The Royal Capital square was teeming with people, the roar of the crowd ceaseless.
Amidst the throng, Beatrice gently tugged on the corner of Natsuki Subaru's clothes, tilting her pale little face up to ask curiously:
"Subaru, look over there. There's a huge crowd gathered around. What are they looking at, I wonder?"
"Oh... they're looking at the Royal Selection announcements."
Natsuki Subaru followed her gaze, his eyes passing over the bobbing heads to land on the massive oak notice board in the center of the square.
Because of the Royal Selection, every notice board in the entire capital was covered with information about the five candidates.
Emilia, Crusch, Anastasia, Priscilla, Felt—the names of these five candidates had become the talk of the town.
Furthermore, each announcement featured a meticulously drawn portrait of the candidate, with their respective political platforms and promises written in dense text below.
"Betty wants to know what's written on them, I suppose. Is there anything about Subaru?"
Beatrice stood on her tiptoes, her gaze filled with curiosity.
"Why would they write about me? I'm not a candidate for king, you know."
While carefully shielding Beatrice from being bumped by the crowd, Natsuki Subaru patiently explained:
"It's all introducing the policies and platforms of the various candidates."
Come to think of it, these announcements were remarkably similar to the campaign methods of modern presidential elections, both using public displays of political platforms to win popular support.
The difference was that in this world, where nobility and monarchy still existed, the opinions of the common people were often considered secondary.
Although the candidates needed to win public favor, the final decision-making power still rested in the hands of the nobles who held real authority.
To be fair, Emilia's platform was to break down racial barriers and establish a kingdom where everyone was equal.
Crusch wanted to dissolve the four-hundred-year-old pact with the Divine Dragon, allowing humanity to become self-reliant. Anastasia promoted free trade and economic expansion, intending to govern with business logic.
Felt, having come from poverty and deeply understanding the hardships of the lower classes, hated noble privilege and advocated for the complete destruction of the existing class system.
As for Priscilla, she was completely self-centered, believing the world should revolve around her and that only she was fit to be king.
All in all, everyone's ideas were very different, reflecting their diverse backgrounds and experiences.
But in all honesty, Natsuki Subaru wasn't entirely sold on the political platforms of any of the five candidates.
Even the ideal of equality that Emilia pursued would be exceptionally difficult to implement in this other world, which was rife with strict hierarchies, conflicts between nobles and commoners, and segregation between humans and demi-humans. Deep-rooted prejudice and obstruction from vested interest groups guaranteed that this path of reform would be fraught with thorns.
Of course, viewed objectively, Emilia's platform was the most positive among the five. Equality and tolerance—the ideals themselves were beautiful enough, even if the road to achieving them was bound to be long. This ideal wasn't just an improvement on the current system, but a beautiful vision for the kingdom's future. It represented a possibility, a future where people of different races and classes could live together in harmony.
In comparison, the platforms of the others seemed more superficial.
Anastasia tried to govern with a merchant's mindset, emphasizing efficiency and profit maximization, but could business logic truly be applied to governing a nation? After all, ruling a country wasn't the same as running a business; there was far more to consider than just profit and loss.
And Crusch wanting to abolish the centuries-old Divine Dragon pact right from the start was far too radical; such a drastic reform could very well trigger unforeseen consequences.
As for the remaining two, Felt and Priscilla, their platforms stemmed more from self-interest and lacked consideration for the kingdom's overall benefit, making them difficult to classify as mature political ideologies.
"When you put it that way, Emilia's ideas are still the most reliable."
Natsuki Subaru thought to himself.
Though idealistic, it at least pointed in the right direction.
Frankly, he couldn't blame them.
The five candidates were, after all, just teenage girls, their age and experience still somewhat limited.
Especially Emilia; though as a half-elf she had lived for over a century, her mental age was still very young.
After all, she was frozen in ice for a hundred years at the age of seven due to a mana outburst. Though her body grew, her mind remained that of a young girl.
Furthermore, given that Emilia had suffered discrimination for years due to her half-elf status, it was understandable that she would form such idealistic beliefs.
