2
“…”
Returning to the gathering place after a short while, the group fell into stunned silence at the sight before them. Not out of confusion or exasperation—Subaru could tell it was pure, simple surprise and wonder.
He could take pride in the fact that he had done well enough to earn such a reaction.
“…This is the key to winning without spilling any blood. My trump card.”
There was still no response as Subaru rubbed his nose. Everyone remained speechless, struggling to process what they were seeing.
“B-buddy.” The very source of their shock—and the only one aside from Subaru who wasn’t dumbfounded—spoke up hesitantly. “I can’t really see the results for myself, so…what’s the outcome, generally speaking?”
“C’mon now, you don’t need to worry about a thing, Flop…no, Flora.”
“Flora?!”
Flop—or rather Flora—gasped, eyes widening in disbelief. Her surprised expression, however, was unexpectedly adorable. Brimming with confidence, Subaru nodded and touched her cheek.
Her long, soft blond hair was brushed out, and her eyes were now accentuated with eyeshadow, which made them stand out more than usual. Neatly arranged eyelashes framed her gaze, while a slight blush highlighted the paleness of her skin. Red lipstick added a finishing touch, complementing the new outfit.
By emphasizing her natural features and refining them for full impact, Subaru had proven a simple truth—
“Beauty can be created.”
“…Is this some kind of bad joke?”
“Eh?!”
Rem’s icy stare pierced through Subaru as he proudly presented his masterpiece. Just moments ago, her eyes had been filled with warm expectation—but now they carried the coldest scorn she had shown since waking up.
“Wait! It’s not a joke! I’m completely serious, so don’t look at me like that!”
“I was a fool for trusting you even a little.”
“You’re jumping to conclusions! That immediate disillusionment is just like Ram’s!”
“Huh?”
She might not remember, but the way she’d so quickly lost faith in him made her seem just like Ram. It was almost endearing, a reminder of how close the sisters were.
But more importantly, Subaru needed to win back Rem’s trust—because this wasn’t just some dumb joke.
The purpose of the makeup was—
“…So your target is Zikr Osman.”
Abel was the first to figure it out.
Unlike the others, who were still struggling to process Flop’s transformation into Flora, Abel had already begun analyzing Subaru’s intent.
—The goal was Zikr Osman.
A second-class general and the commander of the forces stationed in Guaral. A seasoned leader who favored reliable, safe tactics. And also…
“I’ve heard he’s a notorious womanizer. Apparently it’s well known among the soldiers.”
Subaru recalled his time imprisoned in the imperial camp. Jamal had threatened to “gift” Rem and Louis to the general—a warning that had stuck with him. If Osman’s reputation as a womanizer was so well known, even among lower-ranked soldiers, then…
“A beautiful, nonthreatening woman can get close to him. In other words, Flora can definitely do it.”
“B-buddy, you keep calling me Flora with this awkwardly intense expression, but…what exactly are you planning? I’m getting scared here!”
“Don’t worry, Flora. I won’t make you go alone. I’ll be with you, of course.”
“That’s way too much, Subaru!”
Mizelda shot to her feet, her intense expression clouded as she grabbed Subaru by the shoulders, shaking her head.
“Your eyes are charming, but the raw materials you were born with are…”
“Mizelda, I get your concern, but I told you—beauty can be created.”
Placing his hand over hers, Subaru answered firmly. Mizelda’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard. Then, looking at Flora’s made-up face, she narrowed her gaze as if staring into something dazzling.
“…It’s my loss. Let me see your potential.”
“Just you wait.”
“I have no idea what you two are talking about,” Kuna sighed in exasperation.
Either way, the main concern was—
“What do you intend to achieve by appealing to Zikr Osman’s proclivities?” Abel asked. “He’s still a wolf, not some puppy who will obediently come begging for whatever bait you dangle before him.”
“Yeah, if we just present ourselves without a strategy, it won’t mean much. That’s why we need a plan to get him to bite. Maybe by inviting him to a party or something.”
“A banquet? But he won’t be easily swayed. He has no reason to leave the safety of the city walls until reinforcements arrive from the capital. He won’t accept a suspicious invitation.”
“Yeah… I’m still working on narrowing down the options…”
“W-wait a moment!”
Rem suddenly interrupted. She still looked visibly shaken as she glanced between Subaru and Abel.
