...
{3rd Pov}
Natsuki Subaru was here.
That simple sentence was carved directly into the flesh of one of the three great mabeasts, a creature that now lay dead before their eyes.
Natsuki Subaru?
The moment the name registered, confusion spread among them.
They were familiar with the name, of course, but not for any respectable or noteworthy achievements.
Instead, their impression of him came from a completely different set of reasons—none of them flattering.
To all of them, Natsuki Subaru was a reckless fool, an unpredictable madman who had thrown
Emilia's name into chaos during the Royal Selection by loudly proclaiming himself her knight.
He had caused a disturbance in front of every noble and knight present that day, and as if that embarrassment wasn't enough, he had even insulted the entire Royal Guard, effectively making enemies out of nearly every knight in the Kingdom.
In the aftermath of that incident, Julius had stepped forward to handle the situation.
Part of it was to redirect the attention and outrage of the nobles and knights away from Subaru's disgraceful behavior, and part of it was to discipline Subaru for his outrageous conduct.
To calm the anger brewing throughout the Royal Knights and to uphold the dignity of the Order, Julius challenged Natsuki Subaru to a formal duel.
The result was one-sided.
Julius completely overwhelmed Subaru and beat him black and blue, bringing the farce to an end and restoring at least some semblance of order.
However, Julius ended up being punished for his actions as well, since a duel during such a critical political gathering was considered reckless even by his standards.
Once that punishment was announced, the entire situation shifted.
Instead of continuing to criticize Subaru's foolish outburst during the Royal Selection, everyone's attention moved to Julius—his improvised duel, his excessive force, and the disciplinary action taken against him.
Subaru's previous disgraceful behavior was pushed to the background, almost forgotten in the midst of the new commotion.
Although Julius's punishment could be considered extremely light, it still officially closed the matter.
In truth, while Subaru had been beaten brutally and left humiliated, Julius ended up basking in the praise of countless knights and nobles.
Many of them were openly pleased—almost gleeful—that Natsuki Subaru, the loud-mouthed commoner who had dared to raise his voice against them during the Royal Selection, had been thoroughly punished, beaten down, and reminded of his "proper place."
Their satisfaction came not from the justice of the situation, but from their own sense of superiority being reaffirmed.
Meanwhile, Subaru's troubles only worsened.
He lost Emilia's trust due to the reckless actions he had taken earlier, and afterward he remained in the Capital as a patient under Felix's care.
Felix, for his own part, was so suspicious of Subaru's unstable behavior that he even attempted to tamper with Subaru's gate, planning to plant a sort of magical "bomb" inside it—just in case Subaru lost control again.
That alone showed how deeply the distrust toward Subaru ran among those around him.
And, once again, their skepticism toward him seemed justified when Subaru suddenly began demanding that Crusch Karsten mobilize her army to fight the Witch Cult.
He claimed the Cult would attack Arlam Village, which just so happened to be part of Roswaal's domain.
Subaru's insistence on this point only made things worse.
Many were angered not only by his demands, but also by the way he presented them.
For starters, Subaru spoke to Crusch as if they were equals—something completely unacceptable when he was nothing more than a servant of another lord, while Crusch Karsten was a Duchess.
Even though Crusch was known to be humble and level-headed, speaking to her in that manner was undeniably rude, and had Subaru made such demands to any other noble, he likely would have been thrown into a cell without a second thought.
On top of that, his request was absurdly unreasonable: he offered no solid evidence that the Witch Cult would attack, only his desperate claims and vague warnings.
And even if his words had turned out to be true, why, exactly, would Crusch be obligated to help?
From Crusch Karsten's perspective, the safety of her own soldiers mattered more than rushing to protect the subjects of another lord.
Her army was already focused on preparing for the White Whale subjugation, an operation that required precision and careful coordination.
So Subaru demanding she divert her forces—without proof, justification, or authority—only pushed her irritation further.
In the end, Crusch Karsten firmly refused to grant Subaru the assistance he had been desperately begging for, and Subaru reacted in a completely irrational and unstable manner.
