...
{3rd Pov}
In the following days, Echidna threw herself completely into modifying and preparing her workshop, making sure it would be suitable for the upcoming tests involving the unstable Yggdrassil Magic.
She worked almost nonstop, adjusting the arrays, reinforcing the barriers, and rewriting portions of the magic formula that she believed had contributed to the earlier accident.
Every improvement she made was driven by a mixture of guilt, determination, and the firm resolve to fix the disaster she had caused.
Because of her earlier request, both Puck and Geuse shifted their focus away from overseeing Subaru's territories and redirected their efforts toward assisting her.
Though Puck tried to help in his own way, it was ultimately Geuse who handled the majority of the workload.
Having worked side-by-side with Echidna in the past, he naturally understood her habits, methods, and preferences.
His familiarity with her research combined with the overwhelming utility of his Authority of Sloth—those invisible Unseen Hands—made the process far faster and far smoother than it would have been otherwise.
Tasks that would normally require hours could be completed in minutes as Geuse effortlessly manipulated tools, materials, and equipment without lifting a finger.
Meanwhile, Otto took full responsibility for managing every aspect of Subaru's businesses.
He spent long hours reviewing the company's operations, making sure nothing collapsed in Subaru's absence.
At the same time, he began working on organizing a brand-new team of reporters, individuals who would travel around and gather noteworthy events and information from major cities across Lugnica.
However, after reviewing their current manpower, machines, and the limits of their printing capacity, Otto reluctantly decided that—for now—the newspaper project would have to start small.
Instead of expanding across the entire kingdom immediately, he would restrict the initial publication solely to the Royal Capital.
It was the safest and most manageable approach until Subaru returned or until their infrastructure improved enough for wider distribution.
Garfiel, who had originally been assigned to guard Subaru's shops, was now stationed outside Echidna's workshop instead, maintaining strict vigilance.
His new role was to ensure that absolutely no one other than the core members of the Emilia camp was allowed to enter the area—not even Roswaal.
The experiments being carried out inside were not just related to Zero's fate; they had massive implications for the entire camp, and everyone understood that any mistake could have serious consequences.
They also now fully understood that the previous accident had happened because Reina had suddenly teleported into the workshop to meet Subaru without warning.
The incident had shaken them enough to realize that it could have been avoided if they had taken stronger precautions and implemented tighter security measures.
Determined not to repeat that mistake ever again, they established a strict rule: no one was permitted to use magic, or even devices that relied on magic such as metia, anywhere near the workshop.
The entire area was treated as a restricted zone where even the smallest magical interference was considered a potential threat.
Inside, Echidna continued working diligently to improve the safety mechanisms of the Magic, focusing especially on making the activation conditions far more rigid and less prone to sudden triggers.
She was deep in concentration, testing a new sequence of restrictions and refining the stabilization formula.
However, just as she was adjusting another set of parameters, something completely unexpected happened.
Without any warning whatsoever, a sheet of paper abruptly teleported into the workshop, materializing in midair and dropping to the floor, immediately startling everyone present.
The sudden appearance of the object caused the members of the team to freeze, their attention snapping instantly toward it, unsure of whether it was another accident, a message, or the beginning of something far more dangerous.
Geuse extended his invisible hands, carefully grabbing the paper from where it had fallen, lifting it up so he could inspect it from a safe distance.
His expression tightened as he focused on the writing, and before he could say anything, Echidna suddenly leaned forward with recognition flashing across her face.
"Wait a minute! I remember that handwriting. This letter's from Zero!" she declared, sounding completely certain.
Even from far away, she could identify the style of Zero's handwriting without hesitation, something that didn't really surprise anyone considering how closely she had observed his work and behavior for so long.
The sudden realization left the group momentarily stunned.
Puck floated slightly upward, tapping his chin with a thoughtful expression before commenting,
"The magical disturbance just now, while noticeably weaker than the previous one, felt really similar. It's almost the same type of ripple we felt back then when the Yggdrassil Magic activated by accident."
His tone carried a mix of concern and curiosity, as if he was already piecing together the implications.
