Kiyotaka saw them walking over and extended his hand towards the ground.
Kiyotaka: [Dona.]
He pulled up earth from the ground, forming seats for everyone to use.
Kiyotaka: [Are you alright?]
Bilma: [Young Kiyo. I don't believe you know about us. Our bodies constantly deplete like a spirit's.]
Shima: [I cannot say for certain that I will last until Emilia-Sama returns. So I will say what must be said.]
Garf: [Ya don't hafta push yourself like that. Boss, the healthy old hag can tell ya...]
Kiyotaka: [I see. So it has to be you because you have information that none of the other clones have?]
Garf: [Boss?]
Shima: [Yes, only I, one who has entered the graveyard and attempted the trial, can speak of it. It is about the memories of Ryuzu Meyer, the progenitor we copies are derived from.]
Kiyotaka: [Memories. Very well. Go on. I'll pay close attention.]
Shima nodded.
Shima: [It happened before this place became known as the sanctuary. The beginning of this unknown memory was a young girl with a lovely face, skin as white as snow, and pale blue eyes.]
Kiyotaka: (Beatrice...)
Shima began telling the story of how she met Beatrice and Echidna.
Kiyotaka: (The Echidna described in terms of appearance is slightly different from the one I met... also now I've confirmed that Beatrice was created by Echidna 400 years ago. Her behaviour and attitude hasn't changed at all after 400 years... I'm the same, though.)
Shima then recalled how she had met Roswaal.
Kiyotaka: (Ah, yes, that technique he uses that allows him to inhabit the bodies of his progeny.)
Shima: [Beatrice-sama is an exceedingly common presence in Ryuzu Meyer's memories.]
Kiyotaka: (It's obvious that Ryuzu's fate has influenced Beatrice's attitude to gaining new connections.)
Shima then told them about their morning with Roswaal, saying "I love you" to Beatrice and her obvious disgust. Kiyotaka's face went slightly green for a second.
Kiyotaka: (Even I'd feel disgusted if I heard something like that from him.)
Shima then relayed the events of Hector's arrival in the Sanctuary.
Kiyotaka: [As I thought. Ryuzu Meyer's fate is strongly tied to this place. And... to Beatrice's fate.]
Kiyotaka: (Feeling trapped. I've experienced that for almost all my life. I understand how it feels, but I've only experienced the loneliness that comes with it for 14 years.)
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: (Even with only 14 years to go off of, I'm smart enough to be able to tell the rest. The only thing she could want right now is... death.)
Kiyotaka: [I've confirmed all of my suspicions. We're heading off now.]
Garf: [Wait, Boss. But what about Roswaal?]
Kiyotaka: [As for that. I'll leave it to Ram.]
Garf: [Huh? Are ya sure?]
Kiyotaka: [She won't be on her own.]
Garf: [Who's helpin' her?]
Kiyotaka: [Someone who can give Roswaal a run for his money.]
Garf looked excited.
Garf: [Ya found someone like that? You're awesome, boss!]
Kiyotaka: [Let's get going and do our job.]
Garf cracked his knuckles.
Garf: [Got it.]
They left the Sanctuary.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
A while before, Kiyotaka was with Ram outside the area where Roswaal was staying.
Kiyotaka: [Just keep an eye on him and don't antagonise him.]
Ram: [Ram already understands that. Ram will keep an eye on Roswaal-Sama.]
Kiyotaka held her hand, giving her something.
Kiyotaka: [If it comes down to it, use this.]
Ram nodded.
Kiyotaka: [About your feelings.]
Ram: [Bringing that up now, Ayanotaka? Very bad timing. -10 points.]
She was clearly trying to avoid the topic.
Kiyotaka: [I'm sure you realise how I feel about Emilia.]
Ram: [Have I lost then?]
Kiyotaka: [Not exactly. If both of you are willing...]
Ram: [Pervert.]
Kiyotaka: [It's not exactly illegal, is it?]
Ram: [Womaniser.]
Kiyotaka turned to leave.
Ram: [Wait...]
