fics I read

Those Who Laugh at Fate

Stunning, that was what he was, that was how Barasu acted, as if the world belonged to him. The boy with unkempt hair spoke with such conviction, he seemed much more confident than ever before. Adding to the boy's mystery, the nasty-eyed Barasu refused to discuss how he'd gotten so powerful any further, stating, "It was just a little contract you know, not a thing to be worried about?"

"Who Barasu, with who did you form a contract with?" Ram, the second head of the Matthers domains maids demanded in a stern tone

"If I told you, you wouldn't like me anymore, but trust me, you have no reason to doubt my intentions!" For the most part, this was true.

According to the boy, and to Rams own witness, the man who had just died to Barasu was none other than an archbishop to the witch's cult, Ram was right with her assessment, and her judgment was deserved, aiding the 'foolish Barasu' in his battle. But shocked by the situation at fallout, and with Barasu's refusal to elaborate any further, Ram had earned her right to sceptism.

Ram now looking straight into the nasty eyes of Subaru spoke with contempt, "So then, Barasu, what are you going to do?"

Subaru who sat atop a black scaled dragon looked across to Ram, his right pointer finger cusping the edge of his chin, "It's simple Ram, I'm going to kill Moby Dick" and with that the dragon began to move, Ram still in awe moved forward one last time.

"Just wait Barasu-"

"Oh yeah and tell Ros-chi, I'm really sorry, but this whole butler thing just isn't working out!" and with the wave of his hand, the sudden realization came to the Oni, the nasty-eyed boy was leaving to create a life of his own. Ram was left shocked and alone as Natsuki Subaru rode off under the morning sun.

"No, I refuse to acknowledge this!" Bordeaux slammed his hands to the table in a fit of rage, "There is no possible way that boy will become king! None!"

"Silence Bordeaux" Miklotov replied in a stern tone, "Volcanica has spoken, who are we to deny his orders?" The figurehead of the sage council shook his head in disappointment, upset with his fellow councilmen's speech.

"The dragon is a fool if he thinks that boy is fit to be our king!" The room had gone silent, the rest of the sage council starring to the bushy eyed man in disbelief, a few gasps along the way.

"I-" Bordeaux looked down, shame across his face, "I regret what I said- but in saying that- I do still hold the belief that Natsuki Subaru in no way should be crowned"

Miklotov stroking his snow-colored beard sighed, "We can not refuse the dragons will Bordeaux…" as if speaking to a child, the elder replied to his peer earnestly.

"I know that, but I just don't understand Volcanica?" Bordeaux replied

"Hmm" Still creasing his beard, Miklotov looked back to the dragon's tablet, "The prophecy foretold that the boy wouldn't know of his fate till he 'vanquishes the witch' perhaps he will develop into a man fit to lead by then?"

Bordeaux perked up, "Is that even possible?"

Miklotov laughed, "Do you not remember the sword demon in our day? He was a bold, arrogant man who was angry at the world, no one would have expected Willhelm Trias to become one of this nation's finest" he remarked.

Bordeaux smiled slightly as if remembering the past he shared with the sword demon, "Perhaps your point is valid.." the elder with blue bushy eyebrows calmed a bit and looked down slightly.

Miklotov smirked as well, the mood had lightened.

But still, to Miklotov, calming his colleagues was far from over, for a prophecy led birth within another prophecy; Natsuki Subaru would vanquish the Witch from this world. Of course at first, the conversation had erupted over the statement, but was glanced over as the idea of the dishonored boy becoming King constantly became the topic of strife, the sage council in all their wisdom had glanced over the ending of the prophecy and hadn't thoroughly acknowledged the wording.

"Will that boy really kill the witch?" Miklotov spoke quietly to himself, asking his head for the answers he desired, wanting to come up with a basis at the very least to continue forward,

(Even the combined efforts of the Dragon, Sage, and Sword God weren't enough, so what's so special about that boy, the seemingly weak boy who lost to Julius Juukulius, a boy who mustered only his word and lost when it came to action, just what can that boy prove?)

And as if fate were to play itself on a stage, the answer Miklotov was looking for came, the dragon tablet began to emit a bright glow of orange, red, and white, and then emanated a golden hue as letters appeared, the seemingly ancient cyrillic's placing themselves as if they were on fire and then cooling down.

The sage council looked to the dragon tablet, which at this point was in the center of their eight seated table and all were silent with the exception of Miklotov once more.

Miklotov read and the council listened,

{Natsuki Subaru Has Defeated The Sin Archbishop Of Sloth}

Once more, the unruly boy defied fate.

"So Stride, how much of the juice do we got left?" Subaru asked coherently as Patrasche ran from the forest of the Matthers Domain and onto the Lifaus highway, a strange sense of Deja-vu making itself present within the raven youth momentarily.

"Quite a the bit, at least by mine's standards" The sickly man replied

"Wait seriously? So enough to kill the whale?!" Subaru remarked as Patrasche continued her quick pace, the 'group' making progress quite quickly.

"Enough in one punch" Stride would smile, if he could, but for now his content tone was enough to assure Subaru of the situation but said raven-youth was still curious.

"So just how do we have enough, I mean I have enough? Didn't we use it all up on Petelgeuse back there? I mean I practically felt powerless afterwards. Doesn't really make any sense.." Subaru continued his ramblings, a slight hint of disbelief in the nasty-eyed boy's voice.

"It's simple, mine venerable self purified Sloth, and in doing so, the authority of Pride absorbed his sin, leading to an overflow practically" The man with an archaic voice spoke, but explained as if he were talking to a child, a child who held potential to match the Sword Saint in battle.

"Oh, I guess that makes sense, but if that's the case, then why didn't [Strides Eye] work in the first place?" The raven youth perked his question rather quickly, Stride was prepared however and moved back just as swiftly.

"Sloth was insane, or at least driven insane, and because of it, he could not be judged as he never committed great sin on purpose or with intent" The Vollachian spoke with a matter-of-fact tone

"Driven insane…" The boy with jet unkempt black hair trailed off before making a conclusion, "You mean somebody, or something did that to him?"

