Emilia, after introducing herself to the council, turned toward him with soft determination.
"…Thank you," she said, voice gentle and sincere. "For your support."
Her eyes searched his face, hoping for something, maybe warmth, acknowledgment.
Instead, his expression twisted.
A grimace, fleeting and raw, slipped through the mask before he turned away, jaw clenched tight. Shame hidden in his face, gone in a blink.
"You shouldn't," he murmured.
Emilia blinked. "I shouldn't what?"
"You shouldn't thank me."
His voice dropped lower, rough and strained.
"…You're next."
A pause.
"What do you mean?" she asked, brows knitting with innocent concern. But he didn't respond.
He didn't dare.
Instead, Toyota stepped forward, mounting the pedestal with a purposeful slowness. He could feel it, Rei's gaze on his back, intense. His body trembled slightly, despite his efforts to steady it.
He took a breath.
She was too kind.
Emilia would forgive almost anything. Even being cheated on.
That was exactly why it would hurt Subaru more.
Why it had to be her.
Why he would use her to get an outburst from Subaru.
He raised his head as the murmurs of the crowd settled. This was a speech he had rehearsed.
"As you all know… in politics, it's not about choosing the best possible option."
He locked eyes with the audience, forcing steel into his voice. "It's about avoiding the worst."
"I'm not here to make friends."
His lips curled into something between a smile and a snarl.
"In fact, I'm here to make enemies."
His voice rang out, Mocking.
"Hate me."
Hearing his words, the Duchess, the merchant, and the princess, each with their unique expressions, one with narrowed eyes, one with tight-lipped curiosity, another with thinly veiled suspicion. But Emilia… Emilia looked different.
She winced.
A pale white hand gently touched the side of her head as if a migraine was growing, suddenly, and inexplicably. Her brows furrowed, but she said nothing.
Toyota's fingers twitched instinctively, as if rolling something invisible through them. There was nothing there. Just muscle memory from a particular life. He clenched his hand.
"So let's begin with the candidates. One by one." echoing through the chamber like a trigger.
His breath slowed.
And he descended.
The world around him blurred, then reformed. Chaos reigned behind his eyes.
Memories belonging to a madman.
The inheritance of Gluttony, of Subaru. The boy who devoured, who killed… all to save. By patching together, patching together, continuing forming its shape. Patching together, patching together, continuing to mold its form. Patching together, patching together, to fill in all the colors.
Everything, all to recreate the being that was Natsuki Subaru, the one who would be able to fix everything, by doing the impossible.
He sat cross-legged on a cold, unyielding slab of stone, his legs long since gone numb. A thick black book lay open in his lap, its pages etched in the lugunican language, yet not something meant for reading if one wanted to retain their sanity. Around him, bundles of scattered tomes, books of the dead encased him in a makeshift fortress, piled high a true monument to madness. Consuming and absorbing the memories of others' lives only made one become further from their original self.
"Looooky what I found, master!"
Shaula's voice rang through the endless library, high-pitched and full of cheer. Her revealing outfit accentuated her large breasts as they jiggled with every eager step. She skipped and stumbled through aisles of crooked bookshelves, nearly tripping on the trail of books left behind by her greedy master. She held a book aloft, its title flapping wildly in her grasp.
He didn't look up. "What is it?"
"Praise me, master! I did a good job!"
His voice was flat. "Why would I praise you if I don't even know what feat you've accomplished?"
Shaula pouted, then like a clumsy puppy, promptly tackling into him, sending stacks of books flying as the miniature barrier of books was breached with an explosion. He groaned, crushed beneath her clingy enthusiasm.
"Get off of me!"
"No master, I love you, I'll never let you go," she whimpered
He shoved a desperate hand against her face, trying to pry her off, her scorpion stinger hair style, flailing into his mouth. Despite his attempts, she only pushed her head forward into his hand, advancing.
"Why don't you see me as a woman?!" she wailed dramatically.
"If you want proof of why, this is very unlady-like behavior!" his face was grimacing with the effort of extracting this childish girl. It was clear this had happened more than once.
Finally, she relented with a huff, hopping back with a flourish. Her absurd hairstyle swayed back and forth, mimicking the constellation she was named after, as she held the book out proudly, pushing it into his face.
Bright orange letters, deeply inscribed on the cover, stared back at him.
[Book of the Dead belonging to Pricilla Barielle.]
