Chapter 8

The Worst of All Dangers

Dusk gradually sets in as Ram led Emilia towards Roswaal's study – a grand chamber bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.

Tall windows allowed streams of light to dance across the room, casting intricate shadows upon the dark mahogany furniture and crimson armchairs scattered throughout.

A massive desk dominated the far end, piled high with books and peculiar artifacts, behind which Roswaal awaited their arrival.

"Roswaal-sama," Ram announced formally, bowing slightly, "Emilia-sama has just returned from the capital."

"I wonder if you flew all the way here from the capital by using magic," Emilia chirped, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "If so, that's reeeally impressive!"

A melodious chuckle echoed from behind the desk as Roswaal rose to greet them. "I'm deliiighted to see you back, Emilia-sama, Ram."

"So am I, Roswaal," Emilia replied warmly, a hint of weariness lingering in her voice. "Good evening! So much has happened since we parted at the castle… Speaking of which, I wanted to thank you."

Roswaal: "Oooh~ May I ask for whyyy?"

"For backing me up in front of the Council of Wise Men," Emilia confessed. "I was silent most of the time, wasn't I? I regret my inaction… I promise I'll be more proactive in winning the selection."

"There is nothing to apolooogize for, Emilia-sama," Roswaal assured her, his voice a soothing balm. "My support comes naturally as your sponsor in this race for the throne. Hooowever, I know more than enough the vaaalue of promises for Spirit Art Users. It warms my heart to see your resolve strengthened~."

A faint smile graced Ram's lips as she internally thanked Emilia for satisfying her master. He seemed…almost content.

Roswaal : "I trust your journey back was nooot uneventful then?"

Emilia sighed, a hint of exhaustion coloring her features. "As uneventful as one could expect when dealing with thieves, assassins and witchbeasts."

A delighted chuckle rumbled through Roswaal. "Intereeesting! Tell me everything."

And so, Emilia began to recount her harrowing journey, starting with the most pressing matter: the wolgarms' attack near Arlam Village and the breach in the magical barrier protecting it.

Her voice took on a concerned tone as she described the issues about the anti-witchbeast barrier protecting the surroundings, "With Puck's help, I managed to mend the barrier, but I'd be reassured if you could go inspect our handiwork."

Roswaal nodded sagely, "Undeeerstood, Emilia-sama. It will be done as a maaatter of urgency. Thank you for your aaassistance"

"Mm!" Emilia nodded, taking a deep breath before continuing her report to Roswaal. "Also, there were a few... incidents during my trip to the capital."

A playful twinkle appeared in Roswaal's eyes. "Oh? Do tell!"

"It all started when I got lost in the middle of the city," she confessed, her voice dropping to a sheepish whisper. "I was separated from Ram, and well..." She trailed off, unable to meet Roswaal's gaze.

"Looost?" Roswaal feigned shock, his hand dramatically flying to his chest. "My dear Emilia-sama, suuurely not!" He chuckled softly, noticing her embarrassment.

"Perhaps a more suuuitable guide is neeeded for future expeditions?" he added, a teasing look directed at Ram.

Ram's cheeks flushed slightly as she bowed formally. "I deeply apologize, Roswaal-sama, Emilia-sama. My inattention led to this unfortunate circumstance. I assure you, such an oversight will not happen again."

Emilia, however, brushed off the concern with a gentle smile. "It's not entirely your fault, Ram," she said softly, "I was eager to explore the city more myself." She confessed, "Perhaps I got a little carried away."

Roswaal simply waved his hand dismissively. "No neeed for apologies, Emilia-sama, Ram. It's easily forgiven. Aaafter all," he added with a wink, "a little adventure never hurt aaanyone."

Clearing her throat, Emilia continued, her voice regaining its composure. "Then there was the rather unpleasant encounter with Felt. She stole my royal insignia right from me!"

"Did she steal your money along with it?" Roswaal inquired, his tone betraying no hint of surprise.

Emilia shook her head. "Hm? No, only the touchstone…"

Roswaal's tone remained surprisingly neutral. "Intriguing... though, I must saaay, it did put your candidacy in a raaather precarious pooosition."

Emilia nodded glumly. "I agree," she said, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. "But! But! She gave it back!" she added, offering a sliver of hope. "So, all's well that ends well, I suppose."

"And then," Emilia continued, her brow furrowed in thought, "I discovered something even more disturbing."

"Felt was contracted by a killer named Elsa Granhiert. Her goal, I believe, was to lure me into the slums and eliminate me," she stated, her voice laced with a mix of anger and fear.

But… there's probably someone behind Elsa pulling the strings," she added, meeting Roswaal's gaze with a serious intensity, and leaving a chilling silence hanging in the air.

Ram's eyes widened slightly at Emilia's words, her hand unconsciously reaching towards her wand. Emilia's expression was simply that intimidating, even if in reality she had absolutely no suspicion of the Margrave.

Emilia's abnormally rapid growth was once again unsettling Ram.

A few days earlier, she hadn't even been a subject of caution, admiration or anything of the sort for the servant girl. Emilia never commanded this level of respect, let alone fear.

Now, Ram found herself inexplicably compelled to monitor her every move — her ogre instincts, albeit slightly and briefly, twitched at the half-elf's mere presence.

Emilia became a person to watch out for her master's safety, something Ram rarely had to do, as Roswaal was unquestionably the most powerful mage in Lugunica.

Roswaal, on the other hand, responded with a satisfactory and amused grin.

He internally chuckled to himself at Emilia's deduction – though he hadn't directly orchestrated Felt's actions, he had indeed been manipulating events from the shadows.

"Someooone behind Elsa?" Roswaal prompted, tilting his head with curiosity. "How intriiiguing! And who might this enigmatic figure be? Another roooyal candidate peeerhaps?"

Emilia shook her head, a frown deepening on her brow. "I doubt it, but maybe... Honestly, I'm not sure. I'm just saying I, no, we should stay alert. Something like this could happen any time from now until we find out who it was."

Roswaal nodded in agreement. "I agreeee, Emilia-sama," he purred, "We must remaaain vigilant."

Emilia : "And it gets worse. Elsa coerced Raksha – she is a regular civilian – into carrying a suicide attack! Thankfully, there were no victims, and she wasn't hurt."

Roswaal leaned back in his chair, feigning concern. "This is indeed troooubling," he murmured, his gaze distant and contemplative. "A tangled web of deceeeit and violence. We must proceeed with cauuution."

