1 year after the fight against Melakuera. Location, Elior Forest.
•••
In the thick Elior Forest where it never stops snowing, a relatively large cabin was located in this inhospitable place. This cabin had a surprising back garden full of flowers and lush grass, which even when covered by the trace of snow in the environment, did not seem affected by the cold that ravaged the forest.
In the middle of this strange garden was a gazebo. Inside was the figure of a young Half-Elf, Emilia. She was talking with the spirits in the surroundings, as she had been accustomed to for some time.
She did not seem affected by the slight icy breeze that hit her. She even let it slightly ruffle her silver hair, without knowing that this further emphasized her beauty.
Being so absorbed in talking with the spirits, she did not notice that a person was observing her, from the cabin door that led to the garden. This person was Kaito, who had been living with Emilia for more than 4 months.
Yes, 4 months. Although it sounds strange that two people who barely know each other for a short period of time start living together from one day to the next, that's how things are.
6 months ago, after getting rid of Melakuera and inviting the two of them to his cabin, Kaito chatted with them for a while. When the snowstorm disappeared, he told them that Melakuera was still alive and he had only sealed him.
So he let Emilia and Puck finish him off themselves... Although in reality it was just a foolishness of Kaito's, he had already killed Melakuera, he simply revived him so that Puck could obtain the title of Great Spirit from Melakuera by defeating him, that's all.
After the fight, he invited them to eat, then the two left. He didn't expect that some time later Emilia would visit him. Although Kaito thought it was normal, Emilia had been alone for a long time. Finding a person who didn't reject her was like a light in the darkness for her.
So after a while, Kaito decided to invite them to live with him. Clearly, at first, Puck rejected it. Well, Emilia didn't agree either since she couldn't leave the statues of the other Elves alone in the forest; for her, they were her family.
Although after a time in which she continued to live with Kaito, she finally accepted, since she began to see him as someone close to her, even family, a person who helped her the first time they met, who didn't treat her badly... For the first time, a person treated her like a normal person, which Emilia truly appreciated.
—Time, it really flies, no matter the world —Kaito murmured while looking at Emilia.
This year made Kaito reflect on many things: suddenly crossing to a strange world, taking the life of a being for the first time. Even if his emotions were suppressed by his power, it was really something that gnawed at him inside.
But then Emilia and Puck appeared. This time, they made him feel that he was not alone in this strange world, that he had a home, besides understanding that they were living beings, not simple characters from a story in his previous life.
—Kaito?
Suddenly, Kaito's thoughts were interrupted by Emilia's voice that reached his ears.
Looking ahead, Kaito saw how Emilia said goodbye to the spirits that surrounded her, and then walked towards him.
—You didn't finish talking with the spirits, right? —Kaito asked Emilia.
—Huh? Well... no —Emilia replied in a low voice.
At Emilia's reaction, a smile formed on Kaito's face. He gently placed a hand on her head and stroked her hair.
—Don't worry, I'm not angry. Just keep in mind that they will help you at any time, so have a good relationship with them.
—I understand Kaito, I will keep it in mind —Emilia said, looking firmly at Kaito.
He only smiled, before saying more a gray figure that floated appeared in front of him and gently hit him on the forehead with a paw.
—So Kaito, is the food ready? —Puck asked, looking at Kaito with a smile.
Clearly, Kaito knew that Puck was just jealous. This guy already considered Emilia a daughter, so seeing how a guy was so affectionate with her would clearly make him somewhat reluctant, as if you were cultivating a cabbage, only for a pig to suddenly come along and eat it.
—Hum, Puck don't be rude to Kaito, you only think about food —before Puck could be happy, Emilia spoke.
Those words were like an arrow in Puck's heart, who looked at Emilia who was pouting while holding him in her hands. Although that feeling changed to anger when he saw Kaito's smile, he really wanted to give him another paw when he saw his face, to see if he was still laughing.
—The truth is that the food is ready, so let's go inside —Kaito said while removing his hand from Emilia's hair.
Then he walked with her inside the cabin, without realizing that Emilia seemed a little reluctant when he moved away, although Puck noticed it and only wanted to hit Kaito for being so shameless.
After entering the cabin, Kaito went to the kitchen while Puck and Emilia waited in the dining room. A few minutes later, Kaito returned with some plates of food; it was Japanese food.
Of course, he also prepared other meals: some American breakfasts, Chinese, Spanish, Mexican food, and others. With the money he had in his past life, he was able to try various foods, so since he was cooking, he prepared them with pleasure.
