"So... if I just say that, Beatrice will listen to me?"
Natsuki Subaru looked at Ram, deliberately feigning a puzzled expression, but deep within his dark eyes, a knowing glint shone, piercing through everything.
No one understood Beatrice's emotional knot better than he did.
That Great Spirit, imprisoned by a contract in the Forbidden Library for four hundred years, waited day after day amidst mountains of ancient texts, anticipating 'that person' promised by her mother, Echidna.
At that moment, Natsuki Subaru could almost see Beatrice's small figure curled among the thick books, her golden hair gleaming faintly in the candlelight, her sky-blue, crystal-like eyes filled with a loneliness no one understood.
And the moment the Book of Wisdom turned blank. The belief that had sustained Beatrice for four hundred years crumbled with it, causing Beatrice to completely lose her reason for living.
In the original story, Beatrice even gave up resisting, willingly dying at the hands of Elsa Granhiert, the Gut Hunter, for this very reason.
"Lying... I really can't bring myself to do it."
Natsuki Subaru silently shook his head inwardly. He didn't want to bind that lonely Spirit with false promises, nor add another chain to her already scarred heart.
Four hundred years of long waiting was cruel enough. He would rather use the most clumsy method to truly free Beatrice from the shackles of the contract.
Rather than deceiving the Spirit curled up in the piles of books with sweet lies, it would be better, like in the original story, to use the purest sincerity to melt her heart, frozen for four hundred years, bit by bit, even if this process would be thousands of times harder than a single lie.
"Who knows? That's up to Subaru..." Ram snorted lightly, turning to leave, and added one last instruction, "Have a safe trip... and remember to safely return the villagers."
Ram left without looking back, decisively ending the conversation.
"Seriously, she's so decisive."
Natsuki Subaru watched Ram's retreating back, scratching his head helplessly.
But on second thought, this was indeed Ram's usual style. Her concern for others was always wrapped in a cold exterior, both direct and awkward. Truly, the cunning, sharp-tongued, yet adorable Ram.
"If these idiots didn't have Ram around," Ram thought as she walked, her pink short hair gently swaying in the wind, "there's no telling what kind of trouble they'd cause..."
In Ram's heart, she always thought everyone in the mansion was hopelessly idiotic: Natsuki Subaru, though powerfully strong, had grown from a rookie to a hero who subjugated the White Whale and annihilated an Archbishop, yet his reckless habits never changed.
Emilia and Rem were surprisingly muddled in certain aspects.
Even Lord Roswaal L. Mathers, whom she respected, often talked to himself, never considering others' feelings.
As the most reliable elder sister in this mansion, she had long considered it her responsibility to tolerate these 'problem children.' Though she was always sharp-tongued on the surface, her protective feelings were genuine.
"Although I don't know how much of Roswaal L. Mathers's advice, relayed by Ram, I can believe..."
Emilia watched Ram's retreating back, her slender fingers unconsciously stroking the crystal stone on her chest. Then, turning back to Natsuki Subaru, her amethyst-like eyes shimmered with gentle light, "...But please, absolutely push yourself. —May the Spirit's Blessing be with you."
"I'm leaving," Natsuki Subaru stepped forward, unconsciously reaching out to brush the stray hairs from Emilia's forehead, then stopped halfway.
"You do your best too, Emilia. If... if you find it too hard, you can stop anytime."
"Don't worry about me. But Subaru..." Emilia gently shook her head, hesitating slightly before saying, "You must be careful on your journey. I... I'll wait for your return."
"Then, it's a promise," Natsuki Subaru flashed a bright smile, intentionally speaking in a lighthearted tone, "When I return, Emilia-chan might have already passed the trial!"
"When I return, it'll be time to settle things with Roswaal L. Mathers."
Natsuki Subaru silently added this in his heart, a determined glint flashing in his eyes.
"...It might be a bit difficult," Emilia lowered her head shyly, then raised her face again, "But I will continue to work hard, so as not to disappoint Subaru's expectations."
"Don't do it for anyone else, okay?" Natsuki Subaru looked directly into Emilia's clear purple eyes, stating earnestly, "Only for yourself. It's enough for Emilia to just do what Emilia wants to do."
"Subaru..."
Emilia paused slightly, ripple-like fluctuations appearing in her purple eyes.
"All right, time to go." Natsuki Subaru turned and jumped onto the dragon carriage, waving back at Emilia. "Remember our promise!"
"Mm! It's a promise!" Emilia nodded firmly, her hands clasped over her chest. "Be careful on the road, Subaru."
And so.
Under Emilia's gentle gaze, the convoy of dragon carriages slowly departed from the Sanctuary.
The sound of wheels crunching over gravel gradually faded into the distance.
Natsuki Subaru stood at the back of the carriage, watching the silver-haired figure grow smaller and smaller, a smile brimming with fighting spirit curving his lips.
He knew better than anyone the predicament he was about to face.
