Upon hearing her name called, Emilia replied with a tense expression on her face.
And as she began to walk towards the center, the moment he saw her right hand and right foot move forward in unison―― Subaru thought, "I've got to do something about this."
From behind, she was stiff with tension, and it was clear after just a few steps; in normal times this would have been a scene that would have led to praise her cuteness, with 『Emilia-tan is such a puppy!』, but in the current situation it didn't look like it was being used to any positive effect.
Just before she'd reached the center, Emilia noticed something was off about the way she was walking, and her limbs returned to a normal human shape as she stepped forward――to the center of the hall, drawing the gazes of the Council of Sages.
--Emilia-tan, are you okay?
"There's no need to worry, Subaru."
"Don't read people's minds, I'm in the palm of your hand."
Subaru was unable to hide the anxiety he felt inside, his hands moving about in circles, when Reinhardt called out to him, glancing sideways.
He hushedly mentioned Subaru's anxieties and pointed his chin at Emilia, who was coming forward.
"Subaru doesn't seem to know how Emilia-sama is viewed in the royal castle. At the very least, she isn't looked down upon like you're worried she will be."
"Even so..."
The right hand and the right foot came out at the same time. It was the usual pattern of a person who was extremely nervous. If this continued, he would stumble over his words, bite his tongue, blush and crouch down. It was impossible to watch.
If that were to happen, Subaru was prepared to make a disgraceful display in this gathering of the country's most important figures, one that would earn him the scorn and contempt of everyone.
ーーNatsuki Subaru's way of thinking was not to follow through and restore Emilia's honor.
However, Subaru's determination to move in the opposite direction turns out to be unfounded fears when interpreted differently.
"Did you see that gait with my arms and legs moving at the same time?"
"Could this be a sign of some special spell passed down among the elves?"
"It's a demonic appearance. For some reason I can't take my eyes off it..."
The Royal Knights lined up in the queue exclaimed in fear, and Subaru was dismayed by what they were saying. It was a case of paranoia, or perhaps even delusions of grandeur.
If one knew the real Emilia, one would never even consider that her behavior was merely the result of nervousness.
As for the third guy, his opinion was no different from Subaru's in the big picture.
In any case, even just from their stiff, rigid movements it was clear that if that was what they were interpreting - if that wasn't being mocked, but was being boasted about in all seriousness, then it was clear that this was by no means a situation where they were being welcomed in a friendly manner.
When Emilia reached the center, all the noise and commotion naturally quieted down.
The only ones left were Emilia, who had stepped forward, and the loud thumping of a tall figure's footsteps as he made his way next to her - Roswaal's. As the indigo-haired figure stood next to Emilia, the stage was set.
Looking at the two standing side by side, Marcos, who was in charge of proceedings, hunched his chin with a heavy look on his face. He then turned his gaze towards Subaru and the others - especially towards the group that had been spouting stupid rumors earlier - and made them straighten their backs,
"Then, Lady Emilia, and Sir Roswaal L. Mathers. Thank you."
"Yes, yes. But after all these knights acting as escorts, I feel really out of place and it's quite troubling, you know?"
Roswaal replied in a very light-hearted tone, then turned to Emilia, who was standing next to him, and asked, "Hey?" Emilia didn't respond at all.
Considering how tense she had been up until now, there was no way he could have expected the usual reaction. Even Subaru was annoyed at Roswaal's inability to read the mood, but any negative feelings he had about it were quickly left aside.
because--,
"It's nice to meet you, members of the Society of Sages. My name is Emilia. I don't have a family name. Please just call me Emilia."
Her voice was as clear as a silver bell, shaking the eardrums of everyone in the hall, and her name was engraved in everyone's hearts. There was no tremor in her voice, and her gaze was unwavering as she looked ahead.
Where was the nervousness from earlier? As she spoke her name before the Council of Sages, Emilia looked in no way inferior to any of the previous candidates.
No, as Emilia spoke, she possessed an unrealistic, magical charm that the other candidates could never have possessed. It was unclear whether this was due to the fact that she was the only one who was not purely human.
But at the very least, Subaru was enthralled by her bewitching appearance. All of his inner resolve up until now, and all the rudeness shown to him by those around him - all of that vanished from his mind as he was mesmerised by the sight of her standing there.
"And, I, Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers, have the honour of recommending Lady Emilia. I would like to thank everyone at the Council of Sages for their time."
"Hmm. So instead of a Royal Knight, the recommender is you, the Royal Court Magician? I would like to hear the details of that."
Touching his beard, he calmly presents the story, then Mycloth's eyes narrow with the sharpness of a sword. He silently shoots Emilia with his gaze,
"The candidate is Lady Emilia. Please also tell me her background."
"Understood."
Roswaal bends and points his hand out to Emilia, and when she nods in agreement, he begins to recount in a sonorous voice the story of how they first met.
Subaru had never heard of this before, and he instinctively stiffened up, straining his ears to not miss a single word.
