However, one thing made Tsukasa feel a bit concerned.
Normally, Emilia's unique appearance as a white-haired half-elf should have drawn significant attention, or even rejection, wherever she went.
Yet, at this moment, the two Royal Selection Candidates—Emilia and Priscilla—stood unexpectedly face-to-face at the mouth of the alley. Priscilla's attitude toward Emilia was as if she were looking at an ordinary noble lady, showing no sign of anything unusual.
Tsukasa temporarily blocked out the noisy chatter around them, lightly rubbing his chin with his finger. His gaze rested on Emilia for a moment, and he quickly reached a conclusion.
It's probably some kind of cognition-interference meteor, right? Most likely Roswaal's handiwork.
As if sensing his gaze, Emilia turned her head. Her eyes looked toward Tsukasa, filled with clear confusion, as if asking, "What's wrong?"
Just then—
"Then we won't disturb you further. Al-san, Priscilla-san, until we meet again."
Subaru seized the opportunity and decisively took her leave, her tone polite and blunt.
"Until next time, everyone." Al grinned and waved his remaining right hand.
The moment Subaru finished speaking, Tsukasa felt two forces acting simultaneously on his left and right arms—it was Subaru and Rem.
They applied force in unison with perfect coordination, attempting to drag him away from this place of trouble.
Watching Tsukasa's comical figure being "escorted" backward by the two girls, Priscilla, who had been standing quietly, tapped her palm with her folding fan and spoke, "In that case, Al, we shall go this way as well."
The direction she pointed was, surprisingly, the same path Tsukasa and the others were taking to leave.
Now, even the usually thick-skinned Tsukasa seemed to have a physical question mark pop up over his head.
But then, as if realizing something, a look of sudden enlightenment appeared on his face, and a smirk curled at the corner of his lips.
He casually waved his free hand, and two glimmers of blue light flashed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two plump, red appas traced an arc through the air, flying precisely toward Priscilla.
"Hey, catch. Arrogant Princess, don't get lost in an alley like this again next time." His tone was clearly teasing, as if he were declaring victory.
Priscilla furrowed her brows slightly, but she still raised her hand and steadily caught the two flying appas. Her bright red lips pursed, and in the end, she only gave a soft hmph.
"That I was entangled by those ants was merely... never mind. Megalomaniac, we will meet again soon. Remember, this world always revolves around me."
As soon as she finished speaking, Tsukasa felt the dragging force on his arms suddenly increase—clearly, Subaru and Rem had accelerated the speed of their "evacuation." In the end, Tsukasa was almost half-dragged across the road by the two girls.
Just as they were about to merge into the crowd on the other side, Al's loud, energetic parting shout came from across the street.
"Take care, brother! And thanks again to the two helpful young ladies for helping me find my lady!"
After parting with the arrogant orange-haired girl and her one-armed attendant, the four of them walked along the street for a while. When they reached a relatively quiet roadside, Subaru and Rem exchanged a look and acted simultaneously, pressing Tsukasa down onto a roadside bench from both sides.
Subaru stood before him, hands on her hips, looking down at him with a look of clear displeasure. "Rem has already told us everything that happened just now."
Subaru's voice dropped a bit, but the meaning in her tone was unmistakable. "Now, do you have anything else to say?"
Pressed onto the bench, Tsukasa spread his hands casually, the relaxed smile still on his face. "Didn't Rem tell you everything that needed to be said? Besides..."
He looked around at the tree-lined path and the occasional passersby, his tone teasing. "This place doesn't look like an interrogation room no matter how you look at it, does it?"
Seeing his stubborn and cynical attitude, a flash of helplessness crossed Subaru's face. She took a deep breath, seemingly preparing to start a long-winded lecture.
"Alright, alright."
Emilia's gentle voice sounded at the right time, breaking the slightly tense atmosphere.
She walked to the side of the bench and said, "It's already in the past, it's good that everyone is fine. We should head back, it's getting late."
"Honestly, Lia..."
Subaru turned to Emilia and sighed helplessly, "If you keep spoiling him like this, he'll definitely cause more trouble next time."
That said, Subaru didn't pursue it further. She tilted her head toward Tsukasa, who was still sitting on the bench, signaling him to get up.
Only then did Tsukasa slowly let out a huge stretch, his bones making a slight cracking sound. He stood up and looked into the distance.
The sky was already painted with warm orange-yellow and light purple. The setting sun was slowly sinking behind the rows of roofs in the Royal Capital.
"Though today had some useless fun..."
He put his hands back into his trench coat pockets, gazing at the gradient of the twilight, a slight smirk on his lips. "But overall, not bad."
—
"What?! I have to stay here?"
In the hotel room in the early morning, after hearing the day's arrangements, Tsukasa let out an exaggerated wail.
He leaned back entirely against the chair, his face written with "unacceptable."
Subaru, sitting opposite him, had clearly expected this. She put down her spoon, looked up at Tsukasa, and spoke calmly, "If we let you come along, things will definitely become several times more complicated. So don't even think about it."
At this moment, besides Tsukasa and Subaru, Emilia and Rem were also sitting around the dining table.
Roswaal, who had left early for an appointment, was not present.
The four had just finished the breakfast carefully prepared by Rem.
Hearing the commotion, Emilia picked up a napkin and wiped away a tiny bit of food stuck to the corner of her lip, a troubled yet firm expression appearing on her face.
She turned to Tsukasa, her voice gentle but with a bit more non-negotiable seriousness than usual. "Tsukasa, actually I really want to take you all with me but this meeting is very important."
"Subaru, because she holds the title of an honorary knight of the faction, can enter as an escort according to the regulations."
The morning light filtered through the hotel window, making Emilia's expression exceptionally clear in the light—a mixture of apology and determination.