Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

　The cry of the earth dragon rang out loudly, and the conclusion of the battle echoed across the skies of the Sanctuary.

　The jet-black earth dragon sent the injured Garfiel flying, delivering the final blow.

　The earth dragon, whom Subaru called Patrasche, rushed to the scene as if it had communicated its will with Subaru, and provided the ultimate assist at the final moment.

「――――!!」

　This is actually the second time Garfiel and Patrasche have faced each other in this Sanctuary.

　On the first day of their visit to the Sanctuary, Patrasche, pulling the dragon carriage, got into a fight with Garfiel, who had come to repel intruders into the Sanctuary, and was utterly defeated.

　Of course, there was a boundary between warrior and non-combatant, and there was no reason for Patrasche to blame for the experience of being left helpless and left to lick the ground. Subaru, naturally, did not blame his beloved dragon for such a thing.

　However, what the person in question――No, the person involved, Patrasche, thought was a different matter.

　The events of that day when he was unable to protect his master and was filled with humiliation.

　For the Diana species, which is descended from the proud ancestral dragon, this is a stigma that must be cleared at all costs.

　Because Subaru and Patrasche didn't speak the same language, there was no clear understanding between them about being given this opportunity so early.

　So Patrasche proved it through his actions, even though there were parts he couldn't fully convey.

　The Earth Dragon's neigh is dedicated to its master and its ancestral dragon.

　Anyone who saw the female earth dragon bringing her snout close to the unconscious Subaru would have known that there was a mixture of a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in that.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

　Listening to Patrasche's cry of redemption, Emilia let out a deep sigh.

　It felt as though even breathing was forbidden. No, it was a battle that made me forget to breathe.

　Subaru told Emilia to witness the conclusion, and while feeling powerless, she continued to stare at the brutal display of the two men until the very end.

　Subaru coughs up blood, groans in pain, and collapses.

　Every time this happened, Emilia had cried out and run over to him.

　However, whenever Emilia's weak heart was about to give up waiting, she was stopped by Subaru's words, "Just watch," and his gaze, which looked her way as if it was waiting for the right moment.

　This is a situation where it is absolutely not permissible to lay hands or speak up.

　It's a frustrating, unbearable scene, yet you simply cannot look away.

　It wasn't pointed out.

　However, Emilia's heart quietly realised that she must never do that.

　I don't know what emotion is coming to my heart, holding me back.

　Subaru had been so stubborn, Garfiel had roared so furiously, the fight that had come to an end in a filthy fistfight between two men - what was the basis for it all? Emilia, a woman who was not involved and found it difficult to understand men's reasoning, only had fragmentary understandings.

　However, Subaru showed determination and conviction in this battle, and with the help of many forces, he defeated Garfiel.

　That was certain, and it was also an undeniable fact that in Emilia's heart, emotions that she could not put into words were swelling.

　Driven by these emotions, Emilia recognized that the fight between the two men was something to be admired.

　That is why the meaning of their fight must never be tarnished.

　Thereforeーー,

"...Roswaal."

　Emilia closes her eyes once, then leaves her doubts behind and looks forward.

　In front of him, his gaze skipped over Subaru and the others who had collapsed below him, and towards the gap in the trees beyond.

　--There, a demon stood there, silently.

"When you keep quiet like that, it makes me feel uneasy. It makes me wonder if you're up to something."

Subaru: "Oh, what an inconvenient thing to say. Despite being seriously injured, I rushed over to help Lady Emilia and Subaru."

"If that's what you really think, then I want to feel reassured too..."

　In front of the stammering Emilia, a tall figure pulls his leg out from the bushes - it's Roswaal.

　In the few days since their arrival at Sanctuary, he had only ever been seen in bed, so now he was out and about, and Emilia felt a slight sense of wariness.

　Normally, Roswaal would be Emilia's patron in the royal selection process, and in terms of power, he would be her only ally. It was he who led Emilia out of the forest, showed her the path to the throne, and offered the possibility of rescuing everyone in the village sleeping beneath the ice.