"First of all, as I'm sure you all already know, let me begin by explaining Lady Emilia's origins. Beautiful silver hair, crystal white skin, amethyst eyes that capture the hearts of all who see them, and a silver bell-like voice that once heard, you will never forget, even in your dreams. As you know, her magical features are proof that Lady Emilia is of elven descent."
It was palpable that many in the hall held their breath upon hearing Roswaal's words.
Elves - a fact that was likely well known given how Emilia had been treated, and it was a difference that was so great that it was impossible to hide it, especially during the Royal Selection.
In the example of Anastasia mentioned earlier, Subaru had made the analogy in his head that a Japanese person could never become president of the United States, but in comparison, just how deep was the gap that lay between elves and humans?
"A girl of elven descent..."
"A magical appearance beyond human comprehension, and an otherworldly aura, there's no doubt about it."
"It is outrageous to put an elf on the throne. That doesn't even compare to what Anastasia-sama did. And it would be different if she was merely an elf."
The elders of the Society of Sages looked at each other and, in hushed voices, spoke critical words. One particular older man with a large scar on his bald head had a firm attitude.
"Half human blood - that makes you half-elf, right?"
The old man spat out these words with veins popping out of his forehead, and waved his hand wildly. It was a rude gesture to push Emilia away, and in fact,
"Just looking at it makes me sick. Why don't you realize that it would be too presumptuous to even welcome a silver-haired half-demon into the throne room?"
"Lord Bordeaux, you're being too bold."
"Do you recognise me, Mycroft? Isn't that silver half-demon exactly like the legendary appearance of the 'Envious Witch'?"
The old man called Bordeaux stood up, raising his voice even as Mycrotov scolded him. He then went down the stairs and strode briskly to the center, in front of Emilia,
"The catastrophe that once devoured half the world, driving all living things into the chaos of despair. I will not let you say you do not know it."
"――――"
"Your appearance and family background alone make many people tremble in fear. How could such a person be put on the throne? It's unthinkable. Other countries and our own people would likely call you insane. Moreover, this is the Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica - the country where the witch sleeps!"
Bordeaux spread his arms and stomped his feet, yelling in a rough tone and attitude. Emilia still didn't react to his attitude. However, Subaru, in his place, seemed to be reaching his limit.
But that,
"Subaru, we're up against the Society of Sages. We can't be hasty."
"Don't mess with me, Reinhard. What else is that but a nitpick? If he had done something wrong himself in the past, it would be one thing, but he's only been treated like that because he looks like him. So are all bald old men like that? The bald old men I know are a bit better."
"You're getting off topic, Subaru."
Subaru was about to burst into rage in a fit of rage, but Reinhardt made a quick decision to stop him. However, Subaru's anger was not going to be contained by that.
He was breathing heavily and glared at Bordeaux's profile as if he wanted to kill him with his gaze. The old man noticed the hostile gaze and looked at the two arguing.
"The line of attendants seems noisy. Knight Reinhard is the attendant for the other candidate. In that case, that black-haired boy must be…"
"Mr. Bordeaux, are you ready?"
A dangerous glint in Bordeaux's eyes flashed, and just before he was about to make an impact, Roswaal dashed his judgement.
He steps forward with his usual nonchalant attitude, meeting Bordeaux's gaze head on. The old man, with a robust build considering his age, is almost the same height as the tall Roswaal. As they exchange glances at each other in close proximity, the old man fixes his gaze on Roswaal's heterochromatic eyes,
"If you mean whether I have used all the words I can, then I still can't say enough. Your actions are nothing short of amazing. Do you understand, Head Court Magician?"
"Of course I understand. I understand the meaning of the outrageous act I am committing, the arrangements made by Bordeaux-sama who represents the opinions of the Council of Sages, and also the issue of how the people will react to Emilia-sama."
Roswaal accepted Bordeaux's intimidating words without hesitation, and then raised his finger,
"Hey, hey, haven't you forgotten? The point that Bordeaux-sama is having an issue with is completely meaningless when it comes to the royal selection."
"...What do you mean?"
"Strangely enough, wasn't that what Priscilla-sama said at the beginning? That the selection of the king would begin as soon as five candidates were gathered, even if only in name. Once the selection process had begun, all that remained was to quietly follow the provisions of the Dragon History Stone and proceed. Isn't that right?"
Roswaal leans forward to avoid Bordeaux's gaze and directs his message to the Council of Sages on the stage. In response, Mycroft closes one of his narrowed eyes,
"Hmm, so what you're saying is that the important thing is that Emilia-sama was chosen by the Dragon, and whether she is actually qualified to take the throne is not an issue."
"Exactly. I want to begin and finish the royal selection as soon as possible and return the country to normal. Otherwise, I won't have the time to indulge in my hobbies."
Roswaal quickly dismisses Emilia's chances of ascending to the throne. His words are even more shocking than his earlier outrage, and Subaru is left dumbfounded rather than angry.
He wondered what the man who was her patron would say, knowing just how hard Emilia was working to become king.
Leaving Subaru stunned and speechless, Roswaal continues, wagging his finger in amusement.