Echidna nodded immediately, her eyes narrowing with focus.
"If that's the case, then it most likely means Zero has already started experimenting with the Magic. This might be a test run, something to check whether the Magic is functioning the way he expects it to."
Her voice was steady and held absolutely no trace of doubt.
She knew Zero's habits and tendencies far too well to mistake this for anything else.
After all, someone who spent as much time observing and studying another person as she did with Zero naturally ended up understanding them better than most people would ever find normal.
Ahem
Snapping herself back to the situation at hand, Echidna asked Geuse and Puck to gather everyone for an immediate meeting.
They moved quickly, and soon enough Emilia, Rem, Ram, Frederica, Garfiel, and Otto were all summoned into the meeting room.
Along with them, of course, were Puck, Geuse, and Echidna herself, all preparing to discuss the sudden arrival of the letter and what it might mean for Zero's progress and the stability of the Magic they were desperately trying to secure.
Although Geuse did not openly explain to anyone why he had suddenly summoned all of them, Puck—thanks to his contract with Emilia—already knew the entire reason behind it.
He had quietly informed Emilia about what was going on, but she kept her silence while they walked to the meeting room.
Everyone understood that they had to remain cautious at all times, and even Emilia, who usually spoke her mind, didn't say a word on the way there.
At this point, even the smallest slip-up could cause the entire secret to leak out—that Zero and Reina were currently missing from the world altogether.
If such information spread, the consequences would be disastrous, not just for the core members of the Emilia Camp but for Subaru's vast territories, his companies, and all the people who depended on them.
If panic began to spread, it would ripple outward and destabilize more than just their immediate circle.
It could easily lead to chaos throughout the entire Kingdom of Lugunica.
And that wasn't even the worst possibility.
Their competitors—the other Royal Candidates—would unquestionably pounce on this opportunity if they learned the truth.
They would twist the situation into political advantage without hesitation.
After all, Emilia's camp currently held the strongest momentum they had ever possessed.
From being seen as the weakest faction with almost no chance of winning the Royal Selection, they had risen to the point where many now considered them the most likely to claim victory.
Such a sudden rise naturally made them a target.
A single accident, if mishandled, could give their rivals exactly the leverage they needed to undermine everything Emilia's camp had built up until now.
After all, Emilia currently held the firm support of Roswaal, Reina, and—most importantly—Zero, who had become the greatest hero recognized across the entire nation.
His achievements were unmatched: defeating two colossal Mabeasts that had terrorized regions for centuries and eliminating three Sin Archbishops of the Witch Cult entirely on his own.
These feats were so overwhelming that even the nobles who once doubted Emilia's chances had begun acknowledging the strength of the camp standing behind her.
The other Royal Candidate camps had already been pushed into action because of this.
After witnessing how Emilia's public speeches had completely shifted the public narrative in her favor, they were forced to imitate the same strategy.
They had no other option.
If they didn't hold their own public gatherings and speeches, then the people of Lugunica would inevitably drift toward Emilia's side, simply because Zero's achievements and her recent political moves were dominating every public discussion.
It became clear that Emilia's camp had taken the initiative, and anyone who stayed still would be left behind.
This only demonstrated how overwhelming Zero's influence had become—how deeply his existence strengthened Emilia's entire faction.
It also highlighted the magnitude of the disaster they were facing.
If it leaked out that Zero had suddenly vanished, the consequences would be far more severe than just a political setback.
The entire foundation of Emilia's current momentum rested on the belief that Zero was still present, supporting her from the shadows.
Losing that illusion would shake their camp, embolden their rivals, and possibly shift the entire balance of the Royal Selection in a single moment.
Everyone gathered in the room took their seats, the atmosphere tense and expectant.
Echidna didn't waste even a moment and immediately began, her voice steady and direct.
"I have called all of you here because I have received a letter from Zero—who, as we already suspected, is currently in another world."
The reaction was immediate.
Their eyes brightened with hope, and several people let out quiet sighs of genuine relief.
Ram, Otto, and even Garfiel looked as though a heavy weight had been lifted off their shoulders.