　So, up until now, aside from Roswaal's quirky personality, Emilia had never truly viewed him as an enemy, an annoyance, or a danger.

　But that was only just a moment ago.

"The micro-spirits have been making a lot of noise and not calming down for a while now."

"...Huh."

"Everyone is saying that they sense something incredibly sinister... And now I can see it clearly."

　Keeping her voice low with nervousness, Emilia slowly made her way from the entrance to the tomb down to the plaza.

　Subaru collapsed with a satisfied look on his face, while Garfiel's mouth twisted in regret. Emilia stood next to Patrasche, who stood between the two of them, in a position to protect the three if an emergency occurred.

　Protecting the three of them - the aura that Roswaal exuded right now was so strange that it forced him to think of it that way.

　The air around Roswaal is distorted by a dense, abnormally high concentration of mana.

　Just how dense is the mana that is being refined within his body? Roswaal L. Mathers is known as the kingdom's greatest magician, with mastery of all six types of attribute.

　When this man unleashes the full force of his magic, what kind of miracles can he perform?

"――――"

　Emilia gasped, feeling as if she was getting intoxicated by the dense mana.

　Patrasche, standing next to him, was also standing in a position that hid Subaru from Roswaal's line of sight, stretching out her long neck and roaring in a threatening manner towards the demon.

　Patrasche, too, senses the unusual presence of Roswaal and feels threatened. Seeing the two of them on guard, Roswaal just shrugs in his usual manner.

"How scary. I wish you wouldn't look at me like that. Apparently, just like earth dragons, I'm not well-liked by animals. If it's the same for spirits, then it makes sense why they don't get along with Beatrice."

"Don't make fun of me. Besides, I'm sure there's a different reason why she's in a bad mood... Though, I wouldn't know if it's been like this for a long time."

"Nooooo. Long ago... It really wasn't like that in the past. Back when there were no earth dragons, we used to ride the ghost cow - Farrow - to this place."

"When there were no earth dragons...?"

　Emilia frowned, not understanding the meaning of the words Roswaal had spoken.

　Emilia didn't know much about them, but earth dragons were creatures that were deeply rooted in our daily lives, and their culture and history—their ties with humanity—should have been continuing for a long time.

　I wonder if Roswaal meant "in Lugnica". Since I haven't studied it enough, I don't know when Earth Dragons became so important in Lugnica, though.

　Seeing Emilia questioning this, Roswaal let out a small sigh.

　There was something about it that was an understandable sense of disappointment.

"You probably know as well, Lady Emilia. Well, that is probably true. Even though Lady Emilia is of the long-lived elven bloodline, she is only a little over 100 years old… and has spent most of that time sleeping, so it's unlikely she even remembers anything about the world back then."

"...You say strange things, Roswaal. If you start talking like that, aren't you much younger than me? I mean, I've been awake longer than you though."

　Spending around a hundred years trapped in ice, left behind in the world's time, is a shameful past for Emilia.

　Even though I am clearly one of the older people in the world, I have no experience or knowledge commensurate with my age.

　His days in this "Sanctuary" had made him realize once again his many "shortcomings", including his inability to overcome the "Trials". This was just one example.

　However, Roswaal laughs off Emilia's minor worries.

　As expected, that reaction was unexpected, and Emilia was so surprised that her eyebrows immediately rose.

"Hey, Roswaal. What are you trying to do, laughing like that?"

"--. I'm sorry. It's not a big deal, but... Ignorance can sometimes lead to tragically ridiculous situations."

"...That's mocking. Even I can tell that much."

　Emilia raises her eyebrows and becomes even more wary of Roswaal's somewhat disrespectful words.

　An abnormal mana was surrounding Roswaal. As if caught in the midst of the mana he was refining, there was an unprecedented change in Roswaal's attitude towards him.

