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2

“Buddy, you gotta work on those wrinkles.”

“…”

“Good fortune won’t come to those who can’t smile… Wh-what is it? You suddenly went deathly pale!”

Most people would go pale after watching an ax swing straight into their face. Subaru was no exception.

He raised his hands to his face, feeling the cold sweat on his skin and the reassurance that his arms were intact. Relief and terror mixed in his chest.

Only twenty minutes had passed. In that brief span, Subaru had already died five times.

At the Pleiades Watchtower, during the final push, Subaru had experienced more than a dozen deaths trying to find a winning strategy. But at least there, he’d felt like he was making progress.

Here there was no progress. No breakthrough.

The corpses of Subaru Natsuki piling up behind him felt like they contributed nothing to any future success.

The one thing he could say was…

“He’s watching, right now.”

Todd was already observing Subaru and Flop. That was why Todd had not hesitated to use Flop as bait the last time they split up. If Subaru had the ruthlessness to use Flop as a decoy, it might have been different. But he didn’t.

Splitting up was no longer an option.

Returning to the inn was off the table as well. It wasn’t clear when Todd had picked up Subaru’s trail, but if it had been on the way to the inn, then Todd didn’t know where Rem was.

Right—Rem’s location isn’t known yet. That’s…pretty likely.

If Todd knew where Rem was, he would use her. Use her to kill Subaru in a more systematic way. Subaru found it grimly ironic that he had to rely on Todd’s cunning as proof that Rem was still safe.

“Anyway…”

Biting his lip, Subaru pressed a hand to his face and desperately tried to think.

Time. I don’t have enough time.

If he and Flop split up again, Todd would attack immediately. Waiting for Todd to make the first move and countering wasn’t viable, either. Todd was too skilled, and Subaru couldn’t hope to beat him by dodging a single strike.

Subaru was unarmed. To defeat Todd, he’d have to disable him with one blow—a hopeless proposition.

If I run to a major street, he’ll use a dragon carriage to run me down. Even if I dodge the carriage, he’ll have another move ready in the chaos. And too many bystanders will get caught up in that. No.

If I take a different route, every alleyway becomes his hunting ground. I can’t keep watch in all directions. Even if I avoid the first attack, it’ll be the same as the counterplan. I don’t have the strength to fight back. It won’t work.

Is it the best I can do to get to the bar with Flop as fast as possible and regroup?

Hard to say how serious that drunkard Louann can get, but this is the best idea I can come up with right now. I think. I can’t think of anything better right now.

“Damn it…”

How dangerous an enemy did I have to make?

If Todd had been an Archbishop, Subaru could have exploited his reliance on his authority. Solve the trick behind their power, and their strength became a glaring weakness.

But Todd had no such vulnerability. He used whatever tools and tactics were available to him at any given moment. Just as he’d said.

Given how prepared Todd already was, Subaru’s only advantage was that Todd might believe Subaru was still unaware of him.

I can’t let him realize I’ve noticed…

“…Wait.”


Suddenly, a realization struck Subaru.

Todd wasn’t attached to any particular method, nor did he mind if bystanders got caught in the crossfire. But that only applied to others—not to himself.

Todd was exceptionally cautious when it came to his own safety, which was why he relied so heavily on surprise attacks. He had said it himself:

“You don’t kill a venomous snake because of a grudge. You kill it out of fear.”

In which case…

Fueled by a burst of insight, Subaru raised his voice.

“…Todd! I know you’re there!”

“Wah?!” Flop jumped back in surprise at the sudden outburst. But Subaru wasn’t trying to surprise Flop—he was aiming for Todd, who was undoubtedly shadowing them.

Subaru sharpened his gaze, twisted his expression into something wicked, and turned around to glare at the alleys. He poured every ounce of menace he could muster into his words.

“You’re awfully stubborn! I thought you’d bit the dust after everything that happened, but I guess you’ve got the devil’s luck! You’re not getting away this time, though! I’ll murder you!”

He made his voice as threatening and malicious as he could, ensuring Todd could hear him no matter where he was hiding. He wanted Todd to know that Subaru Natsuki had noticed him.

“You think you can win against me? That’s a good joke! Ha-ha-ha! I needed a good laugh! I’d love to see you scurrying around like a rat again!”

With ridicule and provocation as his weapons, Subaru stood in the middle of the alley, his scornful laughter ringing out.

For once, Subaru was genuinely grateful for his natural stage presence and cheeky temperament. Without them, his voice would have been shaky, his face and eyes betraying his terror. But he managed to keep his fear hidden behind a veil of defiance and nastiness.

“B-buddy…?” Flop stammered, his voice uncertain.

“Shh, please be quiet for a bit, Flop,” Subaru whispered, silencing him. He grabbed Flop’s arm and began walking.

There was no going back. Todd was almost certainly lurking behind them. Instead, Subaru stopped after a few steps, turning just his head back.

“If you’re gonna do it, then do it. I’ll gladly rip you to shreds whenever you want,” he taunted, adding a middle finger for good measure.

His heart pounded so hard it felt like it might explode, but he forced an indomitable smile and walked down the alley, Flop in tow.

It was a complete gamble.

There was a real chance Todd might snap and rush at him, ax swinging. But Subaru believed Todd wouldn’t do that. Todd wasn’t the type to lose his cool. He was calculating, always searching for the optimal move. That was why Subaru thought the bluff might work.

If Todd had truly stumbled across Subaru by chance, the failure of his surprise attack would force him to change tactics and formulate a new plan.

Todd wasn’t rigid like an Archbishop. He didn’t cling to a single method. His adaptability, which made him dangerous, could also be turned against him.

“Next is…”

He had pulled off the first step of his plan, but what came next was uncertain.

If Todd became more cautious, there would be a brief window before the next attack. Subaru had to decide quickly whether to fight or flee.

If I’m fighting, I need to hire Louann at the bar. That drunkard might be my best chance right now.

If I’m fleeing, I have to return to the inn, grab Rem, and leave the city immediately. Even if Flop and Medium don’t want to come, they’re in danger, too. I can’t just leave them behind.

And if he was running inside the city, the only place he could run was…

“…So that’s it.”

“Buddy?”

Subaru’s eyes suddenly turned bloodshot as he stared into the alley behind them.

In that moment, everything else faded away—his fear of Todd, his guilt over involving Flop, his concern for Rem, and even his desire to see Emilia and Beatrice again.

He forgot it all and latched on to the feeling inside him, squeezing his eyes shut.

“We’re leaving Guaral. Right away. Before he sees through my bluff.”



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