Emilia took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before concluding her report. "Finally," she said, her voice softening slightly, "Felt was taken by Reinhard."

"Reinhard?" he echoed, tilting his head with feigned curiosity. "The Swooord Saint was invooolved as well? I hadn't heard of that. What prompted suuuch a dramatic turn of eveeents?"

"It seems my stolen insignia reacted when Felt held it," Emilia explained, her gaze distant as if replaying the moment in her mind. "It shone brightly, confirming her status as a royal candidate."

"A royal candidaaate?! An unexpected development indeed," he murmured. "So, I suppooose that the thief, Felt, was…"

Emilia : "Mm. Reinhard took her into custody, likely for observation and evaluation"

"However," Emilia continued, a warm smile softening her features, "it wasn't all bad news, since Subaru and Reinhard managed to resolve the whole situation peacefully."

Roswaal's eyes widened in surprise. "Subaru? I hadn't heard this naaame mentioned before. You mentioned he assisted you agaaainst Elsa?"

"Yes," she said softly, her voice losing its usual reserved tone. "He saved me that day. He's a very precious friend."

"I see," Roswaal replied smoothly, his expression unreadable. He seemed genuinely curious about this 'Subaru'. "What is he like~?"

Emilia hesitated for a moment, then continued. "He's a veeery weird boy, but Subaru is kind and brave, even though he can be quite clumsy sometimes." Her smile widened. "He's also incredibly determined to help and protect those he cares about." She paused, her gaze drifting towards the empty space beside her.

"Since he doesn't have a home or a job at the moment," Emilia explained, "I invited him to stay here with us."

Ram stepped forward, her voice firm and clear. "Right now, Barusu is in the company of Rem." She added quickly, as if anticipating Roswaal's reaction.

Roswaal chuckled lightly. "Ah, so it seems our young hero has found a temporary place of rest," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well then, I suppose there's no harm in letting him stay at the mansion for a while."

Roswaal : "Emilia-sama, may I aaask more about the role of yooour friend in this?"

Emilia hesitated for a moment, unsure how to adequately describe Subaru's actions without revealing too much. Finally, she spoke, choosing her words carefully.

"Subaru," she began, "was instrumental in uncovering the entire plot. He found Felt's hidden den, managed to enlist the aid of the Sword Saint Reinhard, uncovered Elsa Granhiert's treacherous plans, and most importantly, rescued me from imminent danger."

The half-elf paused, taking a deep breath to compose herself, as she had remembered her gruesome deaths, erased by Subaru's intervention.

"He also played a vital role in piecing together all the scattered clues, connecting the dots that had initially seemed unrelated," she continued, her voice tinged with awe. "Without him, I truly believe things would have turned out far worse."

"Perhaps it's best not to mention the loop", Emilia thought to herself. "They wouldn't understand, and it's a secret I share only with Puck and Subaru."

Roswaal leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he studied Emilia intently. "Emilia-sama, while I admiiire your trust in Suuubaru, his involvement looks deeeply suspicious."

"A young man, unknooown to us until recently, suuuddenly appears with an abundance of knowledge and a conveeeniently developed skillset for thwarting an assassination attempt on you... He seems almost too good to be truuue~."

"Ah yes, Puck told me something similar too…" she thought to herself. "Subaru really does look suspicious then…"

"He indeed looks suspicious," Ram added bluntly. "As if by chance, Barusu appears just when he's needed, at the very moment your insignia is stolen, with plenty of information on how to get it back, and even on who ordered it. It's as if he were a political spy trying to get into the good graces of Emilia's camp."

A prickle of annoyance shot through Emilia. Their insinuations felt like thinly veiled accusations. "Roswaal, Ram," she said firmly, her voice resolute, "I trust Subaru. His intentions are pure, I can feel it. And Puck is definite: Subaru doesn't have any ill intent."

"Besides," she added with a wry smile, "if he were truly an enemy spy, wouldn't he be more interested in infiltrating Felt's camp or another Royal Selection contender? Why would he choose to assist me?"

Roswaal chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Whyyy not?" he purred, savoring her discomfort.

The truth was, Roswaal had absolutely no reason to distrust Subaru. He simply wanted to test Emilia's judgment, assess her growth predicted by the Book of Wisdom…and perhaps indulge in a bit of playful teasing.

Emilia faltered for a moment, grappling with his words. "I don't know much about the other candidates, Felt excluded," she admitted, "but I doubt they're in a worse political situation than me— That's not your fault, Roswaal!"

She shook her hands defensively, as if warding off the accusation. "Truth is that I'm a half-elf. Right now, I'm seen only as a mere placeholder for the selection to finally start… Which candidate would gain anything by exerting so much effort to infiltrate Subaru by my side?"

As Emilia herself didn't feel like it was enough, she added : "Moreover, if Subaru was really a spy, wouldn't he have acted differently? He's been reckless, outspoken, and utterly transparent in his actions."

Emilia : "A true infiltrator would be cautious, reserved, and discreet, working their way into our trust over time. But Subaru? He threw himself into danger without hesitation."

She didn't notice how prolix she became as she continued laying down her point. "He didn't just save me—he exposed himself to powerful figures like Reinhard and the Council of Wise Men, people who could investigate his background and motives. If he were a spy, he'd be the worst one I've ever heard of."

Without outright dismissing her point. Roswaal answered : "Ooooh my, Emilia-sama, you do make a compelling case~. But tell me—what if this reckless, transparent act is preeecisely the strategy?"

Emilia : "Eh?"

Roswaal : "A clumsy fool who stumbles into our good graces is faaar less suspicious than a calculated infiltrator. What better disguiiise than someone who appears to have no disguise at all?"

Roswaal, enjoying playing the devil's advocate, tried to push Emilia to consider that even Subaru's recklessness could be an act. In order to keep Emilia on her toes, forcing her to prove her faith in Subaru with more than just intuition.

Emilia stayed silent, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, sweat dripping on her face.

Roswaal : "Fuuurthermore, if someone were actually aiming at the Mathers clan, and not at your 'desperate-looking candidacy' as you just said, that wouldn't be that faaar-fetched, wooould it be?"

Emilia's heart skipped a beat. A cold dread washed over her as she thought of Subaru, his trustworthiness and safety suddenly hanging in the balance. She desperately tried to recall the events of the infernal loop, searching for any clue, any piece of information that could shed light on Roswaal's unsettling suggestion.