—Bon appétit —the three said in unison.
So time passed. While eating, Kaito chatted with Emilia and sometimes teased Puck; he really liked seeing him annoyed. The meal ended with this warm atmosphere.
After eating, Emilia offered to clean the dishes. Kaito did not reject her, he knew that she wanted to feel useful. After doing that, she went to rest in her room, while Kaito lay down on the living room sofa to rest.
However, after a while, he noticed how Puck was on the living room table, looking him straight in the eyes.
—What's with you now? —Kaito asked knowingly.
—Can you feel a guy with a large amount of mana approaching, right? —Puck replied with a question.
Kaito said nothing as he knew who was approaching, although he was surprised. He didn't expect Roswaal to come so soon to see Emilia. In his understanding, Roswaal should look for Emilia in about 6 more years, not now.
But Kaito could intuit why Roswaal came.
A month ago, he felt as if something was trying to calculate his future or make a prophecy about him. He knew it was Roswaal's Gospel. He let it be to see what the Gospel wanted to tell Roswaal. Now he knows that maybe it told him something about him.
The only thing that can make Roswaal act that way is Echidna. Perhaps the Gospel told him something about saving her or someone who could do it. Well, Kaito really doesn't care about the motive, he doesn't like Roswaal.
—Besides, he has an extremely strong, almost evil feeling of darkness —Puck spoke, pulling Kaito out of his thoughts.
—Hmm... wait here inside for a moment, I'll go meet him, just protect Emilia —Kaito said, getting up from the sofa. —Try to keep Emilia from leaving —Kaito emphasized before leaving the cabin.
«How impatient is this guy, Roswaal?» Kaito couldn't help but think this as he stepped outside.
Putting on his black jacket, Kaito waited for him on the stairs. In his perception, Roswaal was only about 10 meters from the cabin, although something he perceived was that two other small figures were coming with him, well, more precisely they seemed to be dragged by that guy.
A few minutes later, a figure emerged from the shadow of the trees: a man with white makeup, blue hair, colorful clothes, and a cynical smile that anyone would want to punch... It was Roswaal L. Mathers.
But Kaito's attention was not on this guy, but rather on the two small figures following him, two girls with blue and pink hair who wore maid outfits, they were Rem and Ram.
Kaito really didn't expect Roswaal to come with the two sisters, not to mention that Kaito knows that Roswaal is very likely looking for him. Isn't he afraid that he will tell them the truth about the village incident? Well, actually Roswaal doesn't know that Kaito has such knowledge either.
Besides, it is very likely that the Gospel would have revealed his information to Roswaal when he was visiting the sanctuary, since it is one of the few times he lets Rem and Ram follow him.
—What a surprisee, I didn't expect to find a living person in this forest. Are you perhaps that mysterious young man that the people in the town talk about? —Roswaal's high-pitched voice reached Kaito's ears, pulling him out of his trance.
Kaito looked at Roswaal speechless, he really didn't know why this guy had that strange way of speaking, but he still didn't answer him, he only saw the figures of Rem and Ram, who remained silently together while leaning on each other.
Something Kaito noticed was the slight trace of sweat on Ram. Most likely, the guy Roswaal made them go quickly after him. Seeing that he was leaving them behind, he simply flew with them. But Kaito believes that Ram's state is normal, a little over a year ago she lost her horn, she must still not be used to the lack of mana.
—Ahem, excuse me —Roswaal snapped his fingers to get Kaito's attention.
He could only look away from the two sisters, who were now also looking at him slightly with silent curiosity.
—Ah, yes... was the Marquis Mathers looking for me for something? —Kaito asked dryly.
Roswaal seemed slightly surprised to see that Kaito recognized him.
—Well, welll, I didn't expect the young man to know me.
—Isn't it normal? Marquis Roswaal is the royal court magician, it's unlikely that no one knows him —Kaito replied dryly.
Roswaal frowned, he didn't know why Kaito seemed so hostile towards him, they barely knew each other, but even if he was annoyed by Kaito's attitude, he endured it. The Gospel had revealed to him that the man next to the Half-Elf could save his master, so for her he would endure anything.
—It seems the young friend doesn't like me very much.
—The truth is, I don't —Kaito said, without intending to keep up appearances with Roswaal.
