."
Emilia watched him intently, but didn't interrupt.
"Due to certain unfortunate circumstances…" Yuji continued. "I ended up here, I don't know how things work, or who's in charge of what."
He looked up, staring at Roswaal.
"And to be honest with you… I don't know what's happening in this country either…"
Silence filled the table for a moment.
Roswaal closed his eyes, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Fufufu~ what an interesting story~."
Ram frowned.
"Roswaal-sama, that sounds too convenient."
"Maybe~" he replied, humming. "Or maybe it's just the truth of an unlucky young man."
Rem looked at Yuji, assessing every detail of him, from his still-fresh injuries to the exhaustion that didn't seem purely physical.
Yuji remained silent for a few seconds, taking it all in, until he frowned.
"So..." he began, "Is something big happening in the country?"
Roswaal smiled slightly, slowly twirling the cup between his fingers.
"Oh, yes, there is~" he replied in an almost theatrical tone. "The king of Lugnica disappeared without a trace… and, shortly after, an epidemic ravaged the royal castle."
His smile thinned.
"The entire royal family was killed."
The air seemed heavy.
Emilia placed her hand on her chest, her gaze lowering for a moment. Even Puck remained silent.
"With the royal lineage extinct..." Roswaal continued, "The Council of Sages has decided to initiate a Royal Selection~. Now, several candidates are vying for the throne to decide who will be the new ruler of Lugnica."
Yuji blinked.
"Candidates…?"
"Exactly…" said Roswaal, turning his face to the side. "And one of them is sitting right here."
Yuji followed his gaze.
"Lady Emilia~." Roswaal said.
The sound of that form of address finally made something click in Yuji's mind.
He slowly turned to Emilia.
"...Lady?"
Emilia blushed slightly, waving her hands in denial.
"A-ah… I'm still not used to this…"
She took a deep breath, as if preparing for something important.
"I am one of the candidates for the Royal Selection. Officially… a candidate for the forty-second ruler of the Kingdom of Lugnica."
Yuji froze.
"...Huh?"
Roswaal finished, with evident pride:
"With the support of Marquis Roswaal L. Mathers, of course~."
Yuji's brain simply shut down.
He looked at Emilia.
Then at Roswaal.
Then back at Emilia.
"Wait…" he ran a hand over his face. "That girl I helped recover a stolen insignia…"
He pointed at her, incredulous.
"...is one of the candidates for queen?!"
Emilia smiled awkwardly.
"W-when you say it like that, it sounds so absurd…"
"That's because it is!…" Yuji let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
"I literally came out of a war…" Yuji murmured to himself. "And landed in the middle of a throne dispute."
He leaned back in his chair, his jaw still dropped.
"My sensei would never believe this." Still lost in thought.
Roswaal watched everything with evident amusement, while Ram sighed.
Puck finally laughed, floating beside Emilia.
"Well, Yuji. It seems you've gotten yourself into something much bigger than you imagined."
Yuji looked at Emilia again, now with different eyes.
"...So that's it, huh." He scratched the back of his neck, still trying to accept it.
"I guess I really don't get any rest, not even in another world," Yuji thought.
Yuji frowned, clearly worried.
"Wait..." he said, looking directly at Emilia. "If you had lost that insignia, wouldn't that mean automatic disqualification?"
Emilia blinked, lifting her face slightly.
"N-not exactly..." she replied quickly. "It was stolen from me!"
Yuji tilted his head, confused.
"...Doesn't it amount to the same thing?"
Emilia pouted slightly, crossing her arms.
Roswaal let out a prolonged chuckle.
"Ho~... anyway, the fact is you helped Ms. Emilia a lot~."
He rested his chin on his hand, looking at Yuji with interest.
"So tell me, young Yuji. What kind of request would you like to make?"
Yuji was silent for a few seconds. He looked around: the enormous mansion, the maids, the luxury that contrasted completely with the slums he had just crossed… and with the deplorable state he himself was in.
"I have no money. I don't know anything about this world. And my body is still a mess…"
He took a deep breath.
"If I want to survive here… I'll need money."
Roswaal raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Yuji straightened his posture, speaking simply, without beating around the bush.
"I want to work at the mansion."
Silence fell for a moment.
…
A small sneeze broke the mood.
"—Tch."
Ram turned her face away, wiping her nose elegantly, clearly unimpressed.
Rem, beside her, tilted her head, observing Yuji curiously.
Roswaal, on the other hand, seemed genuinely amused.