However, Emilia's conviction was undoubtedly firm.
This firmness stemmed from the pain she had personally experienced, from her purest pursuit of fairness and justice.
Even in the face of countless criticisms and obstacles, she still held fast to her ideals, a courage worthy of admiration.
"It's just that, the ideal of fairness Emilia proposes is currently like a beautiful but empty frame. The words are moving, but it lacks a concrete path to realization."
Natsuki Subaru secretly shook his head.
After all, there was no detailed explanation of how to balance the interests of all parties, how to advance reforms step by step, or how to deal with potential backlash.
In fact, Emilia's current campaign still relied more on the support of nobles, especially Roswaal's influence.
As for appealing to the common people, Natsuki Subaru didn't think she currently had an advantage.
Ultimately, Emilia's renown among the commoners was far less than the other candidates, and her identity as a half-elf was still met with considerable prejudice among the general populace.
If Emilia truly wanted to win the Royal Selection, she would likely have to walk the path of a hero—by killing the Sin Archbishops of the Witch Cult, subjugating the Three Great Mabeasts, and quelling great disasters, she could gradually shatter the world's prejudice against half-elves and truly win the hearts and recognition of the people. She needed to prove her abilities through concrete actions, using undeniable achievements to silence everyone.
Though this path was arduous, it was the most effective.
He remembered that in an if route from the original story, Natsuki Subaru had once killed all the Sin Archbishops of the Witch Cult and attributed all the credit to Emilia to help her ascend to the throne. That path was indeed viable. By accumulating tangible achievements and letting the people witness her ability and courage firsthand, it would be more persuasive than any flowery rhetoric.
"This road is difficult, but as long as I'm by her side, I can definitely help her achieve her ideal."
Natsuki Subaru thought silently to himself.
"What's wrong, Subaru?" Beatrice's voice pulled Natsuki Subaru back from his thoughts. Her azure eyes held a hint of confusion.
"You suddenly went quiet. Are you thinking about something important, in fact?"
"It's nothing." Natsuki Subaru came back to his senses and gave Beatrice a reassuring smile.
"I was just thinking about some things related to the Royal Selection."
"Subaru, you support Emilia so much. Is it because you like her?" Beatrice blinked her large, clear eyes and looked up at Natsuki Subaru to ask.
"Betty can tell, you know. The look in your eyes is different when you talk about Emilia. It's especially gentle, I suppose."
"Uh, well... of course it's because Emilia's ideals are amazing." Faced with Beatrice's question, Natsuki Subaru scratched his head in slight embarrassment, though he didn't deny his true feelings.
"But as for liking her and all that, there's a little bit of that, yeah. I mean, Emilia is so kind and hardworking, it's hard not to like her, right?"
"Hmm..."
Beatrice hummed softly and lowered her head, a faint, indescribable flutter stirring in her heart.
For four hundred years, she had guarded the Forbidden Library alone, watching people come and go, but no one had ever truly entered her heart.
Until the appearance of this black-haired boy. He not only untangled the knots that had bound her heart for ages but also became the sole reason she was willing to step out of the Forbidden Library and embrace this world.
Furthermore, since signing the contract with Subaru, she found herself growing more and more attached to this seemingly ordinary yet incredibly warm boy.
Whether it was chatting with him, eating with him, or walking shoulder-to-shoulder amidst a bustling crowd like now, every moment brought Beatrice a joy she had never known before.
For the first time in four hundred years, she truly felt the reality of being alive.
It wasn't because of the contract's bond, but because she genuinely wanted to be by Natsuki Subaru's side.
As she thought this, Beatrice's slender fingers unconsciously tightened, gripping Natsuki Subaru's hand a little firmer as she murmured softly,
"Betty likes Subaru too... more than Subaru can imagine, in fact. For these four hundred years, Betty has been waiting, waiting for someone who could truly understand Betty, someone willing to accept all of Betty, I suppose."
"Subaru is Betty's..."