Roswaal frowned, he was really angry with the guy in front of him. Clearly, Kaito didn't care what Roswaal thought, Kaito had already decided something, he was going to save the two sisters from this guy.
In his past life, he really disliked Roswaal, not to mention that he was implicated in the attack on the two sisters' village, he was also involved in several deaths of Subaru, Emilia, and the other members of the mansion... Truly an unpleasant guy.
—Could I know the reason for your displeasure? —Roswaal asked curiously.
—Maybe because you are a manipulator, or am I wrong?
—Manipulator? —Roswaal asked another question, more tense than before.
Kaito only looked at him in silence, while he felt how Emilia was watching the situation from the second floor. Likewise, he also looked at the reaction of the two sisters who seemed not to be annoyed at treating Roswaal badly. Well, for Kaito it's normal, it's not like Ram was the one from a few years later who defended Roswaal tooth and nail.
—Yes, manipulator. Didn't you do that with those two girls? Attacking their village along with the Witch Cult —Kaito said without any emotion.
But for those who heard his words, it was a complete shock. For the two sisters, it seemed like a lightning bolt had struck them and ran through them from top to bottom.
Emilia could hear it since Kaito did not lower his voice, she only felt a slight pain in her chest, as if that name made her feel extremely bad.
Roswaal, for his part, opened his eyes, with disbelief, then with anger, his face was even distorted. He was really angry with the guy in front of him. He had been planning his master's salvation for a long time, he didn't want a random guy to ruin all his effort.
—Do you have a Gospel? —Roswaal asked coldly.
—Gospel? Not at all, I don't need such things.
—A skill? —Roswaal asked.
—Maybe, but it's not important now, is it? —Kaito smiled while speaking and at the same time pointing behind Roswaal.
When he saw this gesture, he remembered that the two sisters were still behind him. When he turned around, he only saw a wind attack about to hit him in the face. He quickly formed a magic shield and easily blocked the attack.
If it were Ram with her horn, it wouldn't be so easy for Roswaal, but now that she is much weaker than before, for his level of power, blocking Ram's attack is a piece of cake.
—You... you... bastard —Ram growled with rage as she looked at Roswaal.
She already suspected that Roswaal had something to do with the attack on her village. Now that someone accused him and he didn't defend himself, it made her connect many loose ends, even more so the words of the cult leader she killed some time ago in the mansion. She no longer had any doubts about it.
—Really a nuisance... a tool to ruin herself like that, what does it matter now —Roswaal spoke coldly as he raised his hand.
In it, small colored spheres formed and joined into a large sphere, his 4-color Magic, an extremely powerful and destructive magic. Ram, seeing this, stood in front of Rem. Her attack just now was with all her strength.
But due to the lack of mana, she is now extremely weak, even standing is a great effort for her, yet her priority was always to protect Rem, even now.
—Goodbye —Roswaal said coldly as he prepared to cast his magic.
However, at that moment, a strong hand like a steel clamp squeezed his wrist. Roswaal even felt how the magic in his hand disappeared without a trace. Even he, with a blessing directly related to Magic, could not feel where his Mana had gone.
—Are you so cowardly as to attack two girls? You really are a piece of trash —Kaito whispered to Roswaal coldly.
Before he could react, Kaito forcefully lifted him by the arm, then quickly flew away with him, but not before sending a telepathic message to Emilia.
«Emilia, I'll take care of this guy, take care of the girls please.»
«Huh? Kaito?... Y-yes, leave it to me.» Although confused, Emilia quickly replied.
Kaito only smiled and then continued flying with Roswaal. As Kaito flew away, the two sisters looked at his figure with surprise, gratitude, and many other emotions that they could not process.
After flying for a while, Kaito violently threw Roswaal against the forest. In the air, Roswaal tried to maintain his balance but it was impossible. He could only wrap himself in defensive Magic as he hit hundreds of trees until he could stop.
Kaito only floated slowly towards him, until he descended a few meters from where the dust and snow were. Sometime later, Roswaal came out, shaking off his clothes, while his distorted gaze fell on Kaito.
—Are you angry? —Kaito asked mockingly.
—Bastard, if you really want to die, then so be it —Roswaal growled with his veins bulging.
Kaito only mocked him even more than before, even a mocking smile appeared on his face.
He simply gestured with his fingers, so that Roswaal would take the initiative to attack him.
For his part, Roswaal only felt that he really hadn't wanted to kill someone so much for a long time... First there was Volcanica... Now, Kaito is in front of him.