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{3rd Pov}
This time, he traveled by carriage, accompanied by Otto, Reina, and Beatrice.
Their journey brought them to a halt in front of Karsten Manor, its grand structure looming in dignified silence. The guards stationed at the gates swiftly recognized their identities and wasted no time in sending someone to receive them. Before long, Felix Argyle arrived to greet the visitors.
"Nyah May I know the reason for the esteemed Marquis Zero and the Sword Saint gracing our humble abode with their presence?" Felix inquired, his feline ears twitching as he regarded them with narrowed, suspicious eyes.
"There's no need to be so wary. I won't eat you," Subaru responded casually, though his words caused the demi-human knight to flinch involuntarily.
Felix's expression contorted as a flicker of anger passed across his delicate features.
'How pathetic,' Subaru thought to himself. 'He is showing such hostility to a Marquis over a simple misunderstanding. Doesn't he realize that behavior like this could bring dishonor and trouble upon his Lady?'
Subaru didn't harbor much affection for Felix. To him, Felix was the kind of person who masked inner fragility with a show of arrogance. He postured strength before those he saw as weak, yet often failed to show that same defiance in the face of true power.
In the Envy timeline, Subaru had become exceedingly forgiving—a man so benevolent, he might as well have been a saint. In fact, if God Himself didn't acknowledge that alternate Subaru as a saint, then the Subaru of this world would begin to question whether even God could be trusted.
That was the extent of Subaru's respect for the version of himself from an alternate timeline, he held him in high regards.
'Though he was a lovesick idiot' Subaru thought.
'Anyway, I just need to retrieve Patrasche and get out of here,' Subaru thought, trying to keep his mind on the task at hand. Meanwhile, Reina stepped forward with a sharp glare and snapped, "Sir Felix! Do you believe you can make such disrespectful faces in the presence of My Liege?"
Her voice sliced through the tension in the air like a blade, pulling Felix out of his self-righteous haze. Otto stood silently, not daring to interject, while Beatrice crossed her arms and huffed with displeasure.
"Indeed! How someone like you is in direct service to a Royal Candidate defies all logic, I suppose," Beatrice added with a scowl.
"Are you here just to insult Lady Crusch?" Felix growled, his anger barely restrained. "Or to mock her by boasting about how you were the first to slay the White Whale?!"
His hands trembled as he clenched his fists. "You even had the audacity to humiliate her by rejecting her marriage proposal, you bastard!"
There was no hiding the disdain Felix felt toward Subaru. Ever since Crusch had extended that heartfelt proposal—only to be turned down—he had harbored bitter resentment. It haunted him to such a degree that he'd once even had a nightmare of Lady Crusch writhing beneath Subaru, her moans echoing in the shadows of his mind.
(Author's Note: Hahaha.)
As the guards stood frozen, unsure of whether to intervene or observe, Reina's eyes blazed with fury. Without hesitation, she drew her dragon sword—still sheathed—and held it out with determination.
"You've insulted the Lord I serve, Sir Felix," she declared with authority. "For that alone, I hereby sentence you to death!"
Reina's devotion to Subaru was complex—composed of three powerful emotions: love, obsession, and reverence. In short, she was part yandere, part goudere. And now, thoroughly enraged, she was a going to turn into murder machine.
Felix responded in kind, yanking his own blade from its scabbard and tightening his grip on the hilt.
"Is that a threat?!" he hissed, his posture lowering into a defensive stance.
Reacting instinctively, the surrounding guards drew their weapons and pointed them toward Subaru's group, tension crackling through the air like a live wire.
Otto trembled. Even though he knew the Sword Saint was among them, the standoff was nerve-wracking.
Then, without warning, the doors of Karsten Manor swung open with a loud thud. Lady Crusch emerged with urgency, Wilhelm trailing closely behind her.
"Lady Crusch! Please return inside at once! These people are—"
"Silence!" Crusch cut him off sharply, her voice laced with steel. Felix went quiet immediately, visibly chastised.
Turning her gaze toward Reina and Subaru, her expression hardened. "May I ask why you've come here unannounced? And more importantly, why is my knight seems as if he was threatened?"
She had been observing the altercation from the second-floor balcony, preparing for whatever negotiations that he had come for. Though the moment she saw Felix had lashed out, and Reina had unsheathed the Dragon Sheath, she and Wilhelm had rushed outside to prevent bloodshed.
Reina bowed slightly, though her grip on the sword remained firm. "Lord Zero is here regarding a simple matter: there is a particular ground dragon that has piqued his interest. We came to purchase it. However, your knight misunderstood our intentions and began hurling accusations and insults toward My Liege. Throughout the entire exchange, we remained courteous and respectful."
