There is no More to Lose.
I open my eyes, caught by the dim light coming from the exit. The sensation in my body is somewhat calmer now, yet the effects of the miasma waste no time, immediately assaulting me.
That calm I felt in the Castle of Dream is now replaced by a sense of danger, a feeling of hatred, of anger. The protagonist never knew it. His change in mindset, his fiercest outbursts. The miasma must have been slowly acting upon him.
His fits of anger, his disproportionate attitude, his jealousy, all must be driven by the miasma without him realizing it.
To be a candidate for Sage. "It only makes sense to have this power." A sage is, logically, anyone who possesses experience and knowledge beyond ordinary people. With Return by Death, you can grasp all knowledge as many times as you want.
Yes... I don't think it's an authority, but rather, the inherent power of being the sage.
Or… contradicting my thoughts. The authority of the sage? It's not the power of an archbishop; I doubt any archbishop can absorb other witch genes. Instead, the sage must possess all the qualities to accept everything.
All emotions. All actions. All powers. It could explain why I can use spirits despite having miasma, as well as the duty in the witch's book to be the one who walks ahead. Only the power of Return by Death can do that.
I stand up, analyzing things. I could repeat a day for decades just to learn magic. I could surpass Roswaal in that regard and even be stronger than anyone. I could learn all about people. I could learn all of history.
If my save points weren't so closely spaced, it would be a much more useful power.
I should have used it when I could; after all, I only had to die. It's not so difficult to die painlessly. Nor would my life lose its meaning; in the end, I have saved points. I must appreciate life with the same sense, just without the fear of dying.
There will already be people living similarly. I don't know what limit my memory has, but if I'm a sage, if this authority allows me to increase that limit, then it's undoubtedly a power beyond any other.
It's a shame, but I only have two more tries. I suppose I'll have to go the honest route; cheating may not be good for my brain. I'm about to fall into an abyss from which I don't know how to escape.
"Hahaha, how stupid," I say, looking towards the ceiling before leaving the place.
The sunset greets me, so I understand that I've been here for a considerable time. The first person to greet me is Garfield, who looks at me with an annoyed expression.
"How the hell did you get in?" Garfield approaches me, but I stop him.
"I didn't take the tests, and I don't intend to either," I reply, knowing he won't like it, but it's the truth.
Garfield stops, visibly stunned.
"I was talking to the test administrator," I say, smiling, teasing him a bit.
Garfield is a piece I must acquire. If I want to get him, I have to unsettle him more. I need him to tell me his emotions, then I can use them to my advantage. I also remember now. Omega, she's also the one who will have Echidna's body inside her.
That means I must make her sacrifice herself at all costs, as she's the most suitable vessel for Echidna. She only convinced herself after seeing Garfield pass the tests, so I must do that at all costs. Before Emilia completes them all, I must make Garfield take the test too.
"What the hell did you say?" Garfield grabs my shoulders and applies pressure, but I stand firm to avoid being dragged.
I remain calm as I analyze what to say.
"The administrator told me a bit about the tests. Thing is, I've got a connection with her," I sigh, feigning being overwhelmed. "She told me a little about you, things only she knows."
Garfield's eyes widen with surprise as he takes a few steps back. Now I must remain calm, but without insulting him. I move closer to him, who seems unaware of what's happening.
"Just a bit, according to the administrator, you're a 'locked-up kitty,'" I whisper calmly, then add, "but honestly, I don't buy it. You've got the look of someone strong, so you'll have to prove her wrong on your own!"
After a pat on his shoulder, Garfield stays still as I continue on my way.
I walk calmly and encounter Otto for the first time since I arrived. He smiles upon seeing me and rushes over.
Once he arrives, he hugs me. "We were looking for you!" Otto exclaims, squeezing me tightly. "You said you'd be back in no time and then we found you here."
His embrace is warm, but right now it's not what I need. If I want to prevent him from betraying me, I have to play my cards right. There are several ways to manipulate each person, so you must act on their desires. Each person is different, so you must learn about each one to be able to use them.
'In this case, it's easy to figure out what Otto desires.' I must make Rem fall in love with him and force her to stay in Irlam. Otto is essential; without him, I'll need someone else in his position, and I really don't trust anyone else.
If it weren't for the novel, I would never have met him. What really matters now is to have him at my feet. He must consider me his friend, so it won't be difficult at all.
"I'm fine, don't worry," I reply with a smile, giving him a gentle pat on the back. My gaze fixes on the horizon, observing the numerous trees whose leaves sway in the wind. The dust rising from the orange ground, the animals moving among the bushes.
Small azure fountains of mana. This whole world seems magical, but the truth is that magic has died. I grit my teeth as I try to calm myself.
'Why does no one mention Beatrice? Don't they care?' I truly hate condescension, but somehow, I desire it. I would like to know that there are people whom Beatrice touched, people who also love her.
