“You’re just making tea and drinking it on your own, but is there anyone else who wants a drink?”

The moment I heard that hoarse, aged voice, the blood flow in Subaru’s entire body started to reverse.

My skin prickled in pain, and the air I breathed in froze in my lungs. It felt as if something sharp had lodged deep in my chest, awakening my soul.

—The activation of “Return by Death” and a return to the worst situation.

“—!!”

In an instant, before Subaru could react in any way, Talitta aimed her bow.

Of course, the target was the uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared in the room—Roswaal Dunkelken. One of the “Nine Divine Generals,” the old man who had just slaughtered Subaru and his friends ten seconds ago.

Even without knowing the circumstances, the way he closed the distance was anything but gentlemanly, raising our caution to a heightened state.

However, from a close distance in the same room, Roswaal merely shrugged as if mocking Subaru and the others.

“Come on, come on. I don’t like having sharp things pointed at me, you know? Old folks already have to go to the toilet more often, so are you trying to scare me into a little accident? I’m terrified over here, eh?”

“How dare you…! You said you…”

“—Roswaal Dunkelken.”

As Roswaal effortlessly dodged the piercing hostility, Talitta’s face flushed with anger. But it was Abel, the man with a demon mask, who called out Roswaal’s name to distract him.

Roswaal’s gaze shifted to the man who had called his name without displaying any surprise at his appearance.

What followed was a painfully dry exchange, as they both began probing each other’s intentions.

“—”

While catching snippets of the conversation between Roswaal and Abel, Subaru was merging the unchanged scenery of the world with his own memories.

Just moments ago, it had been but ten minutes or so. —Here, I sought a breakthrough.

‘Can I do it?’

“—”

The thoughts seeking a breakthrough were suddenly interrupted by a voice that felt like a cold slap.

It was the self-doubt born out of anxiety and frustration—none other than Natsuki Subaru’s own weakness.

‘Can I really do it? Just a moment ago, I let my companions get wiped out.’

The more I tried to remember what had just happened, the more relentless that voice whispered.

My mistakes, my failures, the irreversible errors I had made.

The second chance granted by “Return by Death” was not meant to rectify mistakes.

The mistakes made are beyond repair. All that Subaru is allowed is an atonement that cannot be fulfilled. That alone is the result of Natsuki Subaru’s power…

“—!”

“What the!? What’s this all of a sudden!?”

“Ugh! What, what, what!?”

“Ugh!? Ah, ugh!”

I tried to shake off the malicious slanders being whispered so audibly by slapping my cheeks with both hands.

The dry sound resonated through the room, causing Roswaal, Medium, and Lui to scream in shock. Though they didn’t shout, Al and Talitta also wore expressions of surprise.

And that was understandable. I apologize. It was just necessary.

“—”

As I opened my closed eyelids, the wobbly vision became clear. In that sight, among those surprised by my strange act, there was a calm gaze fixed on me.

Only the demon-masked Abel, much like when Roswaal had appeared, exhibited a composed demeanor without showing the slightest sign of disturbance. —I had no idea what he was thinking.

“I’m sorry for startling you. …I was just getting fired up.”

“With those rosy cheeks, that’s quite a childish way to get pumped up, huh? Hmm? Wait a minute, you’re that girl in the red dress from yesterday, right? You caught me by surprise there.”

Having uncovered Subaru’s true identity due to my odd actions, Roswaal raised his thick eyebrows with intrigue.

As with the previous encounter, Roswaal connected Subaru with Natsumi for the first time here. There was a possibility that the perpetrator behind the “childification” could be conclusively linked to Roswaal, leading to negotiations.

However, that would mean walking the same path again.—Roswaal is a dangerous man.

At the very least, I would not be able to disclose Abel’s circumstances to make him an ally.

Once Abel’s identity as the true Emperor, Vincent Volakia, was revealed, he would lay bare his long-held ambitions and come for my life. —He can already be considered a potential enemy.

The rest is—

“…I was surprised just now, but you’re really something, brother. The leader of the Shinobi didn’t even realize your true identity.”