At this, Beatrice suddenly paused. A faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks, and even the tips of her ears turned pink. Realizing how embarrassing her words were, she quickly lowered her head and added in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz,
"Don't get the wrong idea... my contractor, you know~"
After speaking, Beatrice forced herself to look up calmly, trying to put on her usual arrogant demeanor, but the dependence and joy sparkling in her azure eyes couldn't be concealed, revealing her true feelings.
After all, for Beatrice, being able to stroll under the sun with Natsuki Subaru like this, feeling the warmth and clamor of the crowd, was in itself a miracle she had waited four hundred years for.
"Eh? Beatrice, what did you just say?"
Natsuki Subaru had been focused on the notice board and hadn't heard Beatrice's whisper. He leaned down and asked with a hint of confusion.
"~Subaru! You weren't listening to Betty at all, in fact!"
Beatrice stomped her foot petulantly, her golden twin-tails swaying with the motion. Her flushed cheeks, however, made her anger look exceptionally cute.
"Hey, your voice was too quiet, and it's so noisy around here," Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but chuckle at her angry expression. He reached out and ruffled her soft hair, asking,
"What did you say? Can you say it again?"
"Dummy... Betty's not saying it again, I suppose."
Beatrice crossed her arms and deliberately turned her head away, putting on an adorable show of ignoring him.
"Here you go, little mister."
Just as Natsuki Subaru was about to say something to smooth things over, a merchant-like person suddenly approached, shoved a few pieces of paper into his hands, and then turned and disappeared into the crowd.
"What's this?" Natsuki Subaru took the papers in confusion. He looked down and was stunned. "Royal Selection flyers? They just hand out flyers directly in another world too?"
Beatrice stood on her tiptoes and leaned in curiously, her golden hair lightly brushing against Natsuki Subaru's arm.
"Let Betty see~ What is it, I wonder?"
"Here, take a look..."
Natsuki Subaru lowered the flyer so Beatrice could see it clearly.
Printed on it was a girl with long, dark green hair, dressed in a sharp, formal suit.
In the picture, her eyes were sharp and dignified, a longsword hung at her waist, and she exuded an unparalleled, imposing aura, as if she could step right off the page at any moment.
"This... is a flyer for Crusch."
Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but say as he looked at the flyer.
How should he put it? The person in the picture was about 70 or 80 percent similar to Crusch herself.
Beatrice tilted her head, studying the portrait carefully.
"Is this that Crusch who was wearing men's clothes before? It's drawn quite well, I suppose. It even captures that arrogant aura of hers."
"Yeah, it was probably made with a magic seal," Natsuki Subaru said with a nod, looking at the flyer. "But a flyer this exquisite must have been expensive to produce..."
Come to think of it, magic in this world could indeed replicate portraits with precision, even more realistically than a photograph.
"And this..." Beatrice pointed to the text below the flyer, a curious glint in her eyes. "Subaru, see what it says? Betty wants to know~"
"Alright, let me see." Natsuki Subaru looked down at the flyer and began to read carefully. "They've used very simple language. Was this to accommodate the reading ability of the common people... The planner was very thoughtful."
"Subaru, hurry up and read it to Betty, I suppose. Betty wants to know too."
Beatrice tugged on Natsuki Subaru's sleeve, a hint of pleading in her voice.
"It says, 'Crusch Karsten—The Lion King who will lead Lugunica to the future!'" Natsuki Subaru read the headline and continued.
"'Abolish the Dragon's Contract... march towards a great era of 'humanity ruling itself.' The return of the Lion King may seem to subvert tradition, but it is, in fact, a restoration of the original tradition.'"
This content was identical to the platform Crusch had announced during the Royal Selection.
Honestly, perhaps because he was in another world, Natsuki Subaru always found it hard to feel a true sense of participation in these political campaigns.
But he had to admit, Crusch's campaign team had certainly put a lot of effort into their promotion.
"Sounds very thoughtful, in fact," Beatrice nodded pensively. "But Betty thinks dissolving the pact with the Divine Dragon won't be so easy, I suppose."
"Yeah, abolishing a four-hundred-year-old pact would be really hard to achieve. It has been going on for four hundred years, after all..."