"Although 'decoy' is a bad way to put it, why not think of her that way? Lady Emilia's appearance is, well, quite distinctive. There are probably very few people who look at her and don't associate her with the 'Witch of Jealousy'. In other words, from our perspective, she could be an extremely easy piece to understand."
"Are you trying to turn a five-candidate royal election into a contest between four candidates?"
"Don't you think that fewer options would reduce the chances of division? Not to mention that the national government would be shaken by the absence of a king, and there would even be fears of interference from other countries in our internal affairs. In that case, shouldn't we be the ones to come up with measures to reduce that risk?"
Bordeaux looks thoughtful at Roswaal's proposal. The other elder members of the Council of Sages also seem to be quite keen on the proposal, saying "In that case."
The plan is to use Emilia as a decoy for the other candidates, and essentially turn the royal selection into a rigged race.
When you compare the pros and cons, which way do you think the scales tip?
Bordeaux, who had been the most firmly opposed, nodded with a look of understanding on his stern face, and,
"Okay, fine. I'll withdraw my previous opposition. I'll do as recommended by the lord--"
「Don't mess with me――!!」
An angry voice echoed throughout the hall, and the room fell silent as it echoed.
The only sound remaining in the silent room was the heavy breathing of the boy who had yelled.
With everyone watching, the boy - Subaru - his face turned red with rage as he glared at Roswaal and Bordeaux, who were about to reach an agreement on their evil plan.
Roswaal closed one eye in response and looked at Subaru with only his yellow eyes,
"Oh my goodness, don't you see the situation? Now is not the time for someone in your position to butt in. Apologise and leave the room."
"I've given you my opinion, don't mess with me. And what follows is this: you guys should be the ones apologizing."
"I'm even more surprised. --To think that life is not necessary."
Roswaal closes his yellow eyes and instead pierces Subaru with his blue ones.
His usual carefree demeanor was gone, and instead he was surrounded by an overwhelming demonic aura that sent shivers down those who saw him. The air around Roswaal seemed to be distorted, which was probably due to the sheer amount of mana he possessed.
As he gazed upon that overwhelming presence, Subaru gritted his teeth and images of a great fire flashed through his mind.
He remembered the scene in the Forest of Demonic Beasts when Roswaal had used his skills to instantly char the Juggernaut that Subaru had struggled against. He had heard that even herds were annihilated in front of him with the ease of a baby.
Considering how precise he had been in using his magic in the past, it would be even easier for him to choose to evaporate Subaru from this situation.
There must have been a certain amount of trust between Subaru and him - but in this particular situation, he could not, and did not, expect that to be the case.
After all, it was none other than Roswaal who had first betrayed that trust.
Subaru: "Just when we were starting to come to an agreement, this rudeness happened. If you would like to get on your hands and knees and beg for forgiveness just once more, I will give you the chance. What do you think, Natsuki Subaru?"
Receiving the swelling torrent of dangerous hostility, Subaru's knees burst into laughter. A trembling spread to his fingertips, and if he didn't clench his teeth and endure, the roots of his teeth would start chattering.
I felt like my heart was trembling and I wanted to get out of there right away.
--However,
「I-I told you. It's not me who should be apologizing, it's you guys!」
My voice was trembling and high-pitched.
But even so, Subaru refused to look down.
Emilia was here.
And now, her wish was about to be oppressed. With that happening right before her eyes, there was no way she could give in.
Who else besides Subaru could be on her side after she had been betrayed at the last minute? Who could act as a bulwark against those who spoke ill of her based solely on her race and appearance?
He had no strength. His will was weak. But he had determination.
Subaru was driven by an inexplicable force of unknown origin, and he would never allow the two feet he was planting on his feet to buckle at the knees.
Seeing Subaru's powerless determination, his heterochromatic eyes narrowed slightly,
"That's fine. Without strength, nothing can pass. You should try to understand what that means for yourself. I hope you can make use of it in the next life."
The moment the ultimatum was announced, the overflowing torrent of power took shape and materialized.
What was born was a fireball wrapped in aurora that lit up the entire hall brilliantly. The mass of flame that appeared in Roswaal's raised palm was the size of a human head, but its intense heat was like that of a miniature sun, and it lightly seared the skin of Subaru, who was standing a short distance away.
The embodiment of clear malice, Roswaal prepares for battle, and Bordeaux and the other candidates standing relatively close by brace themselves. Bordeaux's stern face contorts in anger, and the other candidates move behind their respective knights.
And Emilia, the only one without a knight in her service,
"Wait, Roswaal. So what I'm saying is..."
Her amethyst eyes flickered with confusion and impatience as she looked back and forth between Roswaal and Subaru. There was confusion in her eyes as she looked at Roswaal, and in her eyes as she looked at Subaru――
"Emi..."
"I will show you the power of the highest level of fire mana. --Argoa."
With that cruel remark, Roswaal points his palm towards Subaru.
In other words, it was the movement of throwing the fireball in his hand. The fireball slowly but surely approached Subaru, threatening to burn him to ashes.