"Yes" Strides archaic voice replied blankly

"Oh man…." Subaru mummered, "So we basically killed an innocent guy?"

The sharp man contracted to the raven youth paused for a moment, inhaling a large breath, "Well I cannot say Sloth was entirely innocent, at core, the man was a good person. What thee fought was not Petelgeuse, but rather the witch factor of Sloth in itself, the embodiment of what happens to those who are incompatible with their witch factor if you will"

Subaru gulped at the statement and took and exhaled cautiously, "So that could happen to me, I could go insane?"

"No" Stride paused, "well possibly"

The raven youth rose a nasty brow, "Possibly"

The archaic voice that was Subaru's contractor cleared his throat, "Well thy art a sage, or at least a candidate for the title, you see, thou aren't susceptible to being influenced by the witch factors, rather thou will influence them"

"Influence the witch factors?" The nasty-eyed boy kept his brow

"Yes, for example, the witches were the embodiment of their sin, as the witch factor held utter and complete dominance over every aspect of them as people, they lived by their sin and would do anything to satisfy their longings, with Pride seeing herself as a judge, or Sloth driving the noisy dragon away to get rest"

"Oh" Subaru blurted out, a bit lost.

"But thy aren't like that, thy has overcome sin and in doing so, is able to bend each sin to thine will instead of being bent by thine sin, and with mineself being here to help thou in that process, each sin shall obey without refusal!"

"Meaning?" The hazel-eyed boy interrupted

"Thou can use the factors without draw backs, corruption of thy mind, nor pain of use" Stride answered, Pride in his voice

"SO IM OVERPOWERED?!" Subaru announced his question full of glee, a large smile developing.

The former archbishop of pride sighed, "Yes, practically"

"THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!" the Japanese teen once more announcing, "So all I have to do is kill a bunch of people like Petelgeuse and I'll keep getting more powerful?"

"By thy standards, yes, thou will be on par with the most powerful of this worlds history" The vain voice of Pride continuously answered to Subaru, sometimes with joy, sometimes in fatigue, all responses benefiting the raven youth nonetheless.

"So then that's our goal then, to kill the current archbishops of the witch cult?" The boy from another world asked enthusiastically

"It would appear so, is that all thy is willing to do to change this world?" Stride asked, a bit of disappointment in his tone, as if he expected more of the raven youth, the boy was acting passive considering the potential he held.

"Well I-" Subaru a bit flustered began to rub the back of his head with his left hand, "I'm sure there's more I could do, starting a huge trading company would always be cool"

Stride perked up, "Daring, thou would compete with Miss Hoshin then, correct?"

"I- uh- well- yeah I guess, I didn't really think that one through, did I?" Subaru replied in a continuously flustered tone, looking away at all sorts of angles.

Stride had glee all over his voice, "Mine venerable self thinks that to be a great idea, thou could truly change the fate of nations with a company as large as thou wish. Not to mention the amount of challenge but praise thine's Subaru would receive! A challenge worthy of someone in thy league!"

"Woah- wait- I just considered it is all, I never said I'd-" But when Stride sighed again Subaru decided to double down on his previous statement, Pride was right, who was Subaru really if he couldn't put all his potential to use? That's right he was Natsuki Subaru after all, the slayer of Sloth, and a man that'll change this world! "You know what- Screw it! Let's do it Stride, lets make a company so big and so powerful it puts that greedy little Anastasia to shame, lets become the figurehead of this world's economy!"

Stride replied with a chuckle full of support, "Thys's audacity would put even Capella's to shame! Mineself approves greatly, thy's name will know no bounds, thou will be the Hoshin of his age; the greatest man to ever walk the roads of this world!"

And the two laughed, Stride who never laughed much outside of his sadistic pleasures laughed as he became closer to the boy from another world.

Subaru laughed, because as of now, he had made his true first friend in this fantasy nightmare of a world, one who could understand him, his troubles, his challenges, one who could speak freely to him, and a man Subaru could confide his woes to.

"No" Roswall Matthers lips trembled, his heart raced, "That's not supposed to happen!"

Ram was taken aback by her Lord's outburst, "It's odd, yes I know, but it was Barasu, Barasu who-"

"I know that Ram" Roswall moved his hands to grasp the Oni maid's shoulders, a crazed but desperate look in his eyes, the magi's grip was so tight that Ram began to grow uncomfortable, "Subaru was going to defeat that man from the very start, but not in this way, not in the way he did!"

"W-what?" Ram looked to her lord in shock, how would the Onis lord know of Sloth in the first place? was it perhaps that infernal gospel? Was it predicted in Greed's words?

Roswall Matthers sighed deeply, his long navy hair waved, and he looked at Ram as if she were stupid, "This is quite the predicament, where did the boy go Ram?"

Rams' lips compressed in response at first, the maid shook slightly but looked to her lord with purpose, "To slay 'Moby Dick'"

Roswall perked up and placed his hand to his chin, moving from Ram and slouching over ever so slightly, "Moby Dick? I've never heard of a man with that name?"

Ram grunted, "Among such things, there were a few words of Barasu's that I'd like to bring up in concern"

The magi looked dead eyed at ram but flung his right arm forward, "Go on?"

"Barasu said he was going to 'change the world'"

"hk-" Roswall looked to Ram in disbelief, "Just whaaat did he mean by that?"

Ram opened her mouth but stumbled upon her wording, looking down slightly before looking back up into her lords' eyes, "That Barasu said he hated how people 'acted' and said something along the lines of 'if he could change himself, he'd change others'"

And the court-mages eyes widened, "So… the boy has finally realized his self-worth…"

There was no way Roswall would be able to get Natsuki Subaru to come to sanctuary, at least not if his servants' words were correct. Was there even away for Roswall to fix things now, his gospel now incorrect, the boy had power, in this reality, the apprentice to the Witch of Greed had failed, which meant one thing for the magi; find Natsuki Subaru and force the nasty-eyed boy to turn back time.