Roswaal L. Mathers's meticulously designed dilemma: on one side, Elsa Granhiert, the Gut Hunter, dispatched by the mansion; on the other, the Great Rabbit summoned by the Sanctuary.
If it were before, this would indeed leave him in a dilemma.
"Too bad, Roswaal L. Mathers, you miscalculated..."
With that thought, Natsuki Subaru secretly clenched his fist, his Shadow power boiling within him.
Elsa Granhiert, the Gut Hunter, the Great Rabbit—let them all come! This time, he would let that clown lord, Roswaal L. Mathers, who thought he controlled everything, witness what true overwhelming power was!
Meanwhile.
Emilia stood rooted, not breathing out until even the sound of the carriage wheels was gone.
She turned to face the direction of the trial tomb, her silver hair gently fluttering in the morning breeze: "Now... it's time for me to continue my trial."
Concurrently.
Inside Roswaal L. Mathers's room.
"Subaru-kun and the villagers have all departed—hm~?"
Roswaal L. Mathers leaned lazily against the headboard, still heavily bandaged. His heterochromatic eyes flickered with a strange light in the dim room.
"Yes, Lord Roswaal L. Mathers," Ram stood respectfully to the side, her hands clasped in front of her stomach. "Ram has conveyed your instructions to Subaru, word for word."
"Good, then—hm." Roswaal L. Mathers narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, then looked at Ram and said, "You're not needed here anymore. You may leave."
"As you command, Lord Roswaal L. Mathers. Please rest well."
Ram bowed slightly, then softly and carefully exited the room, gently closing the door.
With a soft 'click' of the door, the smile on Roswaal L. Mathers's face instantly vanished. He slowly pulled out the Book of Wisdom from within his clothes.
"So naive... so unrefined..." Roswaal L. Mathers murmured to himself, his slender fingers gently caressing the pages. The sunlight stretched his shadow long.
"To imagine gaining everything without paying a price, how truly naive you are, Natsuki Subaru!"
The chirping of birds came from outside the window; the bright morning light contrasted sharply with the gloomy atmosphere indoors.
Roswaal L. Mathers held the Book of Wisdom tightly against his chest, his heterochromatic eyes appearing even more eerie in the sunlight.
"Compromise and tempering, that is the only path."
The sunlight gradually crept onto the bed, illuminating half of Roswaal L. Mathers's face.
Gazing at his figure at the boundary of light and shadow, he let out an almost inaudible sigh: "It is so for you... and it is so for me."
Roswaal L. Mathers slowly lowered the Book of Wisdom from his embrace, his slender fingers reaching into his collar to retrieve a small, exquisite hand mirror.
This was no ordinary mirror for women's grooming, but a magical artifact capable of long-distance communication—a Dialogue Mirror.
Then, Roswaal L. Mathers slowly infused Mana into the mirror's surface. Water-like ripples spread across the mirror.
Immediately, Elsa Granhiert's bewitching face appeared in the mirror, her scarlet tongue slowly licking the corner of her lips.
"Contacting me so early, do you have any instructions?"
"Proceed with the established plan, act ahead of schedule," Roswaal L. Mathers narrowed his eyes and continued, "...And... the above summarizes all countermeasures against the Door of Opportunity (Book of Wisdom). Remember—time is crucial. Everyone must be dealt with before Natsuki Subaru returns to the mansion, understand?"
"So urgent?" Elsa Granhiert lazily held the Dialogue Mirror, her scarlet tongue lightly licking the corner of her lips. "It seems that young man is quite important to you~"
"Do not underestimate him—hm~," Roswaal L. Mathers's heterochromatic eyes gleamed dangerously in the mirror. "He is the one who subjugated the White Whale and annihilated the Archbishop of Sloth."
"Oh?" Elsa Granhiert's violet eyes suddenly lit up, and she let out a delighted chuckle. "The rumored knight boy who killed the White Whale. No wonder you're so tense~"
"This is no joke—hm." Roswaal L. Mathers's voice suddenly turned cold. "I need you to ensure absolute certainty."
"Don't worry~" Elsa Granhiert said with a smile. "Those of us in this line of work know the rules best."
"Remember, the key is to create enough—theatricality," Roswaal L. Mathers's cold voice came from the Dialogue Mirror. "I want Natsuki Subaru to return to the most perfect stage—hm."
"Understood." Elsa Granhiert nodded, her fingernail gently tracing the mirror's surface. "I'm quite looking forward to meeting that young man. Anyone who can kill an Archbishop must have very beautiful intestines~"
"Are there any other questions—hm?"
Roswaal L. Mathers narrowed his eyes, looking at Elsa Granhiert in the Dialogue Mirror as he asked.
"Nothing special," Elsa Granhiert's lazy yet dangerous voice came from the Dialogue Mirror. "Disposing of everyone in the mansion before that young man returns... just thinking about it excites me. And the chance to personally cut open a Spirit's belly is quite rare"
"Mm..."
Roswaal L. Mathers unconsciously frowned, a hint of worry flashing in his heterochromatic eyes.