Subaru gave a solemn nod of agreement, reinforcing her words.
Crusch's eyes narrowed slightly. She turned her gaze to the guards, noting their unease. Several exchanged hesitant glances, but ultimately nodded in confirmation of Reina's version of events.
Finally, she looked directly at Felix. Her voice was calm, but cold and cutting.
"Is what they're saying true, Felix?"
Now it was Felix's turn to fall silent. He lowered his head, shame welling up inside him like a storm he could not suppress. His ears drooped, and his tail curled tightly in distress.
"Y-Yes," he finally muttered, lifting his face hesitantly to meet Crusch's gaze. His voice was barely a whisper, yet the words hung heavy in the air. Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment—his pleading, hers cold and unreadable.
"But… Felix only wanted to protect Lady Crusch…" he tried to explain, the words shaky and uncertain.
Before he could continue, a sharp crack rang through the courtyard.
Crusch's open hand struck his cheek with a fierce slap, the sound echoing off the stone walls. Felix's head snapped sideways, his body recoiling slightly as he staggered in place, stunned. A burning sting bloomed across his face, the shock of the blow more painful than the physical sensation itself.
He turned back to her slowly, his expression one of disbelief—his wide, catlike eyes glassy with unshed tears.
"You absolute fool!" Crusch shouted, her voice quivering with barely restrained fury. "Do you even comprehend the enormity of the crime you've just committed?! You insulted a noble Marquis—and the hero who has slain the White Whale—based on nothing but your stupid suspicions and delusions! Just your act of disrespect alone is grounds for execution!"
Felix's lips trembled. Tears pooled at the corners of his eyes, but he hastily brought a hand to his face, trying to hide them, trying to hold them back. The weight of guilt and humiliation crushed down on him like a mountain.
"Sir Felix Argyle," Crusch continued coldly, her voice now regaining its composure though the anger still simmered beneath the surface, "you are hereby suspended from all official duties. Effective immediately, you are placed under house arrest until further notice. Sir Wilhelm, escort him to his chambers."
The seasoned sword master stepped forward at once.
Felix turned to Crusch with a heartbroken, begging look in his eyes. His lips parted as if to plead, to explain, to ask for forgiveness—but she had already turned away. She would not even spare him a glance now.
Instead, she shifted her attention toward Subaru and gave him a deep, respectful bow.
"Sir Zero, I offer you my most sincere apologies for the disgraceful conduct my knight displayed. It was an unacceptable offense. If there is anything I can do to compensate you for the insult, please do not hesitate to ask."
Wilhelm gently but firmly took hold of Felix's arm. Though Felix resisted for a moment, his body trembling, he said nothing. His pride had already been shattered. In silence, he allowed himself to be led away, never once looking back. Wilhelm, despite his stoic demeanor, seemed pained as well—his eyes deliberately avoiding his granddaughter's as they departed.
Subaru gave a slight nod, his expression calm and understanding. "I accept your apology, Lady Crusch. I also owe you one myself—for arriving unannounced and causing this unexpected commotion. That was discourteous of me."
Crusch's shoulders relaxed slightly as she exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Sir Zero. Now, regarding your initial purpose here—you mentioned an interest in purchasing a ground dragon from us, correct?"
"Yes, that's correct," Subaru replied with a smile. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd greatly appreciate your guidance."
"Not at all. Please, allow me to escort you personally," Crusch offered, and Subaru accepted the invitation graciously.
Moments later, the group was walking through the vast Karsten stables, where ground dragons of various colors and temperaments rested in clean, spacious stalls. The scent of hay and fresh air mixed in the atmosphere, while the low rumble of distant snorts and rustling filled the background.
Subaru's heart began to beat a little faster with anticipation. He scanned the rows of magnificent dragons, silently wondering if the one he hoped to find was truly here.
Patrasche… he thought.
Then, as if summoned by that very thought, his eyes locked onto a particular ground dragon—a sleek, dark-scaled creature with sharp, intelligent eyes.
At the exact same moment, the dragon's gaze found him.
With a force that surprised even the handlers, the ground dragon let out a fierce huff, broke free of her stall, and charged straight toward them. The stable door gave way with a loud crash as she bolted through, sending startled guards and stable workers scrambling.
Subaru didn't flinch.
The dragon skidded to a stop right in front of him, then leaned in close and nudged her snout against his cheek with unexpected tenderness.
Subaru chuckled warmly, the sound light and nostalgic, as he gently placed a hand on the side of her face.
"This is the one," Subaru declared softly, his eyes fixed on the ground dragon that now stood beside him with an air of familiarity and affection.
Crusch, standing a short distance away, was momentarily stunned. Her amber eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. 'This dragon… it's acting as if it already knows him,' she thought, puzzled. She turned her gaze to the guard standing behind her, hoping for some kind of explanation, but he, too, seemed taken aback by the strange interaction.