Seeing it right in front of him, Subaru thought of quickly throwing his body to the side to evade, but his body, the essential part of his being, was not keeping up with his thoughts at all. Perhaps it was because his legs were shaking, or perhaps it was because his body was petrified with fear.
No, neither.
It's not that his will isn't being transmitted to his lower body, but that his will is accelerating too much and his body can't keep up with the speed of that transmission.
His vision became abnormally slow, and Subaru could feel with his skin that "Death" was approaching him with its mouth open.
It had been a long time since he'd felt this sensation, and the possibility that it might be directed at Roswaal; it was a feeling he had hoped would be spared until the very end, even in the second loop.
My consciousness left reality behind, and I couldn't even move my eyes.
Therefore, the only thing remaining in Subaru's field of vision, aside from the fireball approaching before his very eyes, was Emilia, out of the corner of his eye, reaching out her hand towards him.
Seeing the clear sense of impatience on her face, Subaru felt a misplaced sense of relief.
His own life was in danger, and the girl he loved was watching him with concern. Subaru didn't even have the time to consider how abnormal it was to find comfort in that fact.
And as a result,
"Without power, nothing can pass. I see, that's a good saying. Yes, I absolutely agree, and I completely agree."
The voice that resounded was a familiar one, yet it lost that familiar ease as it gently tapped against Subaru's eardrums.
At the moment the fireballs collided, Subaru forgot to even blink, faced with the red-hot death that was approaching before his eyes.
And so Subaru's eyes were able to see every last detail of the events unfolding before his eyes.
At the moment of impact, the fireball stretched out its limbs to envelop Subaru, intending to burn him to ashes. In an instant, a pale blue glow unfolded before Subaru, covering his entire body, competing head-on with firepower against the heat that would have evaporated a human body in an instant - and as a result, it was cancelled out, leaving only white steam behind.
The being who had effortlessly accomplished this impossible, superhuman feat was floating in the air in front of Subaru, at eye level,
"That human being said whatever he wanted in front of my daughter."
The grey-furred kitten folded her arms, her pink nose snoring softly, and her dark eyes were frozen with an emotion colder than ever before as she declared.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
The sudden appearance of this being left everyone in the hall speechless.
Floating in the air, glaring at the surroundings was a palm-sized cat-like spirit called Puck.
The more I get to know him, with his usual nonchalant attitude, his easy-going way of speaking, and his completely laid-back personality, the more I can't help but be amazed at his current appearance.
Apart from Subaru's surprise, it was clear that the people seeing him for the first time were also expressing their shock.
The problem they have is something completely different from Subaru's surprise.
it is--,
"You countered Margrave Roswaal's magic head-on...?"
"And that too in such a short time, and almost without chanting?"
"More importantly, what on earth is that condensed mana… You mustn't look directly at anything that's visible! You'll be consumed!"
One of the Royal Guards called out to the others, supporting his unsteady colleague on the shoulder.
A similar reaction was seen among several of the civil servants, all of them staring at Puck floating in the air with terrified eyes.
"--Huh? Huh? What?"
Subaru couldn't understand their reaction.
The person before them was Puck, a small grey cat. He certainly had a different aura than usual, but there was no change that would make the knights all feel extremely wary.
Even if you stare at them closely, you won't be able to find even a trace of the factors that could cause the kind of physical discomfort they are talking about.
Subaru couldn't hide his confusion. Puck, ignoring Subaru's confusion, spat out a "Hmph" in an incredibly arrogant manner that would be unbelievable to those who knew him,
"You don't seem to understand, Roswaal L. Mathers. The reason I made concessions to you before was because my daughter wanted it. If it weren't for that, I would have been happy to sink this entire country into the depths of the permafrost."
As he spoke, a wind suddenly began to blow around Puck.
The wind was so cold it hurt the skin, and while it had only surrounded Puck, it gradually spread throughout the entire hall, bathing everyone present in the cold. Naturally, as chaos began to fill the hall,
"--Could you please calm down, Great Spirit?"
A hoarse voice was spoken from the podium, directed at Puck, the cause of the situation.
The voice belonged to Mycloth. While the members of the Council of Sages were in no small measure shaken, he was the only one in the center seat who remained steady, with an intellectual gleam in his eyes.
"With such power and such dense mana, you must be a renowned great spirit."
"What? There are some young people here who have some manners."
"Hmm. Being treated like a youngster at this age is a valuable experience."
Puck raised one eyebrow, and Mycroft responded with a small laugh. Perhaps the old man's attitude pleased him, as Puck nodded without losing his haughty attitude.
"Unfortunately, I think you guys probably know more about what kind of existence I am than I do. I'm merely a spirit that has existed for a long time. What you call me is up to you."
"I see, that makes sense."
In response to Puck's answer, Mycroft nodded while stroking his beard, and then the old man turned his gaze towards Roswaal, who had remained silent. Seeing his gaze, Roswaal, who had remained silent ever since his magic was nullified, shrugged his shoulders and said,
"Let me go back to the story of my previous encounter with Lady Emilia. I first met her in the Great Elior Forest, far to the east of the Royal Capital of Lugnica. It was commonly known as the 'Frozen Forest.'"
