After the kick that expelled him from Toyota's soul, his mind slipped further toward madness.
Puck began erasing his own memories—
a desperate act to preserve what little sanity he had left.
With a final, trembling whisper:
"Stay away… from my daughter…"
And just like that, the knowledge was gone.
His mind—Destroyed. His spirit—reduced to a childlike state.
***
Toyota didn't understand what had happened. Before, the spirit mumbled vaguely about magic types and Toyota's physique, seeming to try and distract Toyota from his true goal by lowering his guard.
All he saw was Puck, who had his tail to his forehead with his eyes closed, now hovering before him after saying he was going to check on his magic. There was a long period of silence.
A long, eerie stillness that made the air feel heavier.
Something was wrong.
Toyota narrowed his eyes.
"…Puck?"
Suddenly, Puck's small form began to twitch.
Then shiver.
Then contort,
as if his body was at war with itself.
And finally, in a sharp, broken voice, Puck spoke:
"Stay away from my daughter."
As Puck's form glowed, particles of light seemingly escaped from his body. Any feeling of threat or power that the spirit previously had was now gone.
The cat spirit was now on the ground, his playful manner gone, replaced by a blank look. The cat briefly looked around before spotting Toyota.
"Who are you?"
Taken by surprise, he couldn't tell if this was Puck's idea of a prank or if he was being serious.
"You are Puck, a great spirit."
The cat looked at him innocently before floating up to him. Seeming surprised by its own movements, he flew in circles, looking thrilled.
"What's a great spirit?"
Toyota now knew something had gone wrong based on Puck's body language and how dumb he was being.
"A great spirit is a spirit that has accumulated enough power and lived long… at least, that's what I know. If you come with me, we can find Emilia and figure out what's happened to you."
"Okay!" the spirit said cheerfully. "What's your name?"
There was a swallow before he answered, "I'm Toyota."
Thinking back on his chosen name, he didn't know what was better—001-7, or Toyota. Or should he identify with the new memories he gained and be Subaru Natsuki? Well, he also had a last name to choose, so he had room to maneuver—from number, to car… maybe he should take "Crimson" as his last name. Oh, there were also middle names to choose from.
As he thought all of this to himself, he reached Emilia's room. Knocking and hearing no response, he said aloud:
"I am entering. If you're changing, blame yourself for not answering."
He hated when, in anime, the guy would be respectful—knock, call out, and slowly open the door—only to find the girl obliviously standing there in lingerie. Then, when they'd lock eyes, the guy would get physically assaulted.
Not that Emilia was like that… but he was sure some very specific people in this world would be.
As he entered the room, the door swung open wide. He couldn't see her.
"Huh? Where could she be?"
"Who's Emilia?" the now sweet cat asked, making Toyota almost forget what this cat did in the anime.
"Emilia is a half-elf. She's also your contractor."
"What does a contractor do?"
"I will tell you later."
This was getting more and more exhausting. He couldn't find Emilia, Subaru had probably already left to do his tasks, and it was going to be Toyota's last day at the mansion. He could already tell the chaos that was going to erupt.
Wait—why would Puck not be with Emilia, and instead teach him magic alone to begin with?
The answer was very simple: it's because she wanted privacy.
And why would someone want privacy?
Because they were on a date.
And where did Subaru want to take Emilia?
The flower field.
So—I know where Emilia is.
He felt very proud of himself for his deduction skills. Should he go interrupt their date? If he did, Subaru would probably resent him… but he didn't know what to do with a baby spirit either.
Maybe he should drop him off at Beatrice's library—she could probably help him. After all, he really wanted to try out his new magic.
Actually… how did Puck use Shamak if his attribute is fire?
Does that mean you can use other magic types outside your attribute?
Or… did Puck also have a dark attribute?
He knew Puck was an artificial spirit made by Echidna, but beyond that, he knew almost nothing about him—except his personality and threat level.
There was a long pause.
"…Which door is Beatrice's library?"
She had the Door Crossing ability, which let her link any door to a specific place, ignoring the concept of space itself. So how was he supposed to find it? Slowly walk down the hall and open every door he saw? What if he barged in on someone?
Hating this plan already, Toyota sighed and, with Puck floating behind him, began opening every nearby door one by one.
Finally, he reached the end of the hallway.