Otto changes his expression to a serious one, pointing me towards a secluded part of the forest. "We set up a makeshift camp to keep Erick Costuul under custody," Otto tells me, looking at me with a somewhat fearful expression, as if I were going to do something to him. "He says he's willing to talk."
I look towards the sky, appreciating the gray clouds beginning to dominate the atmosphere. The sun is covered by the clouds, and its warmth, dimmed by them, ceases to be warm and turns as cold as ice. As if the world were telling me to take a break.
It will rain soon, and with it, the sorrows and pains will be washed away.
I walk alongside Otto, each step feeling like my body is urging me to kill Erick Costuul. I clench my fists, feeling my heart beating intensely. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but the feelings inside me are so strong that I start to feel dizzy.
Ugh...
I look up at the sky, thinking about the me who spoke with Crusch back then. The me who promised not to fall again. The me who had risen again. Is it so difficult to stop being human? If I were a monster by birth like Echidna, everything would be easier.
I would only have a slight attachment to people and wouldn't have to go through so much pain. I could manipulate everyone without feeling so disgusted about it.
My memory has gaps, especially that year, the year after everything started. I don't know what happened to me then. I feel like I was a different kind of person before that. But I don't remember; everything is so vague.
Maybe I should ask Echidna to allow me to take the test just to remember it or ask her to help me clarify my memories.
"Welcome back, General!" the soldiers exclaim, saluting me.
'I think Garfield would like these things.' I return the military salute, looking at them with a smile.
"I'm glad to see you all came back alive, good job," I say, dropping the military salute, then look at the tent behind them.
The results of the war are something I must discuss calmly, so first I need to secure a witness.
I'm almost certain they're going to try to clean up their mess by blaming Flynn, and the sage won't take responsibility. The ability to see miasma is something only a few people possess.
Frey seems to know about miasma, but she also has no way to prove it. The problem is that since there's no way to identify it, it's easy to conceal.
There isn't even a body to recover.
Now, establishing it as mind control magic is possible. Something like that would ruin Costuul's image complexly. That would benefit us greatly, solidifying our position as heroes even more.
The monopoly we're building would be even stronger.
To lower public opinion on control and decrease enemies, I should create phantom organizations. Create companies that seem to compete with Irlam but actually belong to Irlam.
'After all, it's not illegal.'
If I want to wage a real war, I need money and people, so I'll have to take advantage of the labor force that will come after the war.
Irlam won't be easily attacked again; I'm sure cities will establish peace agreements with Irlam. It's clear that as long as we have the monopoly on weapons, it will be impossible for them to do anything.
That is until they figure out how to break the seal.
Then, the real massacres will begin.
If the blueprints for firearms get out into the world, the map will surely be dyed a dark red, swords will cease to be used, and firearms will be upgraded to be consistent with this world.
Just as people can kill using swords and dodge current bullets, weapons can be improved to prevent that. Only truly powerful individuals could escape, but then it would just be about making even stronger weaponry.
That would mean everyone would start coveting each other, not just in Lugunica, but other kingdoms would also seek more power.
It would be the equivalent of a world war for total power.
The reason I've been able to expand so much and amass fortunes quickly isn't too complex to understand. In our world, globalization was a more complex process due to the world's size.
Here it's simpler.
New technology, with new mass production processes that lower costs and increase product quality. Added to that are the production benefits.
If they see people who acquire it start competing against them, then more and more people will seek to obtain it.
Since there are no rejections against people who can obtain it, competition becomes deadly, generating even more dependence. In the same vein as why I announced the arrival of a new steam engine in advance.
That's how the market works, and only those who know how to take advantage of it will reap the benefits.
This is a political world; you can't just do things because you feel like it. Everything will have consequences based on how high you are on the power scale. A duke's decision can cause the death of hundreds of people; a king's decision affects an entire country.
War will be a critical point in this world; it will bring death and destruction. Even if this world is a relatively small world, I cannot deny that a higher percentage of people will die than in my world.
Irlam will also be affected, especially if there's a war with Gusteko. We're practically on the border; we'd be the front line in that case.
It's imperative to create weapons of mass destruction, to find a way to protect Irlam while continuing to advance with the economic and political monopoly.
Otto opens the tent, and the first person I see is Erick Costuul, but my surprise increases when I see who's next to him.
'Crusch...' She looks at me with some surprise, only to give me a tired smile.
Her injuries were worse than mine; thanks to Beatrice, I was able to recover, and my body isn't in such bad shape. She, on the other hand, almost died.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, causing her to sigh.
"The only person capable of discerning lies is me." She smiles, then looks toward Erick. "It's my job, after all."
Without saying more, I walk toward Erick, who says nothing. He looks at me with deep terror, his lips trembling, his legs shifting, his hands trying to find a place to settle.