　Emilia had never experienced such clear malice from Roswaal before.

　The Roswaal that Emilia knew was usually joking around, often making sarcastic remarks, and spouting jokes just as silly as Subaru and Puck, but like them, he never said anything to belittle Emilia.

　This was because Roswaal needed Emilia as an ally to achieve his goal, and he needed to treat her as someone who had to be placed above "King."

　So, paradoxically, Roswaal currently does not see that value in Emilia.

　Perhaps he had grown impatient with Emilia, who never seemed to be able to pass the Trials, and had given up on her. If that was the case, it was fine. If that was the case, it was still understandable.

　However, what Emilia feared right now was something else entirely.

"Roswaal... Since when have you been watching Subaru and the others fight?"

"--Since when?"

"I first noticed Roswaal a little while ago. Subaru and Garfiel were fighting each other... right after Subaru used Shamak."

　Overworking the dilapidated gate, Subaru cast magic for what seemed like an unknown number of times.

　Squeezing out his last bit of mana, the magic was cast with the last of his strength, exerting its immature power before dissipating.

　Thinking about it, it must have been at that moment that Emilia really ran towards Subaru.

　In the past, Subaru had used Shamak in front of Emilia, giving it his all in a similar manner, but in the end had suffered the most crushing defeat of all.

　His appearance then and his appearance now overlapped, and no one could blame her for nearly raising her voice. However, when Subaru shot the hidden crystal at Garfiel, tilting the odds to 50-50, feelings other than impatience began to arise in Emilia's heart.

　And it was only when she had lost that sense of urgency that Emilia realised.

　He sensed the strange presence of someone watching their battle from the shadows, just like him.

"At first, I thought that Roswaal would step in when Subaru reached his limit. It seemed that Ram and Otto were doing something to stop Garfiel, so I thought that Roswaal might have come to Subaru's aid. But..."

"As you said, I've come to support Subaru-kun. But even if I say that, I don't think you'll believe me."

"Even without Puck, I can at least understand the flow of mana. I can see which direction Roswaal was aiming, watching the battle so he could make a move at any time."

"――――"

　Roswaal's different colored eyes narrow as he looks at Emilia.

　Those eyes had narrowed in the same way as they had watched the recent battle, aiming at the struggling Subaru, ready to release their heightened magical power at any time.

"Answer me, Roswaal. What were you trying to do to Subaru?"

　Emilia asks, raising her palm towards Roswaal.

　Puck is not by her side. She is worried about her control of mana. The micro-spirits are crying out to Emilia in fear of Roswaal, who is clad in sinister magical power.

　If I can't fully rely on them, then I have no choice but to do it myself.

"Please, answer me. Otherwise I'll..."

"Even at this point, I'm still unsure of what to do. She's such a carefree person. Or maybe I expect too much from others' kindness? Up until now, she's been the target of nothing but ill will, so how can she remain so vulnerable?"

"----!"

　Emilia's pleading words were overwritten by Roswaal's merciless malice.

　Emilia stammers, but Roswaal, with two eyes of different hues harboring equal malice, refuses to give in. The same goes for the multiple mana powers swirling like chaos within him.

　The clouds were cloudy and there was a hint of disquiet. Emilia instinctively reached out to her chest, then gritted her teeth when she remembered that it was not the familiar feeling there.

　He felt frustrated at his own weakness, unconsciously entrusting his anxieties to Puck.

　As if to conceal her weakness, Emilia strengthens her gaze as she glares at Roswaal.

"I see you have no intention of answering my question. In that case, I'll answer yours too--ahh."

　Let's not hold back and question Roswaal about his true intentions.

　As soon as I made that decision and tried to concentrate my mana, I felt something nudge me on the side of my head.

　Surprised by the sensation of her silver hair being disturbed, Emilia turned to the side, only to find the snout of an earth dragon.