And then, it struck her. Like a bolt of lightning piercing through the fog of confusion, a terrifying possibility crystallized in her mind.

"I understand why you think Subaru might be deceiving us, Roswaal," Emilia stammered, her voice shaking slightly, "but if that were true, then there's something much bigger at play here."

Roswaal, in a musical purr, asked, "Hmm? How sooo~?"

"Subaru didn't just act recklessly—he acted without expecting anything in return." She began. "His honesty, his desperation, his sincerity… Those things can't be faked without knowing exactly what I'd respond to."

Emilia : "But I'm absolutely sure we've never met before. For him to trick me this perfectly, he would have to know everything about me—my personality, my weaknesses, my values—before we even spoke."

She paused, regaining her composure before adding, "And not just me. For our meeting to be a setup, that means Subaru would have needed information about our movements—about how I'd separate from you at the Royal Castle, how Ram would lose me in the capital, how I'd be in that street at that exact moment."

"And if he had that much inside knowledge about us… then why would anyone go through the trouble of sending him to spy? Wouldn't that mean the enemy already has a way to get information straight from the Mathers household?"

Ram's gaze sharpened slightly, a hint of offense flickering across her features at the implicit criticism of Roswaal's apparent oversight. However, she had to concede that Emilia's argument was sound.

Emilia's voice gained strength as she laid out her reasoning, "If there's already a source feeding them such precise details, sending a completely unknown boy to infiltrate us would be unnecessary and risky. In fact, it would be the worst plan imaginable."

"So tell me, Roswaal, what makes more sense? That a spy was sent to infiltrate us in the worst possible way? Or that Subaru is exactly what he appears to be—a reckless, but kind boy who just happened to be in the right place at the right time?"

Roswaal's grin widened as Emilia's growth went far beyond his expectations.

She essentially flipped Roswaal's suspicion back on itself—if Subaru were a spy, the sheer amount of inside knowledge he would have needed to fake his actions means that whoever sent him already has a better source of intelligence, making his infiltration redundant.

Instead of just defending Subaru, Emilia is making Roswaal reconsider the entire premise of his argument. By forcing him to acknowledge a contradiction, she undermined the very logic of suspecting him in the first place.

A purely rational initiative that she would never have thought of before. Meaning that his schemes, drawn up with the help of her Tome of Wisdom, have worked as planned.

For the sake of Subaru, she is able to surpass herself to unexpected heights. The very first step of his plan was successfully cleared.

"I am impreeessed, Emilia-sama!" Roswaal exclaimed, his voice laced with genuine admiration. "Splendid reasoniiing process! I shall investigate through the Mathers clan, its allies and eeenemies. Indeed, the chaaances of Subaru being a veeery helpful friend and not a spy are hiiigh."

"Right? Thanks, Roswaal!" Emilia beamed, a wave of relief washing over her. "Hehe... My lessons are getting me somewhere, I guess? Also, that's just a possibility!"

Roswaal chuckled softly, his gaze lingering on Emilia with a playful amusement in his eyes. "Your intuition is quite shaaarp, Emilia-sama," he purred, "Perhaps sharper than you realiiize."

"Thanks, Roswaal!". Emilia, oblivious to the depth of his thoughts, continued to bask in the warmth of Roswaal's reassurance.

She was undeniably perceptive, but her heart always searched for the best in others. The thought of betrayal, especially from someone close to her, seemed inconceivable.

Even now, as she acknowledged the slight possibility of danger lurking within her own circle, she asserted it as foreign, without even considering the notion of a traitor by her side.

"She's still naive, but she's definitely maturing. I guess my plans are working just fine, as my teacher's book says.", Roswaal thought, watching her with quiet satisfaction.

Emilia : "In any case, I can vouch for Subaru, he's trustworthy!"

Toying with Emilia's feelings towards Subaru had almost backfired, but the outcome was ultimately pleasing. He could try and find flaws in her reasoning anyway, yet what truly mattered was observing how she had supported Subaru.

Emilia was a simple-minded and good-natured person.

Subaru had saved her life and protected her interests; that reason alone was plenty enough for the ever benevolent soul to blindly defend him. She was this kind of person, and Roswaal knew it.

But witnessing her construct elaborate arguments, weaving stories and proofs, anything to convince them of Subaru's innocence, while she virtually didn't even need to, was revelatory.

Simply put, she was hiding something.

This wasn't mere naivete; it was calculated concealment. And Roswaal's initial suspicions, stemming from his Tome's instructions, that Subaru possessed the ability to rewind time solidified further and further into certainty.

Emilia, he confirmed with growing excitement, shared in this extraordinary gift.

The head Court Mage was so overjoyed that he failed to turn his expression serious as he leaned forward, and said : "Emilia-sama, this incident muuust be kept strictly cooonfidential, especially Felt's invooolvement. It is implicitly prohibited to have any interaction between candidaaates before the Selection, and revealing her participation could haaave unforeseen consequences."

Emilia nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Roswaal's words despite his amused expression. "I understand," she said softly, her voice laced with determination. "This will stay between us. I'll leave you looking for the mastermind then… I'm sorry—no, thanks for your aid. I'm giving you a lot to do, am I?"

"It's a pleeeasure to be useful, Emilia-sama," Roswaal replied with a graceful bow.

Emilia tilted her head, a thoughtful expression gracing her features. "I think I might have a clue to help you!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with newfound inspiration. "Say, how much do you know about magical artifacts?"

Roswaal's smile widened, his interest piqued. "This keeps getting more and more interesting~", he thought.

The grand hallways of Roswaal's mansion stretched before Subaru, their ornate architecture a stark contrast to what he'd been accustomed to in this world.

Each turn offered another glimpse into opulence, but Subaru was feeling every step like he was wading through quicksand.

The blue-haired maid walked beside him, her expression as unreadable as ever. He tried to make conversation, anything really – a casual comment about the weather, a question about the manor's history – but each attempt was met with terse replies or silence.

"Rem, was it?" Subaru began, struggling to find something engaging to say. "This place is incredible! So big…and beautiful." He gestured vaguely around them, hoping his words wouldn't come across as hollow flattery.

Rem, however, remained a statue of serene indifference, her only response being a curt nod.

Subaru tried again, this time focusing on the lack of bustling activity. "It seems awfully quiet for such a grand manor," he ventured. "Where are all the servants?"

"On leave," Rem replied flatly, her voice devoid of any warmth or inflection. Subaru frowned; she sounded even colder than her twin sister Ram.