"Why can't I just have Subaru's luck with the Door Crossing?" he muttered.
Was it luck… or skill?
One of the rooms he had opened earlier still haunted him—it was filled with unsettling artwork. To put it mildly, the kind of stuff that would chase you in your dreams.
Reaching the very last door, he opened it—and found a large room lined with towering bookshelves. A small stool sat in the middle of the room, and perched atop it was the tiny blonde-haired girl. A pile of books taller than she was sat stacked beside her.
Noticing Toyota and Puck, she dropped her book and raised her arms cheerfully, as if inviting a hug.
"Puckie, are you here to play with me, I suppose?"
Puck, who didn't even seem to register her voice, floated aimlessly around the library, exploring mindlessly.
Beatrice's expression shifted—hurt flashing across her face.
"Why are you ignoring Betty, I suppose…?"
Toyota felt he had to explain.
"Puck said he wanted to help me find out what kind of magic I had… but after he stopped, a bunch of mana orbs seemed to leave him. And now… he doesn't even know who he is anymore."
***
Subaru and Emilia were walking through a grassy field, with Subaru gently holding Emilia's hand as she walked with her eyes closed.
"Emilia, are you okay? Don't open your eyes yet."
"Geez, you don't have to be so careful all the time… I'm okay," Emilia sighed in frustration but kept walking with her eyes shut, trusting him.
"Well, honestly, I can't stop worrying about you. But you said this was a date, right? If you walk with your eyes closed, the impression will be different. Otherwise, it won't be a surprise."
They continued forward until Subaru stopped and smiled.
"We've almost arrived… Are you ready?"
The princess turned to him with a gentle smile. "Yes."
"Alright then. Here it is."
Emilia slowly opened her eyes.
Before her stretched a beautiful field, a breathtaking blend of colors. Petals danced in the air, drifting around her and Subaru. The vibrant plains painted a dreamlike landscape. Emilia gasped in awe, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
"What do you think?" Subaru asked softly. "Although I didn't do anything—it's just a landscape—I still wanted to boast about it."
Emilia beamed at him, stepping closer in excitement.
"It's very beautiful. I'm really happy… you really are a good boy, Subaru."
Subaru didn't quite know how to react to being called a "good boy" like a pet, but he smiled, eventually accepting it.
"I feel like I'm being misunderstood," he said with a shrug. "But since you're here… I want to give you a present."
Emilia tilted her head in curiosity as Subaru bent down, picking something up from the ground. Gently, he placed it atop her head.
"This is… a crown of flowers."
"Yeah… it may be far from a real accessory filled with jewels… but for now, that's all I have."
"A gift… for me?" Emilia stood there, her face stunned—speechless at the gesture and the boy in front of her.
Off in the distance, a certain maid clenched her teeth in determination as she watched.
"I still haven't lost yet…"
Grabbing the hem of her dress, she continued watching in silence.
***
"Where is that useless Barusu? He needs to help prepare lunch," Ram muttered, sighing before glancing around in frustration.
"I can't seem to find Sister anywhere… In fact, I can't find anyone. You'd think that with a new staff member and a guest, the mansion would be loud."
She aggressively started chopping up some fruits from storage, the knife slicing faster than necessary.
"If lunch turns out bad, it'll be Barusu's fault."
She paused for a moment.
"Isn't that guy Toyota leaving today after he asks for his request?"
She didn't know how to feel about him. On one hand, she felt relieved that he was leaving… but on the other, strangely sad.
If it weren't for Subaru vouching for him—and the fact that he somehow earned her sister's trust—she would've assumed he was another witch cultist.
Still, it was better this way.
An unknown variable like him… was safer off somewhere else.
***
"Thank you sooo much! Bye."
"Wait, you can't just leave Betty alone with this task, I suppose!" Beatrice shouted.
Slowly closing the door, Toyota just shouted some encouraging words before it shut completely.
"I believe in you!"
"Wai—!" Click. Shut.
"Okay," he said with a deep breath, "now that the problem is temporarily solved, I can try using magic out in the garden."
He had explained what happened to Puck and told him that Beatrice would answer all his questions—as his sister.
After the fifth question in a row, Beatrice looked exhausted and practically begged for help. But what could he do? He was about to leave anyway.