　It was Patrasche. Emilia's eyes widened at the blow, which was too powerful to be called a push. Then, the jet-black earth dragon, still with the same dignified expression on its face, once again poked her forehead with its nose.

"you..."

　Even though they couldn't speak the same language, Emilia thought it was a cheer from the earth dragon.

　-- Calm down. Stay calm and do what you have to do.

　As if his sharp gaze was telling her that, Emilia realized she had grown hot. When she closed her eyes and turned to face Roswaal, his hand was no longer on her breast.

"Really... I don't have any good memories of earth dragons."

　Seeing Emilia's changed expression, Roswaal criticizes Patrasche with disgust.

　Patrasche's consideration had effectively thwarted Roswaal's plans. In other words, it meant that Roswaal wanted to make a move on Emilia.

"Right now, I have no idea what Roswaal is thinking. Even now, if this child hadn't stopped me, I'm sure I would... And yet, it's as if I was hoping for that."

"Just to be clear, I hate being hurt, too, you know?"

"...? No one would like that."

　Emilia frowned in response, and saw Roswaal quirk his lips sarcastically. Emilia had no idea what he meant by that laugh.

　Either way, force is not the method Emilia should choose in this situation.

"Tell me, Roswaal. I can see that you're not your usual self. Tell me why you seem so...desperate."

"... Desperation, huh? Hmm, that's surprising."

"With that careless attitude, he remained calm even though he might be hit with magic... I can't believe he hasn't given up after all that."

　Even Emilia could understand the destructive urge to hate yourself and make a mess of yourself. The only difference is whether you direct that urge inward or outward.

　Emilia is the type to turn it inward. Could Roswaal be the same?

"If that's the case, then please tell me. I don't know what I can do, but I'll try to help you. After all, Roswaal has helped me so much up until now..."

"--No. That's enough, Lady Emilia."

　However, Emilia's outstretched hand was rejected by Roswaal's husky voice.

　Emilia raised her head at the flattest voice yet, and Roswaal's cold eyes looked down at her. She gasped, realizing that beneath the clown makeup that made it appear as if he was smiling, his true face was painfully emotionless.

　Roswaal's expression looked as if he had given up everything.

"What do you mean...fine?"

"That's exactly what I mean. I have no intention of making you understand my intentions, and the injuries of these two, the Trials... even before that, the Royal Selection is no longer of any importance to me. --It's the world that is about to end, after all."

"The world is ending... And what do you mean, it doesn't matter? The Royal Selection and the Trials don't matter... Roswaal, what are you talking about?!"

　Emilia, unable to comprehend the true meaning of the sudden outrage, shouts in anger.

　Roswaal had always exuded an air of unease, but now his expression was one of emptiness, and the mana that surrounded him was filled with a body-shattering emptiness.

　Roswaal's mind is currently in a state of extreme instability.

　Even though she understood that, Emilia still could not accept his argument.

　What he was about to throw away was everything that was important to Emilia, something ineffable that Subaru had risked his life to prove.

　Garfiel's argument in opposition to Subaru was made clear by his shout.

　Garfiel was trying to destroy the tomb and stop the continuation of the Trial.

　What was he seeking by not releasing the Sanctuary from its barrier? Emilia somehow understood that he was seeking an unchanging life.

　And it was not as if Emilia could not sympathize with Garfiel's argument.

　To remain the same, to be, is comforting and the easy way.

　If it is a peaceful place where you can spend your daily life with loved ones, no one can deny the desire to continue immersing yourself in that time.

　And yet, Subaru flatly denied it, showing his determination and pushing it away.

　Emilia is in the same position as Subaru, pushing for change in Sanctuary. However, she has not established her reasons for doing so like Subaru, nor has she grasped the feelings of the people of Sanctuary.

　It was a necessary step to reach her goal, so she had simply stepped into that area. What would those around her think about the changes it would bring? Emilia, who only looked inward, had never even asked such a simple question.

　Wasn't it Subaru who had asked that question and appealed to him instead?

