Chapter 78: Seems Like It's Going a Bit Too Far
As the smoke grenades filled the area, Subaru Natsuki and Old Man Rom simultaneously opened the hidden passage above their heads and rushed out.
After they emerged, Subaru saw Old Man Rom carrying Felt in the midst of the smoke.
Subaru waved at Old Man Rom, signaling him to quickly escape through the passage, but just then, a strong gust of wind blew the smoke away.
There was no reason for a gust of wind to exist in a hall like this—so where did it come from?
When the smoke completely cleared, Subaru saw Reinhard with his sword drawn. At the same time, both Subaru and Old Man Rom were completely exposed.
"Catch them!"
"Subaru?!"
"Subaru?"
"Oh my, oh my, what an unexpected turn~~"
Subaru didn't care what kind of reactions were going on around him. This situation was no joke.
"Old Man Rom! What are you spacing out for? Get over here!"
Shouting loudly, Subaru urged Rom to snap out of it, and Rom didn't disappoint.
Carrying Felt, he began running in Subaru's direction.
At the same time, the surrounding guards had drawn their spears and swords and were charging toward them.
Subaru understood now—they weren't going to get away.
And he wasn't the only one who thought so. Just then, Old Man Rom threw Felt to Subaru.
Subaru caught Felt in his arms and immediately understood Rom's intentions.
He had wanted to ask this for a while—why was Rom so opposed to Felt participating in the royal selection, when it should be a great thing for her?
But that didn't matter. What mattered was Rom's will.
Subaru just had to help him. If they ran now, they might still have a chance.
However, neither Subaru nor Felt was willing to do that. Subaru gently set Felt down on the ground and then, unarmed, charged toward Rom's direction.
Coming up beside Rom, Subaru grabbed the arm of one of the guards and smashed the guard's helmet with his other hand.
As the guard collapsed, Subaru snatched the guard's longsword.
"What are you doing?! Hurry up and catch these criminals!"
Hearing this voice, Subaru quickly turned to look at the yelling man who had stood up.
Subaru flashed a bright smile. Without much thought, he hurled the sword from his hand straight at the man with a fierce momentum.
By the time the man came to his senses, the sword had already lodged itself in the table before him. That impulsive act completely destroyed any chance Subaru and Rom had of escaping.
Just when the two were ready to give up resisting—
"Wait! Stop! I know these people!"
Subaru and Rom both froze and looked toward the voice. They saw Reinhard had already sheathed his sword and now looked around awkwardly at the others.
"If Sir Reinhard knows them, then fall back."
The man leading the guards said this, and the surrounding soldiers withdrew and put away their weapons.
Subaru looked at the man sitting at the conference table, who opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
It seemed he couldn't argue, probably due to Reinhard's overwhelming presence.
"Old Man Rom! What are you doing here?"
Felt ran up to Rom and hugged him tightly, making Subaru, who stood nearby, feel a bit awkward.
Still, he didn't plan on interrupting Rom and Felt at this moment. His gaze turned toward Reinhard, Emilia, and Roswaal, and he raised his hand and said:
"Yo."
"Subaru, I didn't expect we'd meet again like this."
"It's not my fault. I came to the capital to find you. I tried again today too, but the so-called Sword Saint is just way too busy to meet. Even though you told me to come find you when I got to the capital. And yet, I couldn't see you."
"Apologies. I've indeed been busy lately and rarely home."
"Is that so? Then unless you treat me to a grand meal, I'm not going to forgive you."
While Subaru and Reinhard were chatting, Subaru sensed someone approach.
Turning his head, he saw Emilia standing by his side.
"Subaru, what are you doing here?"
Subaru awkwardly tried to say something, but was cut off by a grating voice:
"So even the half-demon knows this rude criminal?"
"····"
"Ah, he's my servant. He's actually a really good person~~~"
"Hmph, as expected of you people. Birds of a feather flock together."
Hearing the man's words, Subaru sighed, then looked at the man with a mocking expression.
"I really wonder how someone like you got that position.
Or is it that anyone like you—rude and ignorant—can sit in that seat? If that's the case, then the fact this country hasn't been destroyed yet is nothing short of a miracle. Don't you agree, coward?"