He seems to understand that he's messed up.
"Where did you get that crystal from?" I ask, and Erick briefly shifts his gaze toward Crusch.
"I... I don't know, it was Flynn who brought it, he also used it on the demihumans in the army," Erick confesses, his voice trembling with desperation. "I know I messed up, but..."
I grab him by the neck, lifting him up forcefully.
"Ugh!" Erick tries to struggle instinctively, but I hit his stomach hard.
I throw him to the ground, and he starts to vomit. He begins to cough and desperately begs for forgiveness.
"I didn't want this! To begin with, I didn't agree to use that," Erick tries to catch his breath while desperately trying to compose himself.
If Crusch hasn't said anything, it's because it's the truth.
But.
"And? Do you think your intentions make up for your actions?" I kick his face, then step on his head. "Do you think what you did is forgivable?"
This person is really messed up. Probably more than two thousand people died, not to mention the one person who really makes me want to kill him right now. 'Yeah, I'm a hypocrite too.'
"I'm sorry! I'll talk! Let me expl..." I interrupt him with another kick.
I really want to kill him, I need to kill him, or this feeling won't go away.
I summon an Unseen Hand, moving it slowly towards Erick.
Once I grab his head, I prepare to crush it.
"Marco!" Crusch exclaims. She gets up and walks towards me, then whispers in my ear, "You're showing an unpleasant expression, don't kill him."
Did she notice the Unseen Hand?
Or was it just a coincidence?
"Start talking." I conjure a small fireball while looking at him, trying to restrain myself. "You know what will happen if you lie."
"Yes!" he exclaims, recounting the story.
His story makes sense with what Crusch and Fourier said. If he's a disciple of Bordeaux, it would explain his power. He kept it hidden only to use it in front of people in power.
Perhaps the Duke of Costuul really didn't know it was miasma, but thought it was mind control magic. Then his plan failed with Frey's appearance.
That anticlimactic appearance.
The crystals were brought by him; most of the demihumans were given them. Preliminary tests resulted in bodies only being able to hold on for a few minutes after consuming them.
After that, they die and turn into a thick mass like oil.
Demihumans with a higher likelihood of survival are those with more mana, but they are also the ones with the highest chances of what's called:
"A mutation." I put my hand on my chin, analyzing his words.
If miasma can cause mutations in a body, I can understand why the cultists had those appearances.
However, the archbishops, the fingers, none of them have those mutations.
That means there's a characteristic capable of suppressing those mutations, and it's probably compatibility with miasma.
The main plan was to plant these crystals to blame Irlam for producing dangerous elements. Since that didn't work, they decided to use them to end everything.
"I witnessed one of the corpses, and it was disgusting," Otto affirms, instinctively covering his mouth.
Otto explains what happened. Apparently, once they were retreating, they took those crystals, and that's when the large-scale casualties occurred. Otto tells me that Luan is with Emilia, so I'll have to talk to her.
Now that I have what I wanted, I'll have to control Erick.
"Have you said what you planned to say?" I ask, approaching him with the intention of killing him.
He opens his eyes forcefully, and his lips tremble again. His gaze locks with mine. This is when he realizes that he's been in the palm of my hand all this time.
"Then, now I want to know the reason why you let yourself be kidnapped."
Erick's hands clench, while Crusch and Otto look at me in surprise.
"W-what are you talking about?" Erick stammers, trying to compose himself. "You killed Flynn, what was I supposed to do?"
I slam my fist into Erick's face, feeling his nose deviate from its place, and blood starts pouring out. I smile, watching him fall to the ground and scream with a voice contorted by pain.
To say that Erick is a coward who doesn't think is a bit wrong.
His plan would have succeeded if the situation hadn't escalated because of Flynn. He would have killed Flynn and offered to work for me.
"Alright, then let me remind you." I smile as I put my foot on his head. "You wanted to get yourself kidnapped to spill all the substantial information about Duke Costuul. You wanted to do it so that Irlam could completely take over the city of Costuul."
He starts shaking his head, dragging his face in the dirt, and painting it red.
"No! I didn't want this!" Erick tries to deny it, but Crusch interrupts.
"It doesn't make sense for you to lie," Crusch asserts with an intimidating tone.
Now that that's confirmed, I'll have to push a little further. If I want to completely break his will to fight, I must make him realize how much of a failure he is.
"You probably have a purpose, given your way of thinking, I doubt it's about power or wealth. So, perhaps there's something or someone else."
As I finish my words, Erick stops struggling, reacting to my last words. I smile placidly, and he tries to lift his head to look at me. I apply more pressure, suffocating him with the ground.
If it's about a person, then it's likely a situation where I need to help him escape. He wanted me to kidnap him to give me information and end the duke.
