Roswaal L Mathers smiled constantly.
That was simply how people knew him.
Smiling during conversations.
Smiling during politics.
Smiling while manipulating people.
Smiling while discussing death.
The clown hid everything behind that painted expression.
But tonight—
The smile cracked.
Inside his mansion, Roswaal stared silently at the glowing Gospel in his hands.
Or rather—
At the blank pages.
"…Impossible."
The book trembled slightly.
For years it had guided him perfectly.
Every action.
Every event.
Every death.
Every step toward reviving Echidna.
The Gospel never failed.
Never.
Yet now—
Nothing.
Blank pages stretched endlessly forward.
Like fate itself suddenly stopped existing.
Roswaal's yellow and blue eyes narrowed slowly.
"…Subaru."
The name felt strange coming from his mouth.
Because according to the Gospel—
That person shouldn't exist.
Not like this.
The Subaru written in fate was weak.
Pathetic.
Desperate.
A broken boy who would eventually become useful.
Not—
This.
A monster strong enough to distort destiny itself.
Roswaal leaned back slowly.
Then—
He laughed.
Softly at first.
Then harder.
"Aha… ahaha…"
Interesting.
Very interesting.
For the first time in years—
Something genuinely unexpected appeared.
…
…
Meanwhile—
I walked through the capital casually while ignoring the increasingly terrified stares around me.
Honestly?
The rumors were getting ridiculous already.
Apparently I'd:
split heaven itself
defeated Reinhard
killed Elsa instantly
destroyed half the capital
Humans really exaggerated quickly.
Though technically…
I probably could do all that.
A group of knights passed nearby.
The moment they recognized me—
They froze instantly.
One nearly dropped his spear.
"…I-It's him…"
The others stepped aside immediately.
Honestly, I wasn't even doing anything.
Fear was carrying my reputation harder than actual actions at this point.
Funny.
Then—
I sensed someone watching me.
A lot of people watched me.
This one was different.
Careful.
Intelligent.
Obsessive.
Roswaal.
Interesting.
I kept walking casually.
Three seconds later—
A voice spoke behind me dramatically.
"My myyyy…"
There he was.
Tall.
Clown makeup.
Heterochromatic eyes.
And enough mana to crush armies.
Roswaal smiled elegantly while studying me carefully.
Though underneath the smile—
Tension.
Real tension.
"You are quite difficult to find, Subaru-kun."
I glanced at him briefly.
"You found me anyway."
"Of course."
Roswaal slowly approached.
People nearby immediately fled the area.
Smart civilians.
"I heard many interesting stories tonight," Roswaal continued. "Stories involving Reinhard van Astrea."
"People gossip."
"Usually not about monsters."
Direct.
Good.
I preferred that.
Roswaal's smile widened slightly.
"But I wonderrrr…"
Mana subtly spread through the area.
Not enough for civilians to notice.
Enough for me to notice instantly.
Testing me.
Measuring me.
Honestly?
Cute.
"…what exactly are you?"
I looked at him calmly.
"Subaru."
Roswaal sighed theatrically.
"Oh dearrrr…"
Then suddenly—
BOOM.
Mana exploded outward from him violently.
The ground cracked.
Windows shattered nearby.
People screamed in the distance.
And through it all—
Roswaal watched me carefully.
Looking for a reaction.
Fear.
Pressure.
Anything.
Instead—
I yawned.
Silence.
Roswaal froze.
"…That's disappointing," I said casually.
The clown's smile twitched slightly.
Interesting.
Looks like I finally irritated him.
"You truly are absurd."
"Correct."
Roswaal stared at me silently afterward.
Honestly?
This man was dangerous.
Not because of strength.
Because of intelligence.
Manipulators were always annoying.
Then—
"You've changed fate already," Roswaal said quietly.
Ah.
Straight to the point.
"The insignia incident should not have ended that way."
"Yet it did."
"Reinhard was not meant to appear there."
"But he did."
"You were not meant to exi—"
Roswaal stopped speaking suddenly.
Because for one brief moment—
I released a tiny fraction of aura.
Not killing intent.
Not magic.
Just presence.
The entire street shook instantly.
Roswaal's pupils contracted violently.
For the first time—
Actual fear crossed his face.
Interesting.
So even Roswaal understood instinctively.
Good.
I stepped closer slowly.
Each footstep cracked the stone beneath me lightly.
"You talk too much."
Roswaal's smile disappeared completely now.
The air around us became unbelievably heavy.
Even mana itself distorted strangely near me.
Because destruction naturally rejected the world around it.
Roswaal noticed.
Of course he did.
"You're dangerous beyond reason…"
"Also correct."
Then suddenly—
"…Fascinating."
The smile returned.
Not fake this time.
Genuine.
Roswaal laughed softly while fixing his posture again.
"Ohhhh my…"
His eyes sharpened carefully.
"A being even the Gospel cannot predict…"
There it was.
The obsession.
People in Re:Zero were really bad at hiding insanity.
Roswaal looked at me like a scientist discovering a new law of reality.
Honestly?
Annoying.
Then suddenly—
"You should meet Emilia-sama."
I blinked once.
"…That invitation came fast."
"You interest her."
"No."
Roswaal's smile widened.
"You misunderstand."
The clown leaned slightly closer.
"You interest everyone now."
Fair point.
By tomorrow the entire kingdom would probably know my name.
Especially after Reinhard acknowledged me publicly.
The Sword Saint's rival.
A title strong enough to shake nations.
Honestly?
I still found it funny.
Reinhard wasn't weak.
I was simply unfair.
Roswaal suddenly looked toward Yamato.
And immediately—
His expression sharpened again.
"…That sword…"
"Yamato."
"A divine blade?"
"No."
The sword vibrated softly at my waist.
Space distorted slightly around the sheath.
Roswaal's instincts screamed instantly.
"…It cuts more than flesh, doesn't it?"
Interesting.
Sharp observation.
I smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
Roswaal went silent again.
Then finally—
"…Subaru-kun."
"Hm?"
"Would you destroy this kingdom if you wished?"
Direct question.
I thought about it honestly.
Then answered honestly too.
"Yes."
Roswaal stared at me.
"…And will you?"
"No."
The clown relaxed slightly.
Only slightly.
Then I continued.
"Unless people annoy me."
Roswaal's smile twitched again.
Funny.
For someone who manipulated everyone constantly—
He really hated being the uncomfortable one in conversations.
Suddenly—
A familiar presence approached quickly nearby.
Bright.
Heroic.
Reinhard.
Roswaal sensed him too.
"…My my."
The Sword Saint landed nearby moments later.
Blue eyes instantly moved toward me.
Then toward Roswaal.
Then back toward me again.
"…Subaru."
"Reinhard."
Roswaal's gaze slowly moved between us.
And for the first time—
The clown realized something horrifying.
If Reinhard and I ever fought seriously—
Lugunica might genuinely cease to exist.