Despite himself, he grinned, opening the book, only to fall into a trance-like state as an influx of excess information bombarded his mind.
Toyota woke back to reality as if no time had passed. For him, he had just watched and experienced a two-hour movie's worth of reviewing a life, yet to the outside, it was as if nothing had changed.
The distinction between the past, present, and future is only a stubborn, persistent illusion. The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. That's what a specific white-haired German physicist would say. Time is relative.
"Priscilla Barielle… or should I say, the exiled princess of the Volachian Empire?"
Ignoring the crowd's reactions, he focused entirely on Priscilla's reception to the information. He had only done a quick skim, not lingering too much on the details of others' lives, as his mind, its growing sickness, would only worsen. He was fully capable of embodying the lives of those he had in his memory due to the spectral powers of the Books of the Dead, and connection to the other souls of Subarus throughout different timelines, yet…
How sane was it to linger in an erased existence's mind?
Sensing bloodlust being discharged and directed toward him from the helmeted knight, Aldebaran, he could only feel cold amusement. Such a powerful Authority user… falling for such an arrogant young lady. Although her true nature was one that grew on people, to enjoy being constantly struck in repetition, he knew Al's concerns that her candidacy would be revoked now that this information of her connection to a rival country was revealed. But after reading and reviewing the rules, there were many different holes that allowed the chosen to stay in the race, unable to be treated differently.
Although he could take this time to antagonize all supporters of Priscilla, since gaining any hatred from Priscilla directly would be a waste of time, that tsundere-like girl enjoyed being stood up to. She was one of the few people who had no regrets in their life. He had no intention to change his character or waste time gaining her malice after building up this image...
Was his thought process already altering?
Why didn't he notice?
His emotions, once so discordant, now began to hum. Everything felt connected, yet suppressed. His judgment was more decisive and less hesitant. How intriguing. So, shoving a vast multitude of minds into one body had reached the point where his cognizance had evolved, although insanity did come before that, so it wasn't all that effective.
Toyota, turning his head to meet Al's glare, sighed internally.
"Oh please," he said with an exaggerated roll of his shoulders.
"It doesn't matter anymore. Now that she's been chosen by the insignia, the rules state she's in the running; nothing changes that. Besides, she's thought to be dead by Volachia. Her dick of a brother faked her death."
Priscilla's mask momentarily cracked as her crimson irises trembled. Pulling out her fan from her long dress's robes with a dramatic swish, a wave of heat blasted into his face as a plume of ash erupted from the fan, transforming into the red and black blade of the Yang Sword, causing Toyota to hold his breath with the urge to cough.
"How… how do you know about this divine self?"
Her stutter revealed her unease.
(Special Time-Limited Mission: "Make physical contact with one of the ten swords of power — the Yang Sword."
Reward upon completion: Unlocking of personal OD. Ability to use all Yang-type magic — no need for chant, slot, or stored mana.)
What is this, Christmas already?
If Shadow or Yin-type magic was debuffs, then Yang or Light magic was buffs. He couldn't remember any prominent Yang spells, but that would be easy enough to find out, just a quick skim through the memories of Yang magic users. If he were able to find Roswaal's Book of the Dead, then there would be no need for any type of tutoring. He was the kingdom's best mage, being able to use all six types of magic and even his own invented magic that combined elements to create new ones.
Touching the sword would be simple. Approaching it while looking greedy might alert her, but the process of touching it would be painful. It was right in front of him, but the blade's residual heat was already cooking him from this meter distance. If he made physical contact, it would blister his skin, but blistering would be better than his blood oozing out.
Moving ever so closer, he faced the shaken princess.
"You are by far more intelligent than you appear. Your performance as the haughty, arrogant princess is just that, a performance. However, while you are far more intelligent than the other competitors, you are also a slave to your whims. You put yourself in needless danger simply because you're bored. You believe the world's will bends to yours."
Seeing her expression so fearful, he felt a sadistic pleasure from her face.
"Then why does this world keep killing you… Why was I allowed to kill you?"
At those words, he could feel Al's rage.
Of course, little papa bear wants to protect his adopted daughter. Even if he let the plot play out like the original, she was destined to return to Vollachia, it being her final resting place. Toyota didn't think Subaru would turn back time to reset her demise, as they would never be close enough.
Why was he feeling this perverse pleasure from her expression, though?
Was it not enough for his petty actions at the introduction? Dropping her on her ass and calling her fat.
