The morning that Subaru and Emilia exchanged their promise - time has moved on about half a day since then.
The location is the top floor of Roswaal Mansion, in the master's room in the center.
When nighttime secret meetings take place there, the same two people always participate.
"First of all, let me thank you for your efforts during my absence. I'm glad you tried your best to settle the situation. Thanks to you, the damage was kept to a minimum."
His soft voice had the masculine quality to it, but his tone was extremely flippant, the kind that brought a sense of bewilderment to those who heard it.
The maid in front of him seemed used to those words from Roswaal, the owner of the room, and bowed without a care.
"Those are unkind words. Besides, in the end I ended up causing you trouble, Roswaal-sama..."
"Oh, it's fine. It doesn't take much effort or trouble to incinerate the vermin in the forest."
Roswaal waves his hand and speaks as if it were nothing.
The girl - Ram - knew that those words were not an exaggeration, vanity or modesty, but simply the obvious truth. Therefore, she did not interject anything.
"It'll only be depressing to try to pin the blame on someone else. Let's have a more constructive discussion. For example, how is Subaru-kun progressing since then?"
Roswaal asks the silent Ram a question.
Ram shook her head slightly in response to the question.
"My body is almost completely healed. Even though Lady Beatrice complained, she put all her efforts into my treatment."
"I really wonder what's going on, it's strange. We've been friends for a long time, but this is the first time I've seen her take sides with someone like that. Maybe it was love at first sight?"
"From what I saw, Ram didn't seem to have any such feelings…"
Ram answered while recalling the scene of Beatrice being treated, then, as if to regain her composure, she put her hand forward and said, "However,"
"I was saved thanks to Lady Beatrice's treatment. If she hadn't been there, I doubt Barusu would still be alive."
"I guess you could say that's just Subaru's good luck. In truth, there aren't many people who can use healing magic as well as Beatrice. Both Ram and I are completely ignorant in that area. —She's only good at hurting others, it's really annoying."
Roswaal shook his head and lowered his face slightly.
One would think that the words he was saying were close to self-loathing, and that his lowered face was also in keeping with that.
In reality, his expression did not contort into one of sadness or self-loathing; he simply wore a clear smile.
Roswaal then prefaced his statement with "However," and looked up at Ram,
"The fact that you started by shaking your head in denial probably means that you're not in a position to be happy that your life was saved."
"Yes. There are some problems."
Ram nodded in response to the question and took a moment to think about what she wanted to say before continuing.
"Balus had forcibly activated the gate twice in a short space of time from its exhausted state. On top of that, he had used healing magic to heal the life-threatening injuries… but after prying open the gate and overusing it, I wonder how long it will take for it to function properly again."
"I wonder if that's what the Great Spirit and Beatrice thought?"
"yes"
Roswaal clasps his hands and closes his eyes, absorbing the information.
Damage to the gate meant that a very troublesome obstacle had been inflicted on them in their lives, in a world where life with mana was inseparable.
As the royal court magician, Roswaal was able to handle mana more intimately than most people, which made him all the more acutely aware of the inconvenience of Subaru's current situation.
I hope for a speedy recovery, even if just for a day, butーー,
"Although the repair of the gate will vary from person to person, it will take years. I think we've forced him to make a terrible decision."
Ram nodded in affirmation at Roswaal's grave words and continued.
"And then there's the problem of curses."
"--The threat of activation should have passed, right?"
"The caster – in this case, Ulgarm – is no longer there due to their elimination. Therefore, the curse will not be activated, but… the spell remains within Barusu's body."
"I'd like to hear the opinion of an expert regarding the release."
In this case, the expert was Beatrice, who was well versed in sorcery. When asked for her opinion, Ram shook her head,
"Even Beatrice-sama said it would be difficult to untangle the complicated threads."
The curse that was eating away at Subaru's body had taken root deeper than he had imagined.
The spell binds his body in such a way that it is difficult to dismantle it, making even Beatrice hesitant to challenge it.
However, the technique itself, having lost its user, is no longer a major threat.
Normally, a prepared spell cannot be activated without the caster's knowledge, and this particular curse in particular was a spell that transferred mana from the target to the caster. Because there was no one to transfer it to, the prerequisites for the curse's activation were never met.
Therefore, there would be no problem if the magic formula remaining in Subaru's body was left alone.
however,
"Since you're making an issue of that, then you've confirmed what you asked for."
Ram nodded without hesitation to Roswaal's question, which had no subject. As he waited for a reply, Ram touched her forehead,
"This is limited to individuals whose carcasses could be confirmed, but all of the Urgarm discovered had been turned into 'Hornless'."
Touching the scar beneath her headdress, Ram disregards the faint ache from the old wound and calmly reports to Roswaal.
Roswaal sighed at her attitude, then creaked his chair back.
"That's what I saw. Probably the whole pack."
"But is it possible? To break the horns of so many magic beasts..."