With that, he could free the person he loves or cares about.
He starts fighting for air, so I take the opportunity to grab him by the head and lift him up to face me. His face covered in dirt and blood is truly gratifying to see.
With an arrogant smile, I begin to speak.
"You thought well, but you're an absolute idiot." I start laughing, each of my laughs causing his gaze to wander into emptiness. "With the decision you made, it's clear you were indispensable. The information you possess may be important, but not decisive in ending the duke."
Of course, for me it's key information if I want to take him down, but that's something I don't want to reveal.
"Congratulations, Erick! You've killed whatever it was you were trying to protect." I laugh again, helping myself contain my urge to kill him.
Erick's expression shifts from terror to deep resignation. His gaze loses its last glimmer. Now is when he stops being human and becomes what I want.
"You killed her because you're so useless. If you had made contact with Irlam, then maybe we could have done something." I throw him to the ground, making his body crunch from the force of the blow. I crouch down, whispering to him with hatred, "You killed her, you killed her, you killed her. You, Erick Costuul! You're the one who ended her life."
I keep laughing, extending my arms to the sky. Now that hope has been lost, I could give him a new one.
"Or maybe, just maybe, there's a plan that your beloved father will use." Erick stares at me, ignoring that his arm is twisted.
The best way to have someone is to take away their hope and give it back to them.
"Maybe your beloved father..."
Erick then spits blood onto the ground and screams with all his might:
"He's not my father! HE'S A MONSTER!" He gasps for breath, and his expression is filled with a hatred as deep as the one with which I am looking at him. "A monster like you!"
I applaud slowly, grateful for his excellent words. The atmosphere becomes warm for a moment, as if what's inside me is finally coming to light.
'Everything is going as planned. I'll be able to get her back if I keep this up.'
"The only way to defeat a monster is with another monster." I stop applauding and look at him with a smile. "He'll want you to be a spy for us, but that's when you'll have to act. Although, I'm still not sure if you can handle that task."
I stop smiling, looking away.
"If I were him, I'd keep that person alive so you can be a spy with the intention to help." I put my hand on my chin, pretending to think. "Maybe we can get her back when we already have the duke under our control."
I can barely see his eyes because of the swelling, dirt, and blood on his face, but I can feel his intention to kill his father. People just need a little hope, and whether it's real or not, they'll pursue it with all their longing.
"That depends on you, if you want something like that then start writing down everything you know about Costuul and your father. Both the good and the bad, as well as information about Lugunica." I smile at him, trying to let him know that I'm serious. "If your information isn't useful, I'll hang you in Irlam Square so that the people who lost their families can be sure of their vengeance. If you gain my trust, then you'll be a double agent, and you'll be able to save your beloved."
I turn my back and leave the place.
Crusch can rest now while I take care of what's to come.
Captain Bright looks at me with a smile as he gives a military salute. I lead him to a secluded area to talk.
"I need you to keep an eye on Erick periodically," I say, gazing at the sky, noting that it's almost time for Emilia's trial. "You have to make him believe he's gradually gaining everyone's trust. Treat him poorly at first, then gradually soften until he feels comfortable."
"The best way to know what he'll do with our trust is by pretending we're offering it," I add, turning towards a tree, pondering what's about to happen soon. "If you see anything strange, you know how to proceed. Take him to Irlam without anyone noticing. Protect him; the future of our city depends on him."
"Yes, sir!" the soldier exclaims, saluting militarily before stepping away.
I'm not sure how long I should stay here. I should talk to Miklotov and Alsten to see how things are going. I need Emilia to finish the trials to end this and start working on boosting Irlam.
I was thinking of taking a vacation, have a week of mourning for all the deceased, get things organized, and also prepare to take down Costuul. Now that Beatrice is gone, vacationing will be unnecessary.
"Moving forward is the best option," I think to myself. I glance at one of the soldiers and ask for a cigarette; without hesitation, one of them hands me one.
It might be a bad practice, but I don't have medications to calm my mind. Soldiers need it to prevent them from going mad; the substances in the cigarette prevent the soldiers' minds from reaching too high stress peaks.
I walk away, strolling through the forest until I reach the clearing where Garfield took me before. There, I sit on a log and pull out my communication device from my pocket.
"It seems you're alright," Miklotov smiles, his tired eyes and long dark circles reaching the tip of his nose. "The situation is tense; it seems they've lost a lot with this attack. They're considering giving Irlam more land as compensation since Frey Karsten advocated for the presence of members of the Witch Cult."
I light the cigarette, looking up at the sky as I carefully place it in my mouth. I feel the smoke entering my lungs, and as I let it linger, I think about that man.
"Frey Karsten..." I exhale, watching the smoke drift away. I close my eyes for a few seconds before looking at Miklotov. "He must have done it to reduce the opposition from the nobles."
