One hour earlier, in Roswaal's room.
After seeing Shendu and Emilia gathered at the entrance of the ruins, a faint smile appeared on Roswaal's otherwise gloomy and uncertain face.
After a period of recovery, Roswaal's body had regained more than half of its former strength. Although he had yet to return to his previous peak condition, there were already certain things he could accomplish.
For example, conjuring a snowfall by altering the climate was still within his capabilities.
Whether by coincidence or design, not only was Shendu absent from the vicinity, even Rem had not approached him.
Otherwise, as the lord of the Roswaal estate, he would have been forced to face the troublesome question of whether to kill that adorable maid—a matter that would have given him quite the headache.
"Hah... it's time. According to the Gospel's guidance, this is when the snow should fall."
Roswaal removed the bandages from his body, revealing his well-built chest. Standing before the mirror, he began applying white paint to his face, rendering it deathly pale. After finishing his makeup, he donned a black robe.
When he was done, the familiar clown visage stared back at him from the mirror.
After dressing, Roswaal pushed open the door and stepped out. With practiced ease, he made his way to the core of the Sanctuary and entered without difficulty.
No one stopped him along the way. He soon stood before the great crystal. Just as he was about to cast his magic, another of Ryuzu's clones approached.
"Roswaal-sama, are you certain you wish to do this? To continue following the Gospel and summon a blizzard?"
The light-red-haired spirit girl looked at him, her emotions complicated.
"Ha ha... I have always followed the Gospel's instructions to walk the path toward reviving my teacher. For that, I am willing to do anything. Ryuzu, do you intend to stop me?"
Roswaal spoke calmly, yet killing intent flickered beneath his tone. Anyone who dared obstruct him would simply be eliminated.
"No. It is not my responsibility. I had hoped to persuade you. Since you refuse, there is no need for me to intervene."
"Is that so? Good."
Roswaal smiled lightly and stepped before the great crystal, placing his hand upon it to establish resonance. This crystal was the core of the entire Sanctuary, sustaining everything within its bounds.
Although the barrier had already been lifted, by using this open spiritual field, Roswaal could still sense what lay beyond.
Near the forest, horned white rabbits were rapidly rushing toward this region.
For generations, demi-humans had inhabited this place, accumulating mana within their bodies. Though many were of mixed blood, their magical presence was enough to irresistibly attract the Great Rabbit.
If Roswaal added a little more fuel to the fire and released a surge of powerful mana, the Great Rabbit would undoubtedly charge straight here and carry out an indiscriminate assault.
"Have you arrived? Great Rabbit... the outcome I have long awaited."
Sensing their approach, Roswaal's lips curled into a delighted smile. He showed not the slightest concern for the lives of others.
"I only hope everything can be resolved properly."
Ryuzu watched the scene before her and silently stepped back, choosing not to interfere.
After all, Shendu and Emilia were still within the Sanctuary. Perhaps they had already anticipated this outcome, which was why they allowed Roswaal to proceed.
With no one left to hinder him, Roswaal began chanting. Under his control, immense mana gathered into the crystal, rapidly spreading outward to envelop the entire region.
Thick, heavy clouds swiftly blanketed the sky, expanding outward until they covered the whole Sanctuary.
At that moment, it was as if a signal had been sent. The Great Rabbit lingering at the forest's edge was instantly drawn in.
As one of the Three Great Witchbeasts, the creature had been created by Daphne with the innate ability to detect mana. It instinctively rushed toward sources of magical power.
Especially when confronted with large concentrations of mana, these beasts—driven by their insatiable appetite—would surge toward the target location and devour everything in their path. That was the terror of the Great Rabbit.
Like a swarm of locusts sweeping across the land, nothing edible would remain where they passed. If they reached the Sanctuary, the remaining residents would likely meet a grim fate.
After Roswaal finished his incantation, snow began to fall from the dimmed sky. The relentless blizzard brought a look of pleasure to his face.
"The blizzard approaches... what a splendid development."
Having completed his task, Roswaal chose to leave. Casting such a large-scale spell had drained the last of his remaining mana.
The snow would continue to intensify. He was curious to see how Shendu would respond.
After summoning the snow, Roswaal returned to his cottage. Without even removing his clothes, he leaned against the bed, quietly waiting for what was to come.
On the other side, Emilia had just completed the second trial. When she stepped out of the ruins, she immediately noticed the sky had grown oppressively dark.
Fine snowflakes drifted down from above. According to the season, snowfall should not have arrived so early. Judging from the mana permeating the surroundings, it was most likely man-made.