He sighed inwardly, realizing that conversation with her was proving as fruitful as trying to coax water from a stone.

"This is the guest room," Rem stated flatly, gesturing towards a door at the end of the hallway. Subaru braced himself for another room filled with dusty grandeur, a common theme throughout Roswaal's seemingly endless mansion.

He pushed open the doors, and his breath caught in his throat. Instead of the expected opulence, he was met with an explosion of books.

A vast two-storey space filled with bookshelves unfolded before him, spiral staircases leading to a second-floor balcony overflowing with towering bookcases that seemed to climb towards the vaulted ceiling.

Perched on a low stool near the entrance, Beatrice's attention rapt on an open book. She looked up as they entered, her eyes widening with surprise.

Subaru stared in awe. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. "Do you guys make your guests sleep in libraries or something?"

Beatrice blinked, eyes filled with anticipation as she clutched the book tighter to her chest.

Beatrice : "W–What, I suppose?!"

Rem's voice remained as crisp and cold as ever. "This is the Forbidden Library, a place accessible only through randomly selected doors within this mansion," she explained. "We stumbled upon the good one by chance."

Subaru blinked, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Hm? Ooh… I see… hehe, I underestimated you, Rem-rin!"

Rem : "Huh?"

"Since you were colder all this time," Subaru chuckled, "I didn't expect you two to pull a prank on me! Got to say it's a deep one, I still don't understand the move here…"

Beatrice : "What do you want from me, by interrupting Betty's reading session, I suppose?"

Rem shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flickering to Beatrice. "Forgive us, Beatrice-sama," she said, her tone softening slightly. "We did not mean to disturb your reading. We came here by chance."

Beatrice waved a dismissive hand. "Hmph. Just be quick about it then, in fact." she muttered, returning to her book with a huff.

Without another word, the maid curtly nodded, then swiftly dragged Subaru out of the library by grasping his arm firmly, though without applying unnecessary force. Subaru yelped in surprise, clutching at his arm as he was pulled along. "Ow! Ouch! That hurts!"

Once they were safely clear of the library's threshold, Rem opened the same door again, revealing this time not a sea of books, but a plush bedroom, bathed in soft light and furnished with comfortable-looking furniture, promising a restful night's sleep.

Subaru, bewildered by the sudden shift in settings, momentarily forgot about Rem's harshness as he rubbed his arm to dull the pain.

Rem nodded curtly. "When Beatrice-sama hides herself and the Forbidden Library, it becomes impossible to find her again without trying every door within the mansion."

Subaru grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Challenge accepted!" he declared, already scanning the doors surrounding them.

Within seconds, he marched towards the third nearest door and flung it open, startling both Rem and Beatrice who were still recovering from their previous surprise. The familiar scent of old books and parchment greeted him as he stepped back into the Forbidden Library.

Beatrice let out an exasperated sigh. "What a profoundly aggravating man you are, I suppose."

Subaru, unfazed, flashed her a playful grin. "Lighten up! You're gonna ruin your cute face with that cold attitude."

He added, mimicking a smile with his two index fingers. "C'mon, smile, smile!"

Beatrice : "A derisive sneer is the only smile worth giving you, in fact"

Rem seemed genuinely impressed, a hint of surprise softening her usually stoic expression. "That's… remarkable," she finally admitted. "You were really able to outwit Beatrice-sama's Door's Crossing on two consecutive attempts." She glanced at him with an even more suspicious gaze. "How did you do it?"

Subaru noticed the mix of annoyance and grudging respect in their gazes and chuckled nervously, launching into a rambling explanation. "Are you two mad because I guessed correctly on the first try? I have always been pretty lucky with this kind of puzzle mechanism – even though I can understand that Game Masters would want me to properly follow the quest with all its struggles, but sorry!"

"Honestly, it wasn't even that hard," he continued, unable to contain his amusement. He mimed squinting and peering intently at the bookshelf.

"Just felt like a little game, you know? Like those 'find the hidden object' ones in books." He chuckled, adding with a wink, "Except way less boring, thanks to your magical door-swapping shenanigans."

Beatrice bristled, her voice laced with icy disdain. "You make finding Betty sound as simple as locating a misplaced trinket, I suppose," she hissed.

"Well, it kind of was, wasn't it?" Subaru retorted, his grin widening. He leaned back casually, watching Beatrice's reaction with amusement.

Rem gasped, bracing herself for the torrent of Beatrice's fury.

Subaru, seemingly oblivious to Rem's worry, continued, "You know," he said casually, "for someone who prides herself on being impossible to find, you make it awfully easy."

Beatrice's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. "You are utterly lacking in respect for Betty's abilities, I suppose!" she spat, fixing Subaru with an accusing glare.

"Betty's Door's Crossing is a complex magical construct, designed to confound even the most astute minds, in fact. Don't get on your high ground dragon just because you've been lucky, I suppose, hmph!"

Subaru shrugged nonchalantly, feigning innocence. "Really? Maybe I'm actually that brilliant then?"

Subaru couldn't bring himself to be scared. Beatrice's cute features contorted with such adorable frustration that he found her anger oddly endearing.

But Rem remained silent, her blue eyes wide with disbelief. She had never witnessed anyone so openly disrespect Beatrice, a Great Spirit. A part of her hoped Subaru would learn a harsh lesson – but another part secretly admired his audacity.

"Gwumuynuh! You…" Beatrice sputtered, unable to form coherent words as anger boiled over within her. "Betty's had just about enough."

She stood abruptly from her stool, her small frame radiating a palpable aura of power. "Time to teach you a lesson, I suppose."

Beatrice stalked towards Subaru, her steps deliberate and menacing. He instinctively backed away, his movements frantic until he was trapped between her and the door behind him. His eyes widened in alarm as she loomed closer.

"Hey, what are you gonna do?" he stammered, trying to maintain a facade of nonchalance despite the growing fear within him.

Beatrice : "Don't dare move."

Subaru gasped, "Ghk–" but Beatrice cut him off with a steely glare.

"Anything you'd like to say?" she demanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Subaru swallowed hard, forcing a weak grin. "D–Don't hurt me," he whimpered.

Beatrice ignored his plea. She simply placed her small hand on his abdomen, a gesture that seemed surprisingly gentle… until it wasn't.

A jolt of pain ripped through Subaru, leaving him gasping for breath. He crumpled to the floor, drained and weak as Beatrice mercilessly siphoned away his mana.