“Oh, that’s quite impressive! Your disguise was something else; I’d want my villagers to learn from it. How about you be a lecturer? You’re welcome to join us.”

“———”

“Well, getting along like this seems impossible. I must have made you all wary, after all. Maybe my entrance was a bit too flashy. I’ve really messed up.”

Sticking out his tongue, Roswaal acknowledged his blunder.

However, that did nothing to lighten the atmosphere; the time for warming up the mood had long passed. Subaru had no intention of lowering his guard against this old man even a little.

—As the saying goes, the faces of men are quite telling; before he committed his brutal deeds, Roswaal had said as much.

Perhaps his attempts to appear like a kindly old man and his nonchalant behavior were techniques meant to provoke a raw response from his opponents.

If the Shinobi of this world were of the same nature as those I recognized as “ninja,” then every action Roswaal took was nothing but traps, poisons, or ninjutsu.

He would spare no means in pursuit of his goals.

“But you know, if I get neglected too much, I’m just an old geezer with a short time left to live. So thinking about the time left, I might get a bit violent.”

“Violent… Do you intend to fight us in this situation?”

“Kakakaka! Well, it’s true I’m about to wet myself from having a bow pointed at me, huh? But hey, fighting isn’t the only way to achieve one’s goals, right?”

“So, what do you mean? Are you saying you want something else, Grandpa?”

Crouching down, expressing sincerity, Talitta and Medium pressed Roswaal for an explanation. The height difference reversed as the two questioned him, and the old man twisted his face into a smile.

Then, he pointed at Medium and Al, who were trying to cut off their escape route.

“It must be difficult for you to shrink all over, huh? That was me doing it. It’s a kind of Shinobi technique, you know? Quite creative and interesting, right?”

“Old man…!”

“Don’t get mad, young one. In fact, you should be thankful! I was careful not to kill you, since that would have left me with no one to talk to.”

Roswaal held back Al, who was about to confront him over the terrible words.

Al, realizing it was true, choked on his words and fell silent.

Indeed, Roswaal’s statement was both truth and fact.

If Roswaal had wanted to, he could have killed Subaru and the others during the battle yesterday at Crimson Lapis Castle. He could have pierced their hearts with a mere thrust, without using the “Childification” technique at all.

The fact that Subaru and his friends survived despite their small size was merely the result of the old man’s whim.

Subaru thought to himself, yet—

“Well, when I seriously tried to kill you, all of that got blocked, so I might have done what I did out of desperation, you know? Right, my young friend?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Kakakaka! Can’t talk about magic tricks, huh? No surprise there. If I could, I’d want to know the details and write them down in a secret manual.”

“No matter how many times you say it, it’s the same. —What are you talking about?”

Al covered his face with a piece of cloth and replied in a muffled voice.

While the response was not what Roswaal expected, he nodded, saying, “Is that so, is that so,” as if enjoying Al’s reaction.

“——?”

Meanwhile, Subaru couldn’t comprehend the meaning behind the interaction between the two.

In the tower of Crimson Lapis Castle, during that fierce battle, Al had worked tirelessly to save Subaru and Medium. Perhaps Roswaal had seen something special in how Al fought.

But even if Roswaal’s words were true, Al’s techniques influenced by “Childification” would be ineffective against a Shinobi.

After witnessing the results first-hand, Subaru already knew the undeniable principle.

—That simple principle was that he must never fight Roswaal.

“———”

Roswaal was leisurely toying with his teacup. Talitta had her bow aimed at him, and Al and Medium were prepared for battle—but had been effortlessly put to death.

The insurmountable gap in power lay between Roswaal and Subaru’s group.

If they fought Roswaal, annihilation was inevitable. —Or rather, perhaps if they focused entirely on escape, one or two could slip away, but that too would be a thread-thin attempt.

Somehow, they needed to ensure Roswaal could leave peacefully. However, there was no time for discussions with companions to do so.

“Why…?”

In this moment, I wanted to lament the things I couldn’t change.

Though I had been granted a second chance with “Return by Death,” I realized how arrogant and selfish it felt; if only I could return before Roswaal appeared, I could consult with my companions.