Roswall turned to his pink haired maid and threw on his iconic long coat doused in purple and blue, "Coooome now Ram, we have not a minute to lose"

"Lord Roswall…" Ram looked to her lord shyly, waiting for a response

Roswall turned back to Ram with a smile, "Its of utter importance we fiiiiind Natsuki Subaru"

It was midday, the Crusch-Hoshin campaign had set base along the Flugel tree, every caster, swordsmen, healer, and captain knew their place. Wilhelm Van Astrea of the Karsten camp would be head of offence, Ricardo Welkin head of the Iron Fang supporting the left flank, and finally Julius Juukulius head knight of the Hoshin camp to the right flank. When the whale showed, they'd through every physical bombardment they possibly could and then follow in pursuit, their swords relentless.

"All is prepared Miss. Karsten" A man in a hood that bore cat ears came to the duchess and relayed the news, he bore the mark of Iron fang.

"Right" The duchess nodded, her olive-green hair swaying in the wind slightly

The Duchess stood atop a large hill that overviewed most of the plain that flugels tree resided in, the women of status could see everything from the Matthers territory to the incessant path that was the Lifaus highway, she sighed.

It felt wrong Afterall, she had used someone, a poor and desperate boy who looked like he'd lose all he cared for at any minute. Crusch couldn't blame the boy, Sloth would attack his camp, he was honest about that, but how would he fight the archbishop, to her knowledge the boy had been refused by all other camps, so where was he to find power? Never mind how he would fight an archbishop, could he? The nasty-eyed boy was weak, incapable, how does someone face a monster with such conviction? Or, just maybe, Natsuki Subaru was a coward who'd run away, he'd took a ground dragon and leave, but that didn't sit well with Crusch, she had judged the boy previously and he didn't seem to be the type to run away. With such praise from the sword saint, and the way the Oni talked of the boy, could he really be a coward? The Duchess shook her head in a dismissive manner, best case scenario, Natsuki Subaru had contacted the rest of his camp, urging them of the danger. Of course with the court mage present, there was no doubt the Emilia camp could challenge the witch cult, or at the very least stall until they could request further assistance from the capital. Crusch starred off, she of course held concern for the Emilia camp, out of the goodness of her heart, but at face value, it wasn't the duchess's issue, they bore no real connection as camps, and were not obligated in any way, shape, or form. So the Duchess sighed once more, holding her sword downward, her gaze upon the morning sun.

"Nyeow what's with the scawy look?" Ferris, her knight, called out

"Oh it's nothing Ferris, I'm caught up on an idea is all" Crusch replied blankly, her eyes slightly dimmed

"Aw c'mon, downt tewll me you're getting the shivers nyeow, save it for the whale!" Ferris replied in a falsely hysteric tone, he was a demi human, average in height, he had medium lengthened hair, by a women's standards, and bore the uniform of a knight. Perhaps the greatest feature of Ferris beside his dealings in crossdressing were the catboys ears and tail.

Crusch chuckled slightly, "Do not worry Ferris, I'm simply taking the situation in, I'm confident in our abilities to challenge the great beast"

Crusch Karsten was no longer confident in her, nor Anastasia's camp when it came to dealing with the White Whale, said beast was massive, and worst of, appeared in a troupe of three. Unexpectedly showing itself at afternoons break was not the greatest situation, taking even the readiest of soldiers by foot, the campaign struggled to group themselves and assess the situation properly.

Fortunately, the whale had not released its fog, however in saying that, the great mabeast had been relentless, dive after dive, noises that began to draw the most somber of the campaign to the edge of insanity.

"Now!" and three of the finest made their way, the knight of knights, Julius was thrown towards the whale by Ricardo Wilken, a great leap followed by a slash along the third of the beasts.

Wilhelm, for what he could do was fairing the best, he had fought relentlessly, being the one to harm the beast so much as for it to call upon its kin, and the sword demon hadn't stopped there. Slowly but surely the Whale was taking in great damage, and if it continuously bled, they could kill it.

"Urghaaaack!" The sword demon in his age screamed as he sliced, a beautiful work of swordsmanship as a layer of the great mabeast was cut clean thinly.

Crusch looked over to Julius, who for his part, had accomplished work comparable to the sword demons, although in a seemingly more elegant manner.

Crusch had begun again, swing after swing, One Blow, A Hundred Felled, and the whale persistently bleed.

The morale of the soldiers rose, all amazed by the work of their captains, the tide of the battle changed course ever so slightl- no

The Fog was released

No one could see a thing, Crusch to her left and then to her right, a fog so thick that the duchess could not even manage to make out her own hand. The green-haired candidate swung her sword and with the use of wind magic, her view was expanded, however this attempt was shortly lived as the fog came to glogg the duchess's view once more. One swing, two swings, futile, three swings, four swings, no difference was made.

She grunted, for all that she could do, she had been useless in this situation, the duchess called out but- no responses came. Crusch began to worry herself, there were seemingly none around her, had the whale managed to isolate herself she began to wonder? As Crusch called out in her desperate attempts, "Ferris- Willhelm-" No one came

Then, the moment the Duchess had been dreading, a moment the emerald women never wished for, the whale;

In all its horror yet magnificence's was starring right at her, eye to eye, the candidate for the throne of Lugunica froze in place, at a loss, all she could do was stare-

The whale cried, a terrifying sound that shook the ground, Crusch's legs began to tremble, her body shutting down in sheer fear. Who was she again? A leader? No, a scared girl, as that was all she was to the great beast currently present, one whose life had meant little in the world of survival, a girl who would surely die if she didn't act any sooner. But she didn't act, Crusch didn't dare take a step, and then-

"It's Been a while" Natsuki Subaru smiled, "Hasn't it Crusch?"

Wilhelm Roared,

The Whale flung him,

The Sword Demon Roared again,

The Whale cried out,

Wilhelm fell,

The Whale disappeared,

And the Sword demon was left,

To his own devices, Wilhelm van Astrea was falling from the sky, what made the situation even worse, the thick white of fog that prevented the aged warrior from viewing the ground, and so he fell unsure of what to do. For all that they were worth, his senses hadn't left the man, and so he had predicted somewhat of a point in which he'd hit the ground. Wilhelm could say that he'd be falling to a grassy field, but was that the case? The sword demon had been thrown, so very far in fact, that Wilhelm Van Astrea, former head of the knights of Lugunica, thought himself to be somewhere near the Flugels Tree, a wild but sensible prediction.