　Once again, he had forced Subaru to shoulder the burden that he should have been carrying himself, and had overlooked everything.

　It is because I have keenly felt this that I am where I am now.

　And yet Roswaal is trying to throw away the present that Subaru risked his life to carve out.

"Roswaal... What are you trying to throw away? You... you and I started it, didn't we? And now in the middle of it... That can't be allowed!"

　Roswaal's eyebrows furrow in response to Emilia's harsh voice.

　He regained a little strength in his eyes and covered his blue one with one hand, making his yellow one tremble.

"It started with me and Lady Emilia...? What are you talking about?"

"picture...?"

"It was me and Sensei who started it -- definitely not you. Therefore, it should be up to Sensei and I to end it as well. That's decided."

"There's no way something like that would go through!"

　Even though she was overwhelmed by the unusual presence, Emilia spoke up.

　Glaring at the clown's emotionless face, Emilia raised her arms.

"It may have been started by Roswaal or someone else, but... it's not just your problem anymore. It's not just my problem. It's dragged so many people into it, caused so many people trouble, and yet it's still going on like this! It can't just end like this!"

"The road only leads to the end. So what's the harm in ending it here before we reach the end? This time we really didn't make it… Let's hope for the next one, and for Subaru-kun."

"To Subaru...?"

　What does it mean to have high expectations of Subaru?

　Glancing at the fallen Subaru, Emilia reaffirmed her determination not to let Roswaal's words come true.

　Of course.

　After all, Subaru had already done enough. If it was to live up to expectations, he had more than lived up to them. There was no need to ask for anything more.

　You should respond to what you've been given with what is due you.

"How can you tell me that the path Subaru opened leads to the end? Subaru and the others joined forces to open a path that was almost closed. Isn't that what the current conflict is about?"

"Whether you go right or left, it's a dead end. It's pointless trying to get so desperate in front of such a fork in the road. The correct path is written here."

　As he speaks, Roswaal pulls out a black bound book from the pocket of his priest's robe.

　Seeing the unfamiliar thing, for some reason Emilia felt an urge to tear it apart well up within her chest, and she opened her eyes wide.

　It's a really, really disgusting book.

　Neither the title nor the cover could be seen, and it looked like an ordinary book, but for some reason, just looking at the binding made Emilia feel a sense of pressure that made her mentally unstable.

"That book is..."

"A copy of the 'Book of Wisdom.' Or perhaps we could call it a superior gospel. It's a mischievous doodle with characters that no one else can read, but that's not it for me. It's a book of guidance that records the correct history that should be followed."

"The history we should follow... is it something like the Dragon History Stone...?"

"I heard from my teacher that if you trace it back to its origins, it's the same principle."

　Only when he utters the word "sensei" does emotion return to Roswaal's eyes.

　It was a voice that conveyed so much, as if one was thinking of someone dear, as if one was harboring an insurmountable feeling for just those four letters.

　In this way, it is natural for Roswaal to care for someone. And yet, he tries to dismiss everything in front of him as worthless.

"Are you saying that you're going to ruin it by going in a different direction from what's written in the book? What good will it do if you do that? If you find a different path than the book, one that isn't a dead end..."

"You're saying the same thing as Subaru-kun. Are you repeating what he said?"

"--!"

　Roswaal smiles faintly, and Emilia chokes, feeling as if he's hit the nail on the head.

　Seeing Emilia's expression, Roswaal sighed in annoyance.

"Borrowed words, a prepared position. Even taking on the 'Trials' was something you were encouraged to do… Well, I don't blame you. It was me, the people around you, who told you to do so, not you. Those words, knowing that you, who are empty and have nothing, have no choice but to do so… Subaru-kun, you are forcing something cruel upon him."

"How cruel..."

"Knowing him, he probably didn't explain the reason behind the necessity of challenging the Trials or anything like that, he just encouraged Emilia-sama, right? He just pushed his own self-centeredness on her, telling her that she could do it if she tried. I understand. I understand. After all, he and I are the same kind of people."

