2
“I finally feel alive again!”
Subaru flung himself onto the bed in the inn, stretching out his arms and legs with exaggerated satisfaction.
The bed and sheets were of decent quality, and the room was clean enough—upper mid-tier for lodging and reasonably priced. Considering their circumstances, it wasn’t wise to indulge in luxury, but it was a practical expense for safety.
More importantly…
“We had a pretty big fight over the rooms…,” Subaru muttered, rolling onto his side to stare at the wall.
Rem and Louis were in the room next door. When they’d arranged their stay in Guaral, they’d decided on a male/female room split, but Subaru hadn’t been happy about it.
Even now, Subaru remained suspicious of Louis and couldn’t fully let his guard down around her. The idea of Rem and Louis being alone together in a separate room made him uneasy.
“Wow, you must really love kicking back and relaxing, huh? That’s great, buddy!” Flop said as he strolled into the room.
Flop entered without hesitation—it wasn’t like he was intruding. The room had been arranged with the expectation that he and Subaru would share it, just as Medium was sharing the other room with Rem and Louis.
“I’m really sorry, relying on you for everything like this…,” Subaru said apologetically.
“It’s fine! You used your wit to survive. Strength isn’t just about combat for citizens of the empire, after all!”
“…Hearing you say that is a relief,” Subaru replied with an awkward smile, sitting cross-legged on the bed.
Even after they’d passed the inspection, Flop and Medium had been a huge help. Beyond the introduction to a safe and affordable lodging, the biggest help had been their assistance in selling the demon beast horn.
The horn Louis had carried on her back was now gone. Following Kuna’s advice, they’d sold it to a merchant in Guaral. Flop had come along for some reason and handled the price negotiations. The heated exchange between Flop and the merchant had sounded almost like a courtroom battle to Subaru, who lacked knowledge of imperial trade laws.
“I can’t imagine how much that merchant would’ve taken advantage of us without you,” Subaru admitted.
Thanks to Flop, they’d safely converted the demon beast horn into imperial currency—a hefty bag of gold coins that would serve as their war chest for their time in the empire. It had to cover all their travel expenses, so Subaru knew he had to be careful with it.
“I can’t let someone eat my lunch like that!”
“Ha-ha-ha-ha! Boldness is always a good first step. As long as you stand tall and proud, no one will assume you’re easy prey. Given enough time, that baseless confidence might just become the real thing—and that’d be a steal, right?”
“Hmmm, that actually sounds convincing coming from someone like you…,” Subaru said.
For better or worse, Flop exuded confidence. Subaru had benefited from that multiple times, which had left him quietly appreciative.
“Still, carrying your wife all that way must’ve been rough. You should get some good rest—we can talk more tomorrow,” Flop suggested.
“That’s a tempting offer, but I can’t afford to waste time,” Subaru replied, reluctantly peeling himself off the bed.
“Excellent!” Flop said, puffing out his chest with pride. “That’s the spirit! Sometimes you’ve gotta push through for someone precious. My sister in my case, your wife in yours!”
“That’s a bit embarrassing when you say it so directly! …So can I ask you to guide me?”
“Of course! I’m the one who suggested it!” Flop replied cheerfully, thumping his chest.
Subaru summoned his energy, shaking off the lure of the soft bed, and followed Flop to the other room. Knocking on the door, he called out to Rem.
“Rem, everything okay in there?”
“Yes, it’s fine. We’re just deciding which bed Louis will sleep in.”
“…I see.”
“You just made a face like you wanted to suggest she sleep on the floor, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t say it because I knew you’d get angry…,” Subaru muttered.
Considering the potential danger Louis represented, Subaru didn’t like the idea of her sleeping near Medium. Still, given the situation, he had no choice but to rely on the fact that Louis hadn’t caused any problems over the past ten days.
—Trusting an Archbishop is still incredibly stupid…
“I mentioned it earlier, but I’m going out with Flop. Let’s grab dinner outside later,” Subaru said.
“Understood… Although, with so many people here, maybe I don’t need to depend on you as much anymore,” Rem replied.
“Why’d you have to say something like that? Now it’s hard for me to leave!” Subaru exclaimed, visibly conflicted.