I remembered the painful moments during the multiple “Returns by Death” I used against Todd back in Castle City Gwararu, where I was harassed due to the lack of time to prepare my countermeasures.

Even then, it had already been a restart from a state where I became a target of danger.

This time, the conditions—even if different—were similarly precarious. If I put it bluntly, it felt like starting from the same cage as a bloodthirsty beast.

Having originally seen inconsistencies in the time I could rewind with “Return by Death,” it felt exceedingly severe this time.

There was even the possibility that Subaru’s power was experiencing some sort of anomaly—

“—For now, that comes later.”

Cursing the lack of time, I must not commit the folly of wasting the little time I had.

The consequences of Subaru’s foolishness would always fall back on me alone.

“Roswaal, you…”

“—You said your techniques shrank these individuals.”

“Uh…”

Forced to snap back to focus, Subaru tried to address Roswaal.

To navigate through this situation, each word and action had to be considered carefully. Simply put, I needed to buy time.

However, Abel interrupted and vocalized something over Subaru’s incomplete thought.

Having been cut off, Subaru looked at Abel, realizing the true intent behind Abel’s gaze that never glanced in his direction; he was seeking to buy time by diverting Roswaal’s attention.

“Oh, that’s right! I nearly forgot to speak of that. Old age makes it easy to lose focus. I feel it in my bones.”

“You? Stop telling jokes. If you claim to be in decline due to age, you should resign from your position as a General early. The moment you don’t, you’ve already made your intentions clear.”

“Oh, really? Even though it looks hard for you to see me behind this mask?”

“Of course.”

Abel nodded without hesitation, capturing Roswaal’s interest with that reply.

It seemed obvious that Abel was focused on dragging Roswaal’s true nature out rather than revealing his own intentions.

I didn’t know how he realized that Subaru was seeking time, but—

“You little brat!”

Ignoring my indignation, I had to focus my mind on countermeasures.

If Roswaal discovered Abel’s identity, he would pursue his ambition for regicide. Thus, I couldn’t reveal any of my hand to Roswaal.

However, it wouldn’t work if I returned empty-handed.

“General, you hold the position of ‘San,’ and you could tell me you stand atop the Empire. Yet your nature is greedy, and even that position is far from satisfying.”

“Well, if being treated as a dried-up old man isn’t bad, being labeled as a greedy old man isn’t something one would be fond of. Kakakaka!”

Explaining Roswaal’s nature as he perceived it through his eyes, Abel conveyed his thoughts.

Roswaal’s loud laughter showed he was enjoying this, but the darkness concealed deep within this Shinobi was something even Abel had misjudged.

—No, it’s more accurate to say he had not completely measured it.

“So? What’s this absurd thing I’m longing for?”

“—The ‘One’ seat.”

“———”

In a quiet yet unwavering voice, Abel’s words emerged.

Upon hearing that, the sound of dry leaves brushing together seemed to vanish from Roswaal’s breath. Underneath his thick, long brows, that old man narrowed his eyes and locked gazes with Abel.

I couldn’t fathom the storms brewing within Roswaal’s heart, but it was clear that Abel had shaken the foundations of Roswaal’s ambitions with his insights.

Yet that was—

“You, young one with one arm. Don’t make any strange movements. Also, you with the bow, this is painfully clear.”

—It didn’t mean Roswaal’s attention was waning or that he had become vulnerable.

With his face still toward Abel, Roswaal declared this, causing Al and Talitta to gasp.

The moment Roswaal turned his concentration on Abel, he seemed to realize that a slight opportunity had been created. However, even that subtle gesture wouldn’t escape Roswaal’s perceptive gaze.

“—Damn it, do you have eyes on the back of your head?”

“Call it a lack of training. Experience outmatches you here. Nevertheless, from my perspective, most folks are just novices. That’s the unbeatable theory of old age.”

Grinning, Roswaal revealed his teeth to Al, yet still kept his sight fixed on Abel.

