The first thing Subaru said was this, causing Roswaal to narrow his own pair of heterochromatic pupils.
The place was in the dormitory of the Ryuse family. Roswaal, who was lying on the bed with a serious injury, did not show any surprise at the unexpected visit from a stranger. It was almost as if he had known that Subaru would come.
In fact, he nodded deeply, as if confirming Subaru's feelings, and said:
"We met again after three days. You miraculously survived, but you came back in a tense state——"
"Stop fighting, haha. I don't have time to cooperate with your bad jokes now. This has nothing to do with you being seriously injured. I have already made up my mind to use my strength at all costs."
"Oh ah ah ah ah - ah, let's get to the topic quickly"
Facing Subaru who hurriedly barged in, Roswaal smiled and shook his head, then looked at Yuexing who closed the door.
"Is it Ram who brought you here? I ordered that kid to help you."
"Yes, so I can come in here without any hindrance. If I say I want to escape, she will let me escape, but that option has been postponed by me."
"--Hey?"
After hearing this answer, Roswaal closed one eye, and the remaining yellow sight allowed Subaru to gently moisten his lips.
——Delay the plan to escape from the "Sanctuary" and talk to Roswaal first
Please ask Ram to arrange it and come here carefully without being witnessed by the residents of the "Sanctuary"——
"Listen carefully, Roswaal, although you are three days late, you will not change your mind and void the oath, right?"
"Strictly speaking, the oath made is only valid for that night - oh... but, well, I'm not an elf magician, and it's not my interest to pick on the bad words -"
On the night when the conversation was supposed to take place, Roswaal made a vow not to lie: if it would be detrimental to him, he would remain silent, but as long as he spoke, it would be true.
"I know the situation in the "Sanctuary", including the fact that I will be in danger if I stay. Therefore, on the premise of leaving here, I would like to ask some questions about the mansion."
"Hum, as long as I know about the mansion's affairs - that's fine."
"Rather, this is something that only you can answer - what I want to ask is about Beatrice. Why is that guy in the mansion... No?"
At this point, Subaru stopped asking questions because he knew that this way of asking was useless.
Roswaal had already dodged the same question. Although he felt like he was following Roswaal's advice again, which made him feel unhappy, he had to ask "smartly" questions.
The situation was decisively different from the previous round. This time, information that he could not be fooled into was added to the question——
"... Let me ask another question, is that guy, Beatrice... a witch cultist?"
Subaru selected words, ventilated and suppressed his heartbeat, and asked this question.
"————"
After calmly accepting Subaru's question, Roswaal pondered for a moment.
This silence was annoying and made Subaru more and more anxious.
Soon, he exhaled in front of the anxious Subaru and said:
"Why do you think Beatrice is a witch cultist?"
"...because I saw it in that guy's room"
"what did you see?"
"Needless to say! That guy...has a book! She has the "gospel"...!"
Subaru shouted clearly what he didn't want to say. His voice was mixed with anger and screamed with grief. It was exactly the question that Subaru wanted to ask Roswaal.
Beatrice, who embraces the "gospel" and shouts that she follows the content of the book and rejects Subaru
If she is really a fanatic who obeys the "gospel" and is the one who contributed to the tragedy in the mansion——
"——When the time comes, that guy will be ours and my enemy."
Treat Beatrice as an enemy and an obstacle that should be removed
"It's a very reliable word. It's really a word full of enlightenment."
Hearing Subaru's announcement, Roswaal nodded heavily and then closed his eyes.
"...It's just that saying it with such a sad expression is unconvincing."
"--Well"
"It's too cruel for you to be hostile to that child. It's also the same for me who always smiles when I see you making noise. Therefore, I want to lend a helping hand."
"Hand of salvation? Are you suspicious of me?...The level of suspicion has reached the highest level in the world."
Feeling that what was in his heart was being grasped, Subaru squeezed out his inner words while his cheeks twitched.
Roswaal didn't respond to Subaru's bad words, he just raised his finger and said:
"The book you saw is indeed very similar to the "gospel" held by the Witch Cultists. It is no wonder that you are suspicious of Beatrice, but I can guarantee it."
"ensure……?"
"That child is not a witch cultist. She has nothing to do with those who pursue non-existent love and voluntarily jump into waterfalls. However, the nature of the book is similar. This is a fact."