"What's wrong?" Elsa Granhiert sharply noticed Roswaal L. Mathers's hesitation, her scarlet tongue lightly licking the corner of her lips. "Are you worried about something~?"
"Nothing," Roswaal L. Mathers swiftly composed himself and calmly said to Elsa Granhiert on the other side of the Dialogue Mirror, "While I don't underestimate your strength, given your previous failure—I hope there will be no oversights this time—hm."
"Indeed~," Elsa Granhiert narrowed her eyes in amusement, looking at Roswaal L. Mathers's face in the Dialogue Mirror. "After all, this is work, so one must meet the employer's expectations as much as possible, right?"
"Then, I'll leave it to you—hm."
"So, is that all?"
Elsa Granhiert tilted her head, a dangerous glint flashing in her dark eyes as she asked.
"You can dispose of this magical artifact as usual—"
Before Roswaal L. Mathers could finish speaking, "Crack!"
The kukri in Elsa Granhiert's hand mercilessly stabbed and shattered the Dialogue Mirror. The broken shards glittered with their last light at her feet, quickly dimming.
She lazily flicked the blade, chuckling softly: "Destroying the evidence~"
The moment the mirror completely shattered, the room door was gently pushed open.
Meili Portroute poked her head in and asked, "Is it all over?"
"Mm."
Elsa Granhiert nodded nonchalantly, returning her kukri to her waist. The shattered mirror shards at her feet twinkled with their last light, quickly dimming.
"Speaking of which, Elsa's employer has a really strange way of speaking," Meili Portroute tilted her head, unable to help but complain.
"He's probably doing it on purpose."
Elsa Granhiert snorted softly, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the hilt of her kukri.
"On purpose?"
Meili Portroute blinked, a puzzled expression on her face.
"Exactly, on purpose," Elsa Granhiert nodded affirmingly, then a cold smirk curled her lips.
"To disguise himself through this theatrical way of speaking, that's probably it."
"Theatrical..." Meili Portroute mumbled, then looked up curiously, "Then what's his true face like?"
"An utterly detestable face."
Elsa Granhiert answered without hesitation, a flicker of disgust in her eyes.
"Oh? Elsa, have you seen it?"
Meili Portroute's eyes widened in surprise.
"Mm, once," Elsa Granhiert nodded, saying calmly, "I've only met him that one time."
"You actually met the employer, how rare!" Meili Portroute blinked, asking curiously, "Why?"
"Because of his eyes," Elsa Granhiert's gaze deepened, her fingers unconsciously touching the corner of her own eye.
"He said he wanted to look into my eyes, claiming that when entrusting tasks to others, the eyes are the most important."
"Hearing Elsa say that, it sounds quite proper."
Meili Portroute looked up at Elsa Granhiert and said.
"Proper?" Elsa Granhiert sneered, a hint of mockery flashing in her dark eyes. "The content of his request to me is to kill those close to him. How could such a person be proper?"
One must know, anyone who would hire an assassin to eliminate those close to them is, by any measure, psychologically twisted.
Despite this, Elsa Granhiert and Meili Portroute, as professional assassins, only cared about task completion and never inquired about an employer's personal grudges.
"Honestly," Meili Portroute pouted, unable to help but complain, "I didn't expect such a sensible remark to come from Elsa's mouth."
"However..." Elsa Granhiert's fingertips gently traced the blade's edge of her kukri, then she continued, "Even without this commission, he's an employer I detest. Just seeing his eyes makes me feel like: Ah, what a truly detestable fellow."
"Huh?" Meili Portroute said, her eyes wide with surprise, "It's really rare for someone to be so disliked by Big Sister Elsa"
"Is that so?" Elsa Granhiert's fingertips gently stroked the cold edge of her kukri, a flicker of revulsion in her dark eyes. "I understand at a glance that this person is not attached to life. I hate people like that."
"I really don't understand at all~"
"Perhaps..." Elsa Granhiert shrugged indifferently, then suddenly changed the subject. "Alright, it's about time to fulfill the commission."
"Alright."
Meili Portroute nodded cheerfully in response.
"This mission's targets are..." Elsa Granhiert looked down at Meili Portroute, instructing her, her voice like a viper's hiss, "The shut-in Spirit, and those two maids."
"Understood, just kill everyone in the mansion, right~?" Meili Portroute smiled sweetly, but her eyes gleamed with a chilling light unbefitting her age.
"Well then, I'll go prepare with the Magic Beasts~"
"See you at the usual spot."
Elsa Granhiert nodded, watching Meili Portroute's bouncy figure depart.
Once Meili Portroute's figure disappeared, Elsa Granhiert slowly drew her sharp kukri.
Her bewitching face was reflected on the highly polished blade.
"I get to see that black-haired young man again," Elsa Granhiert extended her scarlet tongue, lightly licking her tender lips, a morbid gleam flickering in her dark eyes.
"I remember his eyes were full of a resolve to save everything. How truly exciting."
______
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