"You insolent wretch! What are you saying?!"
"What else? I'm just stating facts. Even I, a mere servant under Lord Roswaal, know that the Witch of Envy, Satella, has already been sealed."
When Subaru spoke the name "Witch of Envy," everyone in the hall froze. All eyes were now on Subaru. But he, unaware or uncaring, continued:
"Even though the Witch of Envy has already been sealed away, just because a girl is a silver-haired half-elf, you call her a half-demon? If that's the logic, then you should be terrified! Right, coward?"
Subaru slowly approached the man, a dangerous smile forming on his face.
"She is a 'silver-haired half-demon,' you know~? Maybe the seal's already been broken, and the girl standing right there is the very witch you fear. Aren't you afraid of angering her and bringing the end of this kingdom? Or is it that you simply projected your fear and hatred of the witch onto someone who looks like her?"
Stopping at the table, Subaru looked at the man who now trembled where he sat.
Subaru reached out and pulled the sword out of the table.
"If what I said is true, then I wouldn't mind helping reforge a piece of trash like you right here and now."
"·····"
"That's enough! You've disrupted the royal selection. Even if you're known to Lady Emilia and Sir Reinhard, I can't let this go any longer!"
Subaru turned toward the speaker and saw a purple-haired man glaring at him in displeasure. Subaru turned away from the table, sword in hand. Just as everyone thought he had calmed down—
They heard Subaru let out a cold chuckle.
"You're a knight, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you really are unfit to be one. Actually, none of the people standing here are fit to be knights."
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard him clearly. The purple-haired man and those behind him glared at Subaru and began to speak, but he cut them off.
"Don't look at me like that. I have evidence. I may just be a servant, but I studied the qualities a knight should have."
"But I don't see those qualities in any of you. Honestly, I'm very disappointed. I used to think knights were admirable. Of course, Reinhard, you've let me down a bit too."
"You knights, when you saw Lady Emilia being labeled a silver-haired half-demon and linked to the Witch of Envy Satella, you said nothing. You remained silent. Is Lady Emilia really a half-demon to you? Aren't you supposed to be knights?"
"To be afraid of a witch who's been sealed away for who knows how long, and say nothing in defense of a helpless girl—can you truly claim you'd face the Witch of Envy when she returns? Actually, don't bother answering. I already know. You wouldn't!"
Subaru stepped toward the purple-haired man, stared him in the eye, and spoke in a low voice:
"Compared to all of you, I think I, a mere servant, am more fit to be a knight. At least I'm not prejudiced against Emilia and would stand up for her."
Having said this, Subaru turned away from the man, then looked at Emilia with a discontented gaze.
"Puck, you're in there, right? What are you doing as a father? If you don't come out now, I'm going to get mad!"
"Hehe, I just didn't want to make things worse for Lia. But after hearing you, Subaru, I think it's time I said something as her father."
Puck had been laughing just a moment ago, but his face suddenly turned grim. The room's temperature plummeted.
"Ah, if Lia hadn't asked me not to, that guy over there would've died hundreds of times already. Let me give you all a warning—don't bully my daughter too much. Or I'll get very angry."
"Nice job!"
"Nah, Subaru, you did great."
Subaru and Puck exchanged smiles. Then Subaru's eyes landed on Emilia's face. Her head was lowered, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
Subaru sighed and spoke gently:
"I heard your speech. It was a wonderful wish. I'll be cheering for you."
"Mm... I'll do my best."
Looking at Emilia, who still kept her head down, Subaru scratched his head awkwardly. Sensing the tension, he said:
"I've said what I wanted to say, and it felt great. I won't disturb this clown gathering that's even more ridiculous than Lord Roswaal's. Bye-bye."
With that, Subaru turned and walked toward the exit under everyone's gaze.
Seeing Subaru leave, Old Man Rom quickly grabbed Felt's hand, trying to leave with her.
But then he noticed a glow in Felt's eyes.
"Old Man Rom! I'm going to participate in the royal selection!"
"What are you talking about, Felt?! This isn't the time for jokes! Come on, let's go!"
"No! Just look at the expressions on all their faces. It's really interesting. I want to see their expressions again—when I become king."