There was no need to see Al and the others’ small, petty tricks to deal with them. —Undoubtedly, he had no intention of letting his guard down.

And neither did we possess the strength or means to overturn that.

“Al.”

Shaking my head, I communicated to Al that he mustn’t intervene.

I wasn’t fully aware of his capabilities and skills, but he was likely a user specializing in defense. The techniques he displayed in battles against Arakia and in yesterday’s tower were nothing short of impressive.

Yet in his current “childified” state, he could not wield them fully and would ultimately perish.

“However, for you to claim that I’m aiming for ‘One’ blew me away. What prompted such a wild accusation, demon-masked young one?”

“That’s easy to determine. Your ambition is far too shallow to wane under the excuse of aging. —Shinobi are meant to push both body and spirit to the limits; only those few may reach greatness. And you— as their leader… the time for completion will never come until you die.”

“Hmm.”

Crossing his arms, Roswaal briefly nodded at Abel’s words.

While the response could be construed as off-point, the very lack of energy in his counter-response added credence.

In truth, Subaru knew that Abel’s deduction was not incorrect.

Roswaal’s genuine aim—the ultimate goal of the Shinobi leader—was regicide against the Emperor, and that diverged from his claim to ascend to the top of the “Nine Divine Generals.”

However, Roswaal’s reaction indicated Abel’s line of questioning wasn’t entirely unfounded.

Ultimately, the essence of what Abel had exposed was the “thirst” Roswaal bore.

In search of fulfilling that thirst, Abel had conjectured Roswaal’s utmost prize—the unassailable “One” seat in the “Nine Divine Generals.” —That was understandable.

At the pinnacle of the General rank, in the old age where Roswaal had accumulated connections through his prolonged life, it was impossible for him to realize that his ambition could lead to carving his name into history as a Shinobi who assassinated the Emperor.

Roswaal was solipsistic and arrogant, completely lacking concern for others; even so, he prioritized his own survival as the Emperor—Vincent Volakia’s existence atop the throne.

He had recognized that if he were to be lost, the Empire would sway immensely from its core.

This was the inevitable awareness the Emperor of Volakia, Abel, harbored. Meanwhile, compared to him, Roswaal lacked the most basic sense of “responsibility.”

—Roswaal Dunkelken had none of that.

If accomplishing his ambitions meant dying for it, then so be it. Even if it scattered chaos around him, he showed no concern.

That exceptional mindset of destruction was the darkness that Abel had not managed to grasp concerning Roswaal.

But—

“—Roswaal, your aim isn’t ‘One,’ but rather the Emperor, isn’t it?”

—Natsuki Subaru knew the darkness residing within Roswaal Dunkelken.

△▼△▼△▼△

—In that instant, the color of the air changed, the scent shifted, and the texture against my skin felt different.

“———”

Without even sparing a glance at Al or Talitta’s overt hostilities, Roswaal’s gaze reacted to Subaru’s words.

Holding a teacup in one hand, he scratched his head with the opposite hand while turning to look at Subaru.

He hadn’t been able to dismiss the one word that had just escaped Subaru’s mouth.

“Boyo, you’re suddenly sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong again! That’s quite a shock, huh?”

“The surprise was just because I spoke up suddenly, or is it…?”

“Are you shocked by having your assumptions exposed? If that’s serious, then I might be in real trouble, kakakaka!”

“————”

Roswaal seemed ready to bellow a hearty laugh at Subaru’s words. However, Subaru was certain that his innermost feelings weren’t as benign as they appeared.

I had called attention to the ambitions he had revealed after years of scheming.

And it was this secret—that Abel hadn’t even seen coming, one he’d failed to perceive right before action was about to be taken.

“Are you aiming for the Emperor’s head? That’s quite a leap. Meanwhile, even if you attempted such a thing…”

“There’s little purpose. Yeah, I get it. It would only spread my notoriety without any benefits.”

“Well, I can’t say I don’t understand the idea behind the bad reputations being more widespread than the unknown. Just as the young one says, that also sounds like a somewhat impulsive thought.”

“But, you’re not outright denying it, are you, Roswaal?”