"Subaru and Roswaal are the same kind? What does that mean?"

"It means forcing your ideals on the woman you love."

　Assertive.

　Roswaal has one eye closed and gazes at Emilia with only his yellow pupils. With a helpless smile on his face, he continues to speak to the silent Emilia.

"What words did he say to you? They were all pleasant to hear, weren't they? He pampered you, forced his ideals upon you, and treated you with such care and gentleness, as if you were treating something fragile? He didn't even consider that in reality, Emilia-sama is weak, fragile, afraid, and wants to run away; it's only natural that you have a heart like that, did he? He doesn't have the slightest interest in the real you. The only thing he is in love with is the you that shines within his mind. --Isn't that right?"

"――――"

"I'm the same. I only saw the ideal in her. She's wonderful, you're amazing, there's no one better than you. I kept praising her and saying that, pouring my love into her as if she were a piece of glass...even though all that stuff meant nothing."

　He spoke quickly, and Roswaal looked away in some irritation.

　Was he talking about Subaru, or about himself? Even Roswaal himself may not have been able to clearly distinguish between the two.

　Overwhelmed by the force, Emilia takes a small breath.

　Even though he felt intimidated by Roswaal's attitude, he wanted to say what he had to say.

"...That's all?"

"――――"

"Is that the only thing you and Subaru have in common?"

　Roswaal looks at Emilia with a suspicious look.

　Doubts had arisen within him. The fact that he had not continued speaking was the clear answer to Emilia's question. So, he had to say something after all.

　I need to correct my thinking.

"If that's all you have to say..."

"――――"

"Subaru and Roswaal are not the same at all."

　After all, Subaru, who had chased Emilia all the way into the Tomb, had certainly been pleading with her ideals, and had never explained to her the meaning of liberating the 『Sanctuary』.

　But he never just told Emilia pretty things and flowery rhetoric.

"Subaru, you said I was a troublesome woman."

"...what?"

Subaru: "I've done a lot for you, yet you're just causing trouble and asking me who I am. Don't keep getting your hopes up and hang on to things that have already happened. You're all lip service, you're lacking in everything else, I can't stand to watch you. ――That's what Subaru told me."

"――――"

"Subaru is watching me closely. I too now feel that I can't keep showing my ugly side to Subaru. So Subaru is completely different from Roswaal, who pretends to look into the future but doesn't see anything at all now."

　If Natsuki Subaru was the kind of person who only imagined an ideal image of Emilia, then surely Emilia would still be hugging her knees in the tomb right now.

　Even Garfiel, if he knew that Subaru was not idealistic, and yet he spoke his idealism anyway, he probably wouldn't have bothered to listen.

　Subaru saw Emilia's weakness, but he still loved her.

　Subaru knew Garfiel's kindness, but he still told him to change.

　Subaru continues to run around scolding everyone who wants to stay where they are.

　You shouldn't be here, there must be more you can do, lift your head, face forward, raise your fist, you don't have time to stop.

　-- I can't stay standing still forever.

"Natsuki Subaru, will he make the right choice in this Sanctuary...? If something as foolish as that were the case, then the writing in this Book of Wisdom..."

"Memories came back to me and I was worried. When Pac was gone I felt crushed."

　Roswaal is confused by the difference between his own thoughts and the answer Subaru gave him.

　Emilia places her hand on her chest, not to confirm the sensation there, but to confirm the presence of her own heart beating beneath it.

"I thought that when I remembered everything, I would become something different. When that happened, I thought that the way I had come this far would be wrong."

　Even now, I'm hearing the voices blaring out loud, a lost memory in my head.

　When it takes on a clear image, something irreversible appears.

　With this, Emilia's world changes completely.

　Emilia feared that change and wanted to reject it, but she learned that it was unnecessary.

　No matter what changes, the path you've walked so far won't disappear.