"Fascinating~" he said, flashing a wide smile. "Few would ask for something so… down-to-earth."
He lightly clapped his hands.
"Working at the Mathers mansion, hm? Very well. But know that this isn't a place for just anyone~."
His gaze sharpened.
"We'll see if you're really worth the effort."
Emilia looked at Yuji, surprised. "You… are you sure?"
Yuji shrugged, with a tired half-smile.
"If I'm going to be stuck in this strange world… it's better to at least have a roof over my head and an honest job."
Puck chuckled softly. "Heh, looks like you've gained a new home for now."
Ram clicked her tongue.
"As long as he doesn't get in the way."
Rem nodded slightly.
"Rem thinks… he won't get in the way that much."
Yuji sighed, unsure if that was actually a compliment or not.
But, for the first time since arriving in that world, he felt he at least had solid ground to stand on.
The maids Ram and Rem led Yuji through the mansion's corridors to a more secluded room, filled with tall wardrobes and organized drawers. The smell of clean fabric and soap was strong.
"This is the dressing room," said Rem, opening one of the wardrobes.
She pulled out some clothes, compared them to Yuji's body, and frowned.
"...None of them will fit."
Ram crossed her arms, analyzing Yuji from head to toe as if he were an unusual object.
"He's too big. And too wide." she paused briefly. "And too grumpy-looking."
Yuji blinked.
"Hey!"
Rem tilted her head slightly, observing his face with excessive attention.
"His eyes... are frightening. Your eyes look like they want to dissect our bodies... Your face too..." she said in a calm, almost clinical tone.
Yuji looked away.
"...Sorry, I can't change my face like that."
Ram nodded.
"The scars too," she added mercilessly. "It looks like a fight is about to start just by breathing."
"Are you two always this kind?" Yuji retorted dryly.
Rem ignored the comment, picking up a measuring tape.
"If you're going to work here, you need appropriate clothing."
She took a step forward.
"I'll take your measurements."
Yuji froze for a second.
"Huh? N-Now?"
Ram turned her back, already heading for the exit. "Rem, do this quickly. I don't want to spend much time in the same room as this guy."
Before leaving, she cast one last glance.
"And try not to do anything strange."
The door closed.
Rem approached Yuji with soft steps.
"Please stand still."
She began measuring his shoulders, chest, and arms. The tape measure traced the scars, the tense muscles, the marks of someone who clearly hadn't lived an ordinary life.
Rem hesitated for a moment.
"...Your body is covered in old wounds."
Yuji gave a half-smile.
"Old work..."
She carefully noted the measurements.
"Even so..." Rem murmured. "It's strange for someone so young to carry so many scars."
Yuji remained silent.
Rem finished, put away the tape measure, and looked at him more attentively than before.
"The clothes will take a while to be ready. Until then... you'll have to wear something temporary."
She gave a slight bow.
"Please wait here."
Yuji stood alone in the locker room, staring at his own scarred hands.
An honest job… huh.
He let out a low sigh.
After a while, Rem came back carrying the clothes folded carefully. The fabric was simple but well made, clearly designed for someone who would work at the mansion.
"You can change." she said, turning her face away.
Yuji put on his new clothes. It fit his body surprisingly well, firm on his shoulders, comfortable on his arms, hiding some but not all of the scars.
He stretched his arms, tested the fit and then came out from behind the screen.
"And there?" he asked with a half smile. "Do I look good?"
Silence.
Rem just blinked once, looked away and placed her hands in front of her body.
Ram looked at him for a few seconds, expression neutral... and then turned away with disinterest.
"D-Does that count as a compliment?" Yuji teased nervously.
"Let's go." replied Ram immediately.
She turned and started walking towards the door.
"Come. Since you're going to work here, it's my obligation to show you the entire mansion."
Rem opened the door for them.
"Please don't get lost..." she added politely. "The mansion is bigger than it looks."
Yuji followed Ram down the long, well-lit hallways. Antique paintings decorated the walls, elegant tapestries hung between tall windows, and the sound of footsteps echoed softly.
"This is the main hallway." Ram explained emotionlessly. "Don't go into special rooms without permission. Especially the ones in the library."
Yuji immediately thought of Beatrice… and swallowed hard.
"Noted."
They passed through the living room, the large kitchen, the dining room, and areas where employees came and went in silence.
"Your initial job will be to assist with general tasks..." Ram continued. "Light cleaning, carrying things, and following orders. Especially mine."
Yuji raised his eyebrow.
