Chapter 356: Today's Readers Are All Handsome
Flügel naturally wouldn't place complete trust in Roy based on that one casual remark. But as a fellow otaku, he instinctively felt a sense of kinship toward someone so well-versed in anime culture.
It was like how hardcore otaku, even when seeking a girlfriend, would prefer someone who'd game and binge anime with them, while having zero interest in those "3D girlfriends" who were always out and about—unless the girl was exceptionally beautiful.
However, after his initial excitement, Flügel grew awkward. Had his intentions been exposed?
When he first arrived in this new world and named himself "Flügel," he had indeed envisioned building a grand harem, filling his back with metaphorical "wings." In an isekai where no one understood the name's meaning, it hadn't mattered—but now that someone recognized the meme, Flügel was mortified. Especially because...
Especially because the other man was so damn handsome. By all accounts, this white-haired guy looked more like the protagonist—the one who'd have wings sprouting from his back!
"Though, isn't the typical light novel protagonist supposed to look average...? I'm way more fitting as the MC template, right...?"
Frugel muttered to himself, recalling the light novels he had read where the male protagonists were all average-looking ordinary guys who ended up winning the hearts of many girls. He was well aware of his own appearance.
However, Frugel clearly didn't realize that times had changed. Nowadays, readers were all quite handsome, and if the protagonist of a light novel wasn't good-looking, readers would struggle to relate.
Just as Frugel was wallowing in self-pity, his gaze inadvertently fell on Satella again. Seeing this half-elf girl—the most beautiful he had ever laid eyes on—leaning affectionately against the 'white-haired guy,' her eyes filled with wariness when looking at him but brimming with trust when gazing at the 'white-haired guy,' his heart inexplicably ached.
He didn't understand why he felt this way about the half-elf girl. Even if she was so elegant and stunning, he shouldn't have been this disheartened.
At that moment, Frugel suddenly realized—the guy in front of him wasn't a 'white-haired guy' at all, but a 'blonde-haired guy' instead!
"Master, you've been sneaking glances at that pretty half-elf sister over there. Is it because I don't meet your standards? Am I not BITCH enough?"
Shaula pouted, her words shockingly blunt.
Frugel's expression changed drastically. In a panic, he quickly covered Shaula's mouth and shouted in horror, "...Don't say that word!"
Unfortunately, he was too late—the word 'bitch' had already escaped Shaula's lips.
At that moment, Frugel felt like life wasn't worth living anymore. He let out a hollow laugh, nearly fainting on the spot.
Shaula stared at her master in confusion. In the past, she had asked him what kind of girls he liked, and Frugel had casually replied that he liked 'big-chested BITCHes.' Shaula, proud of her ample chest, had taken it as a compliment. She didn't understand what 'bitch' meant, but since her master liked it, she had casually used the term ever since.
Roy watched the pale-faced Frugel and the clueless Shaula with amusement before adding fuel to the fire.
"...Little girl over there, Shaula, do you know what 'bitch' means?"
"Do you know?"
Shaula's eyes lit up as she looked at Roy hopefully. She had always strived to be a 'bitch' to meet her master's expectations, but she still had no idea what it actually meant—she had just been guessing all along.
"'Bitch' originally means 'female dog.' It seems your master has… quite the diverse tastes," Roy said with a malicious grin.
Frugel staggered back as if struck, clutching his chest and muttering, "...It's over. It's all over. You actually said it."
He deeply regretted ever teaching his disciple nonsense. While he had enjoyed having her call herself a 'bitch' in the past, now the consequences had finally caught up to him.
He now deeply regretted ever coming to the Kingdom of Lugunica and seeking out that half-elf. If not for that, he wouldn't have met this white-haired guy and suffered repeated blows from him.
Did they have some unresolved grudge from a past life?
Flugel gazed sorrowfully at the sky.
Satella stared at Flugel in horror, her eyes filled with contempt as if looking at trash. This man, who appeared so kind and harmless on the surface, was actually such a pervert.
Satella suddenly recalled the vile deeds she had heard about certain depraved nobles and shuddered, pressing herself closer to Roy. The mere thought of one day being captured by those disgusting nobles and turned into a 'bitch' filled her with dread.
The gaze of the Witch of Envy struck Flugel like a fatal blow, and Shaula delivered the final, crushing strike:
"...So this is the kind of person you really are, Master? You were planning to raise me to be your broodmother, weren't you?!"
"Shaula, stop talking!"
Flugel covered his face and shouted.
He hated white-haired people. He hated transmigrators. He hated white-haired transmigrators!!
...
"Why are you following me?"
Flugel asked irritably, his eyes flickering to Roy walking beside him—and to Roy's hand, which was currently holding Satella's delicate fingers. Seeing their hands clasped tightly together inexplicably filled him with agitation, as if he were being NTR'd.
Though Flugel found this feeling strange. After all, Roy had been there first—so why did he feel like the one being cuckolded? Was he just being overly self-conscious?
"I'm not following you, Flugel. It's just that our destinations happen to align. You're heading to the capital, and I'm taking Satella there as well. That's all."
Roy replied calmly. Truthfully, he had no real destination in mind now. The most important Witch had already been found, and beyond this, Roy had no further goals.
Even the events of 400 years ago, during the era of the Sin Archbishops, weren't covered in Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World. Not that Roy had ever read that book—but even if he had, he wouldn't know the specifics of what was happening here.
"Master, are we going back to PLEIADES?"
Shaula, ever cheerful and energetic, asked.
"We just left! Why would we go back so soon?"
Flugel waved his hand dismissively.
Roy pondered for a moment before asking Flugel, "...What is 'Pleiades'?"
"Nothing special. Just my home in this world. I gave it an English name, that's all."
Flugel felt unnerved under Roy's piercing gaze. This man was far too mysterious and overpowering—Flugel had been toyed with from start to finish, and only now did he realize he didn't even know Roy's name!
"Did you name Shaula?"
Roy turned his attention to Shaula, noting the scorpion-shaped hair ornament adorning her dark brown locks.
"Yeah. Shaula was an orphan with no name. After I saved her, I gave her that name."
Flugel found Roy's question odd but answered honestly nonetheless.
"Shautra is the name of a star in the constellation Scorpius. It seems you're quite knowledgeable about astronomy, or perhaps just interested. 'Pleiades' is the English name for the Subaru star cluster, yet you refer to it as your home. People usually name their homes with something deeply meaningful to them. Could it be that your real name is 'Subaru'?"
Roy looked at the ordinary-looking man with a faint smile, observing the shock and disbelief that flickered across his face.
"You... are you Sherlock Holmes?"
Frugel couldn't help but blurt out.
"No, I'm Edogawa Conan!"
It seemed his guess was right—this man was indeed 'Subaru'!