Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

"Because he helped me a lot. And..."

Emilia lowered her eyes.

"He seems to know me. But I don't remember him."

Ram did not speak immediately.

Amnesia might just be an excuse for someone else.

But when it comes to Emilia, it's not so simple.

She knew that there were indeed many gaps in Emilia's being.

Some blank spaces that are not easily touched.

"Also, he seemed to be trying to tell us something very important, but he was interrupted by a sudden attack halfway through his speech."

Emilia gently stroked the rim of the teacup with her fingertips.

"At that moment, his expression was one of great pain. It was as if he wanted to say something but couldn't."

Ram finally showed a hint of seriousness.

"Want to say it but can't bring yourself to?"

"Yes. He stopped mentioning it after that, only saying that he was suffering, as bitter as the weeds under the wheels of a car, or the bitter herbs in the cracks of rocks."

Ram was silent for a moment.

"This is not the kind of thing a normal person would think of when they are in pain."

Subaru's speech has always been a bit strange.

"Where is that guest now? Didn't he return with Lady Emilia?"

"Ram, why do you think Subaru will come back with me?"

Emilia was somewhat puzzled, but she didn't ask any further questions and continued:

"He said that before choosing a new lord, he would stay at Reinhard's house."

"The new lord?"

"It's about Wang's selection of candidates. He said he would choose someone worthy of his assistance from among me, Ferut, and other candidates."

Ram's expression finally changed noticeably.

It wasn't shocking.

It's like seeing a chessboard that was set up properly, but suddenly someone takes the board away.

"Ram?"

"Lady Emilia, it's very late, please rest." Ram's suggestion left no room for refusal...

"Oh? So urgent?"

Emilia hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"OK……"

After Emilia left, Ram immediately turned and headed towards the communications room.

The light of communication magic shone within the crystal.

"The man named Natsuki Subaru did not come to the mansion as Lord Roswaal had said."

……

After the contact was established, Ram briefly reported the entire incident.

On the other end of the crystal, Roswaal remained silent for a long time.

......

Border Earl's Residence.

Roswaal sat at his desk.

Beside him was the book that he couldn't let outsiders see.

The words on the pages did not disappear.

This should have been reassuring.

But at this moment, as Roswaal looked at the still-existing words, the smile on his face gradually faded.

It was surprise.

It's also a pressure.

It was as if someone had silently pressed down on a corner of the chessboard where he couldn't see, preventing him from executing his planned moves.

Subaru Natsuki, who has the ability to correct the world, should have come back with Emilia!

He should enter Roswaal's mansion.

He should develop a relationship with the twin maids, making them a necessary piece on the chessboard to help him achieve his long-cherished wish...

But now, he went to Astrea's house.

He went to the side of the famous swordsman Reinhard.

Moreover, this choice does not seem to be a simple coincidence.

If Subaru Natsuki was simply afraid, then choosing the Sword Saint's protection would certainly be reasonable.

But if he knew more, it would be a completely different story.

He placed himself next to the person in Lugnica who was the hardest to forcibly take away.

He refused to immediately join Emilia's camp, yet he did not completely sever ties.

He even used the term "choosing a master" to position himself as someone who could be won over and who could actively choose his side.

This doesn't seem like a choice that could be made on a whim.

Roswaal's fingertips pressed against the edge of the book page.

The paper was pressed into a shallow curve.

It's not written in the book.

This is worse than writing a dangerous answer.

The dangers described can be dealt with.

The fact that the deviation was not written down means that he couldn't even determine where to make the correction.

"Teacher... the record is off-target."

"Lord Roswaal?"

Ram's voice came from the crystal.

Roswaal smiled again.

But the smile seemed a little less relaxed than usual.

"This shouldn't have happened. At least, it shouldn't be written like this in the book."

He turned the pages of the book.

The more he flipped through the pages, the calmer his gaze became.

The book does not explicitly explain why Subaru Natsuki deviated from his path.

He also did not write about his so-called experience in the Great Wei Dynasty.

It also doesn't explain why he chose the Astrea family at this particular time.

The candlelight flickered gently.

Roswaal looked at the pages and for the first time felt that the blank space was as heavy as a stone.

“Ram”.

"Yes."

"Tomorrow morning, I will visit the Astrea family under the pretext of thanking Lady Emilia."

"The target is Subaru Natsuki?"

"Yes. In any case, invite him to the royal residence in the capital."

Roswaal's voice rose slightly at the end.

Chapter 16: 016. The Night of the Astrea Family

“Note, it’s ‘please.’ Don’t arouse the Sword Saint’s hostility. And don’t let Subaru think we’re being too hasty,” Roswaal emphasized.

Ram said calmly:

"Lord Roswaal's tone sounded almost pleading."

Roswaal smiled.

“A humble attitude can be a bargaining chip when necessary.”

What if he refuses?

“Then tell him that Lady Emilia wishes to formally thank him.”

What if they still refuse?

“Tell him that the mansion can provide accommodation, food, and the opportunity to observe the candidates.”

Ram paused for a moment.

What if you still refuse?

Roswaal tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

He recalled the boy's reaction to Wang Xuan as recounted by Ram.

Choose a master.

Lord.

This kind of word sounds absurd, but it's very useful.

“Then tell him that simply staying at the Sword Saint’s house is not enough to choose a lord. The Sword Saint is not a candidate, and the Astrea family is not a chosen faction. If he wants to understand the situation, he must personally contact the candidate.”

Ram, on the other side of the crystal, lowered her eyes slightly.

"clear."

"And, Ram."

"Yes."

"Don't provoke him."

Ram's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Is he in danger?"

"I do not know."

Roswaal gave an unusual answer.

"It is precisely because we do not know that we must be cautious. Sometimes, what is not in the books is more troublesome than the enemies described in the books."

He looked out the window.

The night was very deep at the border.

"This is not a minor error. If we let it continue to go astray, the road ahead may become completely unfamiliar."

Ram wrote down this sentence.

"Do you need Rem's support?"

"Do not."

Roswaal closed his book.

"Not for now. You handle things in the capital first. Bring Natsuki Subaru back under the guise of expressing your gratitude."