When Ram saw Tatsuki return, she immediately realized he was the one Lady Emilia and the others had spoken about. Lifting the hem of her maid dress slightly, she gave a polite curtsy.
"Lord Tatsuki, I am Ram, a maid."
Rem, who had just stepped out to check on her sister, quickly joined in and bowed as well.
"Lord Tatsuki, I am Rem, also a maid."
"No need for all that," Tatsuki waved a hand dismissively. Then, stroking his chin, he stared directly at Ram, whose lips kept twitching as if she were hesitating to speak.
"Do you have something to say?" he asked bluntly.
Ram hesitated for a moment but then spoke up. "Lord Roswaal, he…"
Just then, the others came outside as well.
"You're back, Tatsuki." Nami quickly walked up to his side. "What were you all talking about?"
Tatsuki casually pointed at the clown-like figure before them. "This guy."
"Tatsuki-kun, what's going on with Lord Roswaal?" Emilia had also been unable to figure out what was wrong with him.
"I told him not to move. That guy's got way too many schemes running through his head," Tatsuki replied.
That statement immediately prompted a rebuttal from Ram. "Lord Roswaal possesses extraordinary wisdom!"
"My sister is right," Rem affirmed loyally.
"Yes, Lord Roswaal is the only mage who supported my royal candidacy. He's helped me a lot," Emilia added, standing up for him as well.
"I believe Tatsuki must have his reasons. Let's hear what he has to say," said Bronya, calm and collected. Since becoming the Great Guardian, she had come to understand the meaning of the phrase you can know someone's face, but not their heart.
"I'm too lazy to explain. Let him speak for himself." Tatsuki's gaze sharpened. "Talk. Tell us who you really are, how you came to take in Ram and Rem, and why you supported Emilia."
As soon as Tatsuki finished speaking, Roswaal began talking involuntarily.
"I am Roswaal A. Mathers, a man granted magical ability four hundred years ago."
Nami's face twisted in shock—the age alone stunned her. "Four hundred years?! You're four hundred years old?!"
Saeko frowned. "How did he live so long? He doesn't even look old."
Roswaal's voice was eerily calm, as if he'd already accepted his fate.
"I sustained my life by continually seizing the bodies of my direct descendants. This body—it belongs to one of them. It serves as the vessel for my soul."
"!"
Using your own descendants as vessels… That was horrific.
Even Emilia and the twins looked as though they were meeting Roswaal for the first time.
Puck twitched his fuzzy ears and lifted his paw. "I figured that out ages ago, y'know."
Emilia blinked, confused. "Why didn't you tell me, Puck?"
"Well, Lia's goal needed help to succeed, and in the whole kingdom, he was the most qualified. Lia's not mad at me, right?"
Puck, in his cat-like form, wore the most pitiful expression—no shame at all.
Emilia: "..."
Roswaal continued, "Everything I do is guided by the Gospel. Ram and Rem are destined pieces on that path."
"I wasn't the one who destroyed the Oni tribe—I merely stood by and watched. Once only two remained, they were easy to claim as pieces on the board."
"Pieces…?" That word hit Ram like a punch to the chest. She staggered backward in disbelief.
"Sister!" Rem rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders, trying to steady her.
Ram's face had gone deathly pale. So everything—everything about her and Rem—had only ever been part of some necessary plan?
"The Gospel," Tatsuki muttered, stroking his chin. "You mean Echidna's Gospel?"
Roswaal's eyes widened, and he broke into a crazed smile. "Yes! The very Gospel my teacher left behind! The instructions it gives are always correct!"
That piqued Tatsuki's interest. He pointed at Ram. "So, if the Gospel told you to kill Ram, would you do it?"
"Of course," Roswaal replied without a moment's hesitation—just as determined as his declaration.
"..."
Ram's expression turned even paler. Her eyes shimmered with tears.
"You bastard!"
Rem had finally had enough. Her blue demon horn burst forth, her eyes turned crimson—she had entered her Oni form. The chain mace was already in her hand, ready to be launched at Roswaal at any second.
Roswaal remained eerily calm—after all, they were just insignificant pieces on the board. But that cold indifference only made Rem even more furious.