The only reason he wasn't immediately executed on the spot for his outrageous behavior was because of Crusch's composure and the fact that she had already promised Emilia that she would see to his healing.
If not for those two factors, Subaru's head might have rolled across the floor that very day.
After being rejected, Natsuki Subaru wandered into another hopeless attempt for help, eventually encountering Anastasia Hoshin.
Anastasia approached him with her usual composed smile and charming demeanor, but behind that façade she quickly recognized his emotional desperation and used it to her benefit.
With carefully chosen words and subtle manipulation, she managed to extract several crucial pieces of information from him—details he should never have revealed to a merchant of her caliber.
And once she had gotten everything she wanted out of him, she discarded him without hesitation, treating him as nothing more than a temporary tool.
Anastasia Hoshin was a merchant through and through.
While there were a few select individuals she genuinely considered family, everyone else existed simply as assets, opportunities, or stepping stones.
Her talent lay in analyzing people, manipulating situations, and using every piece of information to advance her goals.
The Hoshin Company did not become one of the largest and most influential merchant groups in the Kingdom through kindness or luck.
Anastasia had made numerous decisions that many would describe as heartless or cold-blooded, and she never hesitated if a harsh choice was the most profitable one.
Subaru was simply another unfortunate example of someone who crossed her path at the wrong time.
After that, Subaru made his way to the third Royal Candidate, Priscilla Barielle.
However, his encounter with her went even worse.
Priscilla became visibly disgusted the moment she realized how little self-respect Subaru had left.
To Priscilla, a person without dignity was beneath her notice.
She only extended her help to those whom she deemed worthy of her attention—those who carried themselves with pride and strength.
Subaru, trembling, desperate, and demanding that she act on his behalf, appeared to her as someone begging for charity despite being fully capable of standing on his own feet.
In Priscilla's eyes, he was not asking for assistance—he was throwing away his pride in exchange for convenience.
Given that, it was no surprise that she immediately rejected him and had him thrown out without a shred of delicacy.
Her harshness came from her perception of him as a pathetic, pitiful man asking for alms he had no right to claim.
If she had known the truth—if she had understood the suffering Subaru had endured, the actual reason his confidence had shattered to such a low point—then perhaps, just perhaps, she might have responded differently.
At the very least, even if she still denied him, she might have rejected him with a sliver of respect instead of humiliating him.
But those possibilities remained nothing more than hypothetical.
The moment had already passed, and the damage was already done.
By the time anyone could consider what might have been, it was far too late to change anything.
The last information any of them had about Natsuki Subaru was that he had departed for the Mathers mansion.
That was where their knowledge of his whereabouts ended.
Now, with the White Whale lying dead before them, everyone began discussing what they knew about Subaru, trying to piece together some kind of explanation—anything that could make sense of the situation.
Of course, not a single person present believed that Natsuki Subaru, a boy who was practically helpless in swordsmanship and laughably inept in magic, could have personally slain a legendary mabeast.
The idea was so absurd that no one even entertained it.
(A/N: If only they knew Subaru actually did bring it down... though technically through his "pet"—the literal Witch of Envy, feared by the entire world.)
"I do not believe his name was carved by some random passerby," Crusch said, her voice calm but firm as she pieced her thoughts together.
"If anything, the timing lines up far too conveniently to be pure coincidence."
Felix, crouched beside the corpse with a serious expression rare for him, nodded.
"Mm~ The blood on the grass has dried, but the blood inside the body is only just startin' to rot. Based on the temperature and condition… Meow thinks the White Whale fell sometime last night."
Crusch folded her arms, thinking aloud.
"Natsuki Subaru departed for the Mathers domain yesterday evening. Considering that this road is the shortest path to Lord Roswaal's territory, it is highly likely he passed through this area. If so… he may have witnessed the fall of the beast."
Anastasia's eyes sparkled with sudden interest as she snapped open her folding fan.
"Well now, ain't that an interestin' thought? If that boy happened to be nearby when the big fella went down, then he might just be a key witness~," she said with a snicker.
