…
{ 3rd Pov }
"It's the White Whale," Wilhelm muttered, clenching his fists as he stared at the massive corpse of one of the strongest Mabeasts in the world.
"Someone got to it before us," Crusch said through gritted teeth, her eyes narrowing in frustration. Her fists tightened by her side.
It was supposed to be her hunt. The victory that would skyrocket her camp's reputation.
All her planning. All that effort. Gone, just like that.
"My, my... Who do you suppose slayed this beast, Julius?" Anastasia asked with a sly smile, glancing toward her purple-haired knight.
"I'm not certain, Anastasia-sama," Julius replied, his tone thoughtful. "But that pillar of light... it resembled Reina Van Astrea's technique."
Wilhelm's fists clenched even tighter as he turned to face Julius.
"Sir Julius. Are you saying Reina killed the beast?"
Julius shook his head slightly. "I only meant that the attack looked similar to her style. I recall the pillar of light she unleashed during her battle with Divine General Cecilus—it was even more powerful. But that one was pure white, not blue."
"Couldn't it— Ya be another one of the Ten Swords of Power?" Felix chimed in, tail flicking as he raised a brow.
"You're right," Wilhelm muttered, staring down at the massive corpse.
For years, he had waited. For years, he had vowed to slay this damn beast.
And now, with his only wish lying dead before him—fulfilled by someone else—he felt nothing but emptiness.
"So, what do we do now?" Anastasia asked casually, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean?" Crusch glanced at her, visibly confused.
Anastasia smirked. "If the person who slayed the White Whale doesn't come forward... maybe we can claim the credit."
"What are you saying, Lady Anastasia?!" Julius asked, clearly horrified by the suggestion.
"We can just say that blue beam of light was one of your attacks, Julius," she said, smiling innocently.
Crusch's glare was sharp enough to cut steel.
"Absolutely not. Whether the person reveals themselves or not, I refuse to take credit for something I didn't do."
Anastasia sighed, clearly unimpressed by Crusch's unwavering sense of justice.
"Fine. Let's give it a few weeks. If nothing comes of it... we take the credit."
"That is not what I meant!" Crusch snapped.
"Ugh, so the corpse is still here, huh?"
A familiar voice echoed out of nowhere—startling everyone.
Subaru had appeared, just like that.
Julius and Wilhelm instinctively drew their swords the moment Subaru appeared—only to relax slightly upon recognizing him.
"Nyah! W-What is that?!" Felix yelped, pointing at the floating chunks of meat hovering behind him.
"Ah, that? That's the Sin Archbishop of Greed—Regulus Corneas," Subaru said casually, dropping the bomb.
"T-The Sin Archbishop of Greed?!" Crusch gasped, immediately unsheathing her weapon as everyone around tensed up.
"Relax. He's technically alive because of his Authority… but he's no threat anymore," Subaru added, trying to calm them. Crusch narrowed her eyes but didn't move, sensing he wasn't lying.
"Zero," Anastasia spoke up, her tone sharp, "may I ask why he's in that condition—and with you?"
"To be honest, I'm not really obligated to answer that," Subaru replied flatly.
"T-The audacity—!" Julius began, but his words died in his throat as Subaru turned his gaze on him.
For a moment, it felt like death itself had descended. Julius froze. He didn't even dare breathe.
The rest could feel it too—a suffocating, murderous aura that wrapped around them like chains.
"Listen closely," Subaru said, tiredly. "I'm not your servant. I don't owe you anything. I'll speak however I damn well please."
"I'm just here to check on the White Whale's corpse," Subaru said plainly.
"S-Sir Zero... did you slay the White Whale?" Crusch asked, eyes wide. The entire group stiffened, holding their breath for his answer.
"Yeah. I did. Also took down the Archbishop of Sloth... and forced the Archbishop of Gluttony to retreat," Subaru added, dropping another bomb without a hint of drama.
Wilhelm choked, emotions surging within him—shock, disbelief... and anger.
He clenched his fists, heart heavy.
"Old man, I can feel it, you know? Your emotions. Your frustration," Subaru said quietly, sensing Wilhelm's turmoil through his aura.