"Rem, don't be rash!" Emilia rushed to stop her—clearly, Roswaal still had things he hadn't revealed.
"Roswaal, check your Gospel. See if there's any further instruction."
After Tatsuki gave the order, Roswaal realized he could move again. He naturally reached into his robes, took out a book, and opened it.
Tatsuki smirked darkly. "Read it."
Obediently, Roswaal did as he was told. "Kill Ram—and the Witch of Greed will be resurrected!"
The moment he read that aloud, his whole body trembled with excitement. His breath grew ragged. He had always chased one goal—the resurrection of his beloved teacher.
And now… the opportunity was right in front of him!
He burst into wild laughter as magic power surged from his body. Magic circles flared to life—fire, ice, blades… Dozens of powerful spells erupted all at once, aimed directly at Ram.
The sudden chaos stunned everyone—Bronya and the others couldn't believe their eyes. Ram stood frozen, unable to react.
Lord Roswaal… really did want to kill her, without even a second of hesitation… just because of that book?
Ram let out a pale, bitter smile. In the end, it was all fake. All of it had been her one-sided wishful thinking. The last shred of hope in her heart shattered completely.
"Sister, watch out!"
Rem rushed to shield Ram. Ice spears flew outward as she swung her chain mace with all her strength, trying to hold back the magical onslaught.
"No need to worry. If you two got hurt under my watch, that'd be an embarrassment to my entire skillset."
Snap!
With a flick of his fingers, Tatsuki redirected all of Roswaal's magic attacks upward—every single one of them veering harmlessly into the sky.
As for Roswaal himself—first he was impaled by several ice spikes, then immediately slammed away by Rem's chain mace, sent flying like a rag doll.
Roswaal spewed blood in midair, then crashed to the ground and rolled several times before finally coming to a stop. Rem slowly withdrew her chain mace, still dazed.
Tatsuki chuckled with satisfaction. "Feel good, smashing him like that?"
Rem looked at her weapon, clenched her fist, and then gave Tatsuki a serious nod. "Mm!"
"Oho~ Tatsuki-kun, have you taken a liking to these two girls?"
Shinobu Kocho's eyes sparkled. From the beginning, she had noticed how Tatsuki had deliberately steered Roswaal's confession—even if everything said was true.
"Yeah," Tatsuki replied without hesitation. "I'm very interested in Ram and Rem. Sure, the way I went about it was a little opportunistic, just like Roswaal, but at least I walk the straight path. I speak openly and honestly."
He placed his large hand on both girls' heads. "What do you say? Want to work for me from now on? I guarantee it's a hell of a lot better than sticking with that clown."
"…"
Tatsuki's eyes were clear and sincere—there was no trace of deceit in them. Rem didn't know how to respond, so she instinctively looked at her sister, who still seemed stunned.
"Ram needs magic power…" she murmured.
With her broken horn, Ram couldn't survive without a steady source of mana.
"How about a little employee benefits demo?" Tatsuki grinned, then pointed his finger at the stump of Ram's horn.
A golden light surged from his fingertip and began to flow into her body. Mana gathered around Ram's form like a tide.
"Sister!" Rem gasped in shock as she saw the horn on Ram's forehead beginning to grow. Slowly, steadily, the magic within Ram strengthened. The horn continued to regenerate until it was fully restored—sharp and glowing with energy.
"Your horn… it grew back!" Rem burst into tears, overwhelmed. Her sister's lost demon horn had always been her greatest source of guilt.
Bathed in that warm energy, Ram slowly came back to her senses. She reached up and gently touched her newly grown horn.
"Am I… dreaming?"
"Nope," Tatsuki said with a smirk. "Not a dream. So, how about giving me an answer? That little taste of benefits is just the start."
"I may have taken advantage of your situation," he continued, "but one thing I can promise—I'll never treat you like disposable pawns."
His words were direct, but earnest. There was no trace of insincerity.
"…"
Ram and Rem exchanged a glance—and in that gaze, they both found their answer. Together, they lifted their skirts slightly and curtsied in unison.
"Master," they said softly.
"Mm." Tatsuki nodded in satisfaction.
