Uploading date: 12/26/2018 [M/D/Y]

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

Chapter 2: The Karsten Estate

A few days had passed since our visitors have left, and it was about time we make our leave too, we wouldn't want to be late now, do we? "Hey Beatrice, we're heading off soon, be ready alright?" I say while making my way out of the mountain of books I've drowned myself into, politics is a rather complex subject, but I've got the basics down, "Betty isn't a child, I suppose, you don't need to remind me…" She replies bitterly, as she tries to shake away her drowsiness.

I head over to the closet to grab some fancy formal wear, despite his usual attire, Roswaal has a hefty stock of clothes and of various styles and sizes, quite unexpected, but hey, all the better, "The whole event should last for just a day, but we'll have to stay a little longer in order for Felix to check on my condition"

Although regrettable, gives me a chance to visit Kadomon, the poor guy is probably still selling appas in his little shop, can't wait to see the look on his face when I tell him my new occupation. Enough of that, I took a few clothes that loosely resembled my old ones, "Right then, I'll be waiting outside"

I open the door and was immediately taken outside, Ram was preparing the carriage, it seems Emilia was still a little busy, but Roswaal was already there it seems, "Yo…" I walk over to him waving as I did, and he welcomed me with an iconic grin, "Are~ you all prepared Subaru-kun? It would be rather troublesome if you had stage~ fright you know?"

"Come on, what do you take me for? I faced death straight in the face, you think I can't handle a few nobles and their gazes?"

"Hmm, of courese~ standing in front of a crowd would be nothing for you, my bad for worrying~"

The day was great, it was breezy and with just enough sunlight, "The airs nice, reminds me of my time back home… ah, those were the days, carefree and fun…" I was stuck reminiscing on the past, Roswaal joined me, "I too had a time~ like that, but they're long gone…"

The three of us waiting a while for everyone else to get ready, they appeared by the door one by one, and we all boarded the carriage, though Rem was staying behind, "Rem, if any intruders decide to infiltrate, show no mercy" Ram coldly ordered as she peeked from the drivers seat, "Of course Nee-sama…"

"Heh, typical Nee-san…"

And we were off. The journey to the capital is going to take half a day, even if we did take off this early in the morning, we'd make just past afternoon, a tiring journey is ahead of us, "Haah, I don't know how long I'll last, staying up all night reading books isn't exactly the most relaxing thing…"

"Betty begs to differ, I suppose, you've just been reading the wrong books is all"

"Really now? Now you're making me feel bad for you, to think you found enjoyment in reading books for a few centuries…"

"Excuse me? Betty never said it was enjoyable, I suppose, it just puts me at ease when I'm reading"

Yes, and that's why I feel bad for you, though I can't say that out loud, it'd be too mean, "Hey Beatrice come over here would you" I say while patting on my lap, she shifts her eyes over to me weirdly, "What do you mean come there, I suppose? Betty is completely fine where she is right now, in fact"

"This isn't about you" I forcefully grabbed her drills and dragged her over to where I sat, placing her between my lap, and then, "H-Hey!" I placed my head on top of hers and closed my eyes, "Don't use Betty as a pillow, I suppose!" "I let you sleep in the bed last night, so it's only natural you let me sleep now, don't be selfish…"

"Gh…" While she was sulking coldly at the ground, the others gazed outside, the village was doing their usual routine in the morning, and the ones that took notice of us bowed respectfully, they are really faithful towards Roswaal aren't they?

"Hey Roswaal, Emilia-san, are there any future plans on bringing anyone new into the camp? Was just curious…"

"Hmm, I~ can't say I have any plans on searching for a new member~ but if a promising one shows up, I won't disagree with the idea…"

"I see…"

As of right now, politically, we only have backing from Roswaal, though we will definitely get more attention, we'll always be a step behind because of Emilia, to counter that, having more connections with reputable people is most likely our only way of getting a good start, but hey, people like that who meet our requirements is very rare.

"Do you~ happen to know anyone, Subaru-kun?"

"Me? Heh, even if I did know someone, I doubt they'd remember me"

I slept the rest of the way, it was uneventful as expected, the road was not bumpy at all, as expected of ground dragons and their divine protection, whenever I was riding my family Liger, it was always a bumpy ride, "Woah, mansions really are big aren't they…" We had arrived at the Karsten estate, it was a bit bigger than Roswaal's mansion, how rich must you guys be to own houses this much! And to think that just a few weeks ago, I was a random squabbler running low on money.

We got off the carriage, with Roswaal leading us to the gate, Felix, the old Jii-san, and a woman in green awaited us, "My~ for the dutchess to personally greet us feels a little overwhelming" "Now now Roswaal, no need for such formalities, we'll be looked upon as equals in a days time, let's not complicate things shall we?"