The faint cry of the whale aided by Wilhelm's murderous urges towards the beast drove him to an edge, an edge that constantly told the man to move forward, for the loss of his wife, for the countless amounts of death the beast had caused, Wilhelm would find a way to kill the beast before sunset, he needed to.

But what occurred was not the interception of the Flugels Tree, nor was it the impact of the cold ground, but a gust. A gust that had no element of wind magic, a gust that wasn't casted or came naturally, a gust this world hadn't produced, but instead, a gust that came from a movement of sheer, raw, unyielding power. The ground cracked, the whale cried, and everything that was anywhere seemed to focus on a singular point.

And as the fog violently cleared, there the whale roared, and to its eye, two figures, that with green hair, silver armor, a knack for leadership- "Crusch!" Wilhelm rumbled as he fell from the sky

Crusch who took a quick turn of her head in disbelief and then back to the figure Infront of her in pure and utter awe, a boy, unkempt black hair, odd clothing, nasty-eyes, and a knack for trouble, Natsuki Subaru.

"Subaru…" Crusch winced in astonishment as the boy in front of her stood in full confidence, a boy that exerted a power so unmatchable, a power that presented so much authority that the candidate would refuse to believe had she not witnessed it face first herself, even with her Divine Protection of Wind Indication. Natsuki Subaru stood Infront of her with the presence to rival a King.

"Looks like I made it just in time" The boy remarked, the whale too seemed to be in shock, looking with its eye, almost calculating its next move behind a murderous glaze, "You really ought to not get yourself into this type of trouble Miss. Karsten" Subaru announced charismatically as he turned his head to the Duchess momentarily with a smirk.

"You- Nastuki-" Her hands fell limb and her eyes could only focus on the raven boy who spoke arrogantly, whole heartily devoting her being to witness the boy Infront of her.

"Now" His smile continued, "Its about time I turn you into a delicate tray of Sushi and Udon ya big over glorified fish" and in reference to the whale, Subaru began to walk slowly, step by step, an almost wide stance, his feet shoulder length to feet apart, fists closed.

The whale began to cry out in a hysteric matter, almost as if it knew impending death, and the whale flailed, the ground tore, but Natsuki Subaru continued, and with the raise of his right fist and his left to aim, the previously dishonored boy with a new presence worthy of the Sword Saint took one swing and then…

One Punch

That's all it took to completely annihilate the White Whale, its guts flowing freely through the open air, a large, powerful breeze accompanying the punch; and as if fate played a cruel trick, Natsuki Subaru had slaughtered the White Whale.

The wind calmed and the atmosphere settled in, all eyes were on him, as they should. Afterall, unless you're the sword saint himself, it's a pretty incomprehensible idea that you'd be able to take one of the great demon beasts down in one punch. Subaru sighed, looking to his back, he would make sure that Crusch was alright. He smiled wearily, beginning to wave his left wrist, "yo- arrghk" and the boy with nasty-eyes was tackled.

"Who the he-" Looking to the figure Infront of him as he attempted to push her off, the boy from another world caught whiff of who the perpetrator was real quick.

"Rem was so worried" an oni cried, "So worried that her Subaru wouldn't return to her" she through her head into Subaru's chest and nuzzled, the Japanese teen not sure what to do.

"Oh- Rem- I-" the Oni maid kept up her barrage and hugged tightly, not daring to let go, "Rem- I can't-" Subaru chocked, "Breathe-"

"Oh I-" Rem lessened her grip, the tears drying and a smile on her face, "Rem is just glad is all, that her Subaru is alright"

"Rem.." Subaru blushed and darted his eyes away, he caught a glimpse at the duchess who still had a face of disbelief but then the boy from another looked away, and to his disarray, another grabbed hold of him. A bit less firm than Rems, but on his shoulders, a squeeze so tight Subaru began to feel wearily, as if he'd loose his arms to numbness, but that was not the case and the midnight haired boy knew that, because the one who grabbed him, grabbed him because he lost sense of reality, and Subaru knew flawlessly who it was;

Wilhelm

"Subaru-Dono!" The sword demon shouting into Subaru's face without anger

"Ye- yes?" Subaru mustered a reply

"How did you do that! No, was that really you?!" the old man roared

"Ye- yes" The boy with hazel-eyes repeated

"I- I-" Wilhelm fell from his grip and onto his knees, "I can't believe it…"

"Believe- oh uh, yeah…" The boy in a tracksuit rubbed the back of his head, a look of embarrassment on his face

"I just-" Wilhelm began to cry, the tears down his face were not that of gratitude, or warmth, but a cold, serine, yet somewhat beautiful, Melancholy.

"Wilhelm…" the Japanese teen paused as he rose, looking to the sword demon who had managed to surprise him most shockingly.

But as if an echo, the sword demons name was repeated, and from behind himself, Subaru once more took note of Crusch Karsten who now elevated to her feet, a mixed face of emotions as she just starred into Wilhelm. Then, with slight hesitation, the duchess looked to Subaru with her amber eyes, her face changing once more, displaying just as many sensations, but at this moment, her decisive gaze pierced Subaru, who like a child who had been scolded, backed down slightly.

When raising her mouth, the duchess began to speak, "Nat-"

"Natsuki Subaru, as a knight of Lugnica, and as the knight dedicated to Lady Anastasia Hoshin, I'm putting you under arrest" And Julius Juukulius, with a cold glare, a pristine sword, and his spirits side by side, rose to secure Natsuki Subaru.