"Where did this ground dragon come from? Its origin?" she asked sharply, her tone edged with curiosity and underlying concern.
"Lady Crusch," the guard responded with a respectful bow, "this ground dragon was bred right here, from one of our finest stock. I can say with certainty that it's lived its entire life in our stables. It's never been owned by anyone outside of House Karsten."
Crusch's expression relaxed slightly, though traces of doubt still lingered in her mind. 'If that's the case, then this must be the work of some sort of Divine Protection,' she reasoned. 'At least it's not a worst-case scenario—nothing dangerous or suspicious.'
"Lady Crusch," Subaru said, breaking her train of thought, "I like this ground dragon. She is the one I came looking for. Might I ask—what is her name?"
Crusch turned to the same guard once again, prompting an answer with a glance.
"It has no name, my Lady," the guard admitted sheepishly. "We simply refer to her as Number 23."
Subaru blinked, visibly surprised, and turned his attention back to the dragon. He gently ran his hand along the creature's snout, his touch gentle and full of warmth.
"No name, huh?" he murmured thoughtfully. "Well then, from this day forward, I shall call you… Patrasche."
As if recognizing the name, the ground dragon gave a low, contented huff and nudged Subaru affectionately, her body language unmistakably pleased. The bond between them, even to the casual observer, felt profound and immediate.
"If you truly like her, Lord Zero," Crusch offered graciously, "then allow me to present her to you as a gift, as a token of goodwill."
However, Subaru raised a hand and shook his head firmly, his expression respectful yet resolute.
"Lady Crusch, I appreciate the offer more than words can say. Furthermore, I admire your willingness to apologize for your knight's actions. That kind of accountability speaks volumes about your integrity as a leader. But I cannot, in good conscience, take advantage of this situation. Please—state a fair price."
"In that case," she replied, "the price shall be ten gold coins. That would be a reasonable value for a dragon of her stature. And of course, if you do not have the full amount with you at the moment, we would be more than willing to accept payment at a later time."
"Otto," Subaru called calmly, and the merchant immediately straightened up with a nervous nod. Truth be told, Otto was still processing how Subaru had casually handed him over a dozen Royal Gold Coins at the start of their journey, assigning him to handle all financial matters from that point on.
It was an incredible amount of trust—and for a person whom he barely know.
Then again, with the Sword Saint traveling alongside them, who in their right mind would even think about running off with the money?
Otto quickly reached into his satchel and retrieved the coins. With careful hands, he handed them over to the guard, who accepted them respectfully before being instructed to hold them for verification and processing.
"Thank you, Lady Crusch, for your hospitality and understanding," Subaru said with a respectful nod. "Regrettably, we are on a tight schedule, so we must take our leave now. Also, I'd ask one thing of you—please, do not allow your anger to linger toward your knight for his earlier behavior. Guide him with patience. People deserve second chances—and sometimes even a third—so long as their mistakes are not irredeemable."
Crusch regarded him quietly for a moment, her eyes softening with a mixture of admiration and reflection. Then she gave him a graceful nod of acknowledgment. "Your words are wise, Lord Zero. I shall take them to heart."
Meanwhile, Beatrice had been observing the ground dragon curiously from the sidelines. Her expression betrayed her astonishment at how naturally and instantly the creature had bonded with her contractor.
Even Reina, who considered herself deeply attuned to her Lord's greatness, found herself surprised. However, she quickly composed herself and reasoned, 'It must be the sheer majesty of my Lord that drew the beast to him. Naturally, even animals recognize greatness.'
With all formalities concluded, the group prepared to depart—this time with an unexpected new companion: the ground dragon named Patrasche, walking proudly beside Subaru as if she had always belonged there.
To be continued...
(A/N: I don't like how low is our position... so give me powerstones, if we are in top 10 you will get daily updates.
Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter.
With this we get our beloved ground dragon, and Reina glazing Subaru for umpteenth time.
Man even I have not heard of suck dick eating before, and knowing how she will be sucking his, it seems legit.
I am also planning for lemons... It will take as Subaru is finished with handing most of the immediate problems.
Poor guy has a lot on his plate, now that he has a freaking territory to take care or.
Of course, first will be our dear Reina, then I am thinking of adding Echidna and Gloria.
Now most of the next arc will be development arc.
Until Priestella Arc, and you know you will get another surprise there.
But again nothing is flexible, I am still debating how to steer the other important arcs, to be honest Zero is too powerful for this world by now.
I guess he deserves a break(For A while) until shit hits the fan.
I am still wondering if we can get in top 3 or 1 again...*Sigh*)