"Don't worry, you can break their horns when they're young, or you can break them off first with about ten of them, and then command those ten to attack a small number of prey and break them off. If you repeat the same thing, the whole flock will lose their horns by themselves."
Ram seems convinced by Roswaal's explanation, and seeing this, Roswaal closes one eye and looks at her. The yellow of his heterochromatic eye closes, and his clear blue eyes stare at Ram,
"But, if that's the case, then the situation changes. Especially after Subaru-kun has been our benefactor twice."
Ram agreed with Roswaal's melancholy voice, "Yes."
"A magical beast whose horn has been broken will obey the person who broke it. This would mean that there is a fool who has wilfully ravaged the mansion, or rather, Roswaal-sama's territory."
"I wonder if this will become a royal selection again. Seeing as they've lured us to Garfiel's place, it seems like we're getting in the way."
"Garfiel...what about him?"
Ram asked timidly, raising her eyebrows at the mention of a familiar name. Roswaal responded with a wry smile and shrugged,
"Of course, they denied it, saying they had no recollection of calling them. Let's change the code to a new one, and drastically change the way we contact them. Anyway, it was pretty uncertain whether we'd be able to ask for their help anyway."
Roswaal ponders this while touching his chin.
Although he mentioned the matter nonchalantly, Ram was well aware that it was not something that could be brushed aside so easily. It was a battle whose odds of victory were clearly slim to begin with. So, in order to increase their chances of victory, it was obvious that it would be better to have as many cards as possible.
Ram, who is also aware that she is just one of the cards, finds it extremely frustrating that she can only watch Roswaal's anguish.
However, her thoughts were interrupted by Roswaal, who waved his hand and said, "No, no."
"Let's get back to the topic. Who will become the 'parent' of this magical beast? Do you have an idea?"
"Just in case. However, his whereabouts have completely disappeared."
"Did he escape... or was he wiped out?"
"I can't say for sure. All I know is that the child that Barusu and Rem brought back from the forest has not been seen since the next day."
The villagers all agreed that the "girl with pigtails" that Rem and Subaru had brought back from the forest was a stranger. The children who had been with her also testified that she was someone who had just happened to join their group.
The adults assumed he was an outsider just like Subaru, and the children had no suspicions about his background. Having been caught up in two different psychology, they were slow to realize he was there and were caught out in a tailspin.
Therefore, the prime suspect becomes the girl who disappeared.
In this case, the fact that she looks young is no refutation at all. There are plenty of beings who could only grow up in such a world.
After listening to Ram's report, Roswaal said, "I'm in trouble," while playing with his hair.
"In the capital, I was an intestine hunter, and in the territory, I was a beast tamer. I've been caught up in a strange repertoire."
"No matter how many oddballs you gather, you're not going to be discouraged by that, are you, Roswaal-sama?"
"Oh my, you've become so cheeky. It makes me happy."
Roswaal smiled and beckoned Ram to follow his lead, moving from the center of the room to the back - crossing the ebony desk and coming to stand right next to Roswaal.
Roswaal stretches out his arms, embraces her petite body, and places her on his lap.
and,
"I couldn't give you any attention for one night due to my schedule. I'm sure I caused you a lot of trouble."
"I understand that you are a very busy person, Roswaal-sama. I don't mind if you put off matters regarding Ram until the very end..."
"Ram, don't you always say that?"
Ram had her eyes down, but Roswaal ran his fingers under her chin, lifting her spirits and smiling.
"You and Rem are two of the most important people in my life, you know? Yes, if something were to happen to you two because of this incident, I'm not sure I would be able to control myself."
Stretching his free hand out towards the ceiling, Roswaal spoke in a dramatic manner. Ram looked dazed and feverish at the sight of Roswaal,
"Ram and Rem are important to Lord Roswaal--"
"Yes, you and Rem are important to me, precious and above all else."
After a moment of repeated words and feelings, Roswaal smiled brightly,
"--An indispensable piece."
Roswaal boldly addresses Ram with these words.
There was absolutely no guilt or other negative emotion in it, just the sound of a simple enumeration of the facts within one's own mind.
And so, having been clearly declared a pawn, Ram responded,
"--yes"
She replied, blushing and nodding enthusiastically.
Roswaal nodded in satisfaction at her attitude, which could be described as both obedient and infatuated.
He pulled Ram closer to him, who was on his lap, and took her small body completely into his arms.
"Well then, let's get started. Ram, you must have been pushing yourself too hard, right? I told you to hold back, but you still lost a lot of mana, didn't you?"
"I'm sorry... please."
As she listens to Roswaal's words, Ram removes the white head dress that adorns her pink hair.
Beneath the decoration, Roswaal's fingers brushed aside the pink hair and revealed a faint white scar just above the forehead.
--It was a remnant of the time when she was a demon and was called a prodigy.