"Eriol Great Forest...!"
When Roswaal mentioned the name of the place, several people looked at each other in surprise.
Roswaal nodded, as if that surprise was exactly what he had expected,
"Yes, the Great Elior Forest. Approximately 100 years ago, it was suddenly covered in ice, creating a frozen barrier that prevented anyone from entering or leaving. And then, the permafrost began to encroach."
"If I remember correctly, it was a cursed land where the freezing wind froze the surrounding area over time, and the frozen area expanded year by year."
"The frozen earth, the plants, the air, the living things - it's a white end. Everything is lured to eternity, never to return from an eternal sleep."
Clapping his hands, Roswaal gestured to Emilia and then to Puck with his open hand.
"These two were living quietly deep in the icy forest."
"So the permafrost in the Great Elior Forest is..."
"So it was my doing. I was just trying to make it more comfortable to live in."
Puck replied unashamedly to Mycroft, who couldn't hide his amazement.
It was a story that was hard for Subaru to imagine, as he had no particular connection to the land in question, but judging from the reactions of those around him, there was no doubt that it had become quite a big deal.
The fact that Subaru had made such a rude remark seemed to have been left behind somewhere along the line.
In response to Puck's answer, Mycroft groaned softly with a difficult expression on his face.
"Hmm. The power to turn Elior Forest into that state - its might is comparable to any spirit from a fairy tale."
"That's just so frightening, isn't it?"
What was going through his mind while he was tossing out words that were close to praise? Puck had read that and put it into words, and Mycroft closed his eyes.
Then, with a look of understanding in his narrowed eyes, he looked down at Roswaal,
"Hmm, I see. I roughly understand now. But what was the reason that you came into contact with the two of you who lived deep in the Great Elior Forest?"
"It's part of the investigation. The Great Elior Forest is close to my territory, so it's possible that it could be affected by the permafrost within the next few years. I'd like to carry out a preliminary investigation before that happens."
"I failed twice," Roswaal said, holding up two fingers and laughing bitterly at his own failure. Then he straightened up and said,
"On my third attempt, I made it through the forest and met the two of you there. At first, I was attacked without question... I was so anxious, so anxious."
"It's been a while since we've seen a human come through the forest. We may have over-welcomed you a little."
They look back on that time with a casual air, but no one in the hall can laugh about it.
In other words, the battle that took place between the two of them was nothing less than a battle that would make the magical battle from earlier seem like child's play.
"I was horrified by the way the terrain of the forest began to change as I welcomed it, but what frightened me even more was what happened afterwards. The transcendent spirit that had been mercilessly attacking me listened to the words of that one girl and put down its attack."
The terrain was suddenly beginning to change, and after he said something unpleasant, Roswaal pointed to Emilia with a serious look on his face.
She continues to remain silent, head bowed slightly, her amethyst eyes shining blankly, making it difficult to tell whether she is listening to Roswaal or not.
Subaru felt something was off about that attitude, but of course there was no time to pursue it. Puck turned around, taking over from Roswaal's words,
"This is the plea of my lovely daughter, who is my contractor. I will listen to her no matter what. In other words, I will only obey Lia's will aside from my own."
Having declared this, Puck continued, "Because," and looked around the hall. As everyone cowered in fear at the sight of his black eyes, Puck's gaze finally fixed on Bordeaux. Puck gave a grin that sounded like a good fit, and
"You should be thankful to Lia that you unpleasant people aren't frozen here. If this girl hadn't held me back, we'd be in the ice statue room by now."
The words that were spoken in a monotone were accompanied by a bone-chilling coldness, sending a chill down the hearts of everyone in the hall.
His words had already been proven true in his battle with Roswaal. The fact that the lives of everyone here were held in the hands of a single spirit―― The sound of someone gasping for air sounded awfully loud.
It was in that situation that
"--Hohoho."
Mycroft chuckled softly, looking completely out of place.
Puck turned his calm gaze towards him as he laughed, focusing his cold gaze on the old man's body. However, Mycroft stared back at him,
"I see, it's quite awe-inspiring. For Roswaal, it's an interesting idea, I'll say it."
Despite being subjected to a gaze of absolute zero, Mycroft's calm demeanor did not falter. And yet, his words were incomprehensible, but when Roswaal heard them, his expression suddenly changed.
His face had suddenly changed from the serious expression he had had earlier to his usual playful expression.
"Oh no, did I get found out?"
"I would say that it was a fairly well-written script. I am speechless at the Great Spirit's acting, but perhaps you got a little too carried away."
Leaving everyone around him confused, Roswaal slaps his forehead in response to Mycroft's assessment. Watching the exchange between the two, Puck, floating in the air, plays with his long tail in his hand.
"Look, Roswaal. I told you that overdoing it isn't good, right? For me anyway, but in your case, your normal character is well known to everyone, so even if you're acting, you have to do a better job."
