"Lord Roswaal is right." Ram, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, her wine-red eyes burning with an inner flame.
"Subjugating the White Whale is a great feat no one has accomplished in nearly a hundred years, let alone simultaneously defeating two Archbishops of Sin."
"These are achievements beyond what ordinary people can imagine."
"Oh my, oh my Even Ram says so, doesn't she" Roswaal dramatically spread his hands, suddenly leaning forward, his heterochromatic eyes fixed on Natsuki Subaru.
"What's even more incredible is that you managed to complete this series of impossible tasks in merely about a month. This can no longer be explained by luck, can it?"
Natsuki Subaru sneered inwardly.
No one understood this clown-like man before him better than he did. Always wearing a false smile, making his true thoughts unfathomable.
This obsessive man, who regarded the Book of Wisdom as his code of conduct, still deeply followed prophecies in his heart, all his schemes were solely for the resurrection of the Witch of Greed Echidna. From leading Natsuki Subaru and Emilia to meet in the original story, to orchestrating the mansion attack incident, everything was to make the prophecy come true.
Roswaal would stop at nothing to achieve the resurrection of the Witch of Greed Echidna.
Natsuki Subaru sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he put on a smug expression:
"I knew you'd say that, but something like this is hard to hide anyway, so I just shamelessly laid it all out! Come on, praise me all you want! Hurry!"
"You truly are quite amazing—Natsuki-kun!"
Roswaal said meaningfully, his voice slightly trembling with excitement, "With you, Lady Emilia will definitely achieve her wish—to ascend the Throne."
Four hundred years of waiting were finally about to manifest.
Roswaal was ecstatic internally.
Everything this black-haired boy had done perfectly aligned with the prophecies of the Book of Wisdom.
Those great feats that even the strongest mages and warriors found hard to accomplish, this seemingly ordinary black-haired boy, effortlessly… This was certainly no coincidence.
Roswaal was convinced that Natsuki Subaru was the one who could rewrite the world, the key to manifesting his four hundred-year-long desire.
"Roswaal, it's rare to hear you speak so seriously for the first time. It actually makes me feel a little flattered."
Natsuki Subaru feigned a relaxed shrug.
"Oh, was that truly unexpected—hm?" Roswaal tilted his head, his heterochromatic eyes flickering eerily in the candlelight.
"I am serious at all times, you see~ And this time was also arranged with you. This time, I can finally talk to you face-to-face."
"With me?" Natsuki Subaru feigned confusion, blinking.
"Shouldn't you be talking to Emilia instead?"
"No~ not so?" Roswaal shook his head, correcting Natsuki Subaru's words.
"Undoubtedly, it's you!"
Saying this, he closed his right eye, staring at Natsuki Subaru with only his yellow left eye, a habitual expression when he harbored ulterior motives.
"So, what does this mean?" Natsuki Subaru continued to feign confusion, asking Roswaal.
"Why purposefully exclude Emilia?"
"Isn't that obvious—hm?" Roswaal chuckled and continued.
"Bad ideas can only be discussed among trusted accomplices. To involve someone not trusted, my heart isn't that naive—oh my."
"Huh?" Natsuki Subaru narrowed his eyes, looking at Roswaal.
"Are you saying Emilia isn't trustworthy?"
"First, let me explain the true meaning of 'accomplice'…" Roswaal, leaning on the bed, looked up at Natsuki Subaru and continued to explain.
"It's actually very simple. I just hope you continue to help and support Lady Emilia, as you have before, to your heart's content, until that Lady sits on the Throne."
"I'd do that even without you telling me to…" Facing Roswaal's words, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but scoff.
"So what about you? What are you going to do?"
"Of course, the same thing, you see~" Roswaal spread his arms, a false smile still on his face as always.
"Fully support Lady Emilia to win the Royal Selection and stand as the unifier of the Kingdom. You see, you and I have the same goal, aren't we—accomplices?"
"If that's the only intention, wouldn't 'partner' suffice…? The word 'accomplice' is far too different." Natsuki Subaru's sharp gaze met Roswaal's directly as he continued to question.