"I... I apologize," Wilhelm finally said, voice low. "I spent so many years chasing revenge. And now that it's over—without me even raising a sword..." He trailed off.
Subaru let out a sigh. "I get it. I really do. But it came after me first. It was kill or be killed."
Wilhelm slowly nodded, still processing it all. Around them, the soldiers whispered in awe—staring at the boy they once dismissed, now the slayer of a legendary Mabeast.
"Silence!" Crusch snapped, and the murmurs instantly stopped.
"Sir Zero," Anastasia spoke, her voice calm and curious, "what do you plan to do now?"
To Anastasia, no matter how strong Zero was, he still needed to follow the laws of the Kingdom.
"Isn't it obvious? The Emilia camp will be taking credit for slaying the White Whale, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, and the Archbishop of Greed—once I'm done dealing with this guy," he said, gesturing toward the floating remains of Regulus.
Anastasia let out a quiet sigh.
'That half-elf's camp… They have the worst reputation among the candidates, but this? This will change everything. Their standing will skyrocket—they'll become one of the strongest contenders,' she thought, biting her lip.
A part of her wanted to strike him down right there. If she could defeat Zero and take the credit, it would secure her place as the leading faction.
But even she knew how foolish that idea was.
This boy had slain the White Whale—something not even the legendary Sword Saint could do. And he'd crushed not one but two Archbishops.
It wasn't a feat just anyone could replicate.
Still, she had to try something.
"Sir Zero… have you ever considered switching camps?" she suddenly asked, catching everyone off guard.
It was unlike her to bring up something so serious without preparation. Normally, she'd call for a formal meeting to even propose such a deal.
However, if Emilia's camp had already claimed credit by the time she met him again, any deal would become meaningless.
She was a merchant through and through—and timing was everything.
"How about it?" Anastasia said, tilting her head slightly. "If you join my camp, I'll grant you access to all my resources. And you said Miss Emilia was your friend, right? If you join me, I'll treat you as my equal."
She laid all her cards on the table.
It was a calculated move. Anastasia assumed Zero was prideful—someone who saw Emilia, a Royal Candidate, as an equal at best, not a superior. Offering him a lesser deal would've been a fatal misstep. You didn't bargain lightly with someone who just did the impossible.
Before Subaru could answer, Crusch stepped forward.
"What? To say that in front of me—!" she said, voice rising. "Sir Zero! I have an offer as well. If you join my camp… I will make you my fiancé. You will share in my authority, my privileges, and my power."
Everyone froze.
Even Subaru was taken aback.
"Lady Crusch?! What are you saying?!" Felix gasped, visibly shaken.
Anastasia's smile faded, her expression darkening. Crusch's proposal wasn't just bold—it was better.
If Subaru accepted, he wouldn't just be her partner. If she won the throne, he would essentially become the King—second only to her, perhaps even her equal.
And Subaru?
Well… he was tempted.
Because, damn. She was hot.
Really hot.
{{T/n: I never understood valuing girls just for their looks. I loved mine for her kindness — saw her beauty through it. But I lost it.}
If he hadn't gotten used to Reina's and Emilia's otherworldly beauty, Subaru could've said—without hesitation—that Crusch was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Crusch, on the other hand, had made her proposal after careful thought. Not only would it skyrocket her reputation, but unless the other camps pulled off a miracle, this would effectively end the royal selection race.
Besides, she had always known she'd eventually enter a political marriage. But marrying Zero—the man who had slain the White Whale and two Sin Archbishops—was far better than tying herself to some pampered noble.
Truth be told, her ideal husband had always been someone strong and brave. Subaru didn't just meet those standards—he exceeded them.
"I won't lie... I'm very, very tempted," Subaru said with a sheepish grin. "After all, Miss Crusch is an incredibly graceful and beautiful woman."
Crusch blushed at the compliment, her usually composed expression cracking for just a moment.
Anastasia clenched her teeth, her sharp gaze flickering toward the duchess.
'Well played, Duchess. Really well played…'
She was confident in her own charm—cute and clever—but she knew she couldn't match Crusch's regal presence.
Then Subaru sighed.
And just like that, everyone held their breath.
'Will he accept Anastasia-sama's offer instead?!' Julius thought anxiously.
