I love time travel the most!

"What a little trick."

Priscilla scoffed, "Never mind. Thanks to the clown and the half-baked freak over there, the journey was somewhat alleviated, and besides—you, pretending to be a nobody on the sidelines, were no exception."

She finally looked at Kobayashi.

However, Kobayashi, who was standing with Reinhard and the others, kept his eyes down and remained silent, just as they had said, treating them as bystanders.

Then, Priscilla walked forward without looking at Subaru Natsuki again.

As it turns out, she was just using Subaru Natsuki to annoy Emilia; in her words, she was just having fun.

Emilia stiffened as the arrogant girl approached, but Priscilla, who was passing by, paid no attention to her, and the ignored silver-haired half-elf girl relaxed her shoulders.

His gaze then settled on the triangular-eyed boy who seemed out of place among his surroundings.

Why break the agreement?

Such emotion was revealed in her eyes.

Natsuki Subaru lowered his head in deep remorse, but before he could explain, he was pulled to the left by a hand.

"what?"

"This way."

Kobayashi pulled him into the small group.

"They're all familiar faces."

Natsuki Subaru looked at the group of people who were dressed differently from him in their butler uniforms, and muttered something slightly envious. If he were wearing the same clothes, could he stand here too? Could he help Emilia?

"See, I told you he'd come. It's a shame there wasn't a winner's prize."

"Really, meow! Amazing, meow!"

"Although I was also surprised, this is the real Subaru."

"……reckless."

Kobayashi's words elicited a strong reaction from the other three knights.

The boy being talked about was very confused.

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

"You're saying you'll definitely be here."

Kobayashi patted his shoulder with a smile.

Unlike the atmosphere of worry, doubt, or hostility in other places, Kobayashi did not blame or scold him; on the contrary, he agreed with his actions.

For some reason, Natsuki Subaru felt something was off, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

"Xiao Lin..."

"Ah, no need to explain. That's probably what you're thinking—like the protagonist in a strategy game, who can change the wrong path and thinks it doesn't matter, acting like it's a game and causing trouble recklessly, even disregarding their own life."

"I'm not, I'm not..."

"Do you dare say that?"

The gentle smile vanished abruptly, and Kobayashi's indifferent expression made him uneasy.

Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but shudder.

He remembered the lessons Kobayashi taught him when he emerged from the first cycle of death, which made him understand the limitations of his abilities and how to use them, as well as the thorny path he had to take to achieve his goals.

However, after the attack on the monster tamer at the Earl's mansion, he had more ideas.

Is it possible to use the cycle of death to determine what will happen in the future? Is it possible to obtain more information and then use it?

(Note: Desire Line)

Do I really want to do that?

Because they tasted the sweetness?

Even if you don't quite understand the conditions for initiating it, even if it might lead to an irreversible situation, you should blindly trust your own abilities?

"Hu-hu-hu-"

The boy's breathing became rapid, his body hunched over, sweat beaded on his forehead, and disbelief filled his eyes.

I don't know when he got this terrible idea!

“Natsuki-kun, I won’t say you did anything wrong. If it were me, I wouldn’t have had the same thoughts as you. However, every power has its limitations, even resurrection magic. So, I hope you can think before you act, instead of acting first and thinking later. Otherwise, the people around you will definitely get hurt because of your recklessness.”

The two statements are simply swapped in word order, but their methods of doing things are completely different, and the resulting impacts are also vastly different.

If Subaru Natsuki acts after careful consideration, coupled with the devastating weapon of Death Reincarnation, even Reinhard would have no choice but to surrender in front of him.

More importantly, Subaru Natsuki is a very useful tool and also a last resort; if used well, he can be a great help to Kobayashi.

Whether it's helping him, paving the way to save everyone, or guiding him down a difficult and thorny path, it's all just a prelude to Kobayashi's ultimate goal.

Too much?

No, he would be grateful instead.

"...I understand, thank you, Kobayashi."

Look, he even thanked us.

Seeing Natsuki Subaru's confident expression as if his intelligence had regained its dominance, Kobayashi patted him on the shoulder with immense satisfaction.

The other three couldn't understand, but considerately, they didn't ask any further questions.

