Uploading date: 4/1/2019 [M/D/Y]

Re: Life in a fantasy world ~ Arc 4: Beginning of the End

Interlude 1: The man garbed in black

Crusch Karsten, an esteemed woman of both nobility and war, active in both the battlefield and in political affairs, such a person is destined to be a leading candidate the royal election, but even then, there is no guarantee that she'll pass with just sheer popularity, she herself won't accept the throne just like that, to prove herself, that is what she must do, and that is what she is going to do.

"Ferris, how are the preparations coming?"

"Nya~ They're going well, Crusch-sama…"

She steps out to the backside of her mansion and what greeted her was an array of carriages, some larger than others, some longer, but one thing was common between all of them, they were filled to the brim, armor, weapons, food, water, this was definitely some large scale preparations they were making.

"At this rate, we'll be able to leave in a few days… we'll wait to see if conditions are favorable and if anyone else is making a move…"

"Really? Ferri-chan thinks it's best to strike while the iron's hot, nyo?"

"That would be for the best, we won't be able to sustain this many men if we delay it for too long, but still Ferris, I'm getting an eerie feeling that I should wait a little bit before heading off…"

"Nhh, if it's Crusch-sama then nothing can be said, nya~~"

The cargo was being unpacked one by one, it was bustling and busy but it wouldn't bother the residents of the mansion, especially the ones staying all the way in the opposite side of where they were, she put them there deliberately so she wouldn't be found out, she wants to keep this as secretive as possible.

"Crusch-sama…"

"Hmm?"

A servant of the mansion approached Crusch and bowed down, "Did something happen? Perhaps something to report about 'him'?" She straightened herself and gave a firm nod, Ferris looked over to her, and then to Crusch, "Subaru-kyun?"

"I just don't like the feeling that man has around him Ferris... no, it's more simpler than that, I just can't read him. I can't ascertain the nature of his intent, it's like you Ferris, but on a whole other level. For some reason, the wind doesn't react to his actions at all…"

"If even Crusch-sama is intimidated then he truly must be something, nya… even Julius was forced to draw his match with him…"

Indeed, the battle between Subaru and Julius that had ended in a draw had baffled everyone, to think that the knight of knights could have met an enemy that formidable, but it's even worse than that, "To be able to draw against Julius without even leaving a scratch on either of them… Subaru-kyun is one of a kind, a pacifist speedrunner…"

Crusch tilted her head, not quite understanding that last bit of his sentence, but that's how Ferris is always like so she didn't think much of it, "So, you had something to report?" She shortly came back to the servant, "It seems Subaru-dono has caught wind of something, although it's not clear what he knows, we can be certain he is suspicious around the mansion..."

"Has he taken any action? Has he reported to Emilia or Roswaal-dono about it?"

"No, he is keeping it to himself, he has not made any moves and is simply acting normally…"

"I see… perhaps he also knows we are watching…"

"That is highly likely, Crusch-sama… also, I'm also wary about the other maid…"

"...Keep an eye on them for a little longer, once Emilia and Roswaal leave, we'll make our move, it'd be too late for them to do anything then…"

"As you wish, Crusch-sama…" The servant bowed once more and turn around to leave.

"Hmm… huh?" As the servant left, for a brief moment, just for a fraction of a second, Crusch saw a red gleam coming from the side of her eyes, "What was that?" She jerked her head to the right, the only thing she saw was Ferris, nothing else, "Crusch-sama?"

"...Nothing, must have been seeing things… anyway, let's go, we have to prepare for when they leave…"

"Of course, nyaa~"

They turned around to see the preparations once more before heading inside. Crusch breathed out a sigh as Ferris turned the doorknob to let the two in.

.

"And… they're gone…"

"Pfft, they're really careless aren't they?"

Subaru said in a carefree voice as he snickers. Ram, who was opposite opposed to him rolls her eyes, annoyed, "To think Emilia-sama is making an alliance with someone like this… perhaps we should just call it off" She kicked her legs in the air as she sat on the bed, giving her thoughts away to Subaru.

"Nah, even if she's like that, we still need her standing, if it weren't for that, we should just dump her already"

"Though, what are we going to do about this? They know that we know, and we know that they know that we know… quite the tongue twister, but this information is incomplete, their preparing for something, but what exactly are they preparing for?"

A good question Ram called out, and Subaru turns towards her with a smile on his face, "It's not about what Nee-san, it's about why… Why are they preparing for this? Rather, why are they preparing it in secret? We don't need to know what they're preparing for, it's obvious it's something for the royal election, the thing is why she hasn't revealed anything about it?"

"And why is that?"

"Well, it's not a very tricky situation you see… there are the heroes, and there are the followers of the heroes. By completing whatever they are going to do with all that preparation, they'll become heroes, and us as we are right now, are going to be dubbed, the followers of the heroes. It's a saying that one who comes to those who succeed becomes their followers, you get my flow?"

"Meaning, they're postponing the alliance so this takes into effect? So that Emilia-sama would have lower standings within the alliance itself?"

"Bingo, Ram Nee-san catches on quickly…"

"To think that Barusu had the capability to think like this, perhaps Ram really should re-evaluate her view on you"

"You really should, I have more authority after all, heh"

"No, I think I'll look at you the way I've always have, disgusting and vile"

Disgusting and vile would be far too vivid for Subaru, for a man like him, there exists better words, "I'd rather you describe me as… cunning and dark, the man dressed in black, a man of the shadows, the eyes behind the fog, or something along those lines, you know, something more fitting for a person of my status"

"No, I think a lecherous leech would describe you perfect"

"Okay, now that just hurts me to the bone…"

A/N

Hmm, was thinking of how to start the next chapter, once I couldn't think of anything else, I decided, perhaps changing the perspective will help smooth things over, and so it did. I already planned on making this interlude, but a little later, guess a little rearranging won't hurt…

Been focusing on Warlock a lot so I think I'll do some balancing now. Also, Happy birthday to our best boy Subaru!

Spookysharma

Well, a hiatus every now and then is good if it helps you to do something productive and this sentence holds for you very well. You have never failed to deliver an intense chapter full of action and drama. The only thing "I"(emphasis) am missing is some romantic moments Between the characters. I am a huge fan of Ram and I was thinking maybe...maybe finally I would get to see Subaru romancing Ram but then he calls her Nee-Sama. But it's your story and your rules. And playing by your rules, you have been doing great, if not to near-perfection.

Thanks for understanding, and sadly, I won't be doing any romance here... to be more exact, Subaru won't be responding to romance, it's for the main reason of his travels, which I have yet to reveal, he can't afford to do anything romancy when he's got his goal in mind. Not saying no one has feelings or the like for him.

As for Ram Onee-sama, I am planning on making a "Re: Shorts" (Looks into the crowd, you there MNR? Hmm…maybe I should wait a little longer...) Uh, yeah not that, it's not mine to make. I'm making a collection of one-shots that I've been writing for the past month so I wouldn't get rusty while on hiatus, stories include, "Edgelord Subaru talking about Love with Echidna", "Rem beating the shit out of Garf for Nee-sama reasons", "Rui-chan being a lonely little girl", and "Ram-senpai trying to get through Barusu's dense skull (Rem and Emilia not included)"

The last one might strike your fancy. They're all relatively short, around 500 to 1500 words, and if I ever think of a short continuation, I'll probably post it if I have the time. As of right now, I'm still compiling them all.