Rem watched the scene unfold with a mix of shock and satisfaction at Subaru's misfortune. She wasn't fond of him, and perhaps a little lesson in respect wouldn't be so bad after all.

"What did you do to me, you drill loli?!" Subaru exclaimed, his voice weak and strained as he struggled to stay awake.

Beatrice tilted her head, a smug grin playing on her lips. "Betty only collected a bit of mana from your body, I suppose. Did it hurt, human?" she inquired, her voice dripping with mock concern.

Subaru stared at her, confusion morphing into dawning realization. "Y–You're not human, are you? And I don't mean your personality..."

Beatrice : "It took you long enough to notice, I suppose."

"I take it back. Your personality isn't human either…" he mumbled, his consciousness beginning to fade.

As darkness enveloped him, he heard Beatrice's voice echoing in the distance. "Do not measure a proud, noble being by your standards, human."

Beatrice returned to her stool with an air of regal grace, settling back into her familiar position. Turning to Rem, she issued a crisp command, "Maid, search him for a Gospel, in fact."

Rem's eyes widened in alarm. "Beatrice-sama, are you suspecting him of being a member of the Witch Cult?" she asked hesitantly, her tone laced with disbelief.

Beatrice scoffed. "The witch's scent hangs heavy on this boy. Isn't it the reason for your barely concealed hostility towards him, I suppose?" she remarked, her gaze fixed on Subaru's prone form with an unreadable expression.

Rem gasped, her cheeks momentarily flushing crimson. She thought she had been more careful, masking her suspicion with polite indifference.

At the same time, a strange sense of kinship welled up within her, a connection to the powerful being who, like her, sensed the darkness clinging to Subaru, and understood her internal turmoil.

"Beatrice-sama… Shouldn't we…get rid of him…here and now?" Rem blurted out impulsively, her words laced with urgency.

Beatrice : "..."

Rem : I've encountered countless cultists before – all reeking of the witch's miasma. But this…this stench emanating from him is like nothing I've ever experienced! He must be a high-ranking member, perhaps even an Archibish—"

"The miasma and the Witch Cult are not necessarily related, in fact," she declared firmly, halting the maid's reckless proposition with a tone leaving no room for argument. "Betty's request for you to search him was specific - for a Gospel, I suppose. No witch cultist would wander about without such an artifact, I suppose."

Rem, sensing Beatrice's resolve, reluctantly nodded. With a faint sigh, she knelt beside the unconscious Subaru, her brow furrowed in concern.

"There's nothing here, Beatrice-sama," Rem reported, rising to her feet after a thorough search of Subaru's pockets, finding only a worn wallet containing some strange currency unfamiliar to her.

Beatrice : "We can conclude that he's innocent, I suppose. Besides, Betty has just finished examining his mana. He's far from a threat to anyone in this manor, I suppose."

Rem frowned, hesitant to accept Beatrice's words so readily. "Really? Are you really sure about–" she began, but Beatrice cut her off.

"Betty wants to continue her reading peacefully now, maid. You may go before Betty's mood changes, I suppose," Beatrice stated firmly, returning to her book with an air of finality.

Rem bowed slightly in acknowledgement, knowing better than to argue. She begrudgingly carried the unconscious Subaru out of the library and up to his guest room, laying him gently on the bed.

She stopped herself before leaving, silently closed the door with her back and walked up to the bed in the room that had the lights off.

As she turned to leave, a flicker of unease stopped her. She silently closed the door behind her, her footsteps silent as she approached the bed bathed in moonlight. Rem held her breath, listening intently.

The only sound was Subaru's soft, even breathing. His innocent sleeping face, illuminated by the pale light, contrasted sharply with the aura of darkness he constantly emits.

Despite Emilia and Beatrice's reassurances, a seed of doubt lingered in Rem's heart.

"He must have an ulterior motive," she thought to herself. A dangerous idea began to take root. "Before problems arise… before peace is disturbed… maybe I should do something."

Rem silently reached for Subaru's neck, her hand hovering just above his skin.

Then, a voice, soft and slurred, broke the silence. "Ehehe, you're so cute even when you're mad… isekai fantasy…"

Subaru mumbled in his sleep, his face contorted with a comical expression as he drooled onto the pillow. Rem's hand froze mid-air.

"...Aagh," he shrieked, as she flicked him on the forehead with her finger.

The boy twitched in his sleep before falling back into slumber, and Rem stared at him for a moment longer, a mixture of irritation and relief playing across her features.

"I don't think I'll ever get along well with this guest… Please leave as soon as possible," she murmured softly, her polite tone tinted by superficiality, to the sleeping boy before finally leaving the room.

Subaru awoke with a groan, blinking against the unfamiliar sunlight filtering through the window.

"I don't know this ceiling…" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on Emilia, who sat beside him, absorbed in a book. A gentle smile lit up her features as she glanced up at him.

"Good morning, Subaru," she greeted him softly, her voice like a balm to his groggy senses.

Subaru blinked, surprised by the warmth in her tone. "Good morning, Emilia-tan," he replied, his own cheeks flushing slightly.

Emilia closed her book with a soft click, her gaze turning thoughtful. "Subaru, are you feeling all right? Does anything feel off?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Huh? Oh, I'm just a little groggy from oversleeping," he said, attempting to wave away her concerns with a dismissive gesture.

"Beatrice played a little trick on you yesterday," Emilia explained, her brow furrowing slightly. "She drained your mana to the point of making you pass out."

Subaru's eyes widened in understanding. "Mana drained?" He could vaguely recall a feeling of intense exhaustion and then...nothing.

"Don't be angry at her," Emilia added quickly, sensing his apprehension. "Beatrice can be quite…intense at times, but she is not a bad person."

"It's no problem," Subaru assured her in a chuckle, pushing himself up from the bed and stretching with a yawn. "Besides, I kind of provoked her myself."

Subaru : "Although, waking up to the radiant beauty of Emilia-tan is the best way to start any day, so I can't even feel angry about it."

His cheeks flushed a faint pink as his eyes lingered on Emilia's attire. She wasn't wearing her usual outfit, but a soft, pale pink nightgown that hugged her slender figure gracefully.

It was simple yet elegant, and the way it fell around her… well, Subaru found himself momentarily speechless. Puck's green home crystal sat nestled against her chest, adding a touch of whimsy to the otherwise elegant ensemble.

"Hm! Whoever picked that outfit totally gets it!" he exclaimed, finally finding his voice.