The idea clearly amused her.
Everyone else silently acknowledged the logic.
As far-fetched as it initially sounded, the timeline indeed matched perfectly.
"Still, to go so far as to carve his own name into its flesh… like he's claimin' responsibility for the whole thing? That's pretty bold, nya," Felix said with a mocking grin, the scorn dripping from his tone in a very uncharacteristically sharp way.
Truthfully, all three camps present—Crusch's, Anastasia's, and even Julius standing nearby—held extremely negative impressions of Subaru at this point.
Their patience for him had long since worn thin.
Between his disgraceful performance during the Royal Selection, his reckless demands, and his arrogant behavior, their tolerance for him was almost nonexistent.
At this stage, if Subaru so much as tried to mouth off to any of them, or picked a fight like he had before, the outcome would be predictable.
Jail time—or even execution—was a very real possibility given how severely he had damaged his reputation with his recent string of disastrous actions.
"So, if we track down that boy… we might be able to find the real culprit behind this whole affair, aye?" Anastasia mused aloud, snapping her fan open with a thoughtful flick.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, her expression stiffened slightly, as if remembering something unpleasant.
After all, she had already taken advantage of Subaru once.
She exploited his naïve desperation, fished out confidential information about Crusch Karsten's preparations, and then coldly dismissed his plea for help in saving the villagers.
Meeting him again would normally be a headache she'd avoid.
However, the potential benefits now vastly outweighed the inconvenience.
If the person responsible for killing the White Whale—one of the three great mabeasts feared across the world—could be taken under her banner, the reputation boost would be enormous.
Far beyond what she had hoped for before arriving here.
Her lips curled into a calculating smile.
'If I cast the right bait, he'll bite. That boy's the type who spills everything when pushed the right way…'
The sly thought glittered in Anastasia's mind as she pondered just how far she might be able to manipulate him for her own gain.
"I must meet him immediately," Wilhelm said, unable to hide the storm boiling inside him.
His fists were clenched so tightly the knuckles had gone white.
"I need to know with my own eyes… who felled the White Whale."
"And what exactly do you intend to accomplish with that, Sir Wilhelm?" Julius asked in a calm but firm tone.
"Surely you're not suggesting seeking a fight with the one who brought down such a monstrous creature and indirectly aided all of humanity."
The next moment, before anyone could react, Wilhelm grabbed Julius by the collar with explosive force, dragging him close.
His eyes burned with barely suppressed emotion.
"Sir Julius… I strongly advise you hold your tongue," Wilhelm growled, voice trembling with wrath and grief.
His killing intent was obvious, leaking out in waves.
Julius' hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, his eyes sharpening in response.
Tension snapped through the air instantly, causing Crusch's soldiers, Anastasia's mercenaries, and both camps at large to jolt in alarm.
Within seconds, several people rushed in between them, desperately trying to separate the two before blades were drawn or things escalated beyond control.
The atmosphere was thick with panic, fear, and the seriousness of what might have happened had they been a moment slower.
Crusch Karsten couldn't stop herself from reprimanding him.
"Sir Wilhelm, I understand how deeply this situation must be affecting you. Truly, I do. But losing control of your composure in front of everyone here will only damage our faction's reputation, and we cannot afford that."
"Reputation?!" Wilhelm snapped back, his voice harsher than anyone present had ever heard from him.
"That is what you place your priorities on right now, Lady Crusch? You gave me your word—you promised to assist me in subjugating that beast! And now look at it. The White Whale is dead, slain by someone else entirely, and I was denied even the chance to face it!" His outburst stunned Crusch and every person in the vicinity.
No one had expected Wilhelm, normally the embodiment of knightly restraint, to speak with such anger.
But if anyone was pushed far enough—if their lifelong resolve was shattered in an instant—then even the calmest person would struggle to contain themselves.
Crusch felt a heavy weight of guilt press on her chest as she heard the accusation.
She exhaled and responded with sincerity.
"You are right to feel betrayed, Sir Wilhelm. I bear responsibility for failing to uphold my promise. For that, I sincerely apologize."
