Toyota woke up, his breath heavy. His chest felt like it was caving in, his body trembling as if the ice that once encased him still lingered. Imaginary numbness spread through his limbs as black and red smoke swirled above his head. His temples throbbed painfully, and distant, echoing laughter played on a loop, tormenting his mind.
"I hate myself," he muttered, grabbing at his hair and yanking, as if trying to tear it out. "Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate…"
Then, from his mouth, in a quiet whisper, came a name:
"Petelgeuse…"
The sound of it steadied his manic state, though it burned with the fire of vengeance. His trembling stilled, and his emotions crystallized into a single, searing purpose.
"I will kill you," he vowed, his voice like steel.
As his mind returned to clarity, the smoke above his head retracted, twisting into itself and vanishing like a dying flame. The realization hit him with cold clarity—he had been played. The parasite had manipulated him with surgical precision, drawing out his hatred toward himself and toward the green-haired madman.
His stomach churned violently as vivid, intrusive memories filled his mind. He could see the invisible hands wrapping around Rem, twisting her neck until the sickening crack of her spine echoed in his ears. The sound resonated deep within him, tying itself to his guilt.
Unbeknownst to Toyota, a power long dormant stirred within him. A fragment of Sloth, now fully awakened, writhed and coiled like a nest of snakes within his soul. To Toyota, the sensation felt like a mere stomachache, one he attributed to the vile memories he'd just endured.
Conflicting emotions tore at him. He saw Rem in his mind, using the last of her strength to tell him to live—to free him. The image filled him with unbearable guilt.
They weren't even his memories. It hadn't even happened yet. But still, he felt as though he'd failed her. He'd been negligent. Slothful.
He couldn't hate her, no matter how much he wanted to. Her sacrifice had overridden all the bitterness he'd once held toward her, even after all she had done to him. Tortured him. Killed him. His feelings now were raw, painful, and one-sided—a personal price he imposed on himself for his failure.
As his body slowly returned to its old normalcy, his thoughts began to settle. Yet one fear persisted: What would he do if he saw her again? How could he even speak to her? She wouldn't remember any of it. Every complex feeling he had toward her would be his alone to bear, and that truth crushed him.
Sitting up in the unfamiliar bed, his eyes blurry, Toyota instinctively scratched his head—then froze.
His upper body was cold.
Looking down, he realized with mounting horror that he was completely naked. Not even his underwear remained.
He was utterly flabbergasted.
"Why am I naked?! Where even am I?!"
The last thing he remembered was talking with a girl. His mouth twitched.
The Sword Saint… is a girl?! A girl who emitted light from a badge and then… did something painful to my mana…
Looking around, he realized he was yet again in another unfamiliar place. At this point, it felt like a joke.
In my dreams and in real life, I wake up to a new ceiling every time.
"Looks like you woke up."
A familiar voice called out. Toyota instantly grabbed the sheet and yanked it over his body like a shield. Standing at the entrance of the large room was the red-haired girl—Reinhard. She smiled at him gently as she walked closer.
But in his current state, that smile gave off a sinister vibe.
"If you're concerned about your clothes, they're being washed and restored by the servants," she said. "They'll bring you temporary clothes shortly. You'll just have to wait a little while."
Her casual tone sent chills down his spine.
She knocked me out… kidnapped me… and stripped me. Is this what Felt went through? She was right to try and attack him—er, her. I guess it's a 'her' now. I need to call her out. What did she do to me?
"Why would you 'wash and restore' brand-new clothes? I just bought them today! And that still doesn't explain why I'm naked! Are you some kind of sexual predator?!"
"Ha." She laughed it off, waving a hand dismissively—but internally, she was sweating bullets. Why hadn't the maids at least given him something to wear? As a knight, she had to maintain her composure.
"Those clothes looked expensive, but they really didn't fit you. So I've prepared some new ones."
"…Are you serious right now?"
"I haven't the slightest inclination as to what you're implying," she said, though her eyes kept flicking upward and away from his, embarrassment bleeding through.
"Where am I? And why was I abducted and stripped naked?!"
"This residence is located in the upper part of the capital, not too far from the park we were previously in. It belongs to the Astrea family. We don't use it very often. I apologize for making you stay in such a… tight room."
The room he was in was actually around the size of a Roswaal mansion guest room—definitely not small by normal standards.
"I also apologize for changing you without permission, but we are short on time."
"We? Who's we?"
Skipping his question, she pulled out the same shield-like badge from before. Now that he got a good look at it, Toyota noticed a carved dragon engraved in the center, housing an emerald gemstone that glowed softly.
"Wait… is that an insignia?"
She stepped closer, and Toyota gripped the blanket tighter around himself. She extended the badge toward him, silently urging him to take it. Hesitantly, he reached out.
The moment his fingers touched it, the emerald gleamed with a brilliant green light—far brighter than it had when she held it.
I remember Emilia's insignia from the anime… the jewel in hers was red. Do all insignias have different colors?
His eyes dropped to the ring still secured on his index finger, relieved it hadn't been removed. The glow… the color… everything clicked into place.