"——What! She is not a witch cultist...! Really!?"
Roswaal's answer surprised Subaru so much that he almost fell down.
This is the first good news in this round. Because the testimony came from Roswaal, it is a bit unsettling, but there is a vow not to lie to make up for it.
"Beatrice is not a witch cultist... If that's the case..."
If this is the case, there is no need to be incompatible, there is no need to give up, there is no need to give up that girl——
"Slow, wait! I don't want to rejoice in vain. The question is not which force she belongs to. Since that guy is not a witch cult, what about that book? Why does she have "gospel"?"
"Because that place is the forbidden library that collects all the magic books... Even if you say this, it doesn't make sense in theory, so I will answer straightforwardly... That book is not "gospel""
"No...? But, that guy did call that the Gospel?"
"Because it doesn't have a formal name, that's why the kid called the book by the name of a bad product."
Beatrice's rejection is still lingering in his ears, but Roswaal rejected Subaru, who was very persistent in that unforgettable cry.
"I don't know how far you understand it, but the "gospel" held by the Witch Cultists is a defective product. The number of records is limited, the content is unclear, and the interpretation method is also very casual. Such an unkind book is actually a revelation.
An indicator of the holder’s fate? Don’t you think it’s too far-fetched?”
"...You know it very well. I only heard that it is a scripture that can predict the future."
"Witch cultists are everywhere, especially since I am the person responsible for managing the "sacred areas" related to witches. I have encountered them not once or twice. Among the charred remains, I have also found the remains of books. Only
However, the content can only be understood by the holder, so it should not be trusted easily.”
"The effect feels very similar to a robe that hinders cognition... In other words, although it is not common, that kind of book is not uncommon, so is it not surprising that Beatrice has it?"
"——No, Beatrice's book is a finished product. It is the closest thing to the "Book of Wisdom", the only two existing magic books in the world that record the true future."
With his eyes closed, Roswaal said the name of a book that Subaru had never heard of.
Then, after confessing Beatrice’s true identity in the book—I suddenly felt the temperature drop rapidly.
The reason came from Roswaal, who was bowing his head in front of him. The sinister aura about him made Subaru hold his breath.
"Roz, Val...?"
"Sorry, I can't help but laugh when I think of the past."
"...Then, if that is a smile that reminds people of the past, it will really make people lose the motivation to ask questions."
“I’ll leave the uninteresting memories to talk about next time. Time is probably very limited now.”
When Roswaal put on a relaxed smile, the tense air suddenly disappeared.
As soon as the tense atmosphere was lifted, Subaru also collapsed, but the fear stimulated by his unusual attitude did not disappear. It was just that Subaru gritted his teeth to hold back the fear and forced himself to maintain consciousness.
Even during this period, the "trial" is still coming to an end, and Jaffier will return by then
The conversation must be ended before that, and Subaru, who has a sense of mission, faces him again.
"Although I really want to ask you about the "Book of Wisdom" you just mentioned in detail, any summary is fine. What I need now is how to convince Beatrice who holds the book."
"As long as you cry and beg her, won't she be willing to listen?"
"Just say stop joking! I'm not telling you a joke, I'm asking you seriously."
"Personally, I don't think this answer is a joke..."
Defeating the stubborn Beatrice is an indispensable move to break through the tragedy in the mansion. Even if the option of taking her to escape disappears, as long as she helps, the battle situation will become favorable.
"And even if that child confronts Frandelica, he should be able to defeat her easily."
"...I no longer doubt that Frandelica is an enemy."
"Oh, you were doubting her because of the pyroxene incident, but now you suddenly changed your mind?"
"...Well, yes, that's right."
"What about the unreliable reply? If you are uneasy, you can take Ram back with you. She probably won't refuse."
As for Roswaal, he thinks that Subaru's uneasiness about returning to the mansion stems from Frandelica's betrayal and Beatrice who holds the magic book.
Therefore, it is only natural to suggest that Ram go with him——
"——"Rozwaal said, ask questions""
"……ah?"
This abrupt statement made Subaru, who was thinking, open his mouth stupidly. Lying on the bed, Roswaal raised his upper body, looked up at Subaru, and repeated
"What I'm saying is," Roswaal said, asking you to ask a question. If you are so uneasy, then say this to her after you return to the mansion. Beatrice should have a reaction after hearing this.
