Sitting upon her seat as if it were a throne, Priscilla Barielle lived as though she were the sun around which the world revolved. Clad in Imperial Crimson, the Royal Candidate was known for her biting insults and haughty disdain for the "insects" of the world. Yet, since the light-screen appeared, she hadn't uttered a single derogatory word toward Hachiman Hikigaya. Instead, her eyes sparkled with a dark, appreciative hunger.
"What exquisite loyalty!" she declared, her voice ringing with an arrogant grace. "To remain so steadfast to a chosen master, and to possess such undeniable utility! How could a mere Half-Elf ever hope to properly wield an asset of such caliber? He is wasted on her, don't you agree, Al?"
Al: "..."
What was he supposed to say? As a fellow traveler from Japan, it was painfully obvious that Hachiman was moved by Emilia's kindness. Given Priscilla's polar-opposite personality, Hachiman would likely run for the hills if he ever met her.
Still, Al knew his role. "I agree, Princess."
He knew exactly what would happen. If Hachiman ever truly crossed over, Priscilla would have him kidnapped within the hour, demanding he bow or face execution. But deep down, Al knew that if Hachiman actually refused to break even under the threat of death, that was when Priscilla would truly be satisfied.
[When Emilia dashes into the narrow alleyway, she doesn't find a thief. Instead, she finds a man standing there with a dagger, clearly waiting for her.]
["My name is Hachiman Hikigaya. Hello. If you don't mind, please call Puck out. I have a deal to discuss with you both."]
[Hachiman offers a thin, polite smile and casually tosses his only weapon aside. It's a calculated move to show he is absolutely zero threat.]
["So you are an accomplice?" Emilia prepares to apprehend him, her mana flaring. "Puck, do you recognize him?"]
["Never seen him. But... how strange," Puck says, floating into view. "This guy doesn't have a shred of malice. In fact, his feelings toward you are... friendly? It's bizarre. I've never met someone who felt this level of genuine goodwill toward Lia on a first meeting, and it's clearly not just about her face."]
[Hachiman lets out a mental sigh of relief. Perfect. At that moment, his appreciation for the spirit outweighed his feelings for the girl.]
[Hachiman had planned this specifically because Puck had let it slip in the previous loop that he could sense emotions. By leaning into that, Hachiman could bypass the hours of suspicion and jump straight to the cooperation stage.]
[Hachiman raises a finger. "I know who stole your item. I can lead you to her hideout. I even know who hired her. I'll give you all of it."]
["And in exchange?" Puck asks, tilting his head. "A deal this good usually comes with a catch."]
["In exchange, Emilia, you provide me with room and board for three years, and you teach me the basics of magic and swordsmanship."]
["Oh? That's a fair trade," Puck admits. "But how do we know you're telling the truth? How do we know you're not a plant? There are plenty of creeps in this world who can lie even to their own hearts."]
["I can't prove it. The choice is yours."]
[Hachiman spreads his hands, looking every bit the honest broker. "Your item is important, isn't it? You're the ones in a hurry. If you agree, we're partners. If not, feel free to walk away."]
[He steps aside, leaving the path open. His lack of hesitation makes Puck waver.]
["Fine, fine. It beats wandering around like a headless fly. Let's take the deal, Lia," Puck decides. He's confident he can protect her regardless; if it's a trap, he'll just freeze the whole room.]
["Ugh..." Emilia's cheeks flush pink. "It's a deal. But... I don't actually have any money on me right now. Once this is over, I'll have to request funds from Roswaal. I promise I won't stiff you."]
["I believe you."]
[Hachiman gives a short, sharp nod, already turning his mind to the battle ahead. He doesn't notice that his blunt, immediate declaration of trust caused Emilia to freeze in place.]
["The thief is Felt from the slums. She has a Wind Blessing and a Giant partner named Rom. The mastermind is the Bowel Hunter, Elsa. She plans to kill all witnesses once she has the insignia. If we tell the truth to Felt and Rom, we can set up a counter-ambush and take Elsa by surprise... are you listening, Emilia?"]
["Eh? Ah, yes!"]
[A flustered Emilia snaps back to attention, her gaze toward Hachiman shifting from 'kind stranger' to something much closer.]
["The Bowel Hunter, eh? I've heard of her. A nasty piece of work for a young girl," Puck muses. "If she's involved, she's likely not the one at the very top of the chain."]
[Hachiman nods grimly, the memory of his own death fresh in his mind. "Emilia, you're clearly a noble or something, right? Can't you call in some knights or city guards to help?"]
[The alley falls silent. Emilia and Puck exchange a look that Hachiman can't quite read.]
[Hachiman sighs. "Your status is complicated, I take it?"]
["Given how much you seem to know, I assumed you knew the basics," Puck says with a wry shake of his head. "Listen closely. This kingdom currently has no ruler. The Royal Selection is about to begin. There are four candidates for the throne. Lia is one of them."]
"Wait, wait, wait."
In another world, Houtarou Oreki felt a headache coming on. "She's effectively a 'Prince,' yet she has no money on her and is wandering the slums without a single bodyguard? This kingdom is absurd. Aren't they worried about an assassination wiping out the candidates before the race even starts?"
Like Houtarou, the Hachiman on the screen and the one in the store shared the exact same expression: ?
It was total, unadulterated confusion.
["Based on my observations, this world has a very strict class hierarchy," Hachiman says, his subtext clear: If you're a Royal Candidate, why the hell are you so broke and alone?]