Kiyotaka: [Whatever your feelings are, tell me when you're ready. If you don't choose me, I'll accept it, but if you end up choosing the sadistic clown, just know that I'll feel a slight bit insulted. However, if you choose Garfiel, I would be able to respect that decision.]
Ram: [...]
Kiyotaka: [I'll see you when this is all over. So make sure to save our resident clown from the witch, alright?]
Ram: [Ayanotaka...]
Kiyotaka: [After all he's too valuable to just toss aside.]
Kiyotaka left.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Emilia stepped out of the trial as she breathed heavily.
Emilia: [I did it... just two more... to go.]
Roswaal walked over, clapping.
Roswaal: [An excellent achievement, Emilia-Sama.]
Ram followed behind him, her eyes locked to his every movement.
Emilia: [Roswaal.]
Roswaal: [I pity you from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea how to be loved other than to do what people expect of you.]
Emilia: [It's not that Kiyo expects this of me. It's because I wanted to see. He went through so much pain. While I was there, unable to open my eyes, I could hear him wailing in pain. I didn't bring it up because... I already know what he's gone through. Where he grew up and what those people put him through. Going through that again would have anyone in so much pain, and yet... he said he saw something beautiful as well.]
Roswaal was completely shocked.
Emilia: [He was able to remember his mother's face. And so was I... to think that I... I could have... never remembered Mother Fortuna's face...]
Emilia choked up a bit.
Emilia: [If that had happened, I...]
She couldn't comprehend such a future, and she hated thinking about it to her core. Roswaal laughed a little.
Roswaal: [In the end, we're just alike. No, he takes it a step even further than me. He's even worse. Manipulating the woman he loves? Even still, I must congratulate you. Well done on overcoming the trial. I was convinced that you were incapable of it.]
Emilia made an unwavering and determined face.
Emilia: [I find it hard to thank you when you congratulate me that way. Also, about you and Kiyo being similar... You two may have been alike before he came to us, but you're nothing alike anymore. Kiyo believed in my strength when even I didn't believe in it myself. He saw something in me that I didn't. You're not even on the same level as Kiyo.]
Roswaal: [...]
Emilia: [In the end, I know I've worried you all a great deal. All I've been able to do is lose my nerve. I've caused so much trouble for Puck, for Kiyo... for everyone. But they all saved me. I was utterly useless, and they lent me a helping hand. Kiyo helped me face everything. I don't regret taking the trial at all.]
Roswaal: [Isn't this interesting. But aren't you ignoring the possibility that he said those things just to get you to do as he asked?]
Emilia: [I know he was telling the truth. I could tell from the softness in his eyes.]
Roswaal's expression turned into a frown.
Roswaal: [Even if his feelings were genuine, what about his words. Are you sure you weren't fooled into thinking you had some value you didn't? That he wasn't lying to you?]
Emilia: [I'm sure. And if they were lies, then I'll turn them into the truth. I won't let them become lies.]
Roswaal closed his eyes with a fake smile plastered to his face.
Roswaal: [You just continue to change. This is exceedingly difficult for me to accept.]
Emilia looked surprised.
Emilia: [Roswaal?]
Roswaal: [Your decision is priceless, and your will to walk forward is noble. This is precisely why I pity you. The decision you made that justifies you being hurt is already meaningless in this world that will end soon.]
Emilia: [The world... will end?]
Roswaal: [More precisely, it is moving toward its end. This world has strayed from the correct path and now proceeds toward the wrong destination. The Sanctuary and the Royal Selection have already lost all meaning.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Roswaal stepped towards the core of the Sanctuary to find Ram waiting there.
Roswaal: [Hm?]
Roswaal looked behind him as the Ram that was there melted into a pile of mud.
Roswaal: [How impressive to trick me and monitor me personally like that, Kiyotaka-kuuun.]
Ram: [I've been waiting for you, Roswaal-Sama.]
Roswaal: [It seems loyalties have shifted quiiite a lot. What exactly are your intentions in coming here?]
Ram: [It's simple. I've come to take you away... from the Witch's delusions.]
She said this, pointing her wand at him.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Back at the Roswaal Estate, Meili was walking towards the village when Ichika stood guard.
Meili: [Eh? Who are you?]