"Oi, old man!" Ferris snapped, ears twitching in annoyance as he stepped forward.
"That's not how you talk to Crusch-sama, nya. Don't make my Lady bow her head over something she shouldn't, okay?" His irritation was clear, but beneath it was concern for both Crusch and Wilhelm.
Realizing what he had just said—and how far his emotions had carried him—Wilhelm's expression tightened with regret.
"No… Lady Crusch, I am the one who should be apologizing." He lowered his head deeply.
"Upon seeing the White Whale dead, the culmination of decades of regret simply overwhelmed me. I lost my composure, my manners, and my respect for our positions. I have overstepped every boundary a knight should uphold."
He then turned to Julius, maintaining the bow.
"And I must offer my apologies to you as well, Sir Julius, for the discourtesy I displayed earlier."
Julius, composed as ever, shook his head lightly.
"Please raise your head, Sir Wilhelm. There is no need to bow before me. You are a knight whom I respect greatly, a man whose devotion is acknowledged even among the Royal Guard. I fully understand the depth of your sorrow, and no apology is necessary."
Though the tension in the air remained thick, their mutual apologies gradually eased the atmosphere.
Still, despite the conflict having settled down, both Royal Candidates—Crusch and Anastasia—now faced a new and pressing issue.
The White Whale was dead. Its corpse marked with a name.
And their only lead toward uncovering the truth behind its unexpected death was a single man:
Natsuki Subaru.
Both Crusch and Anastasia were acutely aware of how poorly Subaru had been treated during their previous interactions—how they had dismissed his words, ignored his desperate pleas, and in Crusch's case, even spoken to him in a way that could only be described as humiliating. Remembering that now made the situation far more complicated.
"Should I send a messenger to request an audience with him?" Crusch murmured, her brows slightly furrowed.
She was already aware, however, that such a gesture might be insufficient.
After recalling the blunt and dismissive way she had handled Subaru earlier, she understood that a simple messenger might only be seen as an attempt to avoid responsibility.
"No… considering how I treated him, he may refuse to even listen unless I go there personally."
Anastasia folded her arms, her merchant instincts immediately grasping the political implications.
"Mm-hmm, that's definitely troublesome," she said in her usual relaxed but calculating tone.
"Natsuki-kun's part of Emilia-sama's camp, right? So from their perspective, this sorta information is pretty valuable. If we ask for info, they might just keep their mouths shut. After all, why would they share something that could give them a huge advantage?"
Her reasoning made sense to everyone present.
In the current state of the Royal Selection, any lead—especially one concerning the White Whale—could tip the balance dramatically. Information about who had slain it was more valuable than gold.
It was the kind of achievement that could rewrite public opinion overnight.
If Emilia's camp managed to secure the cooperation of whoever was responsible for the White Whale's defeat, or even claim credit through association, their reputation could skyrocket.
Public support, military alliances, and even factions neutral until now might be swayed. It would be a monumental shift.
And as they continued to dwell on it, a suspicious idea began forming in their minds—one that none of them could completely dismiss.
Was it possible that Natsuki Subaru had deliberately carved his own name into the corpse of the White Whale?
Was it his way of declaring to the world that Emilia's camp had been the one to achieve the impossible, even if he had acted alone?
The implications were unsettling, but also consistent with the reckless, unpredictable image many of them had formed of him.
"What about that thing he said earlier—the part about the Witch Cult attacking?" Mimi suddenly piped up, tilting her head in confusion.
Her question caused everyone in the room to pause, as they finally recalled that detail they had almost brushed aside.
"Ah, that's right… and that part's a real headache," Anastasia muttered, scratching her cheek with a troubled smile.
"We don't have any way of confirmin' whether that was genuine information or just somethin' he made up on the spot."
Julius turned toward her, puzzled.
"Lady Anastasia… forgive me, but what is this talk of the Witch Cult? I was not informed of any such report."
Anastasia let out a small sigh—half inconvenience, half reluctance.