"And besides, if you're truly serious about getting Emilia on the Throne, then what about the oversight you made before coming to the Sanctuary?"
Roswaal calmly counter-questioned.
"Is that even a question?!" Natsuki Subaru suddenly leaned forward, glaring at Roswaal's eerie heterochromatic eyes. The candlelight cast flickering shadows on his angry face.
"Emilia participating in the Royal Selection would attract the Witch Cult, isn't that obvious?! Everyone said Lord Roswaal must have been prepared… But what was the result? I saw nothing! If that's not an oversight, then what is an oversight?!"
Although he knew this was the situation Roswaal wanted, disappearing at every crucial moment, standing idly by...
Natsuki Subaru gritted his teeth inwardly, but on the surface, he maintained an angry expression.
If he appeared too calm, it would only arouse Roswaal's suspicion.
"But you perfectly resolved the problem in my absence, didn't you~" Roswaal leaned casually against the headboard, his injured body not affecting his infuriatingly composed attitude.
"This achievement is perfectly worthy of a knight's name, you see~"
"Cut it out!" Natsuki Subaru slammed his hand on the table, intentionally letting his voice fill with anger.
"You never even told Emilia about the Witch Cult, did you?! She doesn't even know what consequences participating in the Royal Selection will bring!"
After a pause, Natsuki Subaru continued to raise his voice, questioning, "As a result, when the Witch Cult attacked, you, the lord, fled early and abandoned the villagers! So, Roswaal, you'd better give me a reasonable explanation?!"
If you like acting, then I'll act with you to your heart's content.
Natsuki Subaru muttered inwardly, his teeth grinding.
He wished he could truly hit that manipulating bastard, but reason told him he had to continue this performance.
"Calm down, Subaru."
"Ram…!"
As Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but step forward, Ram blocked him, shielding Roswaal behind her.
"Even if it's Subaru, Ram will never allow you to be rude to Lord Roswaal."
Ram said with utmost seriousness.
"This is between Natsuki-kun and me. You are only permitted to attend, not to speak. Understand—hm?"
"Yes. My sincerest apologies for overstepping."
Ram bowed respectfully, then retreated back to Roswaal's side.
Roswaal slowly straightened his body, looking up at Natsuki Subaru and saying:
"Tonight, I will be honest. This is what I have decided. So—I will answer your questions truthfully."
"Why conceal information? Why were you not at the Roswaal Mansion when the Witch Cult attacked? The answer is actually very simple—I deliberately guided the situation to avoid a direct confrontation with the Witch Cult."
"Oh, deliberately, huh? Just like you, Roswaal."
After receiving the answer, Natsuki Subaru sneered.
"You don't seem surprised, do you~" Roswaal tilted his head, showing a playful expression.
"Could it be—you already guessed?"
"It's not hard to guess, really. If you, the lord, had personally resolved the Witch Cult's attack on the domain, Emilia would have had no achievements to gain." Natsuki Subaru looked down at Roswaal, pointing out incisively.
"But if I, as Emilia's knight, repelled the Witch Cult, it would greatly enhance her prestige and increase her chances in the Royal Selection. I'm not wrong, am I, Roswaal?"
After all, this was all part of Roswaal's plan.
While the outcome was decent, being manipulated like a chess piece still made Natsuki Subaru feel uneasy.
"How clever—hm~" Roswaal lightly clapped his hands.
"Natsuki-kun has matured quite a bit~"
"What if I failed completely?" Natsuki Subaru looked directly at Roswaal, his voice low.
"What if, in the end, Emilia and the villagers weren't saved? What would you do then?"
In those endlessly repeating loops in the original story, this was almost an inevitable outcome.
In most world lines, the hopes entrusted to him would ultimately lead to the worst possible ending.
"I believe in you, Natsuki Subaru." Roswaal's expression remained unchanged, his heterochromatic pupils gleaming with conviction.
"I made this judgment precisely because I believe in you."
"You would strive for Lady Emilia, form an alliance with Crusch, subjugate the White Whale, and risk your life to repel the Witch Cult. I am certain you can accomplish these great feats."
"As Emilia's Royal Selection recommender, you really play the absentee landlord to the fullest." Natsuki Subaru sarcastically smiled, then changed the subject.