Emilia, despite having been told earlier through Puck, still felt her chest tighten with joy; knowing Subaru was alive and reaching out made the fear that had been gripping her loosen for the first time in days.
Echidna continued, her tone shifting slightly as she glanced around the room.
"Now, after reading the letter carefully, I have two pieces of information for all of you. One of them is good news… and the other is bad."
Her statement instantly shattered the brief moment of relief.
Everyone who had been relaxing in their chairs straightened up again, their expressions tightening with concern.
They had no idea what the bad news could be, but just the mention of it sent unsettling thoughts racing through their minds.
Emilia leaned forward, unable to hide the anxious tremble in her voice. "Echidna, please… don't make us wait any longer. Tell us everything clearly and in a way we can understand."
The worry etched on her face was unmistakable.
In that moment, because of the fear and desperation she felt for Zero's fate, her usual attempt at maintaining the composed image of a leader completely slipped away.
Her emotions were plain to see, showing just how deeply and sincerely she cared for Subaru.
"The situation is a bit more complicated than we initially assumed," Echidna began, releasing a long breath before continuing in a single, uninterrupted flow of words.
"Zero has already mastered the magic, and according to the letter he sent, he somehow ended up in an entirely different timeline—actually, forget that, just think of it as another world altogether. Now, while Zero himself was transported into one world along with all of his contracted spirits, Reina was unfortunately separated from him during the teleportation process and ended up in some completely unknown world. Because of that, Zero intends to travel across multiple different worlds in order to find her."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Everyone simply stared at Echidna, stunned into silence by the revelation.
The idea that Reina, of all people, had been thrown into a random world by herself was alarming enough, but the fact that Zero now had to move from world to world searching for her only made their worry grow.
Otto eventually managed to break the silence, his voice dry and grim.
"Well… this definitely isn't good at all."
Geuse, folding his arms while frowning deeply, added, "And if I remember correctly, Divine Protections shouldn't even function in different worlds. They are strictly tied to this world's system and its mana laws."
His statement only doubled the concern in the room.
Echidna raised her hand quickly, stopping the worry from spreading too far.
"All of you can calm down," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Reina isn't someone who will be endangered so easily. In fact, she is the single strongest existence in the entire known history of this world. Her power surpasses even the Witch of Envy at her peak."
The collective shock was almost visible.
While everyone already knew Reina was exceptionally strong—one of the greatest Sword Saints to ever exist—hearing that she was stronger than anyone in all recorded history, even stronger than the Witch of Envy, pushed their belief to the edge.
Echidna continued firmly, ensuring they understood.
"Reina will retain the majority of her abilities even in another world, regardless of whether that world has mana, divine protections, or any magic system at all. Her skills and her strength are not dependent on this world's laws, so you truly don't need to worry about her survival."
Ram narrowed her eyes suspiciously, leaning forward slightly.
"And how exactly do you know all of this?" she asked, her tone sharp and doubtful.
She clearly wasn't convinced that Echidna was simply guessing.
Echidna simply grinned mischievously and said, "I am the Witch of Greed," without providing any further explanation.
The truth, however, was far less dramatic: she had simply been stalking—ahem—carefully monitoring Subaru, paying attention to the conversations that took place between him and Reina.
From those interactions, she had already gathered most of the information regarding the situation.
No one pressed her for more details, and just as Emilia was about to ask another question, Echidna spoke up preemptively.
"Not everything is as bad as it sounds," she said, her tone slightly reassuring.
"Apparently, there is a high probability that Reina ended up in one of a limited number of selected worlds. According to the letter, there are six such worlds in total… which means the likelihood of her being located quickly is actually quite high."
Hearing this, the tension in the room eased somewhat, and Emilia let out a slow, measured breath.
"Can you dictate exactly what is written in the letter?" she asked, wanting to hear the full contents and understand all the nuances of the message.
Echidna nodded, taking the letter carefully in her hands.
She began dictating the contents clearly and methodically.
For several minutes, she read out everything written in the letter, ensuring that every person present fully comprehended the situation.