She then gave him a very simplified explanation of the earlier events, carefully omitting the fact that she had taken advantage of Subaru's emotional desperation.
In her retelling, Subaru came across as erratic, unstable, and completely unreliable—someone who started shouting about the Witch Cult with no solid proof.
Crusch followed up with her own experience.
"Before he approached your camp, he came to us as well. He demanded that we dispatch troops immediately," she said, letting out a controlled breath that hinted at her lingering irritation.
"His tone, his behavior, the way he insisted—it was difficult not to view it as anything other than reckless."
She continued firmly, "Considering Lord Roswaal's reputation as the strongest mage within the kingdom, the idea of his territory being defenceless seems implausible. Thus, I cannot help but assume that Natsuki Subaru had some sort of ulterior motive."
Felix flicked his tail and added with a mischievous smirk, "Exactly, nya~! For all we know, he might even be part of the Witch Cult himself. No sane person would lose their mind like that over some silver-haired half-elf girl, nya."
His jab was sharp, but it was also honest to Felix's personality—direct, teasing, and not sugar-coating his opinion.
Crusch and Anastasia exchanged brief glances.
Neither of them personally despised Emilia; they did not hold prejudice against her race or appearance.
However, both of them were completely aware of the reality of the Royal Selection. Emilia's chances were the lowest among the candidates.
To them, she had neither political standing nor capable backing, and thus, they had never seen her as a serious competitor.
Whether Subaru was truly loyal to her or simply delusional, they did not know.
But whatever he was involved in, it was becoming increasingly clear that he had tied himself to the camp viewed as the weakest—and that alone made the situation all the more suspicious.
"I wouldn't go as far as claimin' he's a Witch Cultist himself…" Anastasia said, raising a hand lightly as if to calm the growing suspicion.
"After all, that maid travellin' with him has a known history with the Witch Cult."
Her comment instantly captured everyone's attention.
Eyes turned toward her, silently urging her to continue.
As expected of the head of the Hoshin Company, she smoothly displayed the reach of her information network, recounting the details she had gathered regarding the oni twins—Rem and Ram—servants of the Mathers household.
She spoke of their past connection to the Witch Cult, their tragic circumstances, and the general rumors surrounding the attack on their village.
"So then… his motive for demanding troops was not for the sake of the kingdom, but to pursue his own personal vendetta? A petty attempt at revenge?" Julius muttered, his hands curling into tight fists.
There was no mistaking the disappointment written all over his face.
Subaru's behavior, already questionable in his eyes, had now sunk even lower.
From Julius's perspective, Subaru's earlier actions had essentially been a brazen attempt to pressure the Royal Candidates into sacrificing their knights and soldiers purely so he could settle a score he was too weak to handle on his own.
It was a selfish act disguised as urgency, and the more the group discussed it, the more Subaru's image deteriorated.
Each new detail painted him in a worse light, making him appear less like a desperate man seeking help and more like an irresponsible fool trying to drag others into his chaos.
"So, what'cha all think?" Anastasia asked casually, though her eyes were clearly focused on Crusch.
The question was phrased broadly, aimed at the room, but the meaning behind it was directed toward one person alone.
She wanted to know Crusch Karsten's stance—how the proud Lioness of Karsten intended to proceed now that Natsuki Subaru's motivations had been dissected in front of everyone.
"I do not wish to recklessly place the lives of my people at unnecessary risk," Crusch stated firmly, her expression calm yet unyielding.
"If there is even the slightest truth to Natsuki Subaru's warnings, then venturing into Lord Roswaal's territory would be nothing short of dangerous. Therefore, I will make use of my own resources and intelligence network to uncover the truth myself."
She then turned to Anastasia with a polite but decisive nod.
"This also means our temporary alliance ends here. You are free to pursue your own course of action as you see fit."
Anastasia regarded her silently for a moment, her face unreadable, before she finally spoke in her usual composed tone.
"Alright then. Let's pull back. Ricardo, everyone—prepare to return to the Capital."
Her choice had already been made.