The scar was damaged by the use of mana, and blood still oozed from it. Roswaal painfully traced the wound with his finger,
"--May the stars bless you."
The four-colored glow runs down Roswaal's arm, and the moment it focuses on his fingertips, it transforms into a white light - passing through his fingertips and pouring onto Ram's scar as he touches it.
--Transferring mana directly to another person was a technique that required highly advanced skill.
Unless the distribution of mana of each attribute is completely even, the mana will be converted into power and cause damage to the target's body. This "healing act" is possible only because Roswaal is compatible with all four colors of mana and can use them to a high degree.
To the Oni tribe, the horn on their forehead represents a line through which mana flows in and out.
Its role is similar to that of a gate, but because it has substance, it is an organ that performs this function more precisely than a gate, and the human body is also similar to this.
However, Ram had lost his horn due to external factors, and his body was no longer able to absorb or expel the amount of mana required.
If left untreated, her body would deteriorate - and in order to maintain it, her nighttime secret rendezvous with Roswaal had become a daily routine.
As mana was poured into him through the scar on his horn, Ram's shoulders shook slightly, and,
"Ah, hmmm."
"No matter how many times I hear it, it's a poisonous sight for both the eyes and the ears."
Ram was breathing heavily and her cheeks were flushed with lust. Roswaal gave a wry smile.
Ram gave Roswaal a sidelong glance,
"If you think it's poison, you can just get rid of it."
"A partner who is practically a daughter to you? That truly shows what a perverted, evil nobleman should be like. Isn't that exciting?"
Roswaal easily dodges Ram's temptation and continues pouring mana.
Ram felt her body filling with energy and her gate expanding with warmth. As she surrendered to the sweet sensation,
"That's right. There is something I must report to Lord Roswaal..."
"What is it?"
"It's about Rem."
"There won't be any particular punishment, you know? Of course, there will be a little scolding, but other than that I don't intend to punish you."
Roswaal interrupts, trying to get ahead of the conversation. But Ram denies it with a small "No," and her lips quirk as she wonders how she should respond.
"Rem has grown attached to Barusu."
"Hmm?"
"It seems that something about Barusu has touched Rem's weak spot."
I'm talking about my twin sister.
Her older sister Ram knows exactly what state of mind she is in. The opposite is impossible for her thoughtless younger sister.
At first Roswaal looked confused, but as Ram explained, he gradually began to show signs of understanding, and groaned in confusion, "Hmm."
"Rem, huh? Well, I guess that's not so strange. Unlike Ram, that girl isn't serving me out of loyalty or anything."
The master's assessment of his sister was rather excessive, but Ram did not offer any rebuttal, instead only responded with silence. In other words, it was a silent affirmation.
Unlike Ram, who devotes herself to Roswaal with unconditional loyalty, Rem's sense of self-preservation is far greater.
To Rem, Roswaal is strongly associated with the protection of her sister Ram. This mindset comes from Rem's dependency on her sister, to the point where she believes her own existence is her reason for being, and her actions to protect the community tend to be rash and hasty. If left unattended, she may take matters into her own hands and dispose of those who could become harmful.
In that sense, Ram's honest opinion was that Subaru's life was spared by the fact that he had established his trust before being attacked.
Of course, even with that assessment, to Ram, Rem is the cutest little sister in the world, and she still ranks high in priority compared to herself.
However, if asked if it's the best, I can't honestly say so right now.
"No matter what Rem's feelings are, Ram will remain in my hands. In that case, she will inevitably have no choice but to do the same. Look, it's the same as before, nothing will change."
"That's right. As a result of the number of things that are important to Rem increasing, the possibility of her jumping to conclusions has only increased."
"Let's make sure we put a stop to this in advance. This is an important job for tomorrow, after all."
As he jokingly says this, the light disappears from Roswaal's palm.
The treatment was over. Feeling her body filled with vitality, Ram reluctantly climbed off Roswaal's lap and onto the ground.
As she turned around, Roswaal stood up from his chair, his tall body in front of her.
"Whatever, I'm going to be busy from now on. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I'm counting on you, Ram and Rem."
"As you wish. This body has belonged to you ever since that fiery night."
She picked up the hem of her skirt, bent her knees and gave a small bow.
Accepting her loyalty, Roswaal steps over to the window with his hands clasped behind his back, and with Ram standing beside him, he opens the curtains.
Looking up at the sky - the sky where the plump, fat moon was floating, Roswaal narrowed his two-colored eyes slightly,
"I must win this royal election, no matter what. For my own sake."
He muttered, then stretched out his arm to embrace Ram's shoulders.
Feeling the warmth of that tall body close to her once again, Ram quietly closed her eyes and looked down.
As he listened to the voice of the man beside him, his master, the one to whom he entrusted his soul,
"--For the day I will kill the dragon."
--The night quietly deepens.
It's as if it washes away the turbulent days, cleanses everything, and welcomes a new world