"Your Highness, welcome back. Have you completed the trial?"
Garfiel, utterly unaware of the situation, greeted Emilia with a cheerful smile.
"Yes... but what's with this snow?"
Emilia looked confused. Garfiel, the half-beast, merely shook his head, equally puzzled.
"No idea. The sky turned gloomy the moment you came out of the ruins."
As they spoke, a Ryuzu clone whispered something to Ryuzu nearby, causing her expression to grow complicated.
"Lady Shendu, a horde of witchbeasts is approaching from beyond the forest. Just as you predicted, their target is this area."
Ryuzu spoke nervously. She had only just learned of Roswaal's actions through her informants and could not help but feel tense.
She also felt a headache coming on because of one of her original four artificial companions—her rigid personality had allowed Roswaal to bring about the snowfall.
"Oh, I know." Shendu remained calm. "Gather the demi-human tribe and the villagers of Arlam Village in the Great Sanctuary for shelter. I will handle the witchbeasts."
"And Roswaal and I still have a final account to settle. Rem—your time for revenge has arrived."
"Yes!" Ryuzu nodded and hurried off to arrange the evacuation.
The coming battle would be the truly dangerous one. It had not even been a week since the White Whale was eliminated, and already it was time to face another new threat.
Upon hearing Shendu's words, Rem nodded as well. Killing intent flickered in her eyes. It was indeed time to settle the score with Roswaal.
"Should I help, Sister Shendu?"
Learning that a horde of witchbeasts was approaching, Emilia was startled. She turned to Shendu, awaiting her decision.
"No need."
Shendu shook her head and lightly tapped her shadow with her foot.
"Come forth—Shadowkhan."
At her command, hundreds upon thousands of Shadowkhan ninjas emerged from the darkness, kneeling in formation around her as they awaited orders.
"You will block the witchbeasts. Do not let them approach."
With a single command, Shendu summoned several thousand ninjas to fully intercept the oncoming Great Rabbit.
Of course, this was only the beginning. If their numbers suffered losses, she would replenish them immediately to maintain the delicate balance.
Receiving her orders, the Shadowkhan ninjas sank back into the shadows and began executing their mission.
Seeing Shendu deploy her familiars, Emilia breathed a sigh of relief. Even Garfiel could sense the danger emanating from those ninjas—failing to handle them carefully would be disastrous.
"Alright. Now we go find Roswaal."
After arranging everything, Shendu led Garfiel and Emilia toward Roswaal's residence.
...
Within the Sanctuary, deep in the freezing forest.
Shendu walked at the front, with Rem, Emilia, and Garfiel following behind. As they stepped across the soft snow, each of them carried different thoughts in their hearts.
The further they advanced, the colder the air became under the continuous influence of Roswaal's large-scale magic.
A raging wind mixed with blinding snow surged toward them. Yet whenever it approached Shendu, it was blocked by an invisible barrier of mana. The storm crashed against it, producing only faint ripples.
"That bastard Roswaal is really something else... summoning a blizzard here of all places."
Garfiel frowned as he felt the biting cold beyond the barrier. On the way here, after hearing from Shendu that the blizzard had been conjured by Roswaal, his anger toward the man had only deepened.
"It's nothing surprising. He has always followed the Gospel. This is simply its instruction."
Shendu showed no surprise. In her eyes, that man was nothing more than a madman.
"But why summon snow? What exactly is his goal?"
Emilia looked at Shendu in confusion, unable to grasp Roswaal's true intentions.
"It's simple. The incoming witchbeast horde is the Great Rabbit, one of the Three Great Witchbeasts. Using mana on a large scale within the Sanctuary to create heavy snowfall will lure the Great Rabbit here and allow it to devour everything."
"At the same time, the blame can be shifted onto you, making you the culprit."
"Roswaal intends to push us into a dead end."
Shendu's explanation left Emilia momentarily stunned.
"I see..."
"It's truly hard to accept."
Emilia sighed. Recalling the help Roswaal had once given her, she felt conflicted.
Creaaak.
As expected, when Shendu pushed open the door, she found the clown already fully dressed in makeup, clad in his robe, quietly seated at the bedside.
"You've come. I've been waiting for you."
Roswaal smiled faintly, unsurprised by their arrival.
"Yes. I told you to wash your neck and wait. It's time to pay the price."
Shendu shot Rem a glance. Receiving the signal, Rem strode forward and punched Roswaal squarely in the face.
Caught completely off guard, Roswaal was sent sprawling onto the bed, looking utterly miserable.