By the time she finished, everyone had a clear understanding of the ins and outs of the matter, including the specifics of Reina's situation, Zero's plan, and the steps he was taking to resolve the issue.
Subaru, also known as Zero, had reassured them that he was doing fine and had already managed to find a safe place to stay in the other world.
He confirmed that all of his spirits were safe and unharmed, which immediately brought a sense of relief to everyone present.
He then proceeded to explain in detail how he had become separated from Reina, just as Echidna had described earlier.
He clarified that he would now be traveling through different worlds in search of her before ultimately returning home.
In his message, Zero also emphasized that he had entrusted all authority and responsibility to Emilia, making her fully accountable for all decisions and actions in his absence.
Otto and Geuse were explicitly assigned to support her in managing the camp, the company, and the territories, and they were permitted to request additional assistance from Roswaal whenever necessary, provided that he remained under careful supervision.
Finally, Zero added an important note instructing them to send a letter in return as a means of verifying that his magic had successfully worked.
Hearing these words, everyone felt an enormous wave of relief wash over them.
The knowledge that Subaru was safe, that his plans were well thought out, and that they had a clear method to communicate with him greatly reduced the tension that had been weighing on the group over the past days.
Their worries, though not entirely gone, had been significantly alleviated by the reassurance that Zero's foresight and careful planning had already accounted for most potential issues.
"Echidna, we shouldn't waste any more time. Let's send a letter to Zero immediately," Emilia said, rising decisively from her chair, her urgency and determination evident in her tone and posture.
"Very well," Echidna replied, nodding in agreement.
"I will draft a letter to inform him of everything that has occurred here, detailing how I plan to further improve the magic and also explaining how we intend to begin searching for Reina from this world."
Emilia gave a firm nod of approval, satisfied with Echidna's prompt response and careful consideration.
Echidna then set to work, meticulously composing the letter, ensuring that all critical information was clearly conveyed.
Once completed, she sent it to Zero at the coordinates he had previously provided.
They were all aware that he had explicitly mentioned he would not be sending another letter back in response, as he would be moving to another world and his coordinates would inevitably change during his travels.
After the letter had been sent, Emilia convened a smaller, focused meeting with the core members of the camp.
During this gathering, she reviewed everyone's current progress in their respective responsibilities and began finalizing detailed plans for the days ahead.
The discussion included strategies to maintain the camp's stability, ensure the continued success of Zero's company, and prepare for any contingencies that might arise in his absence.
Every participant listened intently, understanding the gravity of the situation and the importance of following through with their assigned tasks efficiently and effectively.
Emilia continued to manage and oversee all matters concerning the territories in Subaru's absence.
Although Zero had suggested that she make use of both Geuse and Otto to assist her directly, she made a deliberate choice in delegating responsibilities: Geuse was assigned to support Echidna in her research and preparations, ensuring that the Yggdrassil Magic would be perfected safely, while Otto was entrusted solely with the management of Subaru's company, maintaining its operations and safeguarding its growth during Zero's absence.
Garfiel, for his part, was tasked with guarding Echidna's workshop, ensuring that no unauthorized individuals could interfere with the delicate experiments being conducted there.
In the days that followed, Ram strategically redirected the efforts of the Assassins.
No longer simply gathering intelligence, they were instructed to secretly defend Subaru's various shops and company facilities.
Ram framed this as a direct order from Zero himself, convincing the Assassins that it was indeed Subaru's explicit command.
By doing so, she ensured that the growing businesses under Subaru's leadership were protected without revealing the truth of his absence to the wider camp or the Assassins themselves.
Remarkably, even in a world temporarily without Natsuki Subaru, the Emilia Camp did not collapse or fall into chaos.
This demonstrated, without a doubt, that Subaru's prior efforts to elevate those around him—training and empowering them to be independent leaders and capable individuals—had been far more effective than simply acting as a hero who personally supervised and babysat everyone.
The camp's stability and continued success in his absence were living proof that his approach had been the wiser choice, and that his influence had permanently strengthened those under his guidance.
To be continued...
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