Emilia shaked her head at his words. "I don't know what you're talking about, but the fact that I know it's something stupid is reeeally disappointing,"

Subaru : "Ghk– Puck, are you here? You gotta wake up as well!"

"No, he isn't here.", she answered, shaking her head softly. "Yesterday, when Beatrice healed me, she and Puck made a deal."

Subaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A deal?"

"Yes," Emilia confirmed. "Beatrice agreed to heal me to a perfect state in exchange for Puck spending the entire day with her."

To fill the silence, Subaru continued, leaning back against the headboard. "Do you always read first thing in the morning?"

Emilia smiled faintly. "Yes, it's become a habit of mine," she said, her gaze drifting towards the book resting on her lap. "Before I came to Roswaal's manor, life was rather…empty. I had nothing much to do in my homeland."

She paused, a wistful expression crossing her features. "To pass the time, I picked up reading. I would save enough money, then ask Puck to buy some—It wasn't always easy, books can be quite expensive..." Her voice softened with a hint of fondness.

Subaru leaned forward, curious. "Eeeh… What kind of books?"

"Mostly anything that caught his fancy," Emilia replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "Like how to groom a cat's fur. Sometimes I'd get fairy tales, other times, books about magic…" She chuckled softly.

"Though I'm not fond of the ones Roswaal gives me – they're far too complicated for my taste," she admitted, shrugging playfully. "But I suppose it is important to study for the Royal Selection."

Subaru grinned. "I feel inspired! I want to do the same as you, as soon as I learn your language," he chuckled, his voice laced with self-deprecating humor. "Until then, I'm afraid I'll just be stuck admiring your dedication."

Emilia : "Ah! You can't read, I've completely forgotten about that!"

Subaru : "Don't tease me c'mon!"

They stayed silent for a moment, then both burst into laughter, the sound echoing softly through the room.

"You know, I had picked up a morning habit back in my hometown, in a similar way as you, to pass time," Subaru said, watching Emilia's expression with amusement.

Emilia tilted her head inquisitively. "Oh? What kind of habit?"

"It's called Radio Calisthenics," Subaru explained, watching her brow furrow in confusion. "Basically, it's… my homeland's ancient practice of warm-up exercises. It was quite popular in certain circles."

A spark of genuine interest lit up Emilia's eyes. "Radiyo Karsenitix… I've never heard of that before. Tell me more about it," she urged, captivated by the idea of a tradition from beyond the Great Waterfall.

"I think it would be easier to show you than tell you," he grinned, gesturing towards the open window. "How about we head outside?"

As they walked through the dimly lit hallways of Roswaal's mansion, a gentle silence fell between them, broken only by the soft clicks of their footsteps on the worn marbled floor.

"It's a treatise on the Demi-human War," Emilia said softly. "Roswaal insists it's crucial for my understanding of Lugunica. And I have to admit, the subject is interesting," she added, though there was a hint of weariness in her voice. "But the book itself is too dense..."

Subaru nodded absently, his mind already racing with a different thought. The Demi-human War sounded fascinating, but he had something else on his mind. He stopped suddenly, startling Emilia.

"What is happening?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise at his abrupt halt.

"Let's just say I have a surprise waiting for you," Subaru replied with a mischievous grin. He threw open the door, revealing the shelves of the Forbidden library.

They found Beatrice, laying on her bed, engrossed in petting Puck. "You're so great Bubby! Your fur is the best!—" she shrieked in alarm when she noticed the smug smile of Subaru and the excited smile of Emilia.

"Don't worry," Subaru chuckled, "I won't tell a soul. The feel of that fur would make anyone—"

Emilia cut him off, her eyes shining with excitement. "You found Beatrice?! In one try?! That's veeery marvellous, Subaru!"

Puck echoed her enthusiasm, his voice filled with admiration. "That was impressive, Subaru!"

"Hehe, please stop, you guys are going to make me blush…" he answered, "And who says 'marvellous' in this day and age?"

Beatrice : "How do you keep breaking through my Door's Crossing every time, I suppose? You didn't learn your lesson yesterday, I suppose?!"

"Well, see, I'm a flag-crusher who makes game masters cry," he declared with a mischievous grin, puffing out his chest.

Beatrice blinked, utterly perplexed. "Fragcrashaa? What on earth does that even mean, in fact?"

Emilia, who had been watching the exchange with amusement, chuckled softly. "It seems you two have already a unique… dynamic," she remarked. "You sound so close already."

Beatrice scoffed, quickly regaining her haughty composure. "Dynamic? He's just an annoying pest, I suppose! Hmph!"

Subaru, undeterred, simply grinned wider. "But a cute and fun one, right? Speaking of fun, want to join me for some Radio Calisthenics? It's a blast!" he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

Puck : "Radio Calisthenics? Sounds intriguing!"

Beatrice, however, remained unmoved. "I'm far too dignified for childish activities, I'd rather spend my time with Bubby," she declared dismissively. "But I wish you both well."

"Hmmm… Then have fun without me!" Puck chirped, waving his tiny hand with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Be careful not to hurt yourselves!"

Subaru : "Well, too bad for you! Let's go, Emilia-tan!"

Emilia smiled warmly at Puck before turning to Subaru. "Have a good day, Puck," she said softly.

They stepped out of the library and into the vast expanse of Roswaal's gardens, eventually reaching a gazebo nestled amidst a sea of neatly trimmed grass – a testament to the sheer scale and opulence of the estate.

"This place really is huge… The yard isn't so much a yard as a field," Subaru muttered in awe, his gaze sweeping across the expansive lawns stretching out before them.

Subaru began to stretch, his limbs moving in a series of unfamiliar, fluid motions that seemed almost choreographed.

Emilia tilted her head, observing him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "Those are unusual movements," she remarked. "What exactly are you doing?"

Subaru grinned, a hint of mischief sparkling in his eyes. "This is Radio Calisthenics," he explained, striking a pose that seemed in Emilia's eyes both awkward and graceful at the same time. "Come on, Emilia-tan! Join me!"

With hesitant steps, Emilia approached Subaru and mirrored his movements as best she could. It proved more challenging than she anticipated, her limbs seemed stiff and clumsy compared to his flowing grace.

She struggled to keep up with his pace, her brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to grasp the unfamiliar stretches.

Subaru laughed, a warm, encouraging sound that echoed through the garden. "Don't worry," he said gently, "It takes practice! Just relax and let your body move. Radio Calisthenics, number 2! Bounce on both feet to loosen up your body!"

