Subaru Natsuki held the badge and stood in the moonlight at the street corner, waiting for about 45 minutes.
Then, she arrived.
Her long, silvery-white hair swayed gently in the night breeze, and her purple eyes shimmered softly in the moonlight.
She wore a white robe with purple patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and a silver ribbon tied around her waist.
He was wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with two pointed ears peeking out from under the brim.
Her face was delicate and gentle, with a faint smile on her lips, but there was a hint of wariness in her purple eyes.
Emilia.
Subaru Natsuki looked at her, and his heart skipped a beat.
He had seen her in those reincarnations.
She was the first person to save him and show him kindness; she was the first ray of light in this death-filled, New World.
"You--"
Emilia walked up to him, stopped, and looked at the badge in his hand with her purple eyes.
"That's mine."
Her voice was clear and calm, but carried a hint of suppressed tension.
Subaru Natsuki lowered his head, looking at the badge in his hand, then looked up at her.
"I know, that's why I've come to return it to you."
He reached out and handed the badge to her.
Emilia looked at the badge, then at him, but didn't take it immediately.
Where did you get it from?
"They got it from a thief in the basement of an abandoned warehouse—"
"You went to see them?"
Emilia raised her voice slightly.
Are you alone?
"No."
Subaru Natsuki turned to the side and pointed to the person behind him.
"Together with him."
Higashino Makoto leaned against the wall at the alley entrance, arms crossed, his golden eyes fixed on Emilia.
Reisen stood behind him, while Elsa Granhiert crouched in the shadows of the eaves.
Emilia's gaze fell on Higashino Makoto.
"You are --"
"Higashino Makoto is a businessman, you could say."
"Merchant..."
Emilia's brow furrowed slightly.
Why are you helping him?
Because I'm free.
Higashino Makoto's answer was concise and to the point.
Emilia paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.
"You're talking strangely."
"Just consider me a weirdo..."
Emilia nodded and looked at Subaru Natsuki again.
Thank you for returning the badge to me.
She reached out and took the badge.
The light within the gem flowed through her fingertips, as if some long-dormant power was awakening.
"You're welcome."
Subaru Natsuki's voice was a little hoarse.
"I... should thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
Thank you for saving me before.
Emilia tilted her head, her large purple eyes filled with confusion.
"Did I... save you before?"
"Um."
Subaru Natsuki nodded.
"In the alley, a few thugs were beating me up. You happened to pass by and chased them away."
Emilia, then shook her head.
"I don't remember."
"It's alright, as long as I remember."
Subaru Natsuki's lips curled up slightly.
"So, I want to repay you."
Emilia looked at him for two seconds.
"No need for thanks, I just did what I should do."
"Then at least tell me your name."
Emilia paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.
My name is Emilia.
She paused, her purple eyes pure and innocent.
"It's just Emilia."
Subaru Natsuki looked at her, and his heart skipped a beat again.
He knew the name, not just the name itself, but everything behind it.
A silver-haired half- Elf Kingdom, a candidate for royal selection.
An existence that is hated, feared, and rejected by the world.
His savior, the object of his admiration.
But this was the first time he had heard it from the person himself.
"I am Subaru Natsuki."
He reached out his hand.
Please give me your guidance.
Emilia looked down at the hand, then reached out and grasped it.
The moment their palms touched, her fingers tightened slightly.
"Subaru Natsuki... What a strange name."
Emilia released her grip and turned to look at Higashino Makoto.
"Mr. Higashino Makoto, you just said you are a businessman?"
"Right."
Where did you come from?
"A very far place."
How far?
"Far away, you wouldn't believe it, our last stop was the Vollachia Empire."
Emilia looked at him, her purple eyes flashing with a complex light.
She wanted to ask something else, but a voice rang in her ears.
Emilia.
The voice was soft and gentle, like a child's.
A gray, fist-sized Elf Kingdom peeked out from behind her shoulder, its round body, fluffy tail, and blue eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Puck.
"This person is strange."
Puck's voice held a hint of confusion.
"He carries an aura of someone similar, yet not quite."
Higashino Makoto looked at Puck.
"You are Elf Kingdom."
Higashino Makoto looked at Puck with some surprise, then, thinking of his current race, the "Holy Elemental Elf Kingdom," and realizing that being Elf Kingdom wouldn't do him any harm, he nodded.
"Yes, that's me."
Puck nodded, flew to Higashino Makoto, and circled him once.
"You're Elf Kingdom too?"
"I guess so."
"I guess so?"
"I am a holy elemental Elf Kingdom, not exactly like you."
Puck's blue eyes lit up.
"A sacred elemental Elf Kingdom? You mean a Yang elemental Elf Kingdom? It can even transform into human form; that's a very rare high-level Elf Kingdom."
There was a hint of excitement in his voice.
"No wonder I sensed a similar aura about you; you're a superior being."
Higashino Makoto didn't speak. Puck circled him again, then flew back to Emilia's shoulder.
"Emilia, this person can be trusted."
"Elf Kingdom are beings who value contracts the most, and they all despise the Witch Cult and will not cooperate with it. It's instinct."
Emilia looked at Higashino Makoto, her purple eyes flashing with a complex light.
She remained silent for a long time, then nodded.
"Mr. Higashino Makoto, you just said you're a businessman. So where do you plan to go next?"
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"I don't know, maybe I'll just wander around."
"Well—if you don't mind—"
Emilia took a deep breath.
"You are welcome to visit my residence."
Subaru Natsuki's eyes lit up.
Higashino Makoto looked at Emilia, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Why?"
"Because you helped Subaru, you also helped me."
Emilia's voice was calm.
"And Puck said you can trust him, and I trust Puck."
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds and nodded.
"Good."
Emilia's lips curled up slightly.
"It's settled then. We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."
Subaru Natsuki stood to the side, watching Emilia's smile, his heart pounding.
He knew that this time everything was different.
With Higashino Makoto in it.
The Bowel Hunter was not killed, but subdued.
Sword Reinhard van Astrea became an ally.
Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.