We are rivals, and their support only comes with the interest of having the support of the population.
The rumors are rampant, but Frey's confirmation aligns with what was previously said in the newspaper. Miklotov shows me the newspaper, the edition of Irlam's victory that has already reached the capital.
"How's the population in the capital?" I inquire, and Miklotov looks towards the horizon.
"More demihumans every day, and in general, the regular population supports Irlam," Miklotov sighs, showing me a banner.
"The people are fed up with the oppression of the aristocracy." Protests... protests are something I expected after the war. Even in Irlam, protests for the soldiers' deaths would be normal.
"The division is becoming more apparent, and Irlam is becoming a haven for the common folk; that has affected trade," I close my eyes, pondering.
Irlam is becoming more and more like a city; thanks to concrete and the ease of using magic to harden it, we can expand at breakneck speed. Greater expansion has given us greater access to the population in a short amount of time. With several factories established, there's plenty of work.
Commercial areas have expanded, and prices for most goods have dropped. I don't have to worry yet about causing inflation; I've barely been here for a year.
"I'm going to buy more land; I'd like to have land near small, allied towns and villages," I tell Miklotov, and he immediately understands my plan. "I'm going to connect all allied cities with Irlam. If we want to increase our power, we need the cities allied to us to depend entirely on our production."
I can already see the next step. 'I'm going to build a railroad. '
The problem now is recognizing who is important to us. War is a great help in that regard. With the situation as it is and Irlam being a target for those in power, it will be necessary to finish filtering the necessary cities.
"I'm going to ask the Minister of Relations to send you a report on people interested in making cooperation agreements with Irlam," I finish my cigarette, tossing it to the ground. "We'll filter out once and for all who will serve us, then we'll start the plan to reduce the opposition's influence. It's a political battle, nothing more. The decisions we make will determine the course of this kingdom."
Then I point to the sky.
"Bordeaux is allied with the Witch Cult," Miklotov nods at my words, disappointed to hear that.
"It's not just Bordeaux; the only person I can trust right now is Gildark, some noble relatives and a few knights, as well as Tristan, that sage who showed support for Miss Emilia," Miklotov sighs, looking really tired. "Lately, the situation has been too tense; the Witch Cult has resumed operations, and cultists within the kingdom are trying to end us. There have been sightings of sorcerers capable of cursing multiple people at once. There are political problems in Vollachia, and the economy between both kingdoms has declined. Gusteko is also going through a complex situation with the Holy Church."
It seems like everything is coming together.
"We will gather enough power," I assure, knowing that Miklotov understands me. Truly, if Miklotov were in my world, he could reach great heights. He's a genius, a true genius. But even a genius has a hard time if they're alone.
That's why we need more political power, but a clean power, one we can trust.
That's why we must be cautious.
Now comes the important part.
"Erick Costuul is going to testify in our favor. Irlam plans to hold a trial against the duke," I look at him seriously, and he nods with a smile.
"I was already preparing the situation, if you have a secure way to transport him, it will be with the balloons, right?"
I nod. Balloons are undoubtedly the best way to transport him.
"We'll use decoys and magic to prevent attacks, there will be no problem getting to the capital," I affirm, making Miklotov look satisfied.
"Then, we'll talk another time, I have to go to a meeting. Get well soon." Miklotov closes the communication device after saying goodbye.
The situation with Roswaal must be resolved if I want to keep moving forward. Even if he dies and deals a major blow to the kingdom, or if I put him under my control using Ram. Everything that needs to happen will happen right now.
Irlam will become Lugunica's greatest asset in a few years; the elections will be held in two years. If I want to achieve it before the elections, then I'll have to work harder.
Without realizing it, the sun has disappeared, the night reigns, and it's time to move on. My emotions don't matter now; if I want to bring Beatrice back, I need power.
"Marco..." I hear Luan, who emerges from the forest. Luan looks around. Seeing that there's no one, she sighs and runs towards me. Her hair flutters, its red tips leaving small sparks of fire as she hugs me tightly.
A feeling of warmth swirls around me, and I feel my thoughts clarify with her embrace.
"I'm glad to see you're alright," Luan lets go of me and looks at me with a smile. "I heard about what happened, Beatrice..."
I smile, seeing that Luan is the first person to mention it.
"Beatrice... She's not completely dead," I point towards the sky with my finger, trying to give her some hope. According to Echidna's information, she could die at any moment, but as long as the contract remains with me, she'll be alive.
Luan opens her eyes wide; she sighs relieved and sits on the ground.
"That's certainly unexpected news," Luan smiles, looking at the sky. "Then I'll be able to see her again."
It seems like Luan and Beatrice have a deeper connection than I expected.