　No matter how Emilia changes from now on, even if she becomes a different person than she was at the beginning, the feelings she has now will not be a mistake.

　Even if you find yourself stumbling and stopping, start walking again.

　Look in the direction that you think is ahead and move forward.

"When you want to do something, when you think you can change, when you want to do something -- it's okay, there's someone who will hold you by your hand," she said.

"It's a deception...!"

Subaru: "It's not a lie. I want to believe in Subaru, who said he believed in me. What Subaru said may seem like a baseless lie right now. You may want to call it a lie… but what I have to do is to make it not a lie."

　He must never let Subaru, the helpless Emilia who could do nothing, be labeled as a liar who ran around preaching non-existent hope.

　Natsuki Subaru had assured Emilia that 『You can definitely do it』.

　The current Emilia would make that a lie.

　But if Emilia breaks out of her shell and achieves "I can do it," then the lie won't be a lie.

　People call that a "wish."

"Turning lies into wishes is what I have to do right now, and what I want to do."

　What Subaru had taught me, with all his might and dedication.

　What Emilia had been unable to put into form was finally being put into words.

　I don't know if this is really the correct answer.

　Taking something that hasn't yet taken shape and turning it into something proper is what Emilia does.

　I want to go there without any more hesitation or wavering.

"---! That's ridiculous!"

　Roswaal's face changes color at Emilia's answer and he steps back.

　Throwing aside his usual composure and the sense of emptiness he had felt up until now, he squeezed out a voice with a desperate look on his face and was horrified by the answer he had just received.

　Raising his arm, he pointed at Emilia and shouted in a high-pitched voice.

"Why, how! Have you reached that answer here and now!? Why is Natsuki Subaru telling you first what I couldn't tell my sensei!? He, now! At this stage! There's no way he should have reached that conclusion!"

"I remembered what I was scared of. I'm now preparing to face it... What are you scared of?"

"That's been decided! Deviating from the records! Not proceeding according to this recorded history, and not being able to fulfill the promised reunion! Other than that, what else!"

"But it seems to me that what's bothering Roswaal right now is something different."

"----!"

　Roswaal's eyes burn with rage.

　He spoke out in anger at his inability to empathize with Subaru's feelings. Roswaal wanted Subaru to feel the same things he had felt in the past.

　When he said that he and Subaru were the same kind, it was probably not meant as a mockery or an analogy, but rather as something that Roswaal stubbornly believed should be the same.

　Subaru and Roswaal may have thought that they should follow the same path and bear the same pain in the way they treated their loved ones.

　That foundation is shaking and confidence is on the verge of collapsing.

　That's how Emilia saw Roswaal's panic just now.

"Oh my goodness...! I never thought something like this would happen."

　Roswaal places his hand over his mouth and distorts his cheek, not caring that his makeup will run.

"Are you saying that you've been playing with me since the bet? Garfiel's loss, and even Emilia's recovery, were all calculated into it? ...Are you saying that I was wrong the moment I plotted against the sage's deterrent power...? Then what was I here for?"

"Roswaal?"

　Buried in a whirlwind of thoughts, Roswaal pushes Emilia's existence out of his consciousness.

　With a desperate look on his face, he thinks about how to get the world back on track, as it has strayed from his own expectations.

　However, there is no such method available anywhere in the world anymore.

　Emilia doesn't know what is written in the book of prophecies he has.

　Roswaal had been pushed into such a corner. There must have been a dramatic shift.

　It was so completely like a different world.

"--Ah, I see."

　Suddenly, Roswaal, who had been in the midst of all the confusion up until then, began to mutter.

　The voice now had a rational tone to it, and Emilia hoped that his confusion had subsided temporarily. They could find a compromise through rational conversation.

"There's no need to worry about that. In any case, there's a 'contract'. There's no need to worry about whether he'll be able to reach the 'real thing' or not."

"What are you talking about? Roswaal, what are you doing this time..."