Her comment tugged at Subaru’s thoughts, but he pushed it aside, focusing on his original plan. Inside the room, Medium was playing with Louis, who was tugging at her hair. Subaru gave a small wave and said, “Medium, please take care of them. If she gives you any trouble, feel free to give her a good smack.”
“You sure? My smacks really, really hurt.”
“Yeah, she won’t learn if it doesn’t hurt.”
With that, he and Flop left the inn, though Subaru could only pray that nothing would happen in their absence.
We’re finally in a city; I’d like to relax a little.
“It seems you’ve had quite the rough road, buddy,” Flop said, patting Subaru on the shoulder as they walked through the bustling streets.
Hearing that, Subaru felt the weight of exhaustion press down on him. He wanted to slump to the ground and wallow, but doing so would only burden Flop further.
“Even if relying on others is my one-hundred-and-eighth special technique, I can’t keep causing trouble,” Subaru admitted.
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with relying on people. Without covering for each other’s weaknesses, my sister and I wouldn’t have lasted long on the road. That’s part of the imperial way, too, isn’t it?”
“The imperial way…,” Subaru echoed, the phrase weighing heavily on him.
Flop’s words were unexpectedly thoughtful, though they clashed with Subaru’s impression of Volakia’s harsh values. Flop’s perspective felt more relatable and grounded, contrasting sharply with Subaru’s fears about imperial culture.
“Not everyone’s cut out for the soldier’s life. What matters is understanding yourself and finding your place. That’s what I think,” Flop continued.
“Understanding yourself?” Subaru asked.
“Exactly. My sister and I both have our weaknesses, but we make up for each other. Together we can do things neither of us could manage alone. You could say that’s our secret to survival.”
“…”
“Remember this, buddy: You, your wife, me, my sister—we’re all alive today because we’ve won every battle we’ve faced… See, I’m a man of the empire, too.” Flop smiled warmly as he paused for effect like he was waiting for applause.
Staring at Flop’s face, Subaru felt as though he’d stumbled onto an unexpected revelation. The idea of two people compensating for each other’s weaknesses resonated deeply with him after his fear that it wouldn’t translate well here in the empire.
“So it’s not hopeless after all…,” Subaru murmured.
“To be clear, when most people here talk about the imperial way, they are talking about brute force! Plenty have laughed at me for my ideas, calling them the buzzing of a little gnat. I wouldn’t say I’m exactly normal,” Flop admitted, laughing.
After issuing a warning about treating his general advice as a hard and fast rule, Flop continued. “And that’s why sometimes you can put a price on strength— and places like the one I’m taking you to now is where you can buy it.”
“Makes sense.” Subaru nodded. “I appreciate it.”
He was grateful once again for Flop’s assistance. In addition to helping them through the inspection and securing them lodging, Flop was now leading Subaru to a bar where mercenaries and adventurers gathered.
The purpose was clear: to recruit reliable escorts and transport for their journey ahead. Just as Kuna and Holly had protected them en route to Guaral, Subaru knew they would need skilled help.
There was also a limit to how much they could do with Subaru carrying Rem on his back. A ground dragon would be ideal, but if that was too difficult, an ox or liger would do.
He would have to recruit both of those things on their limited war chest.
“It’s a huge help having you point me in the right direction,” Subaru said.
“It’s no problem. Though really, it’s just knowing a bar where these folks hang out. As for pack animals, I’m a bit more useful—how about a farrow cart?” Flop suggested enthusiastically.
“You really like farrows, huh…?” Subaru said, slightly exasperated.
“It’s no exaggeration to say I was raised on farrow’s milk. I’m something of a farrowphile!” Flop proclaimed, launching into an impassioned rant about the virtues of farrows.
While farrows were reliable for moving heavy loads, they were slow, making them less than ideal for long journeys. Subaru listened politely but wasn’t convinced they were the right choice.
“It’s always better to play it safe while you’re on the road,” Flop advised. “Just between you and me, things seem to be heating up in the capital. There’s no guarantee the sparks won’t spread.”
“Trouble in the capital?” Subaru asked, raising an eyebrow.
Flop didn’t seem to notice Subaru’s reaction as he folded his arms and continued. “That’s right. It wouldn’t be the empire without some smoldering uproar. But the worry is whether those flames will spread. Keep this between us, though—no need to worry the missus.”