"My ears hurt. It really hurts. I was pretty confident in my ears, but now it's really hurting."
Roswaal puffs out his cheeks to express his dissatisfaction, which Puck sighs out, and Mycroft responds in silence, closing his eyes as if tired.
The one who put a stop to the attitude that only the three of them were satisfied with was the bald old man who had been the last to receive a chilling glare from Puck - Bordeaux. With wrinkles on his stern face showing obvious confusion, he said,
"Wait a moment, Mycroft. What exactly are you talking about?"
"Hmm, to sum it up simply, this is the time for Lady Emilia's camp to give a speech. Although, it's quite different in style from the previous candidates."
Mycroft closed one eye and asked Roswaal for his agreement, and Roswaal raised both hands in surrender and concluded with a drawn-out "Eh?"
Bordeaux seemed at a loss for words at first, but Subaru, who was listening nearby, arrived at the answer. At the same time, he felt his stomach boil over at the maliciousness of the man with long indigo hair standing before him.
In other words, Roswaal, through this exchange,
"Lord Roswaal is the kingdom's top magician. And a great spirit with the power to stand on equal terms with him. By presenting Lady Emilia with the ability to command it, she showed everyone present that she possesses more than her fair share of power. -- If I summarize the plot, is that correct?"
As Mycroft explained everything in detail, a feeling of understanding finally spread throughout the hall. And once everyone had agreed that the whole exchange up until then had been some kind of act, what followed next was not admiration for Roswaal's cunning scheme - but rather anger at his toying with people's hearts.
Indeed, the emotion bubbling up inside Subaru's heart was similar to that.
"That was just an act… an act?! So this whole thing was a planned farce?! Roswaal, do you know what you mean by this situation?!"
Bordeaux, who was the one who was most humiliated in the situation, was particularly red in the face with rage. The old man's forehead was bulging with blue veins, his face bright red, and his heart was clearly strained as he approached Roswaal with such force that he looked as if he was about to spit.
However, what stopped that momentum was a pack that appeared right in front of Bordeaux's face. Bordeaux saw the furball appear before his eyes, and as soon as he realized it was the source of the cold air from before, he immediately shut his mouth, opening and closing it in silence as if at a loss for what to say.
Puck looked down at Bordeaux's reaction and laughed cheerfully,
"Yes, yes, it's natural that I'm angry. I'll apologize, I'll apologize. Please forgive me, I'm sorry, it was my fault. --But everything I said earlier is true."
Puck apologized, but one more thing made Bordeaux's heart pound. Koneko increased her levitation height and spun sideways.
"That great forest is my garden, and it's true that Roswaal is too much for me to handle. It's only thanks to Lia's request that I'm able to just exist like this and do nothing, and it's also thanks to her kindness that I don't do anything to those of you who speak ill of Lia."
Puck slowly formulated his words, then smiled fondly at the end and prefaced them with "Please don't misunderstand."
"The reason you're not frozen right now is because of Emilia's kindness. Don't forget that."
With those words, Puck's figure suddenly loses its shape, turns into particles of light and disappears.
The green light-tinged particles sparkled as they drifted through the air, slowly heading towards Emilia. They made their way towards her bosom, and in an instant they were gone from sight.
He had most likely returned to the green crystal stone that was inside Emilia's bosom - Puck's vessel.
The moment Puck returned, Emilia's head shook slightly, and then light returned to her vision. It seemed that the cause of her daze was the effect of Puck's current appearance.
She blinked several times, her eyes wandering around as if to check her surroundings,
"Roswaal, what's the situation?"
"Overall, it's going well. To be honest, it would have been ideal to have the Great Spirit keep it going until the very end... but as expected, it seems it was difficult to deceive Mycrotov-sama until the very end."
Emilia only responds with a small "Yes" in response to Roswaal's answer. As she looks around the hall, her eyes land on Subaru, who is standing right behind her.
The glow of the amethyst gazed upon Subaru, producing some emotion in it, and flickering ephemerally. Subaru quickly began to form words, but was captivated by the glow without knowing what to say, and as a result missed the opportunity to converse.
Subaru was left behind. Emilia stepped forward and turned to face the Council of Sages,
"First of all, I would like to apologize to all members of the Society of Sages for the mischief I have caused you."
"No, no, it's my fault for not seeing through him. This old man simply showed a little bit of bravery and accepted the Great Spirit's kindness. Besides, this matter concerns the Royal Selection... I must use all the means at my disposal to make my case."
In response to Emilia's hesitant apology, Mycroft nodded, showing his generosity. Emilia relaxed her lips, seemingly relieved at his answer, but it was another old man who had been through a lot of unpleasant things for a while now who dampened her spirits.
"What measures can you use...? If that ends in a threat, then you are truly a half-demon."
"Threatening someone is bad. I just wanted to show what I'm capable of."
"How can you say that this is anything other than an act of intimidation? Did you hear what the spirit said earlier? The spirit said, 'If you do not comply with our wishes, we will put you on ice.' What he said in this place where the country's most important people are gathered - how is that different from a usurper's threat to hand over his country?"