"Oh, she's pretty easy going isn't she"

"Hmm…"

"Ah, I said that out loud didn't I?"

"You sure did, I suppose, fortunately, it wasn't rude" With Beatrice's obvious comment, everyone's eyes were plastered onto me, might as well greet them all, "Yo, Natsuki Subaru, the representative of the Emilia-camp, an honor to meet you, Crusch Karsten" I raise my hand out to her and she accepts it, "Hmm, the honor is mine Natsuki Subaru… And this must no doubt be Emilia, I pleasure to meet you"

A surprised look on Emilia, like that first time we met, "Yes, the pleasure is mine, Crusch-san" They had a good handshake, it seems our greeting had kicked to a rather good start, "Please do come on, we'll first show you over to your rooms for tonight" Hm, she's gonna show us to our rooms herself, how courteous of her, or so they all thought, devaluing yourself in front of your rival, there's a reason here isn't there?

We were shown to our rooms, which were lined up next to each other for our convenience. Emilia and Roswaal then went together with the dutchess over to another room, though I'd love to go with them and see where the conversations going at, I've got problems to deal with in the form of a cross-dressing cat person.

"Nyaa, does my touch stimulate your body, Subaru-kyun?"

"Yes, yes it does, it feels like a slimy worm wrapped around my waist and it's rather disturbing"

"Hey, don't reduce Ferri-chan's hands to a mere worm, I have a heart to nyou know!"

Felix was doing a check up on me and I was forced to comply, a weakened gate is no small deal, is what they all say, but to be honest, I couldn't care less, it's not like I can't survive without magic, though, it would suck not being able to use magic, "Ah, speaking of little things Subaru-kyun, who's that little girl over there, Ferri-chan forgot to ask that time"

"Gh, I'd appreciate it if you don't pile Betty with anything considered small, I suppose!" Beatrice complained from across the room, I'm not sure why she's staying in my room while I'm being checked on, and it sure isn't helping me with Felix, "She's a friend of mine you can say…"

"A friend? You dare trivialize our relationship to just mere friends, I suppose! You are a devil among devils you know that!"

"Nyaha… Subaru-kyun, I didn't know nyou were 'that' kind of person, hehe, a devil among devils huh…"

"If I really was that kind of person, what better is a guy who likes to cross-dress in ribbons?"

"Eheh… Nyou have a point there, Subaru-kyun…"

"No shame!? Hey hey, aren't you a man at heart? Do you have no shame for implicitly admitting that you're a shameless cross-dressing cat man who likes to wear blue ribbons to attract people of the same gender and make them fall down into a spiraling pit of despair?!"

"Indeed, I have no shame- no, I have the courage to admit it! And there's no shame in having courage, Subaru-kyun!"

"Don't just add courage to make your claims seem positive you cross-dressing weirdo!"

"Then if Ferri-chan is a shameless cross-dresser, wouldn't that make nyou a shameless loli-con? You are being hypocritical Subaru-kyun! Ferri-chan has exposed you of your deeds, nyahaha"

"Eh? I never admitted to having such an intimate relationship with Beatrice, that's just your misconception Felix"

"Ferris, call me Ferris, please"

"Right Ferris, I only used it as a placement to prepare an insult on you"

"Devil among devils nyaa…"

After releasing me from his slender and uncanny grip, he got off the bed and faced me once more, "So what is your relationship with Beatrice-chan?" I face over to Beatrice and pondered on that thought, "Hey! Don't you go answering that question without letting Betty consider it as well, I suppose, it would lead to more confusion so Betty will answer that!" She said while getting off the chair she was sitting on.

"Heh? You're the one who caused the confusion to begin with you know?"

"No! That was the cat man's idiocy, I suppose"

"Ferri-chan doesn't really mind being insulted, words don't hurt as much as a wound would, but I'd prefer it if you referred to me as something cuter instead of 'cat man' it has this hunky feeling that I don't like… maybe 'cat person' or even better 'cat girl' would suffice"

"Go to hell, bulky cat man"

"Nya! The real devil among devils was nyou!"

With Ferris retreating to the door of the room, I put my jacket, which I had taken off, back on, and I replied to his previous question, "If you want me to tell you how our relationship works well I'd say it's kind of complicated, you see, to boil it down to it's key elements, we're close enough to share a room with a single bed and banter about things half the time, but not close enough to do anything past that"

"Nyah! So it's like siblings"

"Excuse me? Don't get the wrong idea, I suppose, cat man!"

"Indeed, it fits the sibling criteria, nyaha, it fits perfectly…"

"Don't ignore Betty I suppose!"

Hm, that's a nice idea, "Well, let's stick with that then, Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice are, from now on, considered and non-blood related siblings for the purpose of convenience…" "Don't just go along with it, I suppose!" Even Beatrice trying to refute it with all her might, it doesn't seem like she entirely hates the idea.