As Al’s voice struggled to convey disbelief, the same sentiment was echoed back by Roswaal, challenging him.

Honestly, I understood that stepping into this territory could only lead to trouble.

Abel had been stalling, sharing banter with Roswaal while Subaru considered all the possibilities.

Since Roswaal was fixated on regicide against the Emperor, there was no way I could reveal Abel’s identity. Likewise, I couldn’t disclose that the false Emperor was Chisha. Thus, the potential cards available for negotiation had disappeared.

In such a circumstance, preventing Roswaal from unmasking Abel would require a strategy that quite starkly contradicted traditional “negotiation”—instead of revealing our hand, we would expose Roswaal’s.

“Our goal is what we discussed in the tower yesterday. Right now, we’re looking to drag down Emperor Vincent Volakia from his seat. This should align with your aim as well, don’t you think?”

“Wait, wait. Don’t go making me out to be a rebel without permission. It shouldn’t be the case that you brat are so feeble you’re peeing your pants in fear.”

“But, you’re not genuinely denying it either. While being a direct subordinate of the Emperor, one of the Generals to boot.”

Securing the future possibilities that hung on my fingertips, I pushed forward, confident it was known and clear that I left no shred of the threat unexamined.

Of course, just because Roswaal didn’t present himself as an immediate danger or that the peril had lightened did not mean I felt any safer. One misstep, and this could turn to bloodshed instantly.

Still, I was convinced that this discussion could only happen here.

The earlier massacre was instigated after Roswaal discerned Abel’s true identity.

For Roswaal, the decision to kill was a sort of personal self-destructive bomb, leading him to believe that by eliminating Abel, he would fulfill his grand passion or goal in life.

And as long as that confidence existed, Roswaal would not lose his temper, which meant he could amplify his eagerness to achieve his purpose.

Even if he embodies a beast driven by avarice without a trace of responsibility or loyalty, he would still dutifully fulfill the role of a loyal member of the “Nine Divine Generals” and adhere to the order of “no interventions” issued by the false Emperor.

“Of course the General would issue a command to avoid needless conflict if he’s been ordered not to, huh? That’s one aspect where I differ from that fiery-headed Kafuma. I’m aware of the aftermath, and turning this city’s fox girl into an enemy isn’t clever.”

Indeed, Roswaal showed he had no desire for conflict even when faced with Subaru’s fervent accusations.

Yet that didn’t mean he was happy to see Subaru’s persistent obstinacy, suggesting that his behavior had begun to cast doubt on the wild ambition of this Shinobi, along with its underlying truths.

And then—

“—So, did you finally reveal your true motives?”

“Good grief, you guys are impossible to talk with. At this point, it seems I’d have to give up on trying to communicate with you.”

In the midst of the skeptical group, Abel was the first to process the content that seemed hard to believe.

Under his scrutinizing gaze, Roswaal muttered in annoyance, tossing aside any attempts to explain. After all, there was no reason for Roswaal to earnest befriend Subaru and the others here.

Unsurprisingly, Roswaal’s attitude served to heighten Al and the other combatants’ tension, igniting doubts about the absurd ambition.

“Don’t you dare, you’ll only lose if you start anything. Just so you know, the reason I’m not resorting to violent means isn’t out of kindness, but because I’ve been expressly told not to? If you initiate first, I’ll only respond in the same way.”

“Ugh… that might… be true.”

Even in a defensive posture, if attacked, everything would shatter. Talitta stiffened her face in response to Roswaal’s admonition, her elongated eyes glancing at Subaru and Medium with apprehension.

Upon noticing that, Roswaal nodded as if enlightened.

“Ah, so you want to revert your shrunk comrades back to normal. That might be a bit too greedy, don’t you think? I plan to leave without doing anything.”

“But, Grandpa, you shrank us, didn’t you? Unless there’s someone else who can change us back!”

“I haven’t really thought about it… Hey, little lady, how old are you really?”

“Me? I was twenty, I think?”

“Then if you wait ten years, you might return to normal, right? But I wouldn’t know.”

