Chapter 36: Emilia, You Are the Visitor! (Patreon)

"Y-you, you, you... you're standing too close, idiot!"

Felt was speechless. She'd already liked—no, that's not it—she'd already counted this silly little dummy as a best friend. But she'd always figured that the goofy, clowning-around version was his true self, and that he was only handsome to a certain degree.

And now, uh, was this what people meant by an eye-opener?

He hadn't been this firm or this dashing back when he'd made his one-against-a-thousand declaration. But honestly, if this was the Subaru Natsuki standing so grandly before her now, calling him a king or a sovereign wouldn't be out of line.

And if anyone thought this guy didn't have what it took, she'd knock every last one of them flying!

But it was so sly. So underhanded.

He was leaving her behind to garrison and manage the slums while he went off to do his own thing. She'd never have agreed to that in a million years, yet he had to go and say he wanted her to understand him and support him... With a request like that, who could possibly say "No way"?

Damn it, hurry up and turn back into the me from before I met this dummy! I'm thick-skinned! Shameless! Proud of never being tied down! I'm a gust of wind, I do whatever I want, and there's no way a mere request could bind me. That's right, so I'm definitely going to—

"Fine, fine, I get it! Go already, geez!"

Aaaaaaaaah, why did I say that?!

Subaru Natsuki was overjoyed. His dashing air cracked on the spot and he turned into a total goof, grinning like an idiot. "Yes! I love you most, Felt!"

If it's not a proposal or a confession, quit rattling that line off, you jerk! You'll make me immune to it!

Felt pouted and stuck up both middle fingers.

If he was going to say anything, then don't say "I like you," and don't say "I love you." Liking her in any way other than the one she wanted was nothing but empty words.

Try something more like, "I need your understanding and support. Without you, I feel like I can't become king. I can only keep walking if Felt is behind me." Got that, you silly little dummy?

He couldn't do without her, he wouldn't abandon her, he wouldn't leave her behind... But she couldn't say so. If she had to demand it from him, then it wouldn't be truly not being able to do without her, not abandoning her, not leaving her behind.

She'd get there on her own. Even a poor village girl surely had a chance.

But then something suddenly occurred to her. "Wait, what are you actually going to do?!"

"Face reading!"

The answer drifted back from Subaru Natsuki, who was already far away.

He'd borrowed a few hands, had Otto help him plan, and set up a makeshift face-reading stall in one corner of the city. It was something he'd thought of a while back but had never had time to carry out.

A homemade couplet hung at the stall. The upper line read "Iron-mouthed verdicts, clear and sharp." The lower line read "Who wins or loses the Royal Selection, I know." The horizontal banner read "Face Reading for Royal Selection Candidates!"

You couldn't even say the fox's tail was showing. He had never meant to hide it.

Since it involved Royal Selection candidates, hiding it would have been impossible anyway, so he'd simply decided to lay his cards on the table.

Before long, the shills Otto had lined up showed up. Each one played up having a favorite candidate and came to ask Master Subaru Natsuki: "Master, oh Master, will my pick take the throne?"

Subaru Natsuki would count on his fingers, furrow his brow, and beckon the person close to murmur in their ear. The shill who got the answer would then leave either overjoyed or looking miserable.

It was an interesting business. With the shills' cooperation, the stall opened in the morning and by noon it was the talk of the town, known to practically everyone.

By Subaru Natsuki's reckoning, if the buzz kept fermenting for a few more days, it would draw the attention of the Royal Selection candidates. Then they'd either come in person or send someone to have their faces read, and he could slip in wherever he found an opening.

As for whether he'd face retaliation for playing it this way?

Of course not. Not a chance.

If someone wanted to settle scores with him after the Royal Selection was over, that was possible. But if it was all over and he, Subaru Natsuki, still couldn't sweep everything aside and ascend the throne, and was going to be purged anyway, then none of this would matter.

So what about before it was settled?

Just think about it. There were a good four or five Royal Selection candidates. If one of them retaliated against him over a face reading, the others would know it was a golden opportunity and would immediately spread the news far and wide, damaging the retaliator's standing and reputation.

Taking revenge on one lowly face reader would cost far too much. He believed the candidates were all sagacious people, and none of them would be so reckless. So there was no need to worry about that risk.

Of course, Priscilla Barielle was the exception. For someone who'd automatically retaliate over being badmouthed behind her back, Subaru Natsuki honestly couldn't say. Every source of intel agreed that she was exceptionally arrogant and couldn't tolerate the slightest slight, doing whatever she pleased.

But then again, hmph.

The intel also said that only Crusch and Anastasia had real power. Aside from the domain she'd inherited as a widow, Priscilla had nothing else. Given that, if she really wanted revenge, all she could use was her inexplicable luck that struck people from a distance, plus her own strength.

It had already been proven that her luck was completely useless against Subaru Natsuki. As for raw strength?

Ho ho, how bold. Facing a powerhouse like me, with Aragorn-level physique and Aragorn-level swordsmanship, she'd advance instead of retreat?

Send in the Sword Saint!

I said send Reinhard, are you deaf?!

If Subaru Natsuki went all out, he could definitely take down anyone in the world except Reinhard and the Divine Dragon. Only those two could stand alongside your Uncle Subaru, and anyone else, even two at once, was no problem. Knocking down a mere Priscilla would be child's play. If she dared come, your Big Brother Subaru would gladly weigh how meager her skills really were. Hmph hmph.

In fact, stand alongside?

Maybe I've already left that Sword Saint far behind!

"Heh, heh heh, heh heh heh..."

He was goofy beyond all limits.

Whenever he wasn't handling super-serious business or giving dashing declarations, he was always goofy like this. His goofiness level could give even a certain sugary short-video app a run for its money. Your Big Brother Subaru had shown his true colors in an instant, goofy enough to drool.

"Um..."

It was a lovely girl's voice, timid and cowering, yet faintly carrying a sliver of hope. She finally worked up her courage, stepped closer, and very awkwardly interrupted the drooling, goofy Subaru.

"Excuse me, sorry to bother you. Is this the place everyone's been talking about, where you read faces for Royal Selection candidates?"

"Huh? Yes, yes, that's me, I'm here, I've been here the whole time."

A seamless switch.

Subaru Natsuki instantly put on a resolute, fake-serious expression. The young man sat up straight and looked up at the visitors.

There wasn't one visitor but two. Two girls, seemingly a mistress and her servant. Judging by their looks, there was no way they were shills Otto had arranged.

Ooh, so does that mean we're really open for business already?