Or was it because he saw her life, and it annoyed him?
Was he becoming too cold?
A cackling laughter bubbled into his spirit, vanishing just as speedily as if imagined.
"You value people who keep their pride and honesty, don't you?" he voiced his words with earned experience.
The image of getting kicked in the face the moment he fully surrendered his pride, getting down on his knees to lick her bare foot at the arrogant lady's request, her glowering down at him, ran through his mind.
"Isn't that why you can't strike me?"
Stepping forward to the outstretched blade that emitted its scorching heat, making the air in front of him wobble from the sheer temperature like a mirage, Toyota internally prepared himself for the pain. If he attempted to raise a hand or move too quickly toward the blade, he might not get the chance to make physical contact with her sword again.
Despite her bravado, she wouldn't kill him. And touching an object that could burn hotter than hellfire could cause permanent injury in the best-case scenario. She was most likely making a heatwave to aim directly at him the moment he touched the Yang Sword. With her complete control over the weapon, burning only what she wanted to burn, she wouldn't have the lack of dignity to kill someone with such pride.
Bracing himself, he plastered on a confident mask as the Sun Princess, Priscilla Barielle, never expected such a suicidal action. Her eyes shivered with an unknown emotion as Toyota, casually as if no blade was between the two, let the tip of the blade kiss his skin. The sword pierced the skin on Toyota's neck, cauterizing it, making a sickening sizzle as the skin began to blacken.
Toyota, holding back a grimace, was partially immune to the pain, most likely because of Subaru's Mentality. It still felt like touching fire, but with a wet cloth that dampened it. When had he become so stoic? He felt almost a manly pride from it. Was he able to say that at his age?
However, he could instantly tell that the heat previously emitted by the sword had turned off. His speculation was right; it was all the orange-haired girl's bluff meant to singularly intimidate.
Toyota was glad that the wound was directly pierced and not cauterized, since his blood plan wouldn't have to be scrapped. Priscilla hastily, with a disturbed simper, pulled the sword away in what looked to be reflex.
So she is still a human under all of that misguided arrogance.
Toyota couldn't help but feel amused and relieved.
A terrifyingly chilly voice erupted in his head, familiar and full of a sweet menace. The voice was feminine, spoken softly, directly into his thoughts like a whisper.
"Lord Crimmmm, are you trying to die?" The false sense of sweetness only made the voice more terrifying, knowing who would refer to him as Lord Crim.
"It appears I wasn't wrong to think you need to be confined and properly educated."
Once again, he felt like a guilty child before a parent.
Tilting his head mechanically, Toyota found Rei, eyes wide with shock and a contorted, suppressed anger.
Swallowing as quietly as possible, he forced a sheepish grin, which to the audience looked like he was mocking Priscilla.
Ah, I forgot she also has the Divine Protection of Telepathy, which allows her to relay her thoughts telepathically to the designated target from any distance.
DING!
(Special Time-Limited Mission: "Make physical contact with one of the ten swords of power — the Yang Sword" has been completed.)
(Reward granted: Unlocking of Exclusive OD. Ability to use all Yang-type magic — no need for chant, slot, or stored mana.)
Feeling accomplished toward another completed mission, he smiled gently toward the shaken princess.
"Hmm… it seems you've conceded."
Toyota had no idea if the skin on his neck was okay, but he would be able to use Yang magic…
Wasn't his personal OD Shadow/Yin magic?
What did it mean by exclusive?
A possibility crashed into Toyota harshly.
Subaru's attribute, his OD, was Yin.
Did that mean, by harboring his alternate timeline's souls, he was just borrowing their combined power?
If so… what was his personalized magic or OD?
(AN: I've gotten some confusion about the Mc's actual age, not including Subaru's memories, so I will answer cause it's complicated.
He was in the womb for around 2.5 years, then he was sealed for around 1 year. In conclusion, MC is technically, physically 15 years old, mentally 14 years old, the unsealed SCP version of him, who was able to watch, is 17.5 years old mentally.
Okay, so Web novel was having some bugs, and during that buggy period, it deleted my book. My entire 160000-word book. I have never felt so blindsided. I stared at the screen of my inkstone account for 5 minutes straight, contemplating whether I should give up on this story. luckily, it got fixed, but my emotional scars will never recover.
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 150 power stones, and I give you a bonus chapter.
Sounds fair, right?)