Maybe her re-educating Puck would help... and maybe prevent him from trying to destroy the world later.
Not giving her any time to chase after him, Toyota hurried downstairs and headed toward the garden.
That's when he ran into Ram, who looked very grumpy.
"Do you know where that useless and tardy Barusu is? I can't find him."
"Uhhh… he's on a date with Emilia right now. At least, I'm 90 percent sure."
She looked him in the eyes for a long second, then lowered her gaze.
"...Do you know where Sister is?"
"How am I supposed to know? I've been here for like, what, a few days?" he snapped.
Then he paused.
Rem not doing her daily chores? That only happens when something more important than duty, Roswaal, or Subaru is involved.
But Subaru's on a date… Considering her recent behavior, she must be jealous. She wouldn't crash it—but she'd definitely watch from a distance.
Once again, he felt like Sherlock Holmes.
He smirked at Ram before turning his back to her.
That smug attitude seemed to annoy her. She raised a hand like she was about to karate chop his head.
Unaware, he continued with a prideful tone.
"Do you know what you called me before?"
Lowering her hand in confusion, she mumbled, "...Do you mean worthless or stalker?"
Hearing the first one, his patience visibly cracked.
"You just made up that first one! But yeah—stalker. Looks like that title has just been inherited."
"...What?"
"Someone must be feeling jealous."
"I don't know what my foolish sister sees in that incompetent man," she growled. "She's way too good for him. I will never approve."
Seeing her realization, Toyota felt smug and tried to walk away—but Ram grabbed him by the scruff and dragged him into the kitchen area.
"Since no one's here, help me prepare lunch."
The disappointment of being pulled away from trying literal magic was replaced by curiosity.
I've never done chores before. Could this be… fun?
"Be quiet. Grab that broom and sweep."
"Okay!" he said, surprisingly enthusiastic.
Ram was taken aback by his cheerful response—she had expected some kind of resistance, maybe even refusal.
"...I can see that you are reasonable," she mumbled before turning to wash some vegetables.
Toyota grabbed the broom and earnestly got to work.
After a while, once the food was prepped, Ram glanced over to check on him—only to see that he had made no pile of dirt. He was just vigorously sweeping the ground, scattering dust in every direction instead of actually cleaning.
Ram felt fury bubbling up. He's even more useless than Barusu.
She was about to yell at him before she paused. His hands—
Pristine.
No marks, no blemishes, no calluses.
Similar to Subaru's, but even more refined.
If Subaru looked like a noble, this boy looked like a prince.
She took a breath, trying to suppress her agitation, and asked calmly,
"Have you swept before?"
"No. Am I doing it right?"
She exhaled sharply and, still trying to stay calm, asked,
"...What do you know how to do?"
"I can read and write pretty well," he said, pausing before casually adding,
"...In all languages."
Hearing that absurd statement, she stared at him, stunned.
She couldn't tell if she'd run into a fake, glittering trinket pretending to be worth something—
Or the real deal: a priceless jewel in disguise.
If they kept this man as their Minister of Internal Affairs, with his insight, deduction, reading, and writing skills, they would have a huge edge in the royal selection.
Toyota, who watched her glance at him with a look he couldn't recognize, felt uneasy.
Did I do something wrong?
He had thought sweeping was just scraping off any rubble stuck to the floor.
Was she mad I did it wrong?
"I'm sorry. I'll leave soon and be out of your hair," he muttered before turning and walking away.
Ram stared at his back as he left.
Finally, out in the garden, Toyota took a deep breath and tried to remember the basic projectile spell.
Min… minne… mini…
"System, what was that spell again?"
(Host, I believe the spell you are looking for is Minia. For reference, these are your spells:)
Vita: Amplifies gravity. (Mastery Level: 1)
Murak: Decreases gravity. (Mastery Level: 1)
Minia: Creates purple projectiles. (Mastery Level: 1)
Shamac: Distorts senses with inky mist. Potential for minor teleportation. (Mastery Level: 1)
"Alright, let's get started."
He raised his right arm, aiming it at a tree.
"Minia!" he shouted.
A burst of sparkling pink dust hovered in front of his outstretched hand before coalescing into a sharp crystal about the size of a throwing knife. He felt… disappointed. The size wasn't impressive, and there was only one.