“Are you serious? Discussing this ridiculous scheme as if it isn’t a terrible prank on Flop?”
“Huh? A prank on me? What’s going on? If the missus thinks it’s a joke, then…little niece, what’s happening?”
“Auu? Uu! Uuu!”
Flora—who still hadn’t seen himself in a mirror—turned to Louis for comfort, but she panicked at the unfamiliar face and hid behind Rem.
From her perspective, Flora and Flop were two entirely different people.
“Setting aside whether her reaction is a valid test, I don’t believe this is a joke. This is finally a plan worth discussing.”
“So you acknowledge Flora’s beauty, too?”
“…What I acknowledge is the idea you arrived at—one I had not considered. What an unexpected angle.”
Subaru frowned at Abel’s stubborn response, but the emperor ignored him, placing a hand on his chin in thought.
Then Abel turned his sharp gaze on Subaru.
“Subaru Natsuki, I will ask this once—is your makeup limited to just the merchant?”
For a moment, Subaru was stunned. But after digesting the meaning behind the question, he shook his head.
“Like I said, if we go with this plan, I’ll be doing it, too.”
“Fool. Who would expect anything from you? Spare me your prattle until you’ve seen your own face in a mirror.”
“Phrasing!” Subaru shot back, appalled by the sheer brutality of Abel’s words.
But then Abel placed a hand on his own chest.
“…It would be too much for the merchant alone. I shall go as well.”
“Y-you will?!”
His bold declaration caused a stir among Mizelda and the others. Subaru was, of course, just as shocked. He never would have dreamed that Abel would volunteer himself.
“…Honestly, I thought convincing you would be the biggest hurdle.”
“Under normal circumstances, this would be a foolish ploy, unworthy of consideration. However, given our limited options, we must take advantage of any effective strategy available.”
“Tch. What a nasty way to put it. This is the problem with charismatic guys…”
Even after being driven from his throne, Abel remained an emperor through and through. This was his creed, his unwavering philosophy.
From their first encounter in the jungle through the ritual of blood and beyond, he had repeatedly made massive bets with his own body on the line. And from the looks of it, he had no intention of stopping now.
“An outlandish scheme only works when it shatters the enemy’s expectations,” Abel continued. “We will exploit the general’s proclivities and use the negligence it invites to our advantage. It is worthy of consideration.”
“Yeah, I read something similar in an ancient book called the Kojiki. Dressing as a woman is one of the best ways to target an enemy’s top commander.”
“…Blindly accepting the contents of such a dubious book…” Rem sounded unconvinced.
It is from an actual historical text, but there’s no way I’ll be able to convince her with that. Winning back her trust won’t be so easy.
Still, Subaru had braced himself for outright rejection—so Abel’s response was both unexpected and welcome.
Either way—
“If you’re willing to cooperate, that makes things easier. As for your name…Abel Volakia…how about Bianca?”
“I have no attachment to an alias. Call me whatever you like. More importantly—you, I, and the merchant alone will not be enough.”
Abel’s gaze shifted to Kuna and Talitta.
“Huh?”
“A necessary precaution. Even if Zikr Osman takes the bait, we need enough force to deter any immediate response. However, we must also avoid using anyone who can be easily identified as Shudrak.”
Subaru quickly understood what Abel meant.
Talitta and Kuna blinked in surprise at being singled out, but they were the least obviously menacing among the Shudrak.
Mizelda radiated an aura of strength, making her a poor candidate. Holly, with her distinct look and demeanor, was even more conspicuous. Neither of them would be suitable for this mission, in which subtlety was key.
What they needed was a femininity that wouldn’t put the enemy on guard…
“That much will come down to what I can do with makeup and costuming, I guess.”
And then—
“…Me too.”
“Rem?”
Rem raised her hand.
Rem had made no secret of her distrust of Subaru sparked by the Flora incident, but, perhaps because she saw how earnestly they were discussing the plan, her expression was serious. Determination and resolve flashed in her light-blue eyes.
“Allow me to accompany you. I will be of use.”
“Rem…sorry, but that’s not going to work.”
“…Gh! You’re still trying to keep me away from unnecessary danger…”
Rem glowered at Subaru, her resolve wavering.