Roswaal retorts, and Bordeaux gasps and speculates. However, in the end, there is a point to what Bordeaux says, and it cannot be completely denied.
He had achieved his goal of showing off his power, but on the other hand, it had also shown others that military force could be used as a card.
That information was much more likely to be a disadvantage to Emilia, who was about to stand on the starting line of the royal selection, than to be judged as powerless and harmless.
In this unfavorable situation, Emilia looked up at Bordeaux who had returned to the podium and began to speak.
"--Yes, I am threatening you."
He clearly and directly confirmed the suspicions that were being directed at him.
Bordeaux gasped, unable to continue. Looking up at the old man, Emilia, without a shred of brilliance in her eyes,
"Once again, I introduce myself to the honorable members of the Council of Sages. My name is Emilia. I am a silver-haired half-elf who has spent a long time in the permafrost world of the Great Elior Forest, and I am accompanied by Puck, the great spirit who controls the mana of fire. When the people of the villages near the forest see me, they call me by this name."
Emilia spoke in a dignified, singing voice.
Standing alone on stage in front of an attentive audience, she paused, then closed her eyes for a few seconds, as if cutting something off.
"The Frost Witch who lives in the frozen forest."
The moment the word "Witch" was uttered, the atmosphere in the hall changed instantly.
Everyone was aware of her appearance, but chose not to pursue it; she was the exact replica of the world's worst disaster.
No one could answer her, not only Bordeaux, who only spoke bold words, but also the other members of the Council of Sages, except for Mycloth, whose courage was such that one had to say he was different.
"Show your strength and make your demands. That is truly the way of a witch. So, what does this Frost Witch intend to threaten us with?"
"I have only one request -- that it be fair."
"...impartial"
As Emilia quietly responded to his question, Mycroft repeated his request in his mind. Emilia nodded in understanding, muttering, "Yes."
"I can't change the fact that I'm a half-elf, or that I have the same physical features as that abominable witch. That doesn't change the fact that I will be looked upon with prejudice by everyone because of that. But I absolutely refuse to let that take away all of my potential."
"So, Emilia-sama, you wish to be treated as an equal candidate in this royal selection process?"
"Fairness is a precious commodity in my life, and to ask for more here would be an affront to that which I hold so dear."
I wonder how many memories she has of being subjected to malice in her life.
Like Bordeaux, he must have been subjected to unfounded abuse and persecuted simply for being a half-elf.
Therefore, all she wanted here was to be treated fairly.
She turns around. Her silver hair flows with her movements, and the hall shines with a pale moon-like glow. As everyone is captivated by the glow, Emilia raises her voice,
"So there is only one thing I ask of you: to be treated fairly. I will never do something unfair like using the spirit I have made a pact with as a shield to seize the throne."
That is a choice that Emilia can make if she so chooses.
However, he completely ruled out such an option, instead hoping for a situation that might be detrimental to his own intentions.
because,
"Compared to the other candidates, I am still immature and lack many areas. There are many things I don't know, and there are mountains of things I need to learn. But I know the peak I need to reach, so I have no intention of stopping working hard."
Subaru had seen her diligently studying at the mansion and taking everything seriously.
And so, more than anyone else here, Subaru knew the truth of her words.
Subaru couldn't hide his trembling. He was thirsty, yet his eyes were beginning to water, and he was aware of this strange situation, and he tried desperately to stop himself from letting out a pathetic groan.
"I don't know if my efforts will be worthy of the throne. But my desire to keep working hard to become one is genuine. That feeling alone is not inferior to that of the other candidates."
"So," she continued, looking straight up at Bordeaux on the stage,
"Look at me with an impartial eye. A simple Emilia with no family name. I'm not the 'Frost Witch', nor am I a silver-haired half-elf. Please look at me."
The last murmur had a pleading tone to it.
However, the strength of will and emotion that is put into it never wavers.
What had been naturally given to the other candidates, Emilia desired from herself.
That we will all be given the opportunity to start from the same starting point and run from there.
For a moment, silence enveloped the hall.
It's not that they can't produce words, but rather that everyone is tense, waiting for an answer to Emilia's question.
Eventually, Bordeaux, who had been receiving everyone's attention, let out a long, long sigh,
"My opinion hasn't changed. Your appearance, reminiscent of the 'Witch of Jealousy', is undoubtedly having a negative influence on the people. You are still at a disadvantage in the royal selection process."
In a low voice, he directly disagrees with everything Emilia has said up until now. Emilia's amethyst eyes darken slightly at his answer.
"But--"
but,
"Messing with people's feelings is not something anyone is permitted to do. Therefore, there is nothing I can do about what you think. Even so, I apologize for my rudeness earlier. ーーNo, I apologize for my rudeness, Lady Emilia."
Bordeaux stood up from his seat, knelt down on the spot, and gave a deep bow of respect.