Taking into account what Julius had just seen, the man refused this world, he refused the present Infront of him, of course, he was stunned, just as anyone else was, and Julius being the knight of knights and Hoshins right hand didn't hate the nasty-eyed boy that was Natsuki Subaru, but he'd never acknowledge the boy as an equal till the nasty-eyed boy could prove himself, or until he could prove that he wasn't an idiot and truly had Morales. So when Natsuki Subaru came in so suddenly, and proceeded to take an action so unbelievable, so daunting, creating an unpresented reality to all around, of course Julius Juukulius was shocked, in fact, even mortified. But what boiled the knight down, to his very edge, to a no mans land that none shall approach, why had Subaru gotten so powerful; such a reality shouldn't exist right? But it did, and wouldn't budge, and for all his knightly honor, his valor, and skill, his labor and effort; the years of training that came and the years that would follow, why had a boy seemingly outdone him in the course of a minute? Of course, this wasn't the knight's indoctrination, he didn't believe that he had any reason to be jealous, take Reinhard for example, a miracle born into this world, a truly outstanding man in both power and knightlihood. But comparing the red head sword saint, to the black hared self-proclaiming usurper was wrong, in every sense, feeling, and bore a brotherhood with Julius, bound by there knightly code, so when a boy, who comes from nowhere, tells the knights that they are nothing, proceeds to take a beating, and then, at his apparent lowest, disappears for the day and comes back with enough power to put the Knight of Knights at unease? Questionable! What had the boy done? Julius knew, or he had a thought to why, but not how, who gave that boy that power? Did Natsuki Subaru always have enough strength to rival even Reinhard, was he perhaps stronger? No, well maybe? Was it a test then? Julius would think so, never would a man hide his true self without intention, unless, said intentions were bad, which frightened the spirit knight truthfully, who'd want to bear the wraith of a man who could defeat The White Whale of all creatures in one punch? The purple haired noble bearing the title of knight sighed at the thought, and remorsed slightly as he remembered his 'dual' with the nasty eyed boy, was it one where Subaru had held back? Truly it would make sense, but then why embarrass yourself? Did you have a point to prove? Or are you just a masochist? The knight sighed once more, he had made his decision, for now, at the very least, he would take Natsuki Subaru into questioning, with force, if needed.

"Julius" the nasty-eyed boy spoke softly,

Julius who had his blade raised to meet the boys head with just an inch in distance broadened his eyes.

"Do you really think you could take me in?"

Silence

"…" The knight of knights nodded, "If you understand the gravity of this situation, I do"

Silence once more, only the gentle hum of the wind as a group of a somewhat two hundred soldiers quickly began to gather to witness the second stand off between the knight of knights and self-proclaimed knight, this time however, the winner not so obvious.

Subaru shook his head, "Man" he sighed, "You knights really aren't any fun, but I get it… You got responsibilities, issues even, but..."

Julius kept a suspicious eye, not entirely sure if the boy was agreeing

"Only on one condition" Natsuki Subaru rose his right finger, starring directly into the spirit knights' eyes as the blade stood still, "I answer directly to those old guys in the throne room"

The audience gasped and Julius let off a discerned look, "and if I refuse?"

Subaru smiled, "I kill everyone here"

Everyone paused, the world not daring to move. As if time was still, the spirit knight gulped slightly, even he was not sure if he could contain the boy at this point.

The boy laughed, a slightly crazed laugh, "Man you should see the look on your faces, priceless!" His smiled turned warm and looked to Julius relaxed, "Don't worry I'm not that much of a prick, I just tried pulling off a stupid move I'd thought was cool and just ended with it being lame" Subaru sighed, "no bother though, no point in making myself the enemy ya'know?"

Julius slightly nodded, "Then I take you'll come with me?"

"You're the boss Mr. Knight of knights" the raven youth gave an encouraging smile, which of course, took the knight bearing yellow eyes back a little,

However, Julius proceeded forward, "We will leave at an instant"

Subaru raised an eye, "Using what?"

Julius looked to the side, noting that almost all ground dragons were gone, safe for a few, he then looked to Ricardo who shook his head, "Creatures musta run off when the fog came, even few of our carts er gone"

Julius sighed, then he made note of it, a cart with a large green earth dragon, it was the cart of a merchant, Julius could promptly tell, "Ricardo" he gestured to the wolfkin who understood his new assignment as if instantly.

Placing a hand on Natsuki Subaru's shoulder, Ricardo smiled earnestly, "I don't think yer that tuff kid" his beastly teeth showed.

Subaru chuckled, "I don't either"

Leaving the banter, Julius headed towards the only seemingly available carriage. Behind the knight of knights the crowd of warriors began to grow in noise, a slight celebration from one half, the lost mummers from the other. Julius shook his head and reached the dragon-

"No, you can't have them, and you certainly can't have this carriage!"

The spirit knight rose a brow, "On whose authority?"

"Mine!" The man cried out, and coming out form the inside, a man with green attire, silver hair, and greyish eyes came into light.

There was something of a keen aura to the man, at least by what Julius could tell, he seemed stubborn however, and rather bent on leaving as soon as possible.

"I'm afraid that doesn't validate denying a knight…" Julius trailed off, uncertain of the man in green.

"Validate?!" The man was now face to face with the knight of knights, he had fair grey skin and bore the tongue of a merchant, "I'm a perfectly legal citizen of this country! Even if I'm denying a knight, it's in my rights!" he raised his fits upwards.

"Rights... Oh yes, but that is not the issue here sir" Julius waved his hand gently, "I require immediate transportation to the capital, and unfortunately for the both of us, I see this carriage as the only option" The ornate haired night gestured to the merchant's dragon carriage, a confident look in the eyes of the head knight of the hoshin camp.

"I… Uhhh" the man in green shook his head, "Listen pal, I'm going to be in quite the trouble if I can't-"

Julius cut the man off, "Your actions will be excused under the highest court in Lugunica, this is a serious matter"

The merchant gulped, "Hey- uh- I guess, but that doesn't mean you can just take my transport and run off!"

The spirit knight sighed once again, "Of course, I'll need a driver Afterall"

The eyes of the man in green attire widened, "You mean you want me to drive you to the capital?!"

"Naturally" Julius remarked

Gulping once more the merchant nodded slightly with a bow, a nervous look on his face, "Otto Suwen sir, at your service"

Stride hissed,

Rem wept,

Subaru groaned,

And the world frozen.