"Especially yours?"
Ram stopped walking and looked at him sideways, with a thin, dangerous smile.
"Is there a problem with that? Yui-j?"
Yuji raised his hands in surrender.
"None. Boss...."
....
Ram walked again, satisfied.
As they walked, Yuji watched everything carefully. That mansion… despite being beautiful, there was something heavy in the air. As if many important things were hidden within those walls.
"Working here…" he thought. "It's definitely not going to be simple."
And, strangely, he felt that this would be just the first of many complications.
As they walked, Yuji began to notice something strange in the way Ram spoke to him.
"Hurry up, Yui-j."
....
Yuji blinked.
"…What's it like? Wait, you're calling me 'Yui-j'"
"Yui-j." repeated Ram, without even looking back. "Come on, we have other things to show you."
"That's just to make fun of me, right?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." she replied, with absolute sincerity.
Yuji let out a defeated sigh.
"What gratuitous cruelty…"
Ram stopped in front of a door unlike the others. Before she could finish her explanation, Yuji, too curious for his own good, opened the door without thinking.
On the other side, there was the huge library. Between stacks of floating books and shelves that seemed to go on forever, Beatrice sat in the air, swinging her legs, while Puck twirled around her as if they were playing.
"Yo!" Yuji spoke naturally. "Brat, so this is where you spend your time having fun?"
The atmosphere immediately became heavier.
Beatrice slowly turned her face away. The blue eyes fixed on him with pure irritation.
"…What's it like, I suppose?"
Yuji barely had time to react.
An invisible impact hit him square in the chest.
—GAAH—!
He was thrown backwards like a sack of potatoes, crashed through the doorframe, and rolled down the hallway until he hit the wall.
The door closed on its own with a sharp BAM.
Silence.
Yuji was stretched out on the floor, looking at the ceiling.
"…She's very sensitive..."
Ram looked at him from above, arms crossed, expression absolutely indifferent.
"You deserved it."
"Hey?!"
"You must already know Beatrice..." continued Ram, ignoring the complaint. "The guardian spirit of the library. And her library doesn't follow normal rules."
Yuji sat down with difficulty.
"Like this?"
"Beatrice's Crossing of Doors." Ram explained. "Depending on her mood, the mana around or simply her own will, a door can lead to the library… or nowhere."
Yuji swallowed.
"So I was lucky?"
"Yes." Ram tilted his head slightly. "If you were unlucky, you wouldn't be here to complain anymore, Yui-j."
Yuji lay on his back again.
"…This place definitely doesn't like me."
Ram was already walking down the corridor again.
"Hurry up. I still have to show you the rest of the mansion."
Yuji hurriedly got up and followed her, casting one last suspicious glance at the library door.
On the other side, he swore he heard a satisfied chuckle.
"That brat…" he muttered.
"Be careful what you say." replied Ram, without turning his face. "The walls here listen."
Yuji felt a slight shiver run down his spine. "R-Really?!"
"No."
_____
Yuji started helping in the kitchen almost by chance.
On the first day, Ram had only asked him to wash some utensils, more to fill space than out of trust. On the second, Rem asked for help chopping vegetables. On the third… Yuji was already coordinating the preparation of an entire meal, moving naturally among pots, fire, and spices.
"...He's not bad, dear sister," murmured Rem, watching how Yuji adjusted the broth's consistency without even tasting it.
"Annoying," replied Ram. "People like that should be bad at everything, dear sister."
Yuji heard and pretended not to.
When night fell on the third day, the kitchen was already silent. Yuji went out to the inner courtyard wearing his old shirt, now patched and reinforced, with the red cap that Rem had carefully sewn so it wouldn't fall apart again.
He found Rem gathering some fabrics.
"Hey…" Yuji scratched the back of his neck, a little awkwardly. "Thanks for the shirt. It looks… better than before."
Rem blinked, surprised. Then nodded slightly.
"I'm glad it fits. It seemed important to you."
Yuji smiled slightly.
"Yeah. Quite."
Rem hesitated for a moment, then reached into her apron and pulled out something small, wrapped in a white cloth.
"While sewing… Rem found this in the lining of the shirt." Rem said in the third person.
She opened the cloth.
A simple amulet, dark and red, still stained with marks that looked old, dried, thick, almost living blood. Its presence was heavy, familiar… painfully familiar.
Yuji froze.
"…Is this yours?" Rem asked carefully.
The world seemed to fade away. Yuji's heart beat once.