He really did feel a protective instinct toward her—the kind that would undoubtedly irritate her. It wouldn’t be a lie to say he wished he could keep her far from harm, sleeping peacefully in a safe, soft bed.
But that wasn’t why he was saying no.
“It’s true I worry about you. But the reason I’m saying no is because it would lower our odds of success. The soldiers in the city have seen your face.”
“—Ah.”
“Back when we were caught in the camp, and again when we escaped the city. That’s the same reason we can’t involve Medium, either. We made way too big a scene getting out.”
Given how much of an uproar they had caused, the guards at the inspection points would never forget Rem, Medium, or even Louis. That was why Rem couldn’t be part of this—she would jeopardize the entire plan.
“But…but in that case, they know your face, too, don’t they?!”
“Yeah, but it’s not going to be me walking through the gates of Guaral.”
Subaru grinned.
“It’ll be Natsumi Schwartz.”
“Huh?”
Rem’s eyes flashed with anger. She assumed he was brushing her off again.
She wouldn’t believe it, no matter how many times he said it.
The plan was simple—just as he had transformed Flop into Flora, he would transform Subaru Natsuki into Natsumi Schwartz.
—She’d have to see it to believe it.
“Anyway, that’s why we can’t bring you. But, Talitta, Kuna…if you’re willing to take on this dangerous role—”
“No need to ask them,” Mizelda interrupted. “I’ll allow it. Take them both.”
Before Subaru could get their confirmation, Mizelda had already given her approval.
Subaru turned to her in surprise, but Talitta only smiled, as if intrigued by this unconventional strategy.
“Subaru, you and Abel have already proven your valor. The Shudrak take pride in strength, but that doesn’t mean ingenuity is unworthy. The ultimate warrior surpasses all in both combat and wisdom… Prove yourself again.”
Subaru had assumed Mizelda and the Shudrak would reject this kind of deceptive plan outright. That’s why he had wanted to ask Talitta and Kuna separately.
But, in line with Mizelda’s decision, Talitta and Kuna nodded as if it were completely natural.
“If the chief says so, I’ve got no reason to argue,” Kuna said lazily, resting her hands behind her head.
“I will follow my sister’s decision,” Talitta added. “Also…I’m interested in this makeup as well.”
Kuna was resting her hands behind her head, seemingly disinterested, and Talitta had the same answer, but she was glancing over at Flora. Apparently she was curious to see the extent of Subaru’s skill with makeup.
They’re a bit lackadaisical, but not getting too fired up is probably for the best.
“If there are no objections, then let’s start preparing at once,” Abel stated. “We need to move before those in the capital push those cowards behind the walls into action.”
“…Yeah, got it. If everyone’s in agreement.”
Subaru then turned to Rem.
“Rem, can you accept this?”
“…It’s not like you’d listen to me anyway.”
Rem glared at him, frustration clear in her expression.
He felt bad for shutting her out despite her determination, but her safety and the success of the mission were on the same side of the scale—he had no choice but to keep her away from this.
He braced himself for her anger—
“…However,” she said quietly, “I was the one who asked you to do something.”
“Rem?”
“I have no right to complain about it now…so please make it work.”
She was still frustrated, but she was respecting his judgment.
It wasn’t an outright approval, but it was enough to clear the heavy cloud in Subaru’s heart.
“…It might only be with Rem, but man I’m easy. Oh, then again… Hmm…”
The tiniest show of goodwill from her made him so happy he could float.
But then again—Emilia’s simple smile made him feel like he was ascending to heaven.
Beatrice’s smug lectures always warmed his heart.
Maybe he was more excitable than he thought.
Just then—
“Hey, Bro! It’s about time we let poor Botey rest. I wanna put her away somewhere.”
Medium peeked in from the doorway.
Even among the tall and muscular Shudrak, she stood out—a full head taller than most. Her big, round eyes scanned the room curiously.
“Huh? Where’s my brother?”
“Oh, Sister! That’s awfully cold of you, not recognizing your own brother. I’m right here!”
“…?”
Medium tilted her head.
Flora stood up and waved, but Medium furrowed her brow, staring hard.
After a few long seconds, realization dawned.
“Bro, you were really my older sister?!”
“Buddy?! What did you do to me?!”
If Medium—Flop’s own sister—was completely fooled, that was a good sign the plan had a real chance of success.
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