" Both of your proposals are quite good."
" But… I refuse!"
A silence fell. Subaru could practically hear the devil on his shoulder screaming in disbelief.
There was a brief silence.
"May I ask why you refused?" Crusch finally spoke, her voice calm but searching. She met his gaze steadily, unable to comprehend his reasoning. From her point of view, the proposal she'd made wasn't something any sane man would easily turn down.
She was a leading Royal Selection candidate. Duchess of the Karsten House. A brilliant strategist, an admired leader… and, objectively, a stunning woman.
So why?
"It's not because there's anything wrong with you," Subaru began, his tone respectful. "If anything I said came off as rude or dismissive, I sincerely apologize."
He paused, then continued with a sigh.
"It's… a matter of principles."
"Principles?" Crusch repeated, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Yes," he nodded. "I made a promise to Emilia. In front of the Royal Knights, nobles—hell, the entire capital. I said I'd stand by her side. If I back out now just because of a tempting offer, what do my words even mean? If I betray that, then I'm nothing more than a liar driven by convenience."
His expression was firm, his voice unwavering.
He was thinking with his head. Not with his hormones.
Crusch slowly nodded, processing his words. "I understand… I should've considered your circumstances more carefully. My apologies, Sir Zero."
Subaru sighed lightly. Both of them, in their own way, felt a pang of regret. There was no denying they'd have made a strong match.
"Hmph!" Anastasia huffed abruptly, snapping the moment. "Julius. Everyone. We're leaving."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel.
Her mind was already racing—calculating, planning—because one thing was certain now: Emilia's camp was going to rise in fame. And she needed to counter it.
Fast.
Felix, meanwhile, felt a mixture of anger, jealousy, and happiness.
He was angry because Subaru had rejected the offer she made—she had literally offered herself to him!
And he? Rejected her.
He was jealous because his Lady had even made the offer to take him as her spouse.
And he was happy because Subaru had turned down his Lady's offer.
Yeah, Felix was full of unbridled emotions.
Crusch, on the other hand, gave a small nod to Subaru. She wasn't going to try to convince him any further; she had her dignity.
The fact that she had even offered herself showed just how highly she valued Subaru.
What a pity… now I think he's the perfect man to be my husband, she thought, tasting the flavor of regret once again.
Man… I must have crazy willpower to reject her offer, Subaru thought, turning away.
Meanwhile, Crusch, her camp, and Anastasia's entire camp began preparing to depart.
While they hadn't fulfilled their objective, the White Whale was still dead.
Wilhelm, meanwhile, felt extremely weak… he felt empty, devoid of any purpose.
Teresia, I failed... he looked up at the sky, a tear falling down his cheek.
"Before I leave… Sir Wilhelm, there's something I want to talk to you about," Subaru said, garnering his attention.
Crusch, Anastasia, Felix, and Julius all turned their gazes toward them.
"What you did to Reina was unforgivable…" Subaru said.
Wilhelm slowly turned to face Subaru, his eyes distant—lost in the memories of battles long past and a woman he had loved beyond all else.
"…What is it, Sir Zero?" he asked, his voice raspier than usual, worn down by emotions he could no longer suppress.
Subaru walked up to him, his gaze calm but sincere. "I know what it's like to lose someone important. To live with the kind of pain that gnaws at you, day in and day out."
"But that doesn't mean what you did was right. You owe her an apology." Subaru said, before teleporting away.
Wilhelm looked down, recalling everything he had said to Reina.
He couldn't be a good husband, a good father, a good grandfather.
He himself felt guilty for what he had done to Reina. He had been clouded by anger… and had called his own granddaughter a 'monster.'
He clenched his fists. He had ignored what Heinkel had done to his daughter all these years.
He had ignored how he abused her… and now, with the White Whale dead, he realized what he had truly lost in his pursuit of revenge.
Wilhelm Van Astrea had done the unforgivable.
….
To be continued…
(A/N: We became the top 2 for a moment, the top 1 isn't far. Let's reach that goal together. I hope we can become top 1. Seriously, I have been in top 10 a few times, even top 4 with my Poseidon fic.
Never realized that with such a small franchise as Re Zero we can get in top 3, you guys seriously rock!)