"She and I always talked when you were busy in your office, she taught me a lot about magic during training, and we always talked in general," Luan extends her hand towards the sky, and her face becomes melancholic. "She's a friend I care about a lot. And if there's hope..." she squeezes her hand, looking determinedly at the sky, "I'll do everything possible to make it happen."
Certainly, Luan seems more like a protagonist than me.
Despite the war, she remained steadfast, she's intelligent and capable of making connections with the people around her. At first, I thought she would be a somewhat introverted woman, but her personality is warm and firm.
She's honest with herself, although sometimes she lets her emotions get the worst of her.
She's much better than me.
"Have you asked Sr. Roswaal?" Luan asks, then looks me in the eyes. "I saw something that happened before the war, but..."
"Yes? Do you know if he said anything before the war?"
She shakes her head.
"The only strange thing I saw was that three days before it started, she and Roswaal were talking alone," Luan looks at me curiously. "Does it have anything to do with it?"
I sigh, shaking my head.
It doesn't make sense to tell her now.
"It's nothing, I'll bring Beatrice back," I look at her with determination as I stroke her head. "Whatever happens."
Luan takes my hands, surprising me. She closes her eyes and places them on her forehead. As she does, I feel her mana invade my body for a few seconds. A dense mana, hot as if it were touching tar.
The miasma in my body struggles to remain, but I feel a sense of revitalization.
Truly, it's only Luan who can fight against the miasma.
"I know you can, I know no matter what happens you'll find an answer." Luan opens her eyes, staring at me intensely with her crimson eyes that shine like rubies under the moonlight. "You saved me from falling into an abyss, showed me another path to focus on, and now I'm moving forward."
To think she sees it that way. The reason I took her in was because of her blood, her body full of mysteries.
"I didn't dwell and hide in hatred. Thanks to you, I could have friends and people I really appreciate." Luan smiles, and for a moment, I see in her a reflection of someone, someone I can't remember. "Thank you, I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. That's why I hope you can move forward without focusing on hatred."
Move forward without hating? I can't judge her; Luan's situation isn't so different from mine. But unlike her, I'm not capable of doing what she did. Luan shines and will shine wherever you put her. I can only pretend to shine.
I pat Luan's head, trying to reassure her.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't want Beatrice to encounter a bad version of me." Yes, until I can get her back. When I do, I'll be back to my old self.
I can't easily manipulate Luan, but as long as she supports me, I shouldn't act against her. After all, I'm stronger than her.
We both head to the house where Emilia should be. I don't know what her reaction will be when she sees me, but I'm sure she was the first to notice Beatrice's situation. I walk through the forest without speaking, just looking ahead.
Once I step out, I see her, her hair illuminated by the moonlight, like a fairy. With her hands on her chest, her feet playing on the ground, her expression searching everywhere. Yes, just like she does every time she's worried. She looks around until we make eye contact.
Without a second thought and regardless of the situation, she runs towards me. She runs with a smile as I extend my arms and smile back.
To my surprise, Emilia stops, and her smile is replaced by a neutral expression, neither smiling nor visibly sad.
"I'm glad to see you're okay," Emilia looks at me and then looks towards Echidna's grave. "I've been briefed on the situation; I need to go free the sanctuary, right?"
Luan looks at both of us with some surprise, I smile and nod.
"Then, let's go right away," Emilia turns her back to me, and I quicken my pace to catch up with her.
We walk side by side, but she doesn't seem to feel like talking. I look ahead, thinking about Echidna's words. If the Book of Wisdom says I have to win this bet, then that must be why Roswaal was so calm.
This is when Echidna comes out into the real world.
"The first test is about the past, the second about the present, and the third about the future." These are my first words, causing Emilia to stop and look me in the eyes.
"Did Roswaal tell you?" she asks, with a neutral expression, neither sad nor happy. When she's sad, her ears droop a bit, but I can't see that in her.
I nod, taking advantage of her question to lie. She closes her eyes for a few seconds before smiling.
"Don't worry!" she exclaims, placing her hand on her heart. "My past is completely overcome." If anything from the test can be a problem, it's the present and the future. Right now, Emilia has already overcome her past, but the future is not easy to see.
She knows the situation we're in, as well as the responsibilities we have. Even the present, everything can change.
When we reach the sanctuary, I spot two silhouettes. One of the clouds that hid the moon goes away, and with it, I can see them clearly. Roswaal and Ram, both looking towards us. Roswaal holds a staff, while Ram seems annoyed to be here.
"Roswaal?" we ask, and we start to pick up the pace to see what's happening. Once we're face to face, I can feel Roswaal's mana has recovered a bit, subtly. Those bandages probably aren't necessary either, or the staff.
Luan and Otto stay behind, both talking to each other.
"I came~~ to witness the first test of Miss Emilia." Roswaal looks towards Ram, who seems annoyed. "I am feeling~~ a little better."
Emilia looks at Roswaal with some concern; however, I know that's just an act.