The whole room was filled with shock at his actions. He looked up and said,
"You could have frozen me out, even though I am against your wishes. And yet, instead of doing so, you demanded fairness. --That is a noble act."
As he spoke, his expression was calm and intelligent, and Subaru realised, even though it was a little late, that this old man was a leading figure in the country and a member of the Council of Sages.
The gloom disappears from Emilia's expression, and the joy of being recognized naturally brightens her face. Her lips curve into a blooming smile.
Subaru was only able to witness it from the side, and seeing Bordeaux gasp as he faced that smile head-on, he inwardly raised his middle finger and exclaimed, "Damn, stubborn old man!" It's likely that the curse he had received had not reached him, but Bordeaux cleared his throat to hide his own stiffness, and,
"N-n-either way, it is difficult to seek fairness in the truest sense. It is clear that the path of hardship will continue. But even so, do you still desire the throne?"
"I've known since the beginning that it won't be an easy road. But I will definitely sit on the throne. There's a reason why I have to do that."
In response to Bordeaux's question about her resolve, Emilia no longer had any hesitation in her voice.
Hearing this, Bordeaux nodded in satisfaction and returned to his seat. He held out his palm to Mycroft, who was looking at him with a look of dedication. In response, Mycroft nodded and combed his long beard.
"Though things have been a bit eventful, I think that's enough now. Both Lady Emilia and Margrave Roswaal have nothing left to say."
"yes"
"In my case, I actually still haven't said enough, but in this case..."
"Well, thank you very much."
Emilia answered briefly. Meanwhile, Roswaal was still chattering away, but with perfect timing, Marcos interrupted him, forcing him to end his words.
Emilia lightly tapped the tall man on the back, who was pouting in dissatisfaction, and the two of them turned to return to the line of candidates.
However, the wholesaler was not so reluctant to give up.
"So, what position does that gentleman hold?"
The moment Emilia and the others stepped forward to return to the line, the question was uttered by Mycroft's mouth.
The old man raised one eyebrow, a malicious glint in his eyes, and directed his gaze at that person - in other words, at Subaru, who had stepped forward and now seemed lost.
"Ugh."
I want you to understand that it was only natural that I let out such a groan without thinking.
After all, despite having rushed forward in a fit of passion, Subaru was the one who could only stand there flustered onstage, unable to keep up with the ensuing exchange.
Although there were some sneaky interjections here and there like "Yeah!", "Oh!", and "EMM!", it was no different from the atmosphere in the sense that it didn't affect the overall mood.
Ideally, he would have hoped that he would just be swept away with the air and disappear from sight, but the old man's curiosity had thrust him back into the spotlight.
And apparently,
"It would be annoying to continue on as Margrave Roswaal wants."
He'd probably intended to mutter it quietly, but for some reason Subaru now clearly heard Mycroft mutter it.
In other words, the revenge for the earlier act had come full circle to Subaru. It was a case of him getting the blame, but it was his own short-sightedness that brought about the situation, and it made him feel terrible.
"Um, well, this child is, well, my..."
Emilia turned around and came around in front of Subaru, making gestures as if to hide him from the wise man's view.
Where had her dignified demeanor from moments ago gone? The girl named Emilia, the one Subaru knew well and saw every day, had returned.
This brings him a sense of relief that is hard to put into words, and Subaru's cheeks relax at an unexpected moment. And it is exactly at such times that Emilia also glances at Subaru from the side,
"It's not that. Well, you see, this person... hey, why are you grinning? This is not the time for that, so be a good boy."
"I don't hear people telling me to be serious these days..."
As Subaru picked up on Emilia's reprimand, she turned a dissatisfied look his way. Even that accusing gaze was attractive, and Subaru let out a small smile and touched her shoulder,
"It's fine, Emilia-tan. I won't make any excuses."
"This isn't the time to make excuses… Subaru, what are you planning to do? Hey, wait a second."
With the voice calling out to him behind him, Subaru stepped forward.
Then, stepping confidently into the place where the previous candidates had stood, and with the eyes of the Council of Wise Men standing on the stage upon him, he gritted his teeth, raised his head in determination.
"Nice to meet you, everyone from the Sages' Association. I hope you're well. I'm truly sorry for the trouble I've caused you this time!"
He lowered his hips, put his right hand behind his back, and his left hand in front of him with the palm facing up, following traditional etiquette. It was the otherworldly version of the traditional Japanese etiquette of "please refrain."
After a moment of silence to make sure no one paid any attention, Subaru was sure that they had made first contact and moved his arms and legs in one smooth motion.
She strikes a graceful pose with her feet spread apart, her hips tilted, her left hand on her hip and her right hand pointing high up at the ceiling.
and,
"My name is Natsuki Subaru! A servant at Roswaal Mansion, and a candidate for the throne - Lady Emilia's number one knight!"
He shouted, then lowered his raised right hand, snapped his fingers, flashed his teeth, and winked.
"Please, please take note of it."
In order to clarify his position, the out-of-place Subaru enters the fray.
I could feel the air rapidly getting colder than when the pack had appeared earlier.