Viewing His Trials

Prologue: Welcome to the Theater

A/N: Spoilers for LN, Webnovel and Anime content ahead. Actually, this entire story is spoilers. If you aren't sure how far, I'd say that this spoiler warning extends up to Arc 6 of the Web Novel. This is far past the current end of the anime, for anime-only watchers. Now then, let us continue on.

Prologue: Welcome to the Theater

On a certain day, at a certain time, a certain group of people passed by an empty stretch of woods and grasslands, riding a carriage on their way to the Water Gate City, the Blue Metropolis, Priestella.

Deep within this carriage, one could hear the voices of its' occupants from within, ironically louder than the very sound of their carriage riding along the bumpy dirt roads, likely having to do with the divine blessing associated with their travel.

"Aaaaaand....! Poof!" A playful voice, seeming like it came from a rambunctious, lively young man.

"What are you doing, I suppose?! I have told you many times that my hair is not a toy, in fact!" The exasperated voice of a much younger-sounding girl echoed out, sounding quite clearly annoyed, likely at the young man's antics.

The next passenger could only laugh, a very sweet, mellow and innocent laugh, coming from a young lady with an absolutely angelic voice.

"Natsuki-san, would you mind keeping it down for just a second? I do need to keep focused on the road..." The pleading voice of yet another young man, sounding absolutely exhausted at the antics going on behind him.

"S'no use, y'know how the Cap'n gets when he's messin' 'round with the miss and his spirit, Otto bro." A much more rougher, more amused sounding voice came, this one sounding younger than the other voices, as well.

Hmm...it seems as if there is something interesting going on inside...shall we investigate further, dear observer? That is what you are here for, is it not? I, however, have another mission in mind...

Moving to the inside of the carriage, the passengers and their countenances could be revealed. A black-haired plain-looking man sat on one end of the carriage, bringing his hands up and down while pressing and releasing something on his palms.

"Oh come on you guys...you can't blame me! Beako's hair is just too perfect and puffy! It's hard to call them drills anymore...they're more like boingy springs!" The jolly boy couldn't help but snicker, looking down to the unfortunate object of his mischief.

"Hmmmmph...!" Said person was in fact a young-looking blonde girl sitting in his lap, head tilted away from the boy and arms crossed in a disapproving gesture. Though despite her displeasure to his treatment of her hair, she seemed to smile slightly to his complimenting of her hair.

"If Subaru could spend such time treating Betty's perfect hair as a toy, then Subaru could also spend much more time paying attention to her properly, I suppose!" She huffed, showing a small pout on her face while continuing to refuse to look the boy's way.

The same innocent laughter from once more echoed through the carriage, with the origin being a silver-haired girl sitting opposite the two, her hand demurely covering her soft lips, though her amused smile could barely be hidden behind it.

"It's always soooooooo~ funny watching you and Beatrice, Subaru! Although, for how much you dote on her, you seem like the kid a lot of the time!"

The great spirit puffed her chest out in a clear display of pride, nodding in agreement to Emilia's spot-on description.

"But of course! It is this way, in fact. Betty is the true adult here that must deal with her childish contractor's antics. He should consider himself lucky to have such a merciful spirit, I suppose."