"This… this can't mean—Don't candidates have to be girls?!"
At that, Reinhard's smile dimmed slightly.
"The prophecy mentioned five Dragon Priestesses… but the candidates are ultimately chosen by the Divine Dragon itself. The dragon seems to favor women—it may be due to guaranteeing heirs for the throne. But… that doesn't mean it can't choose a man."
"I refuse," Toyota said flatly. "I have things I need to take care of. I don't have time to play king. And I definitely don't intend to make an heir."
"What could possibly be more important than the future of the kingdom?" she asked, not angry—just genuinely curious. Her slender hands fidgeted around the hilt of her sheathed sword.
Toyota clenched his jaw, then sighed.
"First of all, I'm not a citizen of this kingdom. What I know could help not just Lugunica, but the entire world. I have intel on the Witch Cult's future plans, the locations of two Great Disaster Beasts, and knowledge of all the Sin Archbishops' abilities."
Reinhard's expression froze. The calm mask she always wore cracked slightly as she processed what he had just said.
"How could you possibly know that information?" she asked cautiously.
"I can't say," he replied. "But with your abilities, you should be able to tell I'm not lying."
Reinhard brushed a few strands of her red hair behind her ear, then exhaled deeply. "I can tell that you think you're not lying."
Toyota twitched.
So now she thinks I'm delusional?
"I know the future location of the White Whale—the one that killed the previous Sword Saint. Your grandmother, Theresia van Astrea."
His voice shifted—less defensive now, and more diplomatic, trying to make her understand.
Reinhard's expression darkened.
A chilling pressure filled the air, thick and suffocating. Toyota froze as the overwhelming presence settled into the room like a blizzard in his lungs.
He could feel it in his bones.
"When you say you can't tell me where you got this information, do you actually mean won't?" Reinhard asked, her voice level but ice-cold.
The sheer pressure she emitted made Toyota's legs weak. He instinctively straightened, mind scrambling for an excuse.
I can… but that would make you more confused.
His brain felt sluggish, as though swimming through molasses. He found it ridiculous that every single female in this world could easily kick his ass. He couldn't think of a single woman here he could beat in a straight fight—aside from Petra, and she was a literal normal child. Why were all the girls in this world so terrifying?
And now Reinhard, the walking war crime, was a woman too. He felt like a toddler standing in front of a giant wolf—one that looked down at him with hungry, judgmental eyes. All he could do was try to look cute and hope he didn't provoke the monster in front of him.
"So you know about my grandmother," she said flatly, emotionless.
He swallowed.
"Yes."
His voice came out meek and shaky.
The silence stretched long, suffocating. It felt like the very air in the room was being held hostage.
Thankfully, it broke when an elderly couple entered the room. Toyota, who had been unconsciously holding his breath under the crushing pressure, finally exhaled.
The old man, whose face looked like a dried raisin, wheeled in a large cart overflowing with obnoxiously fancy outfits—dramatic colors, glittering fabric, and more ruffles than he thought physically possible.
A horrifying realization dawned.
His mind pulled up memories of Reinhard chasing Felt around with a ridiculous, bright yellow dress. Since he was taking Felt's place as a candidate… was he next in line for that fate?
"I refuse!" Toyota blurted out, sliding back into the bed frame like he'd seen a ghost.
Reinhard, whose face had been tight and serious moments ago, now wore a smirk—playful, but sadistic.
"You figured it out quickly. That's impressive," she said, amused. "As a knight, it's my duty to ensure you're fit to appear at the Royal Selection. That includes dressing appropriately."
The elderly couple chuckled warmly, clearly entertained by the antics of the younger pair. Without missing a beat, they set up a changing curtain in the corner of the room.
"What you're doing is wrong," Toyota said, desperation rising in his voice. "Please just give me my old clothes! I'd like to remain human and not become a dress-up doll!"
"I don't know what a dress-up doll is," Reinhard replied with mock innocence, "but this is for your own good."
As she stepped closer, Toyota's instincts screamed danger. Something told him that if he didn't comply, he'd regret it. Horribly.
Wrapping the bed sheets tighter around his waist like armor, he slowly edged toward the curtain. The cold floor stung his feet, but he moved anyway, eyes darting between the curtain and the smug redhead approaching him.
Reinhard, now catching a glimpse of his exposed upper body, forced her gaze upward—imagining anything to keep her focus elsewhere. Her cheeks began to burn against her will.
The raisin-faced couple wheeled the cart around the curtain with expert precision, their eyes twinkling as if this was their favorite kind of entertainment.
(AN: This is part 2 of the chapter that went on too long. I had to read the side stories about Reinhard and Felt to understand the dynamic on how the two acted, and let's just say Reinhard was pre-ordering, he deserves the title lolimancer more than Subaru.
I've set an official release schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Although when I get bored, I add extra.
Bonus chapters will drop on Saturdays if my demands are met. 🔫
Trade deal:
You give me 70 power stones, and I give you a bonus chapter.
Sounds fair, right?)