Roswaal interjected only after the conversation had ended: "Oh dear, it seems I don't need to lecture you anymore~~~~"

Kobayashi bowed slightly to his nominal superior and said, "I apologize, Your Excellency, it was I who overstepped my bounds."

"No, no, no, I should thank you instead, Kobayashi." The count, dressed like a clown, deliberately drew out his words, speaking in a strange tone, "Your words are more effective than mine, your master's. I'm a little envious, aren't I?"

However, this resentment went unanswered.

Before this, a loud voice had been heard in the palace hall.

"—Everyone has arrived. Now, let the members of the Sages' Council enter!"

The gates reopened, and Kobayashi took the opportunity to return to his rightful place in the line.

The knights at the gate bowed their heads, respectfully and reverently welcoming the group of elderly men who entered. Their attire and demeanor conveyed a sense of authority.

Natsuki Subaru really wanted to go with Kobayashi, but he was stopped by a one-armed, muscular man wearing a helmet.

"Hey bro, we should stand here."

"While it doesn't matter where I stand, is it okay for me to stand over there?"

Subaru Natsuki, whose intelligence is unparalleled, knew to ask his master.

Roswaal said with a wicked grin, "The proper way is to send you out of the city, but since it's so amusing, you can just stand there."

"Wait, Roswaal!"

Emilia raised her eyes at his attitude, as if she wanted to say something.

"I'm sorry, there's no time for events to follow Lady Emilia's orders right now. If the truth of the situation is revealed, then it will be time to say goodbye to Subaru... in a physical sense, never to see him again."

"Uh……!"

Natsuki Subaru swallowed.

He was acutely aware of the trouble his recklessness would cause Emilia and himself, so he quickly stood with Al in the left-hand row of knights.

"The council has begun. Please look to the center."

At the knight's prompting, everyone's gaze turned forward, where the seats set up around the throne were filled with the elders of the Sages' Guild who had entered.

The only empty seat was the dragon throne in the center.

Then, standing neatly arranged below are those who possessed a radiance that touched others from birth.

Led by the orange-haired girl, there are four girls who radiate extraordinary brilliance.

Priscilla stood in the center, hands on her hips, chest puffed out arrogantly, her expression unwavering even before the wise men who governed the nation.

To her right was a capable-looking woman in military uniform.

Her long, dark green hair reached her waist, and her beautiful, dignified face stared straight ahead. She stood straight with her legs together, and her tall figure made her the tallest of the four women.

—Cursch Karsten.

One of the candidates for the throne, a strong contender for the crown, the head of the Duke of Karlsten's household, and also the master to whom Phyllis serves.

Then, standing to Priscilla's left was a light purple-haired girl who gave off a surprisingly bright impression.

The hair that reaches down her back is wavy and soft, giving it a marshmallow-like feel.

Her dress, made of a lot of white fur, and the frog-mouth-shaped purse at her waist further accentuated her petite and adorable appearance.

—Anatasia Hasin.

The young merchants of the great merchant guild in the neighboring country of Kararachi possess insatiable greed and ambition, and are also the masters to whom Julius serves.

On the far left is Emilia, a silver-haired half-elf girl who is disliked by many. I won't go into details about her.

All of the above information was compiled by Reinhard and was known before the Royal Selection.

Each and every one of them is a formidable opponent.

How can we take the throne from them?

Subaru Natsuki's conversation with Reinhard and the others went unnoticed by the others, who also showed no interest in the long-winded speech that was already known on stage.

While Kobayashi was pondering, the four girls below the stage took out a badge, and instantly a bright light shone between the thrones.

The source of its glory is the jewel on the emblem.

"As you can see, every candidate is qualified to sit on the dragon throne. Then the prophecy continues: of the five who will become the guides of the new kingdom, one will be chosen as a priestess, in accordance with the covenant with the dragon."

"Five people..."

As the knight on stage explained, Subaru Natsuki frowned.

There are only four candidates now, and the selection process hasn't even begun. Could it be that the purpose of gathering them here today is—

As if confirming his inner thoughts, the knight on the high platform, with a hint of excitement, shouted: "Today is also a day that will be etched into the history of the kingdom!"