Gojo continued to eat, casually finishing the food on his plate as he listened to Roswaal's story about a dragon and a stone tablet. It all sounded like something out of a fantasy novel.
When Roswaal finished, Gojo put his fork down.
"Dragon?" he asked, the single word cutting through the room's quiet.
"Is there something wroooong with that?" Roswaal asked, his smile unwavering.
Gojo didn't know much about other worlds or what was supposed to be in them.
Of course, he knew what a dragon was. His friend even had a type of shikigami that was one.
But as this is another world and what Roswaal said, this wasn't some kind of spirit or curse. This was a real, actual dragon. The thought was… interesting.
"Huh? Nothing," Gojo said, waving a hand dismissively. "I was just thinking about something else."
"Thaaat insignia you so bravely helped her recover is the proof of her selection," Roswaal continued, his voice smooth as silk. "It confirms her status and her right to be a candidate for the throne of this country."
Subaru's eyes went wide. He stopped chewing, slammed his hands on the table with a loud bang, and shot to his feet.
"Whoa, seriously?!" he yelled, pointing at Emilia. "So you're like a princess, Emilia?! That's so cool!"
Everyone stared at him. Gojo didn't really care about the noise, but he could see the maids' expressions tighten with disapproval at Subaru's rude outburst.
"You are quite an oooopen person, Subaru-kun," Roswaal commented, looking amused.
Subaru immediately sat back down, his face turning bright red as he laughed awkwardly. "Sorry for the sudden… uh… surprise!" he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I just didn't think Emilia was a princess… I mean, she's beautiful enough to be one! But I didn't think it was true! Not that she isn't capable or anything, actually she's very capable, and I'm sorry…" He just kept talking, digging himself into a deeper hole of embarrassment.
"It's okay, Subaru," Emilia said gently, giving him a comforting smile.
"Dooooon't worry," Roswaal said. "I prefer a lively environment." He folded his hands on the table. "So, as you now know, in helping Emilia-sama, you have also helped me. After all, I am her sponsor."
Gojo's focus sharpened at that word. "Sponsor?" he repeated.
"Yeees, quite indeed," Roswaal confirmed. "I support her in her candidacy for the throne. I believe in her potential to rule."
Gojo connected the dots instantly. "So this huge mansion is yours, then."
"Indeed it is," Roswaal said. He leaned forward, his mismatched eyes studying Gojo with a new, intense curiosity. "If you don't mind me asking… are you a magician in the land you come from?"
Gojo popped another piece of food into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully before answering. "Well, you can say that," he said, leaning back with a lazy confidence. "I'm somewhat of a magician."
He wasn't lying. Not completely. Sure, the power system was different, but a sorcerer in his world was basically a magician in this one.
All he needed was to get the basics of mana down.
With his Six Eyes, understanding and controlling a new energy source would be as easy as eating a cake.
This was the perfect excuse to learn more about this world's power, to see if he could actually use it himself. It was a new toy to play with.
"Gooood, good," Roswaal chirped, his smile widening. "If you don't mind, I have a propoooosal for you. And I assure you, it is all in your favor. Of couuurse, you can refuse if you don't like it."
"Yeah, shoot," Gojo said, his mouth half-full.
"From what you have told me, you are neeeew here," Roswaal began, laying out his trap. "You probably have no money, no home, and no one you know in this country. So, what I propoooose is this… join Emilia-sama's camp."
Gojo paused, a piece of bread halfway to his mouth. "Hmm, are you recruiting me?"
"Indeed I am," Roswaal said, looking pleased. "It seems my senses were correct about you. And I dooon't think you will regret it. You have nowhere else to go, no one to turn to here in this country. So why not stay here? Make up your mind, or just take my offer iiiiin—"
"Yeah, I'm in," Gojo said, cutting him off mid-sentence.
The sudden, easy acceptance took everyone by surprise. Emilia looked at him, her violet eyes wide. "Really?! Are you sure, Gojo?"
"Yeah, why not?" Gojo replied with a shrug. "Like the clown said, I don't have anyone here. And this way, I can get some help with magic." He grinned at Emilia.
"Even though I'm a 'somewhat' magician, I'm a verrrry beginner one. I didn't really study it that much. So you can teach me, and in turn, I can help you out when you need it."
At the word clown, both Rem and Ram clenched their teeth, their expressions betraying clear irritation at the casual insult aimed directly at their master.
Yet Roswaal, unfazed as ever, showed not the slightest sign of offense, his painted smile as impenetrable as before.
Before the tension could thicken, Subaru abruptly shot up from his seat.
"What about me?! What about me?!" he cried, waving his arms with exaggerated desperation. "I can join, too! I'll be Emilia's butler! And then I can learn magic, too!"
Roswaal turned his gaze to Subaru, and his smile seemed to lose some of its warmth. "It paaaaains me to say this, Subaru-kun… but I do not see that much talent in you for becoming a magician. So I hope you dooon't hold such high expectations."
"Whaaat?! Really?!" Subaru cried out, deflating. "Then why did you ask him that?" he asked, pointing a finger at Gojo.
"I only asked if he is a magician," Roswaal clarified patiently. "If he had said no, I would have tried to convince him to become one, as he has immense potential." He then gave Subaru a condescendingly kind smile.
"Thooough, I didn't say anything about you not joining. You can stay here for as long as you want. Maybe even helped rem and ram too in the household chores."
"Ahhmm… Ahh… huh! Okay."
Subaru slumped back down in his chair. He was in no position to argue. He was disappointed about the magic, but being able to stay here, to see Emilia every day… that was more than enough for now.
And most importantly for Subaru to expose the roleplaying white haired man in front of him.
….
A/N: hmmmm