That was where Natsuki Subaru found himself, he expected a heroic outcome, one to end with celebration and cheers, but so much silence? What had he done? HE was the one that killed the whale Afterall! So, Natsuki Subaru sighed and shook his head, his arms folded, a look of annoyance mixed in with displeasure on his face and leaned back slightly. Honestly, to say this situation was in Subarus favor was not exactly correct, in fact it wasn't even close. So much for being a hero eh? Oh whatever, Subaru would find a way out of this, Julius was no big threat was he? And considering the fact that he, Subaru, had blown the whale up with one punch, he could always bluff his way through. Unfortunately however, Subaru was out of 'sin points' or at least what he called his power source, and a mistake in wording could cost the nasty eyed boy the entire loop. Subaru sighed mentally, at the end of the day, a good bluff could either start a war or prevent one, Natsuki Subaru would shoot his shot and hope for the latter.

"Julius" Subaru spoke softly, his hazel gaze near to that of the knight of knights.

Julius who had his blade raised to meet the boys head with just an inch in distance broadened his eyes.

"Do you really think you could take me in?" And if on cue Stride snickered slightly from Subaru's od, a gleeful tone in Prides laugh

(Now mineself understands what thou plans to do) Stride noted from aside, Subaru would roll his eyes if there were no one around physically.

Rem on the other hand looked to Subaru, a concerned look on her soft face for her hero, she wasn't sure what the black-haired boy was planning to do, it seemed as if the impossible happened all at once, and now, the boy she loved was in another tense situation. Now instead of his flustered, not sure antics, the boy with nasty eyes presented nothing but a cool, yet attractive, confidence. The blue haired Oni wasn't sure if she should feel concerned or drool for the boy.

Silence

Julius had a slight nervousness in his eyes, was the knight of knights unsure? Or just plan out scared? Either way Julius was intimidated, Subaru could wonder just how he'd put his newfound taunting to use against the spirit knight, but Julius would shake off this intimidation, as a knight of his status would, and began to move forward with his baseless persecution, "If you understand the gravity of this situation, I do"

Another awkward silence enveloped the two, Subaru would be the first to cave in, (so much for putting the knight of knights under my feet!)

"Man" the black-haired boy sighed, "You knights really aren't any fun, but I get it… You got responsibilities, issues even, but..." this was it, the power play of a century!

Julius with a suspicious glaze kept his eyes on Subaru, not entirely sure if the nasty eyed boy was agreeing.

"Only on one condition" Subaru rose his right finger, glaring directly into the spirit knights' eyes as the blade stood still, a cocky look on his confident face, "I answer directly to those old guys in the throne room"

The audience gasped and Julius let off a discerned look, "and if I refuse?"

Now, ready the execution! His facial expression changing sadistic, "I kill everyone here"

Everyone paused, the world not daring to move. This was the bluff, intimidate the other party at all costs! Keep it all bark, no bite.

The raven boy then laughed, a slightly crazed laugh, "Man you should see the look on your faces, priceless!" His smile turned warm and looked to Julius relaxed, "Don't worry I'm not that much of a prick, I just tried pulling off a stupid move I'd thought was cool and just ended with it being lame" (that's right Subaru, now pull them in), "no bother though, no point in making myself the enemy ya'know?"

Julius' shoulders relaxed slightly, the knight blinked solemnly, "Then I take you'll come with me?"

Subaru kept his warm smile, "You're the boss Mr. Knight of knights"

Julius proceeded forward, "We will leave at an instant"

Subaru raised an eye, "Using what?", the Japanese teen looking around, he realized that the whale must of sent the ground dragons off, scared the large lizard creatures, or at least that was Subaru's conclusion, because when he looked, there were none to see, and vanishing dragons should have been the last thing on the raven-haired youths head right now.

The knight of knights looked left then right, behind, and back, Julius took note of a carriage off to the distance, Subaru could only sigh blankly as he watched the spirit knight, "Ricardo" the noble man gestured to the wolfkin behind Subaru.

Ricardo looked to Subaru with a sharp smile and nodded back towards Julius, Ricardo placed his right hand onto Subaru's shoulder and gave the Japanese teen a cocky expression "I don't think yer that tuff kid

The boy in a tracksuit chuckled slightly, "I don't either"

Julius began to walk away and towards the carriage leaving the crowd behind, Subaru shook his head and took note of the unease in the air, it was, strange. Some men began to whisper, some grumbled, others staired blankly, a look of doubt on their faces, and even a few wept.

Subaru now shaking his head once more folded his arms and closed his eyes, "Tsk"

Ricardo leaned info ward from Subaru's left, slightly crouching, "Hmm?"

And Subaru coughed, "mmm nothing, just didn't think things would end up so, anti-climatic, ya 'know? Was kinda expecting commemorations or at least a 'hey, good job on killing one of the greatest threats to the property of the kingdom, we really owe ya one Subaru!'" and the midnight boy waved his hands in gesture to his antics and sighed once again.

Ricardo raised an eye, "well er, I suppose yer right…" the wolf kin trailed off, "Good job bro" Ricardo rubbed the back of his head with his free hand and smiled in embarrassment, "Good thin ya were er side, couldn't tell how things would'a gone without cha"

(Finally some praise!) Subaru nodded eagerly, "Just in time I guess"

"ya.." the wolfman trailing off once again looked to the distance, Subaru followed the warriors gaze and looked to see Julius in the distance, seemingly 'arguing' with a man in green clothes, Subaru let out a puff and then looked back to Ricardo who now had his gaze shifted elsewhere, the Duchess.

"Natsuki Subaru" She had a firm look through amber eyes.

"Yes?" Subaru rose a brow, keeping his arms folded

"How? How did YOU manage to kill the whale?"

As frustration grew on the duchess' face, a mix of disbelief and intent added, Subaru looked upwards and then to the side, eventually blinking then rolling his eyes, "I punched it…?"

"No" the duchess waved her right hand sideways in front of her, "Well yes, I know that, but where, no, when did you get this power of yours?"