'There's a reason why Roswaal came.'
Emilia gazes at the tomb, and I realize that Garfield is nowhere to be seen. If Emilia passes this test, it will be a blow to Garfield's ego, and I can use that to play with him and force him to overcome the trial.
Roswaal bows to Emilia, wishing her good luck. Ram says nothing, not even looking at me even though I'm staring at her intently.
Emilia looks at me, and her lips move slightly. She's about to say something to me, but then she closes her eyes and moves forward.
"I'm going," she says, walking towards the tomb without further ado.
I suppose her attitude must be because of Beatrice. Acting tough to prevent others from noticing her emotions. I watch as the tomb lights up, and after that, Roswaal points me towards the forest.
"Let's talk alone for a moment," he says.
I nod, and Ram steps in between us.
"I can't leave you alone with Lord Roswaal," Ram says, glaring at me with clear murderous intent.
My heart pounds, but there's nothing I can do. I smile at her, and Roswaal looks at her sternly.
"I don't remember training such a disobedient servant," Roswaal's words weigh heavily on Ram, who presses her lips and steps aside. She bows, apologizing.
Roswaal and I continue our path, venturing into the forest until we are completely surrounded by trees. He stops and points his cane at me.
"I have a proposal you'll like," Roswaal says, smiling widely, speaking without his usual quirks.
I think this is the first time I've seen a sincere smile on him. It definitely gives me a bad feeling.
"I was planning to make that half-elf fall, but that seems somewhat complicated now," Roswaal shrugs, sighing. "Let's make a bet."
My eyes widen in surprise as I prepare for what he's about to say.
It seems like this is a turning point; now he'll propose something to prevent Emilia from passing the trials. But she won't fail this test, which means the trial of the present will be more complex than I thought.
The book doesn't seem to know that I know the future, so regardless of Emilia's mental change, the trials should remain the same.
"I was planning to attract one of the great beasts to Irlam using a crystal matrix with sorcerers I have prepared," Roswaal points at me, pulling out his book. "But since things are changing, I have a proposal for you."
If Roswaal had done that, it would have ended Irlam without a doubt. The army is in a critical state; we wouldn't stand a chance against that beast.
Now Roswaal admits that the future has changed, making me smile. It means Otto's actions did have a butterfly effect on the world. I might be about to achieve my first goal.
"I'll give you all my lands, my title, I'll leave my name, and everything I own will pass to your name," he then points to his chest. "We'll make a soul contract, and you'll only have to do one thing."
I keep the same expression, but right now, I want to punch him in the face again. Then kill him and commit suicide.
Roswaal, seeing that I'm not saying anything, continues.
"You must refrain from taking the initiative for the next four days. Also, I don't want you to try to nullify the deal by taking the test," he looks at me without smiling, as if it were a necessity. "I want to see if she's capable of breaking the future."
So, indeed, she's going to fail one of the tests. Emilia's morale will drop, but somehow Roswaal will manipulate her to fail the tests as many times as Echidna said.
That will break Emilia, and then Echidna will take my body.
"Interesting, but it doesn't work for me," I reject without hesitation. "If you're saying it, it's because it's something that must happen. It doesn't make sense to support you."
In reality, whether I accept it or not, if my bet with Echidna fails, everything will be lost. The problem is that changing the future isn't that easy. I must carefully consider what is written and what is not.
"I don't know since when you knew, but I've been suspecting it," Roswaal shoots a small fireball, but it dissipates before touching my face. "You know about the future."
Roswaal smiles, approaching me. We are face to face; right now, I could use an unseen hand and crush his skull without any problem. I can kill him; I can do it as easily as crushing an apple.
But it's not the time.
"Let me propose something else," Roswaal puts his hand on my shoulder. "If we make the bet, I'll be honest with you in everything, and I'll step away from Irlam and leave everything in your hands."
If the condition is that I stop supporting Emilia, then it's to let Echidna live in my body; it must be his great desire.
The future.
"Let me add something," I say to Roswaal seriously, hiding the fear in my words. "You won't attack Irlam or attempt to harm the surrounding lands. You'll say that your reason for leaving everything to me is because you're retiring and designating me as the rightful heir to all you have."
I know I'll lose many allies, but it's the best option to move forward.
Roswaal nods with a smile. I know it's the path he desires, but there are two possibilities.
In his book, Echidna takes over my body, or she comes as Ryuzu.
Without a doubt.
That, or Echidna intentionally hid her existence from the book.
"I no longer have a purpose, I suppose I'll rest," a blue light emanates from Roswaal's chest, then mine starts to glow. "With this, we won't be able to fail each other. I give you one hour to do something."
I can't support her, but that doesn't mean others can't.
Luan, Crusch, Otto, any of them could lift her if she falls.