That was the rumor that Roswaal, whose relationship with Subaru had deteriorated, was relayed through Ram before leaving the "Sacred Realm" and returning to the mansion in the first reincarnation.
Because of the impact of "death", I didn't expect it at all in the second round——
"...I see, it seems like you think this sentence is not enough."
"Slow, slow, not enough means...no, before that, this was..."
"Then, let's continue, or is this more accurate?"
Ignoring Subaru who was in confusion, Roswaal smiled. Then he closed one eye as usual, looking at Subaru with only his yellow pupils, and said:
"——Just say you are "that person""
"that person……?"
"Let Beatrice ask the question. If you are so sure, then the child will definitely become your partner and help you without hesitation."
There was a strong conviction in his words. This conviction made Subaru look back at Roswaal's eyes, but the quiet yellow light made it difficult to see through his thoughts.
But there was power in those words, making Subaru believe that what he said was the truth.
"What is this? Why do you dare to talk about death like this?"
"Because for that kid Beatrice, this is a contract that cannot be overturned."
"--contract"
The words that shook the eardrums made Subaru feel that the smoldering anger was igniting again.
Contracts, oaths, covenants, agreements—how many hearts do these things need to bind?
"That guy said she was in the mansion...in the Forbidden Library because of the contract. What kind of contract did you exchange with her..."
"You misunderstood, Subaru, Beatrice and I did not exchange any contract."
"……What?"
Subaru asked, trembling with anger, but Roswaal shook his head in denial, then touched the bandage wrapped around his chest and said to the stunned Subaru:
"Let me say it again, there is no contractual relationship between me and Beatrice. The child will live in our family because the interests are aligned... The contract to protect the Forbidden Library was concluded between her and others."
"Others...!? Then, who is that person!"
"This is Beatrice's personal question. You shouldn't ask me, you should ask her."
Contrary to the impassioned Subaru, Roswaal's answer gradually lost its heat.
"hateful!"
His attitude and answers made Subaru stomp the ground hard.
"It's like this again! That guy asked me to ask you, and you asked me to ask her! Playing football with each other should be stopped in moderation! I want to know the answer!"
"I have already given you the key to the answer. All I have to do is insert it into the keyhole and turn it. What's inside the box... No, I won't let you do the unwise thing of peeking into the library."
Roswaal used implicit meaning to assert that he would not change his opinion.
Faced with his stubborn attitude, Subaru gritted his teeth and forced his anger back into his stomach.
"... Judging from yesterday's speed, Lady Emilia is almost leaving the grave. Regardless of success or failure, okay, what are you going to do?"
After deliberately stopping his clown tone just now, Roswaal returned to his original tone and said this in disappointment
Although he was furious, he was right. Time was tight. There was only half a day left before the mansion was attacked. Even if Patrasio was asked to run at full speed, he could not stay any longer.
The only combat forces that can fight against the two disaster attackers are Frandelica who stayed in the mansion, Subaru and Otto who are going back next, plus Ram——
"...Will Beatrice really do what you say?"
"I made a promise not to lie. At least, that's what I believe."
"If it doesn't work, I will punch you in the face. I will do it no matter what people say. Remember this."
Subaru's unilateral agreement made Roswaal open his eyes in a rare way. Of course, failure would mean that Subaru's life was at stake, and this agreement would no longer exist in the next reincarnation.
"I understand. It's up to you. If you can form an alliance with Beatrice, you will definitely be a great help in solving the problem of the "Sacred Domain"
"Don't say such profound words when someone is leaving. You obviously don't intend to reveal anything more."
"What's wrong with this level - it's not good - because I can't seem to reach it."
Roswaal looked away and lowered his voice slightly to whisper. Subaru, who couldn't hear the second half clearly, asked back:
"What are you talking about?"
But Roswaal shrugged
"I'm just talking to myself. Okay, I'll leave it for later. If I stumble because you're late, I won't keep my promise to let you beat me up?"
"...Roswaal, I only have one last question to ask."
"--Just ask"
Subaru was not fooled by Roswaal's joking attitude, but stared at him seriously. Accepting the sharp gaze, he also reflected Subaru's figure with his heterochromatic pupils.
With each other in each other's eyes, Subaru asked the last question of the night