"Ah, I just noticed Subaru-kyun, if you're going to be siblings, then your not only a loli-con but sis-con too"

"Eh? You know what that word means too?! Ferris, you couldn't possibly be reading the books from this famous Kararagian author could you?"

"Uwaah, Subaru-kyun reads his books too? To think that Ferri-chan would meet another brother at a time like this!"

And from then onwards, Ferris and I had founded a new friendship, one based on bookmanship of a certain author based in my home country, I have been blinded by his cross-dressing persona, Ferris was indeed a man, and one with great taste too, he is a great man, I must set aside our differences and accept that…

.

"Haah, it's really something, since I didn't have a solid place to stay back then, I only borrowed books from local libraries, never had the chance of keeping them…"

"Nyuhu… then, would Subaru-kyun like to see Ferri-chan's collection of novels? I've kept them safely in my room in a nice assortment at the back, if you insist, then-"

"Sorry, I know what I said before about accepting your weird fetishes and all, but if you dress like that, then I don't want to know what your room looks like, that's going to lead to a whole different kind of weird, we're going outside, let's go Beatrice" I bring Beatrice along with me as I continue to walk around the mansion, trying to retrace my steps to find the main door, this place is more confusing than Roswaal's place…"

In time, we found the exit we were looking for, and we walked outside, a nice clean cut field outside, I see a few servants working on it right now, and I see Ram too, and that Jii-san, "Yo, Nee-san, I was wondering what you were up to" I say while walking up to the two, "I wild Barusu has appeared, what am I to do… perhaps I should flee"

"Roswaal's still busy with things, so if you were to flee, there'd be no place to flee to"

"Heh, then entertain me a little would you, Barusu?"

"No, I'm not a jester, I'm your superior, please treat me a little more appropriately please" saying that weakly won't really help my cause, "Ram has not acknowledged that yet, you were once my kouhai, so I will see you as that, no questions asked" So she's going to do me like that huh? Then I'll just do her the same.

"Well at least this kouhai doesn't have problems with babysitting"

"You better take that back Barusu, kneel before Ram's greatness and plead for forgiveness!"

"Oho, scary, scary, why can't Nee-san be a bit more lady-like like Rem?"

"Only one of us can be the cute innocent one" I understand that she's cute and all, but innocent is a little stretching it, if you're telling me that demon is innocent, then you're better of calling the witch cult a bunch of con artists trying to scam you everytime you meet them, "Hmm, Subaru-kyun is popular with a lot of ladies isn't he?"

"And what of it, is the man-cat jealous?"

"Both you and Beatrice-chan are devils, hurting my hurt with such words… But! Ferri-chan is not jealous at all, Ferri-chan's heart only sees Crusch-sama and no one else, not even death will change my heart, I'll have you knyow that! "

"Heh, well there's no fighting that. What about you Jii-san? Wilhelm van Astrea, a warlord among others, seeing you in a butler uniform in a household that isn't your own was a little surprising you know? I thought you'd be with Reinhard doing some sparring or something or lecturing some newbie knights on the horrors of the battlefield"

"I'm not something as important as that, Subaru-dono, my grandson has far surpassed me in abilities, even if I were in my prime, I'd still be far inferior to him… and regarding my presence in Crusch-sama's household. I am currently in her debt for a personal matter she is helping me see through, so I'm to serve her with my life"

"I see…"

We all passed some time with pointless chit chat on trivial matters, getting to know each other better, I wasn't able to leak any information on anything, heh, I truly am a devil. After the sun had started to set, we saw Crusch, Roswaal, and Emilia-san come out, calling us over.

"So is everything fine?"

"Yes, Subaru, how about your side?"

"Speaking of which, you didn't say anything about it, Ferris"

"Nyaa, I forgot, silly me~ Subaru-kyun should be fine but Ferri-chan would recommend him staying for a week or so, I still need to supervise his recovery, he'll need to exercise his gate at set time intervals a few times a day"

"Ah, would that be okay Subaru? We can have Ram stay with you to keep you company" Upon hearing that, I can feel Ram twitch, fidgeting even, she's freaking out about it isn't she, "Hm~well, of course, we~ can't have Subaru-kun stay alone, that'd be awful of us, wouldn't it? Ram, you wouldn't mind staying with Subaru-kun for the time being, no?"

"If Roswaal-sama wishes it, Ram will do as ordered, even if it is putting up with this Barusu's antics…" She said the latter part in a low enough tone that only I and Ferris were able to catch, calling me Barusu is one thing, but using that nickname as a general term is definitely more insulting than I'd like.