"Eh?" Emilia blinked in confusion. Everything had changed so fast…
"Cough, cough…"
Roswaal hacked violently, slowly dragging himself up. But his eyes never left Ram. That burning, murderous gaze of his made Ram tremble—she could feel it in her bones.
Tatsuki placed a firm hand on her head. "Don't worry. He can't do anything to you now."
As he spoke, Tatsuki had already taken control of Roswaal again.
"Don't blame me, Ram," he added gently. "The Gospel was altered by one of mine, and I deliberately let him move just now."
Ram's expression was complicated. "Master… you didn't have to tell me that."
Tatsuki ruffled her hair with a smile. "I don't want any distance or secrets between us."
"My methods are underhanded too. But unlike Roswaal, I'll tell you exactly what I've done—because what I want is Ram and Rem, not just a couple of chess pieces."
His "underhanded" methods included: Forcing Roswaal to expose the truth; Instructing Echidna to rewrite the Gospel; Letting Roswaal reveal his truest, darkest self; And completely destroying the man's image and identity.
"…"
Ram and Rem stared at Tatsuki in a daze.
"Sigh… Tatsuki's girl-conquering skills just keep getting better," Exusiai muttered with a shake of her head.
"Tch, why is he always chasing after beautiful girls?" Nami huffed and pouted.
Shinobu offered a warm smile, clearly understanding. "Tatsuki-kun is kind and gentle. Everyone's probably drawn to his sincerity and honesty."
Saeko nodded in agreement. "That's right. Tatsuki always treats the people he cares about with sincerity."
"Hmph. The man I've set my eyes on is destined to get everything he wants."
Esdeath, as always, viewed things from a completely different angle. She admired Tatsuki's undisguised desire. To her, that was what a true strongman should look like.
"..."
Bronya suddenly felt like the odd one out in the group. Should I… praise him too?
A strange glimmer flickered in her eyes. Does everyone here have some kind of relationship with Tatsuki?
After a long moment, Ram looked up at Tatsuki and smiled—a bright, genuine smile. Her first.
"Thank you, Master."
Sensing the knot in her heart had finally unraveled, Tatsuki smiled too, content.
Then, his gaze shifted to Roswaal—still bleeding on the ground.
"Last question. Answer it."
Emilia's expression was tinged with sadness and grief. Things had come this far… and she was beginning to realize that Roswaal had only helped her because of some ulterior motive.
Roswaal glanced at Emilia, his eyes devoid of emotion.
"The Gospel guided me," he said flatly. "Besides, for Emilia to become queen… that's the only way I'll get the chance to meet the Divine Dragon. To kill it."
His tone turned manic, his gaze crazed. "Only by killing the Dragon… can I resurrect my teacher!"
Just by looking at him, anyone could see—he was already beyond saving. All he had in his mouth were "teacher" and "Gospel." The man was completely mad.
"You're dying," Tatsuki said calmly. "But the sad part is… your teacher is still alive."
"…Huh?" The madness froze on Roswaal's face.
"And what's more fun—your teacher, the Witch of Greed, Echidna? She's now my slave. And plaything. That Gospel you were drooling over just now? I had her rewrite it. Surprised?"
A deliberate reveal. A deliberate taunt. And it worked—Roswaal's attention snapped to Tatsuki like a dying man grabbing his last thread.
His twisted face suddenly reflected shock, doubt, and fear.
He wanted to know what Tatsuki meant by "still alive."
He wanted to know what it meant that Echidna was a slave.
But unfortunately for him… he'd never get the chance.
His body began to twist, like it was being ground in a millstone. From feet to head, inch by inch, he was crushed to dust.
There was no dramatic explosion, no bloody mess. Every part of him was incinerated to ash by silent, invisible flames.
To let Roswaal die with unanswered questions—maybe that was Tatsuki's own form of poetic cruelty.
Turning back, Tatsuki noticed Emilia's face looked terrible. This was clearly too much for her to process at once.
She probably needed some time, so he suggested, "Take her inside. Let her rest."
"Yes!" Ram and Rem immediately stepped forward and escorted Emilia back into the castle.
...
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