"Tsk" Subaru shook his head, "A good magician never reveals his secrets Crusch, but.." the nasty eyed boy sighed, "Lets just say someone willing to help me came my way, someone who ACTUALLY cares about others, or at the very least, cared about ME" he shook his head once more, "Call me selfish, or call me nonchalant, fact is, I've done more today for the people in this country then you have in your entire life, Mrs. Karsten, so don't try to poke something out of me when im in the obvious clear" the Japanese teen added bitterly

The green haired duchess kept her firm gaze and shook off Subaru's attitude, moving forward she opened her mouth, "And then, what are your intentions?"

"Nothing but good ones" Subaru smiled

And the wind didn't move, no changes were made as Natsuki Subaru smiled blankly, he wasn't lying, and despite his new prideful demeanor he had brought a valid point, but in doing so, the boy with black hair strayed away from Crusch's personal inquiry. To some, it wouldn't matter, fact was, the boy came here as a hero, to save others, and with good intentions nonetheless, so why bother asking how he got strong, or where he got power, but rather, thank him and appreciate him? The women compared to a Valkyrie shook her head, no, sheneeded to know, to know how, when, and where Natsuki Subaru got strong, what were his future goals and ambitions, what was the raven youth planning to do? And now, with such bitter relations, and the fallout between their negotiations still fresh in mind, how would Subaru treat Crusch? Worst of all, how would the people treat the duchess, how would the common folk react to a story where the royal candidates refused a hero, a hero who came to save others, who struggled and endured through embarrassment and strife. How would the common folk react, was Crusch now a villain in Natsuki Subaru's story? Another challenge the boy must endure? hopefully not. Crusch was divided, should she plead to the boy and ask for forgiveness, apologize for her actions and say sorry, or keep a firm, confident persona, as if she did noting wrong? Either option would lead to decrease in her reputation, and with a good reputation being vital for the duchess' odds in the royal selection, how would her choice now affect her greater future? What felt like to many questions and not enough time began to come to an end, as Julius, the knight of knights, began to walk somberly over to the crowd, this time accompanied by a man in green attire, fair skin, and grey eyes.

"Subaru" Julius looked to Subaru who still had a wolfkin griping his shoulders

"Yes?" Subaru replied blankly

"This is Otto Suwen, he will be taking us to the capital" Julius rose his answer

"…" Silence, as Subaru had taken a long hard stare at the green man, his gaze pierced the fair man like a hot knife against butter, and eyed him up as if the grey hared man were a lesser being then Natuski Subaru, of course everyone that was anyone in the crowd took note of this, some would take an eager or anxious look towards Subaru, others of concern or suspicion; Subaru sighed, "Don't like the guy but I guess it'll do"

Julius raised a brow, "If you don't mind me asking, why is that?"

"Hate his guts" the boy in odd clothing replied blankly

To Subarus left, a wolfkin began to chcukle, "And why would that be Subabro?"

Subaru taken a back for a second by the wolfkins nickname for him opened his mouth slighly to staire at Ricardo but quickly preoceeded forward, shaking his right hand, "Ahh just got a feeling, he's the coward type ya know?"

The green man now putting his anxiety to ease rose in disbelief, "Excuse me?! You don't even know who I am!?"

Subaru staried blankly, "of course I do, you're Otto Suwen, a Lugnican based merchant who's been recently scammed into buying a shit ton of oil, to the point that you're now broke, you've been trying to find some lucky rich bastard to buy you out of debt"

"HUH?!" Otto raised his fists to his head in disbelief, "HOW?!"

Subaru smiled, "Met someone who knew you personally very well, actually" the boy hazel eyed boy raised his thumb to his chin, "He was a bit like you, and looked the part to"

"WHAT?!" the merchant looked around and shook his head several times, "Just who in the od are you?!"

The boy with raven hair smirked and rose his right thumb to th front of his self, "My name is Natsuki Subaru, and depending on how you treat me I could either be the guy that saves you or curses you to the ends of this world!"

The ride was, awkward, Otto drove at top speed, occasionally glancing nervously backwards to the four passengers, specifically Natsuki Subaru at key points; it as decided that four key figures in regards to the slaying of the white whale would be brought to the capital, mostly on Julius's accords, those figures were;

Crusch Karsten, a candidate for the crown of Lugunica, and the largest rival to the Hoshin camp.

Rem, the head maid to the Matthers domain, a capable Oni woman, and a servant to the Emilia camp, another rival camp.

To the the Onis right, a boy with nasty eyes, his gaze starring off to the distant road, a dissatisfied smile on his face, this was Natsuki Subaru, a self-proclaimed knight, as well as the slayer of the white whale.

Lastly, of course, there was himself, Julius Juulikus, the finest knight, as well as the same man who had beat Natsuki Subaru relentlessly just days before. And within few days, it felt like Julius' world was turned over backwards.

Subaru staired off to the direction of Otto, who of course, had sweat ridden all over him, to be honest, Julius couldn't understand why Subaru was as focused as he was, did he hate the man? Why? Julius sighed and shook his head, then looking to Rem.

Rem who sat quietly by Subaru's side had a frown, she was fidgeting with her fingers, and her face had an unsure expression, the blue haired Oni looked anxious if anything.

Finally Crusch karsten, who for all the speaking she had done was, for once, silent. A cold gaze on her face, most likely like Julius, she was still in disbelief, common for today really.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"h-hey" Otto called out from the front

"Mm, what is it?" Julius called back

"T-theres uh, two people up ahead"

"People?" Julius raised a brow

"Yeah, and they don't seem like there going to move" Otto began a concerned speech tone

"Not going to move?" the spirit knight walked forward from the passenger seat of the cart, he moved to meet Otto in the front, and indeed, about forty meters up ahead, there stood two figures. Squinting the purple haired knight could make out the two, one completely engrossed in white, tall and lengthy, and the other, a child like figure, almost wearing 'slum attire' the contrast between the two was clear, one looking like nobility, the other like they'd been wearing the same clothing their entire life.

Now within close range, the two kept their defiant stance and wouldn't budge one bit, "Stop the cart" Julius told Otto.