Ichika: [Mage of Lady Pricilla Barrielle. Little Sister of the Knight Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Ayanokoji Ichika!]
Ichika smirked.
Ichika: [Don't even think about trying to get to the villagers either.]
Meili called her Mabeasts.
Meili: [All of you attack this annoying Onee-San!]
The Mabeasts rushed towards Ichika, who smirked.
Ichika: [Nothing in the way, so I can go all out.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Petra was running through the halls pulling Rem by the hand, who was coughing and wheezing.
Rem: [Just go Petra-Chan. I'll hold her off.]
Petra: [But I...]
Elsa rushed in from the shadows, attacking Rem, who coughed at a bad time, causing her to flinch when Frederica arrived, blocking the attack with her partially transformed hands.
Petra: [Frederica-neesama!]
Frederica: [You are a bad girl, Petra. I told you to run away and not to stop. You will be punished later.]
Petra: [Right... Right!]
Rem: [Frederica-San...]
Frederica: [You too, Rem. Get going with Petra.]
Elsa: [How lovely. Big Maid, Medium Maid and Small Maid. All in one place. I'm so glad you're all here together, and such good friends at that. I'll lay out your bowels side by side and find out if your insides go well together, too.]
Frederica: [Nothing of what you said makes any sense...]
Rem: [You...]
Rem fell to the ground. Her face was red from sickness.
Petra: [Rem-san!]
Petra began dragging her away desperately.
Elsa: [I was hoping Ayanokoji would be here too. And after how hard I trained, so that our next date would be even more fun.]
Petra: [Someone. Please help us!]
Elsa kicked Frederica on the side as Frederica got hit into the wall, and Elsa threw a Senbon at Rem when a blade knocked them off course.
Kiyotaka: [Sorry for delaying our "Date" as you call it, but there's one extra thing I have to attend to before that.]
Elsa's eyes widened as she licked her lips. Kiyotaka rushed out of the shadows and nailed Elsa in the gut with a kick, sending her flying into a wall. She slowly got up.
Elsa: [Then what are you doing here?]
Kiyotaka: [Aura Farming.]
(Joking. He did not say that.)
Kiyotaka: [You'll find out soon enough.]
Kiyotaka rushed at Elsa, who slashed through him, only to see him melt into a pool of mud.
Kiyotaka: [Say hi to Garfiel for me.]
She looked confused when she felt herself get punched through multiple walls as Garf stood there.
Frederica: [Garf...?]
Garf: [Yeah, it's me big... sis?]
Garf made a shocked expression.
Garf: [Woah, you're huge!]
Frederica looked annoyed.
Garf: [Wait, are you my sister!? I feel like I should call you "Big Bro" instead.]
Frederica proceeded to kick him in the gut.
Frederica: [Don't be so rude, the moment we see each other again!]
Frederica's face then looked surprised but happy.
Frederica: [Garf, you have grown quite big.]
Garf: [That just sounds like sarcasm! You're the one who's grown way too damn huge!]
Elsa finally got the rubble off herself and walked out.
Elsa: [Might I interrupt your happy reunion?]
Garf: [Big Sis. When you get the opportunity, get those two outta here. I'm gonna have my hands full with this bitch.]
Frederica: [What are you saying?]
Garf: [Sorry, Big Sis. She ain't the type I can take on while worryin' about who's behind me.]
Frederica: [Garf...]
Garf: [You see my arm, don't ya? This is the shield you and I played with when we were kids. It was runnin' with you that made me the strongest one there. Eventually, I'll even surpass Boss. So...]
Garf grinned at Elsa.
Garf: [... bring it on, bitch in black. We'll celebrate me gettin' out of the sanctuary! The first thing I'm gonna do is bash up the first wall in ma way!]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka opened a door in the mansion as he saw Beatrice sitting on her stool.
Beatrice: [So you've returned, I suppose.]
Kiyotaka: [I couldn't exactly break our contract now, could I? Now... I'd like to make a new contract with you.]
Beatrice: [You're quite an arrogant Human, in fact.]
Kiyotaka: [Maybe I am, but at the same time, I'm going to be the one that gets you out of this library.]
Beatrice looked surprised at this.
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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