Natsuki Subaru tapped his chin lightly and nodded in agreement.
"Subaru, there's something on the back, in fact."
Beatrice reminded him, her small hand already helping him flip the flyer over.
"Oh, looks like they're making full use of the flyer," Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but quip, then began to read the content on the back.
"'Miss Crusch Karsten—a valiant beauty whose charm cannot be hidden by men's attire. She is the dream lover of thousands of young men. Her long, deep green hair is like an Oko tree in early summer, her amber eyes telling a fairy tale. However, you can never stand beside her, for her tall figure will forever stand before you. So follow her, to the ends of the world...'"
"That reads like a poem," Beatrice sighed softly after hearing it, her eyes curving into crescents.
"But it's written quite beautifully, isn't it?"
"Uh... whatever you say, it's giving me goosebumps," Natsuki Subaru made an exaggerated shiver and continued.
"It seems Crusch is very charming and popular among the people... This kind of promotional method fits her image well."
He never thought that the ever-serious Crusch would have this kind of promotion.
"Does Subaru think Crusch is beautiful too? It seems you have a high opinion of her."
Beatrice looked up at Natsuki Subaru and asked.
"Rather than beautiful, I'd say she's more dashingly heroic. The kind of dignified presence that makes people afraid to approach her too easily."
Natsuki Subaru thought for a moment before answering.
"I see." Beatrice nodded, then asked again, "So what's written on the rest of these? Are they all the same?"
"This... it seems each one is a little different."
Only then did Natsuki Subaru notice that the back of each flyer seemed to be different. He pulled out another one, which read:
A Record of an Afternoon Spent with Crusch!
"What the hell, they even record this?!" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but retort. "Being a follower isn't easy, huh? They even have to record such trivial things..."
Beatrice leaned in curiously to look. "What does it say? Read it to Betty~"
"This is basically a fan's diary..." Natsuki Subaru quickly scanned the contents, his expression becoming one of exasperation.
"It says, 'Today, I saw Lady Crusch from afar on the street, and she smiled at me'—that's completely wishful thinking, isn't it?! She probably just glanced over casually..."
Then he saw another one: My 486th Day Since Getting Together with Miss Crusch!
"Hey, wait a minute..." Natsuki Subaru's eyes widened, and his voice involuntarily rose a few decibels.
"This is pure delusion! They haven't even met, and they're already imagining being together for 486 days? That's too much! And the last one... what's this?"
The last one was even more outrageous: A Thesis on Lady Crusch's Bust Size!
"Subaru, what does it say?"
Beatrice looked up and asked.
"Hey, this is basically the work of a pervert!" Natsuki Subaru quickly hid the flyer so Beatrice couldn't see it, an awkward smile on his face.
"Kids can't look at this!"
"What..." Beatrice puffed up her pale cheeks and retorted, unconvinced.
"Betty is over four hundred years old, not a child! Let Betty see~"
"No matter how old you are, this content is not suitable for viewing." Natsuki Subaru's attitude was firm. He stuffed the flyer deep into his pocket and then sighed.
"But then again, these people really do have a strange passion for that Crusch."
"Maybe it's because she's really charming?" Beatrice said thoughtfully. "Betty heard that many people admire her. Her reputation among the capital's noble circles is indeed very high, I suppose."
"Well, as a promotional tactic, it's understandable, but something about it feels a bit off."
Natsuki Subaru found the promotional methods of these Royal Selection candidates both amusing and strange.
Just then, Beatrice tugged on Natsuki Subaru's sleeve and said:
"By the way, why do Emilia and the others want to become king? It's such a troublesome thing. Betty can't understand it at all, I suppose."
"Because each of them believes their ideals are best suited to lead this kingdom."
Natsuki Subaru looked down at Beatrice and patiently explained.
"Just like Betty has her own principles, they also have their own ideals and aspirations. Everyone wants to make the kingdom better in their own way, they just have different methods."
"I see. Then what is Subaru's ideal? Do you want to be king too?"
Beatrice nodded as if she understood, then looked up at Natsuki Subaru, a curious glint in her azure eyes.