She intended to rely solely on her own connections, agents, and influence in the Capital to trace the truth behind the White Whale's demise.
"What about the White Whale's corpse, though?" Ricardo asked, scratching the back of his head with clear uncertainty.
"Ain't we supposed to report somethin' about it, Missy?"
"We'll report exactly what needs to be reported," Anastasia said, glancing once more at Crusch.
"We'll return and make an official declaration that the White Whale has been slain by a mysterious, unknown hero. Then we'll mobilize our soldiers and take the head back as undeniable proof."
Crusch and Anastasia exchanged a brief look—one of mutual understanding.
Both Royal Candidates immediately grasped the advantage such a move offered them.
Neither of them truly believed that Natsuki Subaru could have possibly felled the White Whale.
And neither believed that whoever actually killed it—the so-called mysterious hero—would ever align themselves with Emilia's camp, especially not with the stigma of her half-elf heritage hovering over her chances.
So the two leading candidates made the same silent decision:
They would return to the Capital swiftly, spread the news to the Nobles and the Council of Wise Men, and allow the political world to spiral into speculation and confusion on its own.
Meanwhile, they would quietly gather information, locate the real individual responsible for the feat, and attempt to claim that person for their own side.
No one voiced it aloud, but everyone present understood the same truth.
The race had already begun.
Whichever camp succeeded in securing the person who had slain the White Whale—the most dreaded of the Three Great Mabeasts—would gain unparalleled prestige.
And with such recognition, the throne would no longer be a distant ambition…
It would be well within the grasp of whichever candidate acted faster, smarter, and without hesitation.
...
Meanwhile, in the quiet and seemingly peaceful Arlam Village, an entirely different story was unfolding.
Roswaal L. Mathers—who had intentionally left the village earlier and was observing events from a separate location—felt a sudden shift in the Tome of Wisdom he always kept close.
The pages turned on their own, and new words engraved themselves onto the paper with ominous finality:
[Natsuki Subaru has fallen out of love with Emilia.]
Roswaal's eyes widened, the painted smile on his face cracking ever so slightly. For the first time in a long while, he felt genuine disbelief.
"…What…?"
A cold, unpleasant shock ran through him. He leaned closer as if hoping he had simply misread it.
But no—the message did not change.
Panic surged through Roswaal's heart, something he was entirely unaccustomed to dealing with.
'What in the world happened? How could this possibly occur? Subaru-kun should haveーーhe should have gathered the Royal Candidates together, forged a temporary alliance between their camps, and led them to victory. He was supposed to slay the White Whale, and then strike down the Sin Archbishop of Sloth in the aftermath! That was the path the Tome laid out!'
Roswaal's thoughts spiraled rapidly.
In truth, although he was aware of Subaru's ability to travel through time, he had never intended to directly exploit Subaru by forcing him to reveal future information or ordering him to repeat loops for Roswaal's benefit.
The Tome had guided him differently.
According to its writings, Natsuki Subaru—madly and obsessively devoted to Emilia—would naturally go to absurd lengths to please her and ensure her success.
As long as Emilia remained a Royal Candidate, Subaru would push himself repeatedly, use his power without hesitation, and overcome impossibilities solely for her sake.
That meant Subaru was the perfect pawn: a self-sacrificing tool, one who would willingly destroy himself over and over until Emilia stood victorious as the rightful queen.
And with Emilia crowned… Roswaal's long-cherished dream of resurrecting his beloved Sensei would finally come within reach.
That was why he had orchestrated the Sanctuary events with such precision—carefully plotting every step, every obstacle, every emotional blow.
He intended to sink Subaru deeper and deeper into desperation until the boy naturally relied on his ability again and again.
Subaru's devotion to Emilia was the bait, the key, and the chain Roswaal planned to tighten around him.
In fact, Roswaal was fully prepared—if necessary—to coerce Subaru outright. If Subaru hesitated to use his power, Roswaal was willing to threaten, manipulate, or corner him until he submitted.
But now––
Now everything had collapsed before his eyes.