Otto obliged and the ground dragon slowed to a halt, "Excuse me" Jlius called out to the figure in white

Said figure raised his right eyebrow and looked annoyed

"It is of utter importance that this cart gets to the capital as soon as possible, I require you two to move elsewhere so that we may pass, after all, it is a crime to hold a road without reason"

The white haired man rose slightly, "Move? You require that I move? Out of your own personal selfishness, you tell me, perfectly content as I am, standing here, minding my own business no move? When you could go around, drive another path, you tell me, myself to move?"

Julius grew an annoyed expression, "If you understand what's best for you, you will move, as a knight of this country, my task is of utter importance, regardless of who you are"

The white robed man grew slightly enraged, "Regardless of who I am you say?! Who decided that you are more important then me by mere status?! Me, who is perfectly content with life as is! You tell me to move, to act different towards you, all merely because you are a knight?! Such things mean nothing to me! And acting upon me, treating me different because of status, that is an infringment of my rights! My right to walk, to speak, to listen, to see, you are infringing all each and every single one! Merely you gazing at me is an infrigment in on istelf! who gave you permission to look at me anyway?" The angred man in white shook his head, "Honestly, you come and tell me to do all these things and use status as a reason, it sickens me, and then the nerve to start a conversation without even knowing my name, once again another infringement!"

"Infringment.." Julius trailed off slightly, "Listen, if you will not move, I'll be forced to take coutermessures, I aussure you there will be no infrig-"

"Lies!" the man roared, "Even you talking to me like this, speaking as if I am below you! YOU ARE INFRIGING ON MY RIGHT TO INDIVIDUALITY! Such an action is unforgivable! Die so that I am no longer forced to hear you!"

The man roared kicking the dirt below him, the world froze for mere second before a shriek, and then, Julius was air born, not because he had jumped, or because he was aware of what was to happen next, but because he was saved, saved by not his spirits, but by Natuski Subaru, who held the knight of knights in one arm, and the merchant Otto in the other, "Subaru?!" Julius shouted in shock,

Subaru huffed slightly with a piercing look on his face as he gazed towards the white haired man and dirty child below, they slowly fell to the ground.

Looking back to the cart, it was completely gone, the dragon dead, and bits of wood flying freely, Julius gaped, "The Duchess!"

"Im alright Julius!" and Crusch Karsten called from the side, as she too was saved, in bridal carried position by the blue haired Oni Rem, the group all landed simultaneously, a few twenty meteres away from the white robed man

"What just happened?!" Otto roared his question as he was let down by Subaru,

"Witch cultists…" Subaru trailed off as he looked towards the two figures,

"Cultists?!" Julius rose, unsheathing his sword and summoning his spirits.

"Yeah, and from what I've learned, the guy in the whites the strongest of them all" The boy with a nasty glare announced disapprovingly,

"The strongest?!" Crusch raised wearily,

"Yep" Subaru sighed, "That one right there" pointing to the man in white, "Is the Sin Archbishop Of Greed"

Julius gasped, "As in the one who single handedly took down the Volachian city of Garkla?!"

Subaru nodded unsurely,

"Then what are we to do?" Otto looking to Subaru for answers

"Hate to say it… But I think this guys on par with Reinhard- no maybe even stronger"

Julius's eyes widened, "Is that even possible?!"

"That can't be true?!" Otto cried

Crusch raised her voice slightly, "He must have a weakness, he has to!"

Subaru eyes widned, silent for a few seconds he continued, "He does, but" The raven boy trailed off for a second, "Theres no way we can beat him here"

"So then what do we do?" Rem called out,

Subaru looked to Julius, and then to Rem, "The two of you will stay here with me, we'll hold them off"

"What?" Crusch called out,

"Im not sure how, but you need to get as far away from here as possible Crusch, you're a candidate for the throne after all" Subaru added

Crusch nodded slightly, "But what about the other one?", now looking to the man child of a witch cultist.

Subaru paused once more, for ten sceonds but then opened his mouth again, "That's the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, under no circumstances should you even get close to the man"

Crusch shook her head, "Why not?"

"Simply put, he'll take everything away from you if you're not careful" Subaru glasped his hands and looked to Julius and Rem, "You two should fight Gluttony, I'll fight Greed"

"No" Rem shouted, "I will not let my hero face that monster alone!"

Subaru sighed, "Rem, it isn't up for debate, if I could one punch the whale, im pretty sure I could handel anoher Sin Archbishop for the time being"

Rem paused , "But, I-"

"No", Subaru stated firmly

"…" Rem was silent

"And Julius"

Julius perked up

"Under no circumstances should you let Gluttony come into physical contact with you, don't even give your name to him, that's how much of a bastard he is"

Julius nodded, "I'll keep that in mind"

The three fighters rose, Julius on the left of Subaru, Rem on the right. Crusch and Otto began to walk back slightly as Subaru requested. Now walking towards the duo of Sin Archbishops, the man in white frowned slightly.

"And here I thought you'd learn your lesson" Greed gestured towards Julius, Julius frowned in reply, "How irritating for me to have to work a second time, for you to learn from your mistakes and to die already, once more you infringe on my rights to live peacefully, how many time do I, being as perfect as I am, have to tell you?!"

"Honestly you're the one 'infringing' on our rights, we just wanted to get to the capitol, you infringed on our rights to travel freely?" Subaru spoke up

Greed, surprisingly, seemed to actually calm a bit, "Did I now? But what about my right to stand cotent as I am?"

Subaru rose his hand to his chin, "That's fair, honestly it comes down to who did what first, I kind of think we were traveling long before you were standing there?"

Greed's eyes widened, "You would think so? But who are you to have knowledge of where I stood or stand, to know who I am and what I experience, I ask you, just who are you?"

The self-proclaimed knight smiled, "My name is Natsuki Subaru, a man who plans on changing this world, And you?"

Greed smiled a slightly sadistic smile, his white bushy hair still, just as the rest of his body was, he moved both of his arms forward in good gesture, "Regulus Corneas, Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult representing Greed"