Medium raised her hand to ask, only to go beet red at that unceremonious answer. Roswaal’s evasive manner left Subaru and the others in a tight spot.

After all, there was no viable way to forcibly extract answers from him, nor any established method to revert their states.

Still—

“You get that we can’t just leave it at that, right? Roswaal, could you please indulge us a bit more in our request…”

“No way. I mean, you treated me like a nasty old man, haven’t you? I’m just a short-lived old geezer, so I have the right to choose whom I talk to —”

“—Then I’ll grant you the chance to kill the Emperor.”

Immediately following those words, the change in the atmosphere took Subaru’s breath away, and he turned to look at Abel.

None other than Abel had put his own life on the line with those words, causing Roswaal to scratch his head, saying, “Whoa, whoa.”

“To begin with, the premise of this conversation is totally mismatched, you know? Should I be worried about your memory slipping so quickly? How dangerous is that?”

“If your ambition is to claim the Emperor’s life, then you would have already had countless chances by now. However, you haven’t acted on it. —The ‘Sun Sword’s’ flames protect the Emperor.”

“Uh…”

“I can tell you how to surpass those flames.”

A significant change washed over Roswaal’s expression, one that sharply contrasted with the preceding deception.

The old man’s brows raised high, his gaze shifted to Abel, now crystallized with clear astonishment. In response, Abel rose resolutely from his seat and stood tall.

“The flames of the Sun Sword…”

While Subaru couldn’t discern exactly what that implied, it was nevertheless clear that the shock of Abel’s claim tore apart the almost sincere facade Roswaal had built up until now.

Given the conduct of their conversation, it likely indicated some secret that shielded the Emperor Volakia and was the reason Roswaal’s ambitions had yet to bear fruit.

Thus, Abel claimed to know how to remove those shackles.

“—You thought I was here just to prattle on without showing my face and neglecting an old man, huh? Then just who are you? Such talk should never be taken lightly, even as a joke.”

“Do you think a mere jester can turn against this immense Empire by creating absurd tales? If that’s the case, you’re either a madman who’s lost his sanity or an incredibly bold person.”

“And you, which of those two are you?”

“Without a doubt.”

That was a straightforward response to Roswaal’s inquiry.

Whether that declaration held the weight of truth or deceit was indeterminate, even to Subaru. Abel might well embody all those roles: the genuine, the madman, and the extraordinary.

“———”

Upon receiving Abel’s reply, Roswaal lapsed into silence.

Frowning deeply, he raised the now-cold tea to his lips. Afterward, gently placing the empty teacup beside him, he muttered.

“I believe you mentioned the clocks of the fire hour, right?”

“Huh?”

Suddenly posed with that question, Subaru let out a foolish noise.

But immediately after, Medium chimed in, nodding excitedly, “Yeah, that’s right.”

Pointing outside with her smaller body, she indicated the magnificent sight of Crimson Lapis Castle.

“I’m being called by Yorna-chan, so it’d be a problem if we stay small.”

“Yorna-chan! Kakakaka! She’s quite the girl, huh?”

“Huh?”

Medium’s guts to nonchalantly refer to even Yorna by such a name startled me.

In the same way, Roswaal appeared similarly disarmed, now looking toward Crimson Lapis Castle where Medium had pointed. He murmured, “That’s right.”

“It’s true that talking about chasing the General’s life might be one thing, but how to surpass the ‘Sun Sword’ that protects the Emperor truly piques my interest.”

“—! If that’s the case…”

“Whoa, whoa, it’s a bit hasty to get excited. While I might be the one to provoke some anticipation, please understand there’s quite a lot I want to consider. —So, why don’t we have a little wager?”

“…A wager?”

“Yes, a wager. Don’t you like it? Little boy.”

Roswaal pointed dramatically at Subaru who was leaning forward, frozen in bewilderment.

It was easy to miss what Roswaal had begun to lay out, and Subaru remained stiffened in disbelief.

A wager, Roswaal had said, hints at some sort of condition or stipulation.

Whether that would aid Subaru’s hope to avoid a massacre and improve the entangled situation was not assured.

 

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