But at the same time—he was using magic. The excitement was undeniable.
"So… how do I get it to move?"
He threw his arm forward like he was pitching a baseball, expecting the crystal to launch like a dart.
Instead, the crystal spun in place like a fidget spinner… and then disintegrated back into dust.
There was a long, empty pause.
"...Well, that was useless," he muttered.
Still, he was determined. Of all the spells, this one—Minia—was the one he needed to get right.
The others were useful, sure, but he didn't have an immediate need for utility.
What he needed most right now…
was basic attack magic.
Holding out the same hand again, Toyota tried once more.
"Minia."
Just like before, the sparkling dust formed into a jagged, throwing-knife-shaped crystal.
Maybe I need some kind of hand sign…
He remembered that scene from Spider-Man—Tobey Maguire trying different hand signs to shoot his web.
Out of pure randomness, he made the classic Spider-Man hand seal.
The result?
The stone shot straight up into the sky instead of forward.
"Wow… at least that did something."
Even after using the spell twice, he felt no different. No mana exhaustion. No drain.
Must be my recovery rate. I could probably do this all day.
"My mastery rate will definitely increase," he muttered.
Raising his hand again, he decided to try something new.
This time, he focused—really tried to feel anything within him that felt unique or different.
"Minia."
As he spoke, he felt a cool sensation spread down his arm like a line of frost, traveling along a vein. His hand moved up into a vertical position—like a traffic cop telling someone to stop.
He could feel it. A perfect pathway leading right to his palm.
The mana was faint, but it was there. He concentrated, letting it condense in his palm before shouting:
"Minia!"
The crystal shot forward—this time correctly—embedding itself a half-inch into the tree before dissolving.
"Haha! I did it—and I had no help!"
Notification:
Minia – Creates purple projectiles. (Mastery Level: 2) — NEW
"Hey, System, what does the mastery level mean?"
(Host, it keeps track of the amount of skill you have for certain abilities.)
"Wait, so it doesn't help me increase?"
(No, Host. It merely keeps track. However, if you create something unique, you may be eligible for a reward.)
***
After an hour of practice, the feeling of excitement had quickly drained.
Magic now felt… less special. The more he used it, the more mundane it became.
Still, he had made some progress. By condensing more mana into his palm and discharging it more forcefully, he managed to increase the projectile's speed—enough to puncture the tree a full inch deep.
He also tried to see if he could rapid-fire it—machine gun style.
Given his mana recovery rate, it should've worked.
And it did… in a way.
The projectiles fired at the speed of someone spamming a trigger on an arcade shooter. But all the power was gone.
The moment he prioritized speed, they lost their force. The crystals didn't even reach the tree.
Disappointed, he lowered his hand.
"Guess there's no spamming your way to victory…"
Making his way back to the mansion, Toyota ran into Subaru, who had finally returned with Emilia.
He smiled at the sight—Subaru's face was practically glowing with cheer.
"How was your date?" Toyota smirked.
Subaru looked away and cleared his throat with a cough.
"One day, when you're old enough to go on dates, you'll understand," he said, ruffling Toyota's hair.
"You b****! Why are you treating me like I'm five?!"
Subaru paused, then looked at him with a playfully mocking expression.
"Looks like you don't even know how to swear. So young and innocent."
"In Ram's words, not mine," Toyota muttered, "Kill Yourself."
"So harsh," Subaru mumbled, taken aback.
That was weird, Toyota thought. It felt like someone spoke for me.
While he already had a sore spot about not being able to swear, he didn't mean to actually say that.
Brushing it off, he caught sight of Rem at a distance—following them as if she didn't want to be seen.
That was when Ram shouted from the mansion entrance, "It's time for lunch. Master Roswaal will be joining us."
Subaru muttered under his breath, "Why did she need to specify that?"
Toyota internally agreed. The Stockholm syndrome Ram has is crazy.
After all, Roswaal was the one who cut off her horn and helped burn the Oni village to the ground.
"And," Ram added, "we'll also be discussing Toyota's wish."
Why did she have to announce it like that? Toyota groaned mentally.
(AN: I was sick at home with a fever, so I had a lot of time to stare off into space. I've officially chosen the next world, I'll make it a secret which one until we get closer to that point.
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?)