"If you were to become king, Betty would support you with all her might, you know. Betty would use all her magic to help Subaru's wish come true."
"My ideal, huh..." Natsuki Subaru was amused by Beatrice's question, but a gentle look appeared in his eyes.
"It's to protect everyone important to me, so that everyone can live safely and happily. As for... becoming king and all that, I'll pass. It's too tiring. I'm better suited to be an ordinary person, protecting the people I care about."
"Then... is Betty also one of the important people Subaru wants to protect?"
When she asked this, a subtle expectation was hidden in Beatrice's eyes.
"Of course you are!" Natsuki Subaru crouched down, meeting Beatrice's clear eyes at her level, his tone exceptionally serious.
"No matter what happens, I will protect Beatrice, and I will protect everyone. That's my promise to you, isn't it? It will never change."
"S-Stupid Subaru... saying something like that all of a sudden... It's not like Betty is a child who needs protecting, I suppose."
Beatrice's little face instantly turned red. She hurriedly looked away, but her voice carried an unconcealable joy. She tried to strike an arrogant pose, but couldn't hide the smile at the corners of her mouth.
"Betty is a powerful Great Spirit, in fact! Betty should be the one protecting Subaru!"
"Yes, our Lady Beatrice is a very amazing Great Spirit."
Natsuki Subaru smiled and ruffled Beatrice's golden hair, his eyes full of affection. He then stood up, pointed to a stall not far away, and teased,
"Well then, powerful Lady Beatrice, would you like to go check that out? It looks like there's a dessert stall. It smells really good."
"S-Since Subaru wants to go so badly..." Beatrice said reluctantly, but she had already taken the initiative to tighten her grip on Natsuki Subaru's hand, her eyes shining with an unconcealable anticipation.
"Betty will condescend to accompany you. But it's not because Betty wants to eat, I suppose. It's just to keep you company."
Tsundere might be a cute trope, but could she be any more obvious...
She's basically a spirit loli whose mouth says no but whose body is super honest!
Seeing Beatrice like this, a string of retorts flew through Natsuki Subaru's mind, but he maintained a gentle smile on the surface and played along perfectly.
"Alright, then I'll be in your care, Lady Beatrice."
"Hmph... that's more like it."
Beatrice nodded lightly, her fingers intertwined with Natsuki Subaru's, feeling the warmth she had waited four hundred years to find.
Sunlight fell upon them, stretching their shadows long, as if they would walk side-by-side like this forever.
***
In the courtyard of the Roswaal Mansion, the morning light was faint, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and dew.
Natsuki Subaru was jogging in the courtyard, a daily training habit he never missed. It was both to complete the daily quests issued by the System and to keep his body in peak condition.
Several days had passed since he returned from the grand merit ceremony in the capital, and life had finally returned to a rare state of peace.
These past few days, his life had been quite fulfilling.
In the mornings, he would accompany Beatrice in the Forbidden Library, listening to her explain the knowledge of this other world and tell him about the precious books she had collected over four hundred years.
In the afternoons, he would prepare tea with Rem and learn the cooking techniques of this world, occasionally being gently scolded by Rem for his clumsiness.
In the evenings, he would stroll through the garden with Emilia, and sometimes bicker with Ram to pass the time.
Although he was often left speechless by the sharp-tongued Ram, it added a lot of fun to his otherwise peaceful life.
Sometimes, Natsuki Subaru would also spar with his little brother, Garfiel.
This demi-human boy, who prided himself on being the Shield of the Sanctuary, had developed a deep admiration for Natsuki Subaru ever since being thoroughly defeated by him in the Sanctuary.
Furthermore, back in the Sanctuary, it was Natsuki Subaru who had resolved the threat of the Great Rabbit, one of the three great disaster-class mabeasts, and protected the residents. In that battle, the extraordinary courage and immense strength Natsuki Subaru displayed had forced even Garfiel, the ever-arrogant Shield of the Sanctuary, to submit wholeheartedly. That's why he willingly acknowledged Natsuki Subaru as his boss and even frequently sought him out for advice on how to get stronger.
