Due to the rules of Werewolf, Ritsuka had no right to interrupt and could only listen intently like everyone else to Sakatsuki's analysis.
"I imagine many of you are wondering why I said that. So let's walk through the logic—yes, purely based on the conversations up to this point."
The bonfire crackled. Flames danced. And in that flickering light, the young man's handsome features took on a deep, contemplative sharpness.
"First, let me point something out: Ritsuka's decision to check Mash's identity on the first night was, frankly, very unwise. Her reasoning doesn't hold water."
"Doesn't hold water?" Isn't it totally normal to pick someone close when you don't know anything?
Some frowned. Some started thinking. Some turned to look at the confused and innocent-looking Mash, only to nod subtly in dawning realization.
"Ah, I see Miss Tamamo-no-Mae has caught on." Sakatsuki smiled. "After all, we all know Mash's personality quite well. So let's ask—if she were a werewolf, what would she even look like?"
"What would she look like?" Illya and Miyu exchanged a glance. Images of a panicked, malfunctioning Eggplant flooded their minds—Mash with that classic blue-screened expression.
"Pfft." Even Illya and Miyu could imagine it. For those who knew her better—like her Servants—Kiyohime and Tamamo had to cover their mouths, stifling laughter.
If Mash were a werewolf, she'd have given herself away in broad daylight already.
She was as pure as snow—how could she ever fake malice?
"Wh-What's that supposed to mean, Senpai?! And Mr. Sakatsuki too!" Even Mash caught on now—he was clearly implying she couldn't lie if her life depended on it. "I've been trying really hard in this game!"
"Oh, I meant that as a compliment, Mash." Sakatsuki waved her off lightly, the same amused smile on his lips. "You are the purest maiden in all of Chaldea, after all."
"I—" The unexpected verbal crit hit Mash straight to the heart. She instinctively looked to Sakatsuki, whose golden eyes held only sincerity. She turned to her Master for support—only for Ritsuka to nod in agreement.
Having spent so much time with her, of course Ritsuka agreed with Sakatsuki.
"E-Everyone… Uuu…" The poor Eggplant short-circuited and slowly slid off her chair, retreating under the table as she covered her blushing face and curled up in shame.
"Heh, adorable." Sakatsuki chuckled to himself and instinctively gave Draco's hand a squeeze—only to be met with a death glare and a sharp heel stomping on his foot.
"Hssss~!" Sakatsuki sucked in a breath, but smoothly returned to the main topic. "So now you understand. If Ritsuka truly knew Mash so well, and was confident in her ability to read her, why would she waste the first night checking her identity?"
"If it were any other free-spirited Servant, I might let it slide. But this is Ritsuka—the Master we're talking about."
The final Master of Chaldea—would they really act so irrationally?
Once everyone had digested his point, Sakatsuki continued:
"As for why I suspect Ritsuka is a werewolf—it's not just her claim as Seer that's suspicious. Her entire motive fits the logic of a werewolf's mindset."
"Why would she claim the Seer role?"
"Simple. Because once a werewolf poses as the Seer, the real one is forced to come forward and contradict her—to prevent misleading the village. Which means Ritsuka is baiting the true Seer into revealing themselves, so the werewolves can target them during the night."
"Think about it, everyone. Who is Ritsuka, truly? A Seer who wastes her only check on someone she knows too well? Or a werewolf—maybe even the Alpha—using herself as bait to sacrifice her claim for her faction's victory?"
"That's… an unfair way to put it…" Ritsuka muttered, scratching her head in frustration at Sakatsuki's impassioned argument.
If she took her identity out of the picture and just listened to Sakatsuki's logic… even she wanted to pick the second option.
Not to mention… she did do exactly that.
"Ahem—well, I'm not saying Ritsuka is definitely a werewolf. I'm not the Seer, after all, so it'd be reckless to speak in absolutes." Noticing the countdown timer ticking down, Sakatsuki cleared his throat and shifted gears.