The one factor he relied on above all else, the emotional anchor that guaranteed Subaru's obedience—Subaru's love for Emilia—had vanished.
The Tome's declaration shattered the foundational pillar of Roswaal's century-long plan.
And as he stared at the inked words, hands trembling slightly, he realized with horrifying clarity:
Everything he had built, everything he had gambled on…
had suddenly begun to fall apart.
When Roswaal finally processed what the Tome of Wisdom's newest prophecy implied—what could happen to Arlam Village now that Natsuki Subaru had failed to form the alliance he was destined to form—panic shot down his spine.
The scenario was drastically different from what the Tome had foretold. If Subaru had deviated, then the chain of events Roswaal was counting on might collapse entirely.
Without wasting another second, Roswaal immediately launched himself into the air, flying back toward the Mathers Mansion at high speed, his cloak whipping violently behind him.
His frustration and confusion gnawed at him with every passing second.
But halfway through the route, something else caught his attention.
Below him, scattered across the forest clearing, were several corpses—Witch Cultists.
And standing among them were villagers, accompanied by Ram, who was carefully inspecting the bodies with her usual sharp gaze.
Roswaal descended in a blur of color and landed lightly on the ground.
The moment the villagers noticed him, they bowed deeply.
"Roswaal-sama, welcome back," Ram greeted him with a graceful bow, her face composed and respectful as always.
Roswaal didn't return the greeting.
Instead, he walked straight past her, kneeling beside one of the corpses. His heterochromatic eyes widened slightly.
There were no wounds.
No burns.
No signs of struggle.
Not even the faintest trace of mana residue.
'How curious… nooo physical trauma, no elemental damage, no magical signature at all… How exactly were they killed?' Roswaal thought, his mind racing.
Even in his long life, he had rarely seen something so inexplicable.
'Could this be the result of a special magic? A unique ability? Or perhaps… something I'm not aware of yet?' He examined another corpse and found it equally pristine and equally unsettling.
Still, despite the bizarre circumstances, one fact brought him a flicker of reassurance:
The Witch Cultists were dead.
That part of the prophecy remained intact.
'So that much went as planned. Which means… Subaru should have been here. Subaru should have fought. Subaru should haveーー' Roswaal's expression twitched.
Then the question hit him, sharp and infuriating:
'If the Cult was wiped out… then why would Subaru suddenly fall out of love with that stupid half-elf?! What happened between them? Did one of the other Royal Candidates realize his potential? Did they lure him away? Did someone steal my piece from the board?'
A surge of possessive anger flashed in his mind.
'No. Absolutely not. I won't allow that. Subaru-kun is mine. He is the key—the ONLY key—to resurrecting Sensei. I cannot let anyone else snatch him away.'
(A/N: Bro you are acting too gay...)
Roswaal cleared his throat and masked every trace of panic under his usual theatrical voice.
"Noooow, this is quite the sight, isn't it? Raaam, peeerhaps you could… elaaaaborate on what exactly transpired heeere?" he asked, his lazy drawl stretching every vowel, though his gaze was sharp and intrusive, demanding answers.
Ram stepped forward, bowing politely.
"As you wish, Roswaal-sama," she said calmly, her tone unwavering, her demeanor perfectly disciplined.
Roswaal expected a detailed report—perhaps an explanation about an unknown enemy, or some unexpected intervention from a Royal Camp.
But instead…
What he received was something he never anticipated.
Because the next series of events would be, in a way, Roswaal being force-fed a "meal" he wasn't prepared for—a taste of the consequences of Subaru's actions.
This time, Natsuki Subaru was the one who had done the cooking.
And Roswaal was about to be served.
To be continued...
(IMPORTANT NOTICE: I have decided that only Re Zero: Pride if Alternative will carry on this fanfic after so many requests, all other fanfics will get a separate fanfic. However since that means I need to switch accounts, i will wait for the chapters to be stocked so it is less painful and I can set timer for all of them. I have already uploaded Sloth if Continuation as a separate fanfic. Which will soon be followed by the Wives Reboot once we reach chap 14 of the Public release.)