I just have to have faith that she can overcome the present or the future she sees.
"Are you going to stop talking like Hector?" I ask, looking at him to provoke.
Roswaal, in contrast, just gives me a small smile and begins to walk.
I watch him go until there's no trace of him.
I ponder, while the moon illuminates the whole place. I feel a presence on my back that makes me turn.
However, when I do, I don't see anyone.
Now, I'll just be a spectator. I've bet my life on this. I tried to change the future, and Beatrice had to pay the price. If there's even a chance, it's not with my intervention.
Everything I do leads to death, so now I'll do nothing.
I leave the forest, seeing Luan running towards the entrance of the sanctuary.
Otto, upon seeing me, runs toward me.
"Marco! Miss Emilia!" Otto exclaims, his eyes full of concern.
The sanctuary must have shut down abnormally, but Emilia should still be in the trial.
When Luan seems about to enter, the sanctuary emits a gust of wind that sends her flying.
"Luan!" I summon an Unseen Hand and catch her, placing her on the ground, and she starts bleeding from her nose and mouth.
"Ugh!" Luan falls to her knees in pain. "It seems I'm not accepted."
I guess she really isn't a demihuman.
Luan looks at me, with a worried expression.
"Miss Emilia screamed a few seconds ago!" she exclaims before collapsing unconscious.
"Luan!" I hold her in my arms, seeing that Crusch has arrived.
It's just us, the other demihumans don't appear around here. Crusch seems distant, as if someone had told her something.
"Crusch!" I exclaim, trying to bring her back to her senses. "Take Luan."
It's going to be complicated for Otto, who's missing a hand.
Crusch holds her in her arms without saying a word. Everyone has been acting too strange. But it's especially odd that Crusch isn't paying attention.
Emilia is going to be okay, maybe seeing her past just made her remember and she's crying to free herself.
That's normal.
'I give you an hour.' I tighten my lips, looking towards the sanctuary.
"I'm going in." I walk slowly, thinking about what I should say to give Emilia strength.
Yes, I can't support her, nor can I execute my plan to ask Echidna to let me take the trials. Right now, all I need to do is see how everything unfolds; worst-case scenario, I'll lose a life.
I climb the stairs, seeing the tomb light up again. I suppose that even though I can't take the trials, it will let me in.
I don't want to take the trials, nor should it be me who does. If I take the trials, Garfield will become too hostile towards me, besides, I don't want to see my past. I'd rather keep that year forgotten.
I continue down the hallway, and from here, I can see Emilia, hear her sobs as she lies on the ground.
As I approach, I see her trembling, her hands clenched so tightly that blood seeps from them. Her contorted face and bleeding lips from the pressure.
I can't understand. What could be causing her so much pain?
Her past?
But she's already faced it; it doesn't make sense to suffer the same and react the same.
I crouch down, shaking Emilia.
"Don't do it..." Emilia mumbles, as she moves desperately, extending her hand and shouting with all her might: "Don't do it! Marco!"
My eyes snap open, and after her cry, she forcefully opens hers.
Emilia slowly scans the surroundings, her body trembling as if she's in immense cold. She looks until she fixes her gaze on me, and just as she does, her mouth trembles so much that her teeth start chattering.
"Ma-Marco..." her voice trembles, as if she's in a state of deep terror.
She reaches out her hand to me, and I respond, leaning in to help her up. Emilia keeps staring at me, tears streaming down her face like waterfalls. Then, just as I'm about to touch her.
"Don't get any closer!" Emilia hits my hand hard, making a dry sound that shatters all my calm.
Her gaze goes everywhere, as if she's just experienced something traumatic. She hugs herself, pressing her nails into her arms. I stay still, my body not reacting.
I can't move, I can't say anything.
Why did she mention my name?
"Don't come near..." Emilia holds her head, avoiding my gaze. "You..."
My hands start to tremble, as if I'm already finding the answer.
Emilia stands up, without looking at me or doing anything. She keeps trembling, her legs, her body.
"How can you smile after experiencing something like that?" Emilia clenches her hands, trying to contain her tears. "That's not something a human would do."
Like glass, her words shatter everything within me. Memories start swirling in my mind, as I feel everything I thought fading away.
That was a low blow...
I clench my fists, unable to say anything. Emilia looks at me for a second, her eyes filled with tears. She holds the gaze for a moment, only to close them and turn them towards the exit.
"The trial, I can't take it again, I'm sorry." Emilia runs off at full speed, leaving me with the echo of her footsteps.
Damn.
It seems the future can't be changed.
My legs give out, causing me to stumble back until I hit a wall. I look up at the ceiling, feeling like nothing more than a frog in a well. I bite my lips, tasting the bitter flavor of blood. I contort my face and with all my strength, I hit the wall before shouting into the air:
"Why did you show her my past, Echidna!?"