“Thanks for the concern… Incidentally, does the emperor have anything to do with those sparks?” Subaru asked.
“His Highness Emperor Vincent Volakia?” Flop’s eyes widened in surprise. “No way, not at all. I haven’t heard anything about His Highness stirring up trouble. If anything, he’s done an incredible job restoring order.”
“But you said the flames were smoldering,” Subaru pointed out.
“That they’re just smoldering is thanks to His Highness. It’s been seven or eight years since he ascended to the throne. Things were a lot rougher before then.”
“…”
“His Highness is directly taking charge to deal with the current turmoil. Our homeland with its smoldering sparks will be back to normal in no time,” Flop said confidently.
“Huh?” Subaru murmured, unable to hide his unease.
Flop spoke as if the smoldering sparks were simply part of what made the empire feel like home. Yet one thing caught Subaru’s attention—the claim that the emperor was taking direct command of the situation.
“The emperor is personally involved in this back-and-forth at the capital?” Subaru asked.
“It’s not typical, but when the sparks start flying around your own home…and in this case, it really is his home…even the emperor has to act. The proclamation said there’d be no mercy for those taking advantage of the situation!” Flop replied enthusiastically.
“The proclamation…,” Subaru repeated, letting the words sink in.
Flop’s excitement didn’t seem deceptive; there was no reason for him to lie. At the very least, he genuinely believed what he was saying. But for Subaru, that last detail raised a significant concern.
“If Abel really is the emperor, would he have issued a declaration…? The timing doesn’t add up,” Subaru murmured to himself.
Even without the emperor’s direct involvement, someone else could issue a statement by proxy—like a secretary or official using his name. According to Abel’s story, those remaining in the capital were rebels who had ousted him. They wouldn’t hesitate to exploit his title.
“But there’s always the chance Abel is just a madman…,” Subaru admitted grimly.
If you swallow everything without thinking, you won’t last long in a stormy sea.
The uncertain situation in Volakia required a healthy dose of skepticism. While Abel’s actions didn’t convince Subaru that the man was a mere self-proclaimed emperor, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility entirely.
“Buddy, you’ve gotta work on those wrinkles,” Flop said, stepping in front of Subaru and pointing at his brow.
Subaru stopped walking and blinked at him, puzzled.
“Good fortune won’t come to those who can’t smile and don’t have any room in their hearts. You’re about to look for someone to join you on your journey, right? You need to find a good match.”
“That’s…”
“In that case, smooth out those wrinkles, relax your face, and act like you’ve got it all together. That’s the look of a capable man.”
Flop ran a finger along his own brow and used his hands to gently massage his cheeks, demonstrating his point. Subaru, caught off guard, let out a small breath before reluctantly following suit.
“…Ah, I forgot. My expression is already bad enough with my eyes as it is. I need to work on making my overall vibe friendlier,” Subaru admitted.
“Sorry! Even with all my power, I can’t fix that!”
“You don’t have to take it so seriously! I got this face from my parents—it doesn’t bother me that much!”
Their exaggerated banter eased the tension that had been weighing on Subaru’s thoughts. Spirits lifted, they turned down an alley and arrived at their destination—a hole-in-the-wall bar.
“If you had a big group, you’d want to hire a bunch of guards,” Flop explained. “But since it’s just you, the missus, and your niece, you don’t need a whole army. Just remember me and my sister won’t be able to leave Guaral with you.”
“But if I played my cards right, I feel like I could convince Medium to come with us…,” Subaru mused.
“If you take my sister away, I’ll lose my other half, and I’ll just lay down and die!” Flop declared dramatically.
Subaru chuckled at the exaggeration, but he knew Flop and Medium would be an excellent choice in terms of balancing trust and safety. Still, he didn’t want to burden them further.
“Worst case, we could bring the two of them back to Lugunica with us. They could help Otto build his merchant network…,” Subaru thought aloud, his mind drifting.
“Hey, buddy? You all right?” Flop waved a hand in front of Subaru’s face, snapping him back to reality.
“Sorry,” Subaru said, scratching his head sheepishly. It was just a passing thought, but not necessarily a bad idea. Still, he had something else to focus on now.
“Hey, Flop, there’s something I was thinking of asking you—,” Subaru began.
Just as he spoke—
—there was a faint, dissonant sound.
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