In the courtyard, Subaru and Emilia moved in odd synchronization, their arms stretching and twisting in a rhythmic display that seemed both bizarre and oddly structured.

Sunlight glinted off Emilia's silver hair as she contorted her body into new positions, a wide smile blooming on her face despite the initial awkwardness.

From a high window inside the mansion, two figures watched.

Puck floated lazily, his tail flicking idly as he observed the absurd scene before him. Beatrice, standing beside him, had her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

She wasn't particularly interested, she told herself—just idly observing out of boredom.

"What is that boy making her do?" Puck muttered, ears twitching in mild disbelief. He couldn't quite place the strange routine, but it clearly held Emilia captive

Beatrice : "Hmph. Foolishness, I suppose. But...it's working."

Puck's gaze snapped to her. "Working?"

Beatrice hesitated for a fraction of a second—an imperceptible pause that she quickly covered up with a dismissive shrug.

"I mean, she's smiling, isn't she? She looks really happy, in fact."

She bit the inside of her cheek immediately after saying it. Why did she even comment on that? What did it matter if Emilia smiled?

Puck sighed, turning back to the courtyard. "She's too attached to him."

Beatrice scoffed. "And you're jealous, I suppose?"

She had meant it as a joke—an easy jab to deflect any further discussion—but Puck didn't rise to the bait. Instead, his eyes darkened, his voice turning uncharacteristically grim.

"I'm… I'm afraid, Betty."

Beatrice blinked, surprised by his sudden shift in mood. "Bubby?"

Puck took a deep breath, his chest heaving slightly. "Ever since Subaru burst into her life," he began, his voice laced with worry, "she's put herself in more and more danger for his sake... I have to admit... It's scary."

Beatrice : "She's always been like this, in fact. Kind to a fault."

Puck nodded, his gaze fixed on the courtyard below where Subaru and Emilia continued their strange exercise routine. "Lia is one who always takes risks to help people," he said at last.

Puck : "That's who she is. That's my daughter I love. But she always knows her limits. She never throws herself away uselessly. Not until now."

Beatrice frowned, understanding dawning on her face. She knew what Puck was talking about. The wolgarm attack.

She hadn't seen it firsthand, but she had heard about Emilia's reckless bravery. Heard about the way she had thrown herself between Subaru and the monster's fangs without a second thought.

Acting not as a composed warrior, but as someone desperate, as if Subaru's life mattered more than her own.

"She shielded him, Betty," Puck said, his voice tight with emotion. "That thing was nothing to her. She could've killed it from afar in an instant. But she jumped between them like—"

His claws dug into the window framework, as he whispered, "...Like she'd rather die than let him get hurt."

Beatrice spoke softly, her voice laced with understanding. "And that scares you."

Puck's sharp retort came instantly. "Of course it does. And it's not like I never saw her in danger."

Puck had fought alongside Emilia for years.

Because she shares the features of the Witch of Envy, he had watched her struggle against enemies far greater than herself.

Because she would sometimes emit miasma without warning, and attract witchbeasts in the Elior Forest, he had seen her in life-or-death situations.

Yet he had never feared for her like this.

"All those times, the threats were external. Things I could fight. Things I could help her prepare for."

He shook his head, his expression grim. "But now…now she's facing a threat from within. Her own reckless disregard for her own safety."

Puck was completely unprepared to face Emilia's newfound self-destruction tendencies, which he could clearly discern thanks to his magical empathic abilities.

"It all comes back to him, doesn't it? Subaru. The root of this entire problem," Puck told himself.

Then a wave of frustration washed on him. Her daughter was fond of the boy she considered as her first close friend. After himself, of course.

He couldn't simply act recklessly, dismiss Subaru as an inconvenience. That would shatter Emilia's heart, and Puck was far too protective to inflict such pain on her.

And, in the first place, "How am I supposed to outsmart someone who can probably manipulate time itself?" he shouted in his head. Could Puck do this alone? Just by himself?

He regretted having accepted so carelessly the confidentiality clause Emilia had added in their spiritual contract. He can't tell anyone else about Subaru's ability.

Had it happened after the wolgarm incident, had he realized the depth of the situation sooner, he'd have never accepted it.

He felt cornered, and that's why he was so afraid.

Puck : "Haaa… How am I supposed to deal with this?"

Beatrice found herself unable to answer, as her gaze flickered towards Subaru.

He was laughing again, doing some exaggerated movement that made Emilia giggle in response. How? How could someone who barely survived last night's events look so… carefree?

And yet, here he was. Moving. Laughing. Living.

Beatrice : "That foolish human… He does have a tendency to pull people in, I suppose."

Puck raised an eyebrow, his teasing tone a stark contrast to his inner turmoil. "Oh? Now this is rare," he chuckled, his emerald eyes gleaming with amusement. "Betty. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were interested, haha!"

Beatrice crossed her arms defensively, scoffing at his jest. "Don't be ridiculous, in fact!" she retorted.

Puck merely chuckled, flicking his tail with a playful air. "You say that, but you've been watching him too," he countered, his tone laced with gentle mockery.

Beatrice bristled, attempting to regain her composure. "Hmph. Don't be absurd," she huffed, "Watching and observing are entirely different matters, in fact."

Puck : "Oh? And what exactly have you 'observed'?"

Beatrice turned on Puck, her gaze sharp with annoyance. "He's strange, I suppose," she conceded grudgingly. "He keeps breaking through my dimensional spell. But his gate… it's so weak, as if he's never used it before, I suppose."

Puck silently registered the information: "Subaru's gate is weak, huh?"

Beatrice hated that she had no answers for his peculiarities, even more so that she found herself wanting to understand them. It was a vulnerability she wouldn't allow herself to explore.

"Could he be 'that person'?" The thought flitted through her mind, a dangerous hope taking root. Was Subaru the one she had been waiting for all this time?

A shiver ran down her spine. To admit such a possibility meant risking profound disappointment, just like with all those who came before.

Puck watched from beside her as Subaru lifted Emilia's hand triumphantly, declaring in an exaggerated voice, "Victory!" Emilia echoed the word hesitantly, earning another boisterous laugh from the boy.

"If he makes her cry," Puck said suddenly, his voice laced with a chillingly serious tone, "I'll erase him from existence."

Beatrice didn't doubt it for a second.