"Nothing. Nothing at all, Lady Emilia. I'm sorry for worrying and confusing you. Please do as you wish, and act as I expect you to."

　Roswaal bends and smiles at me, exuding a clownish attitude.

　Of course, Emilia couldn't accept this. Her attitude had changed completely from the distraught she'd been up until now to her usual one.

　It's crazy that he seemed so much more "normal" when he was upset.

"...What do you expect from me, Roswaal?"

"Of course. -- To challenge the Trials as you wish, and to see results."

　Roswaal did not mention which outcome this was.

　And Emilia somehow guessed which one he wanted.

　What I don't understand is why Roswaal would want that.

　And the reason why I became so apathetic and why I accepted it and put an end to it.

　There are so many things I don't understand.

"Well, I guess she won't tell me about it now."

"..."

"That's fine. I don't intend to force you to find out. I'm sure I'm not qualified to do so right now. --But I won't let you think that you can keep it a secret forever."

"--That's very reassuring. Even after learning the truth and regaining your senses, I wonder if you can still maintain that bluff."

　At the very end, what seemed to be malice was directed at her, but to Emilia it also seemed like a plea.

　With that, Roswaal turns his back on me and starts walking, most likely heading to the lodgings where he was recuperating.

　In the end, the reason he had come all the way here to watch the battle remains a mystery. However, the concentration of mana swirling inside Roswaal's body remains unchanged, eagerly awaiting the moment of the miracle.

"That's right. --Lady Emilia, please give me one piece of advice."

"what?"

　Roswaal stops and holds up his finger, causing Emilia to raise her eyebrows.

　Roswaal gave a wry smile as Emilia showed her defenseless side in front of the person who had just broken up with her in a hostile conversation.

"About Garfiel... it's best not to underestimate how deep his roots are. However, his obsession is not so shallow that he would change his mind just by beating him down."

"--I understand."

　Emilia accepts it without hesitation. Leaving her behind, Roswaal departs the scene once and for all.

　Once he was gone, the only sounds remaining in the square were Emilia's breathing and the snorting of the jet-black earth dragon, which had continued to glare at his receding back until the very end.

　All that remained was the deep breathing, which could be interpreted as the breathing of the two men, who had collapsed and been unconscious.

"--Haaah."

　Suddenly, Emilia's shoulders shook and she let out a deep breath.

　Emilia noticed Patrasche's eyes widen in response to that, and gave a wry smile.

"No, it's okay. Thanks to you, I was able to stay calm...But I was really nervous. It felt like I might have ended up in a fight with Roswaal."

"――――"

"Yeah. I hate fighting when I don't even know why I'm fighting. I wonder why Roswaal is like that...I wonder if Subaru knows."

　Responding to Patrasche's concerned gaze, Emilia knelt down next to the lying Subaru, covered in blood, and gently picked him up.

　Wiping off the dried blood with his fingers, he gently stroked his swollen face. His expression twitched slightly, as if he felt pain or tickling.

"I have to treat him. Subaru and Garfiel don't like being in pain."

"――――"

"Ah, there's no need to look so worried. I'm a little worried about controlling it without Puck here, but I can borrow the power of the micro-spirit child to do simple healing."

　As she spoke, Emilia spoke to the micro-spirits around her, borrowing their power as she gave off a faint glow. A soft light enveloped Subaru and Garfiel, and began to heal their wounds.

　Subaru's expression somehow becomes more relaxed.

　Emilia smiled slightly at that and gently placed his head on her lap.

　How many times has it happened that she has had to rest on Subaru's lap like this?

　More than that, I've received so many things that I don't even know what I can do to give back.

"When I wake up, there are so many things I want to ask you."

　Muttering softly, Emilia gently ran her fingers through Subaru's bangs.

　Subaru grimaces, and her cheeks relax slightly.

　--It was about ten minutes later that Otto and Ram, who was being carried by him, joined us from the forest.