The pitch-black hellfire finally settled in a ring around Roswaal, scorching the air.
Faced with the threat of death, Roswaal didn't show even a hint of fear. He was still smiling.
"So this is your strength? Truly impressive. I have to admit, even I, the royal court magician, am no match for you."
He could clearly feel that all the mana around him had been locked down by a powerful will, leaving his body unable to move.
In other words, if Hayashi Maki wanted to kill him, it would be child's play.
Roswaal's words made Hayashi Maki raise a brow.
"So the margrave is admitting defeat?"
"Of course, I concede."
Feeling his body regain movement, Roswaal shrugged helplessly and acknowledged it.
"Then are we still fighting?" Hayashi Maki looked at the clown-like man with genuine interest.
He had no patience for playing mind games with this guy. If not for Emilia's sake, he would've just erased him.
With the power he had now, and the fact he could return to his original world whenever he wanted, Hayashi Maki had absolutely no reason to play weak.
Being able to control his own fate—and even the fates of others—that was what it meant to be strong.
Hearing Hayashi Maki's question, Roswaal sighed, then shook his head.
"No~ more fighting. I don't think Emilia-sama would be happy to see us continue~ to butt heads."
"However, Hayashi Maki-san, your demand really is too much. As a noble, being provoked like this, I have to defend my pride."
"How about we both take a step back?"
"Oh? And what does 'take a step back' look like? Let's hear it."
Hayashi Maki looked interested. He'd already been planning to snatch what he wanted anyway; if Roswaal had the sense to voluntarily hand over Ram and Rem, that would be even easier.
Seeing that Hayashi Maki was willing to pause, and wanting to keep probing him for information, Roswaal smiled and said:
"Ram and Rem are maids working here in the mansion. While I am their master, I do not intend to force them into anything. If you want to 'hire' them, you'll have to earn their approval yourself."
Hayashi Maki shook his head.
"Don't try to spin this. As their master, you obviously have the right to decide their fate. So you just have to order Ram and Rem to serve me, and that's that. No need for you to worry about the rest."
Hearing his demand, the corner of Ram's mouth twitched.
This guy was unbelievably thick-skinned.
Was Roswaal really going to agree?
The thought made Ram nervous.
She didn't want to be thrown away.
Even though she knew Roswaal always put his goal above everything and that she herself was just a piece he could discard at any time, she was still a girl at heart—she wanted Roswaal to protect her, to value her, even if it was just a little.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Hayashi Maki-san. While I could command Ram and Rem to serve you, I will not force them to go against their own will."
Roswaal thought it over and still refused.
It sounded noble, but what he did behind the scenes was anything but human.
Ram, however, was moved. Her eyes brightened noticeably.
Hayashi Maki's smile turned a little crooked. He decided to sweeten the pot.
He laughed lightly and dropped a name.
"Are you sure you want to turn me down? You're not worried about what might happen to Echidna?"
Boom.
Mana surged within Roswaal. His mismatched eyes locked sharply onto Hayashi Maki.
"You just… said 'Echidna,' didn't you?"
"Of course. The Witch of Greed, Echidna. That is who I said."
Hayashi Maki answered calmly, then glanced over at Beatrice, who looked just as shocked.
Roswaal took a deep breath. His frozen face twisted back into that clownish smile.
"I understand now, Hayashi Maki-san. From today onward, Ram and Rem will be your maids. However, this mansion has been passed down through the Roswaal family for generations. I truly can't give that to you."
"Roswaal-sama?!"
Ram stared at the man in disbelief.
Just hearing that name—Echidna—was enough for him to hand her and her sister away?
"Haha, that's fine. I'll pass on the mansion. For Emilia's sake, I'll overlook your rudeness just now."
Hayashi Maki grinned, waving it off generously.
Then he sat back down and happily went back to eating.
The uproar seemed to be over.
Aqua, completely unbothered, continued stuffing her face, now even more satisfied with Hayashi Maki.
Emilia looked a bit embarrassed, but when she saw Roswaal still smiling as usual, as if he wasn't bothered at all, she secretly let out a breath of relief.
She couldn't help glaring at Hayashi Maki—her feelings were all tangled.
After a few more bites, Hayashi Maki's gaze drifted over to Ram and Rem.
"Ram, Rem, didn't you hear Roswaal-sama just now? You're my maids now. That means you should be standing behind me."
At that, Ram instinctively glanced at Roswaal. Rem did the same.
Roswaal's expression didn't change. He smiled and said:
"He is correct. Go on, Ram, Rem. You are no longer maids of this estate. You should stand behind your new master and serve him."
"…Yes, Roswaal-sama."
Ram's pink eyes dimmed for a moment. Disappointment flashed through them, but she didn't say a word. She quietly moved to stand behind Hayashi Maki.
Rem naturally followed her sister.
But the look she gave Hayashi Maki was full of disgust.
For good reason.
To protect Rem, Ram had her oni horn—her very source of power—cut off by Witch Cultists. Without Roswaal's powerful magic to supplement her mana, Ram would have died.
If anything happened to Ram, Rem would never forgive this bastard for the rest of her life.
Hayashi Maki noticed the look Rem gave him, but he didn't say anything.
They had just met, after all. A little maid needed to be properly "trained."
First, she needed to be brought over. The rest could be handled slowly.
After the meal, Roswaal smiled and said:
"Hayashi Maki-san, please stay on as our guest here for now. I have some business to attend to, so I'll be leaving the mansion for a while. I'll be counting on you to keep an eye on Emilia-sama~."
"No problem, leave it to me. With me here, nothing will go wrong. And if something does go wrong, I'll handle it myself."
Hayashi Maki replied casually, waving a hand, as if nothing in this world could trouble him.
That arrogance only made Roswaal even more excited inside.
He had no intention of giving up on testing Hayashi Maki.
For the sake of reviving Echidna, Roswaal had already been scheming for centuries. He absolutely refused to give up.
And to reach that goal, everyone in this mansion—including Roswaal himself—was just a chess piece he was prepared to sacrifice.