He reached out, his fingers trembling slightly as he touched the amulet. The instant he did, an ancient sensation coursed through his body; it wasn't aggressive cursed energy, but something deeper, more… fraternal.
His mind was flooded with fragments.
A man with long, dark hair.
A heavy, yet sad gaze.
Blood mingling with the rain.
A heavy hand landing on his shoulder.
"As long as I exist… you won't be alone."
Yuji closed his eyes tightly.
It was made by Choso.
When did he give me this…?
Before he died?
Or…
He couldn't remember the exact moment. Perhaps because his heart wouldn't let him.
"Itadori-kun?" Rem's voice came from afar. "Are you alright?"
He opened his eyes slowly. The amulet was clenched too tightly in his hand.
"…It's mine," he finally replied, his voice low. "It's…from someone very important to me…"
Rem didn't ask anything else. She only inclined her head slightly, respectfully.
"Then it's something precious."
Yuji nodded.
"More than I imagined."
For a moment, he felt the weight of everything he had left behind: the war, the dead, those he still carried in his heart. His heart tightened, like that night when he cried without knowing if it was relief or defeat.
But now… there was something different.
He was alive.
Still walking.
Still carrying his promises.
Yuji put the amulet back inside his shirt, now more carefully than ever.
"Thank you for returning this to me, Rem. Really!"
She looked away, a little embarrassed.
"…I-It was nothing…"
As Yuji walked away, the moon softly illuminated the mansion courtyard. The night wind made the red cap sway.
Somewhere far, far away, a blood tie still pulsed.
And Yuji Itadori moved on, unaware that that small amulet would still play a much greater role in that strange world.
It was still night when Yuji went out to the garden again.
The silence of the mansion was different at that hour, not heavy. The moon illuminated the stone paths, and that's when he saw her.
Emilia stood in the center of the garden, her hands clasped in front of her chest. Small lights floated around her, dozens of them, like fireflies made of mana. They danced slowly, reacting to her soft voice.
"Thank you for today…" Emilia said in a low tone, almost a song. "Rest well. I'll need you tomorrow too."
The lights shone a little brighter, as if answering.
Yuji stopped a few meters away, not wanting to interrupt. It didn't look like jujutsu sorcery, nor cursed energy. It was… clean. Gentle. Something that didn't demand pain as payment.
Emilia noticed his presence and turned around.
"Yuji?" she smiled, surprised. "Sorry if I made any noise."
"No…" he shook his head. "I just… was looking."
The smaller spirits floated curiously towards Yuji, circling him for a few seconds before returning to Emilia, like shy children.
"Do you talk to them every night?" Yuji asked.
Emilia nodded.
"Yes. I need to." She looked at the small spirits, her smile calming. "I am the owner of the Spiritual Arts. They lend me their strength, but they also need attention. If I ignore them, they distance themselves… or become unstable."
Yuji crossed his arms, thoughtful.
"So it's not just about using their power?"
"No." Emilia shook her head. "It's more like… an agreement, or a friendship. It's based on communication."
Yuji was silent for a few seconds. He couldn't stop thinking about Choso.
"It must be tiring," Yuji commented. "Having to take care of everyone like that."
Emilia blinked, surprised by the observation. Then she smiled, a little shyly.
"Maybe. But… if I don't do it, who will?"
The spirits began to dissipate, one by one, like stars slowly fading. The garden grew darker, but also more peaceful.
Yuji felt something strange in his chest. Not pain, calm.
"Hey, Emilia…" he said suddenly. "That day, in the alley… you seemed used to being looked at askance."
She hesitated.
"…"
Yuji frowned, annoyed, but said nothing. Instead, he simply said:
"Well… as long as I'm around, you won't have to talk to them alone."
Emilia's eyes widened slightly.
"W-What?"
He shrugged, somewhat awkwardly.
"I mean… if you have to stay up all night, I can stay up too. Just to keep you company."
The night wind passed between them. Emilia brought her hand to her lips, surprised, and then smiled sincerely.
"Thank you, Yuji."
The last spirits disappeared completely.
And under the moon of Lugnica, two different worlds were, for a moment, a little closer.
But… something happened.
On the fourth day, it was a strange day. The children from the village near Lord Roswaal's mansion were missing, and Yuji went to help search for them. He found the children, but...
He was cursed by something that day and ended up dying...
The information was somewhat hazy... But there's a small detail.
Yuji Itadori is immune to curses and poisons... So, what happened?
End of Chapter 3