Garfiel always aimed to become stronger, even openly declaring Natsuki Subaru as the target he must surpass.
"One day, I'll definitely defeat you, boss!"
Garfiel would declare this before every match, despite losing every single time.
However, with Natsuki Subaru's current strength, Garfiel was no longer his match.
In terms of both power and status, Natsuki Subaru was his boss in every sense of the word.
"Garfiel has good talent and a tenacious fighting spirit, but catching up to me will probably be very difficult in this lifetime..."
Natsuki Subaru thought to himself as he jogged.
"Unless he also has an independent leveling system like me, he's destined to only be able to watch my back."
"Speaking of which, by completing the daily quests issued by the system every day, I get two stat points as a reward. I've been putting them all into Strength, and now my Strength value has broken 400."
At this thought, Natsuki Subaru willed it, and a translucent system panel unfolded before his eyes, glowing with a faint blue light:
Host: Natsuki Subaru
Level: 64
Class: Shadow Monarch
Title: Wolf Slayer
Spirit: 306
Strength: 400
Agility: 312
Vitality: 298
HP: 12000/12000
MP: 250000/250000
EXP: 4649100/9800000
Stat Points: 0
Skill List:
- Tenacity (Passive)
- Advanced Dagger Arts (Passive)
- Dagger Throw (Active)
- Great Spirit Candealar's Blessing (Active)
- Sprint (Active)
- Bloodlust (Active)
- Stealth (Active)
- Ruler's Authority (Active)
Shadow Monarch Exclusive Skills: Shadow Extraction, Shadow Preservation, Shadow Exchange.
"Among all the stats, Strength is the highest, since I prioritize putting points into it every day."
Natsuki Subaru gazed at the system panel floating before him and thought to himself.
Of course, increasing the Strength stat wasn't just about raising pure strength; it was an enhancement of his overall constitution. His defense and vitality also increased accordingly.
He could clearly feel the power surging within his body; every muscle contained explosive energy.
The force of his punch could now reach tens of tons. Considering an ordinary person's value was in the single digits, his 400 points of Strength was more than forty times that of a normal person.
In the face of such overwhelming power, even the greatest speed seemed pale in comparison. Strength was the true path of kings!
Natsuki Subaru had once tested the limits of this power, shattering a giant rock tens of meters high with a single punch.
He didn't even need to use any skills; with just one-fifth of his strength, he could blow up a thick-skinned mabeast like a Rockboar, which resembled a hippopotamus.
In that test, the Rockboar didn't even have time to cry out before it was turned into scattered flesh and blood with a loud bang.
"Seriously, my class is Shadow Monarch, and my skills are all about stealth, concealment, and one-hit kills. By all accounts, I should be an assassin who walks in the shadows..."
Natsuki Subaru looked down at his clearly more muscular arms and couldn't help but mock himself.
"But how did my style turn more and more into a berserker's? Seriously, what kind of assassin can make mountains crumble and the earth split with a single punch?"
As someone who was supposed to be an assassin operating from the shadows, possessing strength comparable to the most powerful warrior was a contrast that even he found speechless.
"But then again, if I keep putting points into Strength like this indefinitely, I wonder if I'll eventually become One-Punch Man?"
Natsuki Subaru stared at his fist, feeling the astonishing power contained within. The image of a certain bald hero surfaced in his mind, and he immediately shook his head.
"What am I thinking? That guy could flatten a mountain with a casual punch. With a serious punch, he could even blow up an entire planet..."
"Compared to that, my current strength is still far from enough."
At this, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but chuckle, but his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"However, if I continue to improve at this rate, maybe one day I really can reach that level."
"After all, I'm only level 64 and I already have this much power. I wonder what it'll be like when I reach level 100? Flatten a mountain with one punch?"
Natsuki Subaru stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"Speaking of which, the system probably doesn't cap at level 100... From the looks of it, there doesn't seem to be a ceiling in sight yet."
This mysterious independent leveling system seemed to hold infinite potential. The experience required for each level-up increased significantly, but the corresponding stat rewards and skill enhancements also became more and more generous.
______
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