And yet, as much as she wanted to agree, her gaze remained fixed on Subaru.

A fleeting image flashed in her mind—Subaru's easy, ridiculous grin and the way he treated her not as a guardian of a library, but as an actual person. The warmth of the feeling sparked something deep within her.

It reminded her of something she immediately tried to bury under layers of icy indifference.

Beatrice answered, a casual air into her voice. "Hmph. I care little for what you do, in fact" she dismissed Puck's words with a wave of her hand, though her fingers tightened around the sleeve of her robe, betraying her facade. "The boy's fate is none of my concern, I suppose."

Puck : "…Is that so?"

It reminded her of something that felt familiar.

She scoffed. "He's an idiot, I suppose."

She wanted to leave it at that, truly she did.

But for some reason, she couldn't stop herself from adding, almost too quietly, "But…"

Puck glanced at her, his expression expectant. "But?"

Beatrice clenched her jaw, refusing to meet his gaze.

She didn't know what she was about to say.

She didn't want to know.

Instead, she simply muttered, "…Nothing. Forget it, in fact."

The two spirits fell into silence, watching from the shadows.

They didn't trust Subaru. But they couldn't ignore him, either. Because something was happening.

And it terrified them both.

"Anyways… I have delicious sweets today Bubby! Want to eat them with me, I suppose?"

"Yum!" Puck exclaimed, snatching a confection from Beatrice's hand and taking a bite with his usual enthusiasm.

"So you do this every morning?" Emilia asked

"At least I try to! So what do you think about it? Ready to shed the sweat of passion with me from now on?" Subaru puffed out his chest with mock seriousness.

"Don't make it sound so scandalous!" she retorted, then turned away her gaze to the two figures approaching them.

"How perverse of him to say such words so easily," Rem declared, glancing at her sister with a knowing look. "Did you hear that, Nee-sama?"

Ram nodded solemnly, her expression mirroring Rem's disapproval. "Yes, truly the words of a lecherous dog. I heard it, Rem."

Subaru : "Dirty jokes clearly aren't well received in this mansion, I got it!"

"Oh! What brings you two here?" she asked, her attention shifting away from Subaru's flustered state.

In perfect synchronicity, Rem and Ram spoke. "Our lord, Roswaal-sama, has returned. Please come outside."

The grand double doors swung open, revealing a magnificent dining room bathed in warm sunlight streaming through expansive windows.

Gleaming chandeliers hung above intricately carved wooden tables laden with lavish displays of silver tableware. Luxurious paintings adorned the walls, adding to the opulent atmosphere.

Subaru stepped inside first, his gaze sweeping across the grandeur of the room. His eyes settled on a familiar figure standing before him.

Beatrice : "Betty was watching you from upstairs, and you know what? It would seem you are quite dumb, I suppose."

"What's with this sudden diss, you loli?!" Subaru retorted, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Beatrice's eyes narrowed. "What does that word mean? Betty has never heard it before; it irritates me, I suppose!" she snapped back, her voice laced with indignation.

Puck, mischievous as ever, chuckled, teasing Beatrice. "You two look so much like quarreling siblings, I might be a little jealous."

Beatrice's usual stoic facade crumbled for a moment, replaced by a whimper of surprise. "B–Bubby?! Why are you saying this all of a sudden, in fact? You're Betty's big brother, I suppose!"

"This boy is just a foolish wimp with no manners, I suppose!", she added, her expression hardening back into its customary impassiveness as she turned her attention back to Subaru.

Puck's laughter filled the air. "I was just teasing you, Betty! Let's keep playing together!" he chirped, nudging Beatrice playfully.

Beatrice's face lit up like a beacon. She turned herself around, cradling Puck in her hand with a blissful smile. "Yay, I suppose!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with genuine joy.

Subaru stood speechless, watching the exchange unfold before him. Emilia approached him, a knowing smile playing on her lips, "Mazed, aren't you?"

Subaru blinked, momentarily pulled from his bewildered state. "Who even says 'mazed' nowadays?" he muttered, shaking his head in amusement.

Roswaal : "My, my! How unusuaaal to see you here, Beatrice. I'm sooo happy you've decided to dine with me."

His extravagant appearance – a flamboyant mane of blue indigo hair framing a face painted with clownish makeup, and an elaborate costume that shimmered with chatoyant colors – took Subaru aback.

He stiffened, utterly stunned by the spectacle. Beatrice, meanwhile, responded with icy disdain. "That boy is more than enough of an addle-brained fool for me, I suppose," she declared, her crimson eyes narrowed in judgment.

Then, in a sharp contrast to her earlier coldness, she nestled Puck closer, her voice taking on a cloyingly sweet tone. "Betty is only here to give Bubby the company of his contractant, I suppose!"

Subaru, ever the blunt one, couldn't resist commenting on Roswaal's over-the-top persona.

He lightly tapped Roswaal's back, who continued smiling serenely as if nothing had been said. "You guys hire clowns to entertain you before each meal? I'll never understand how rich folks think."

Emilia tensed beside him, her brow furrowed in concern. "Um, Subaru, that man is…" she began hesitantly, but Roswaal cut her off with a disarmingly cheerful wave.

Roswaal : "Oh, no… It's quite aaall right, Emilia-sama."

Subaru : "What's going on?"

A glint in his eyes, Roswaal leaned closer to Subaru, who now realized the gravity of his faux pas, a nervous grin spreading across his face. "Only that I am the lord of this manor," he announced with theatrical flair, "Roswaal L. Mathers, Natsuki Subaru-kun."

= END OF CHAPTER 8 =

Author's Notes :

Puck… bro having that Shaiapouf mindset… you know, HxH, chimera Ant…

As a Reader, I think that the amnesia trope is the laziest way to conceal plot holes or to hide precious plot information, and I generally don't like it, since it's easy to mess it up.

But as a fanfic writer, I'm so glad Puck doesn't have his 400 yrs of memories at this moment cz bruh…

Anyway, I decided to capitalize on his amnesia. I don't have to invent knowledge cz of the theory "Puck actually knows about RBD from Echidna", PLUS I can work on how an amnesiac possessive father with only one family member would react in this situation to Subaru.

Anyway, this work is on AO3 now, you can check there if you want

DISCLAIMER : A dream. I saw a dream… I tried to snatch away the rights to Re:Zero, again and again and again. I tried up to 100 million times, then I woke tf up to reality, and realized that I don't own Re:Zero, it belongs to Tappei Nagatsuki.