"I'm the last speaker, so the Seer is either among the silent players or someone before Ritsuka who chose not to reveal. If that's the case, I advise you to keep hiding. Without sheriff's protection or claim-order strategy, exposing yourself now is suicidal. Not even the Dreamcatcher or Witch might be able to save you tonight—especially since it's a peaceful 'Silent Night.'"
"That's all from me. I hope everyone will rely on their own judgment—or perhaps your intuition—to reach the correct conclusion."
As the timer hit zero, Sakatsuki's speech came to a close.
After a short moment of silence for thought, the Holy Grail System chimed again:
[All speakers in the Sheriff round have finished. Players outside the sheriff vote, please cast your votes now.]
All the players off-sheriff had glowing screens appear before them. Their eyes flickered slightly—and soon, they cast their votes.
[Player No.1 has been elected Sheriff.]
A finely-crafted sheriff's badge materialized, gleaming as it attached itself to Sakatsuki's left chest.
[It was a peaceful night. Sheriff, please choose the speaking order.]
[Player No.14, please begin your statement.]
The dozing little red dragon cracked open her eyes, staring lazily at the smiling Sakatsuki.
His message had been all too clear. If she really was the Seer, now was not the time to claim. Doing so would almost certainly get her killed by the werewolves during the night.
But that wasn't the issue.
More than victory, Draco wanted something else—she wanted to see Sakatsuki's face twist in panic. To see him flustered, scrambling, off-balance.
Heh. After all, she was a Beast, wasn't she? Did Sakatsuki really think he could control her?
And so, as the first to speak, Draco's opening line blew the whole room apart:
"I am the Seer. I checked Sakatsuki last night—he's Good."
With that, the little red dragon leaned back, wearing an unmistakable expression of "don't bother me." She ended her statement right then and there—shooting Sakatsuki a smug little look as if daring him to respond.
Sakatsuki's mouth twitched violently.
"Your Majesty… are you some mischievous schoolgirl or something?" Especially after dropping that bomb and just sitting back down?! At least give them some usable intel!!
Sakatsuki was screaming inside, but Draco ignored him completely. Instead, she watched Miyu with narrowed eyes—who had flinched, ever so subtly, at her declaration.
Unlike Kuro, whose No.13 spot came next and spoke without much reaction, Miyu was far more telling.
She wasn't much of a talker—but she had clearly studied Sakatsuki's methods to perfection. Where Sakatsuki observed during Ritsuka's fake-Seer claim, Miyu tested reactions with her own self-destructing move.
And Miyu—when Draco claimed Seer—had shown a hint of guilt in her expression.
"Ahem." Kuro cleared her throat as she wrapped up, and Miyu immediately straightened her expression, turning to Draco with precisely the right amount of attention.
"What is it?"
"You all seem rather surprised," Draco said bluntly.
"Not surprised," Kuro cut in first, smoothly, "Just didn't expect Sakatsuki to be a Good role, is all."
"Huh... I see." Draco gave a small nod, as if that settled the matter—and didn't pursue further.
As for Kuro's statement, she didn't explicitly back Ritsuka, but she clearly suggested that Draco's move was too unusual and lacked substance—between the lines, casting doubt on Draco's claim to the Seer role.
Then came Miyu's turn, and she took a similar approach—refusing to side with Ritsuka or Draco, but even floated a possibility:
That Draco might be a werewolf—not just any wolf, but a decoy wolf, deliberately drawing suspicion.
"If the real Seer is still hiding, and we push all our suspicion onto Ritsuka, that makes Draco the most trusted one. And that hands the initiative back to the wolves," Miyu reasoned.
With Miyu and Kuro aligned, it was only natural that Illya followed suit.
"Hmm… Well, we all agree that Mash-senpai is a Good role, right? So by comparison… yeah, Draco-senpai's claim does feel a little strange. I agree with my friends."
With all three Magical Girls voicing similar doubts, the tide of discussion began to crystallize into a single direction.
But Draco? She didn't even blink.
She simply narrowed her eyes, staring directly at Miyu—who was growing increasingly uneasy—and a thought crossed her mind.
Aside from me… Sakatsuki probably cares about this little girl the most, doesn't he?
And so, her next night's target for inspection was decided—just like that, on a whim.
***
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