"However, since you trust me so much, how about agreeing to a request of mine?"
Although I'm still following your script for now, very, very soon, I will break this loop.
"A request?"
Hearing this, Roswaal raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Let the Arlam Villagers in the Sanctuary return early." Natsuki Subaru looked directly into Roswaal's eyes.
"Emilia won't be able to pass the trial and lift the barrier anytime soon, and there's no point in Garfiel and the others holding the villagers hostage. As the lord, you wouldn't want the villagers to be stuck in the Sanctuary indefinitely, would you?"
He paused, observing Roswaal's change in expression.
"If you convince Garfiel to release them, they'll definitely give you that courtesy."
"I see…" Roswaal stroked his chin thoughtfully, revealing a meaningful smile.
"So, Natsuki-kun plans to take the villagers back early?"
"Of course." Natsuki Subaru nodded.
"After settling the villagers, I'll return to accompany Emilia and pass the Sanctuary Trial."
Once I take the villagers away, Roswaal will definitely act immediately.
Back at the mansion, Elsa will be sent. Here in the Sanctuary, a blizzard will be summoned to attract the Great Rabbit.
But this time, I'm going to completely derail his plan.
First, eliminate these threats, then expose Roswaal's true colors in front of everyone. And finally, I'll definitely give him a good beating!
With his complete understanding of Roswaal's plan, combined with his current strength, Natsuki Subaru had absolute confidence in being able to turn the situation around.
"That's not a problem, you see—I will try to convince Garfiel and the others to let the Arlam Villagers leave the Sanctuary and return."
Roswaal nodded, accepting, then suddenly spoke again.
"Speaking of which—Natsuki-kun, I also have something to ask you."
"What is it?"
Natsuki Subaru narrowed his eyes slightly, looking warily at Roswaal.
"You entered the tomb to save Lady Emilia—but it seems some factor prevented the tomb's punishment mechanism from triggering…" At this point, Roswaal's voice deepened, and a rare, complex emotion flowed from his eerie heterochromatic pupils.
"Did you meet anyone—inside?"
Facing Roswaal's question, Natsuki Subaru immediately understood.
He indeed met the Witch of Greed Echidna in the Dream Castle, and even conversed with her.
But he would never tell Roswaal about these things.
After all, everything this man before him did was for the resurrection of Echidna.
If he remembered correctly, four hundred years ago, when Roswaal encountered the Witch of Greed, Echidna took his first kiss upon meeting him, claiming it was to help him control his magical power. Since then, Roswaal had completely fallen…
Truly worthy of being the Witch of Greed Echidna's most devoted simp for four hundred years.
Thinking this, Natsuki Subaru deliberately put on a confused expression and said:
"Who could you possibly meet in a tomb? Are there ghosts or something?"
"That answer is enough, you see." Roswaal looked meaningfully at Natsuki Subaru and said.
"It's getting late, so… Natsuki-kun, let's chat more slowly next time—oh."
The conversation finally ended. Natsuki Subaru didn't want to stay in this room full of calculations for another second.
But before turning to leave, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Roswaal:
"One last question, though I don't know if you'll answer seriously."
"What is it?" Roswaal's voice still held that uncomfortable tone.
"The promise to answer truthfully is still valid—you see~ Ask whatever you want—go on."
"Roswaal, are you our enemy?"
Natsuki Subaru looked directly into Roswaal's eerie heterochromatic eyes.
"Of course not~" Roswaal spread his hands, still wearing that false smile.
"We are partners with a common goal—you see~ All to help Lady Emilia ascend to the—Throne."
"Roswaal, remember what you said."
Natsuki Subaru coldly dropped these words, then turned and left.
Indeed, this guy would never speak the truth.
But it doesn't matter. Soon, everything will be revealed.
"Ram."
As Natsuki Subaru departed, Roswaal glanced at Ram by the bedside.
"Yes."
Ram stepped out of the shadows, complex light flickering in her wine-red eyes.
"You may withdraw as well." Roswaal waved his hand.
"Lord Roswaal, please rest well."
Ram bowed, then slowly withdrew.
______
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