"Ah, since that's settled then we have plans for tomorrow Subaru. You'll be coming with me to the Royal Palace, there's someone that will tour us around before the meeting starts later in the afternoon, make sure to wake up early, don't stay up too late reading okay?" What are you, my mom? Emilia is most definitely the worrying older-sister of this family.

"Yeah, don't worry, I'll tag along…"

We all entered the mansion once more and headed over to our rooms. "Three hungry pigs with different eating habits… a story of a mummy with unrequited love… oh, this one is about the daily life of an average harem protagonist…w-what's with the plot of these books…" I put the books down, they were all absurd, Lugnica doesn't have anything worth reading in terms of literature, what a let down it is…

"..."

I hear the door open and footsteps walk in, "Beatrice" I see her drills, it's most definitely her, there's no mistake about it, I wonder what she could want at a time like this, perhaps, "If you have any premonition of me wanting to sleep with you, please erase them, I suppose" I was wrong huh? "Then, what do you want?"

"I've come to tell you that I won't be coming along tomorrow, I suppose"

"What do you mean not come along?"

"It means what it means, I suppose"

"Ehh, you know, it's not really the responsible thing for me to let you go without any supervision, if I told Ram to go with you, I bet she'd do as bad a job as she did with Emilia, and that turned out to be one bloody situation..." not fun, and besides, Beatrice is an even easier target, and with her minimalistic social skills, she's to get scammed easily, I'm not really worried if she got attacked, I'm more worried about the part of the city that will have to face her wrath!

"Okay, you don't have to come with us, but there are places you aren't allowed to roam to, you got that?"

"I never said I'd be going out, I suppose, I've been snuffed out with minimal effort… sure, Betty can live with restrictions..."

"Okay good, your not allowed to venture into stores, restaurants, or really, anywhere that would make you want to buy something"

"Hey, Betty feels like these restrictions are the kind a husband would say to a wife who's about to go on a shopping spree with ten years worth of salary, what do you take Betty for, I suppose!?"

"Shush now, your not allowed to go to any bars, don't talk to strangers that look weird, don't unnecessarily go to dark alleyways where no one can see, don't fall off bridges, don't go anywhere near the slums, you'll get dirt on your dress, and finally, if your going to go and do some good deed, make sure to tell me first"

"What are you, an overprotective parent, I suppose?"

"Overprotective sibling would be a better word"

"No, I think the word is an overprotective brother"

"It's sibling, I can assure you..."

"O-Okay?" Giving me a weird look, she casts herself away by exiting the room, leaving me and the night alone, "You know what happens next… huh? Damn that witch, might as well just call yourself Satella the witch of vagueness, you keep tormenting me like this…" But she is definitely right, once Emilia's participation is announced, the witch cult will make a move, though it won't be the whole thing, it'll still be a big thing, there's no reason for them not to take such a golden opportunity.

"Now… the part I'm not sure about is… I expect something special when you come back… I can't exactly bring anything there… only my soul, nothing else, what could I possibly bring there…" I gaze over at the table, where I can see the box, the sage's box, a box made from the bones of the great sage Flugel himself, something my family had been bestowed with from the ages, even now, I don't fully understand the reason for such an important thing to be handed down to me, but I don't need to know.

"Haah, is she expecting me to bring down an archbishop this soon… or maybe…" Since that place can only house 'souls' then, it's possible, it's completely possible for it to happen, though, they may be a little different, they do have souls, but still, something like that! "You can't just drag people into our problem you damn witch… what's ours, is ours, we can't just drag her into this…"

A/N

Basscuss

Great chapter as usual! Also (for me at least) your dialogue is what makes you a great writer, you just can't degrade yourself to a student scribbling on a notepad! In fact, you're my inspiration when it comes to character interactions and dialogues because you really capture the reader's attention.

I also agree with Spooky Sharma because this story is a literal light novel in its own rights! If…

Well, I get where you guys are coming from, if allowed pictures to be added in between stories, this really could a light novel, heh… if only there was an illustrator out there who'd like do it with me, I might be down for it.

SisyphusWorker

Tactical and cautious Subaru has always been the best Subaru. Makes me wonder if someone can be on par with him in this story soon.

If your talking about being on par with him mentally, then I've got to say no one will ever be on par with him, to the point where you probably can't call him human (he is still a human though).

Speaking about intellect, he's only as smart as the books he's read, so he isn't exactly the most knowledgeable there is, he just relies on his gut and instincts when facing problems, he's got a knack for that, with the number of times he's RBD'd before the story took place.

Though if you're talking physically, I'd say he's got a few competitors, to put it on a scale, he has enough strength that if he was given a blunt sword, he'd be able to slam in on another sword and break both swords, so raw strength would be around Julius? Since he was able to break one or two of Cecilus's swords with his own.

But he's pretty skilled with his dagger, I wonder why? It's almost as if he was able to practice for far longer than someone normally can...