Seeing this, Garfiel felt a surge of satisfaction. As soon as Roswaal struggled back up, Garfiel drove another punch into the other side of his face.
After taking the second blow, Roswaal still did not retaliate. Blood and several teeth spilled from his mouth, yet there was no anger on his face—only delight.
Emilia did not attempt to stop Rem and Garfiel. Though kindhearted, she was no fool. She felt no saintly mercy toward someone who want to kill their companions.
"Ha ha ha... you're quite ruthless. No matter what, I am still a count."
Even after being beaten, Roswaal continued to laugh. His heart had long since twisted beyond reason.
"Not anymore. There is no need to keep you alive. When you destroyed Rem's hometown, you should have known there would be a price to pay."
"And I have already decided how to deal with you."
Shendu looked at Roswaal coldly. Her gaze sharpened, and a terrifying pressure descended upon him, rendering him completely immobile.
"Ha ha... you plan to let Rem take her revenge?"
"Very well. It matters little to me. As long as I follow the Gospel's guidance, one day I will see my teacher again."
Though unable to move, Roswaal felt no fear. He believed there would always be a turning point.
After all, in his mind, following the Gospel had never led him astray. He intended to walk that path to its very end.
Roswaal had always believed Shendu was the one meant to change the world. He did not realize that the true key was Natsuki Subaru.
The Gospel's instructions had always been flawed. As an inferior copy of the Book of Wisdom, it could not adapt endlessly as the original did. That was its fatal defect.
"Do it, Rem."
After restraining Roswaal, Shendu turned her gaze toward Rem and spoke gently.
"I've waited for this moment for a very long time."
Rem's eyes turned icy. With a flick of magic, an ice blade formed in her hand.
Grasping the frozen weapon, she slowly approached Roswaal. Just as she was about to strike, Emilia suddenly spoke up.
"Wait, Rem. Roswaal is a border count. If we kill him, will it cause trouble?"
Emilia did not strongly oppose his death, but she worried about the consequences.
Rem hesitated for a few seconds and stopped, turning to look at Shendu.
"Ha ha... no need to worry. Even if Roswaal dies, someone can replace him."
Shendu smiled coldly. She had already planned everything.
After those words, Rem stepped forward once more, standing before Roswaal. Her eyes were filled with frost.
"Heh..."
Thud.
The ice blade pierced through Roswaal's heart. The clown spat out a final mouthful of blood before his life faded away completely.
"It's finally over. Father... Mother... everyone... your revenge has been taken."
Rem spoke firmly, a heavy weight lifting from her chest.
After her vengeance was complete, Shendu stepped forward and placed her hand on Roswaal's forehead. She extracted his soul and casually sealed it within a scroll.
Then she flicked out a flame. Roswaal's body turned to ash in an instant.
Once he was dealt with, Shendu moved to the bedside and picked up his Gospel.
She explained all of Roswaal's despicable deeds to Emilia, causing the silver-haired girl to tremble in shock.
"Emilia, because of this book's instructions, more than half of what you endured was his responsibility."
Holding the Gospel, Shendu summoned a flame and burned the so-called sacred book to cinders.
"I... had my suspicions."
Emilia lowered her voice, then shook her head.
"But he's already dead. I'll consider it forgiven."
"Mm."
Shendu nodded, smiling faintly as she saw Emilia's emotions steady once more.
With Roswaal dealt with, the group left the house and hurried toward the direction from which the Great Rabbit was approaching.
Meanwhile, near the Great Sanctuary where the residents had gathered, sharp chittering sounds echoed nonstop, like rabbits grinding their teeth.
Snow-white bodies with single horns—though the Great Rabbit appeared adorable on the surface, the danger it represented was immense.
Fortunately, before the sea of white stood a mass of black figures blocking their path. The black-clad ninjas, stark against the snow, continuously hurled shuriken and darts, attempting to halt the Great Rabbit's advance.
However, the ninjas themselves were beings constructed from mana. It took only a brief effort for the Great Rabbit to rush forward, bite into them, and drain the mana from their forms.
The high-purity mana only fueled the rabbits' greed. Their numbers began increasing even further, surging forward in an overwhelming tide.
Shendu could clearly sense that the rate at which her summoned ninjas were being consumed was accelerating.
Unlike the sheer power of the White Whale, the Great Rabbit's individual attacks were not particularly strong—but its numbers were terrifying.
Combined with its tendency to devour mana and its ability to reproduce endlessly, it had become the nightmare of countless settlements, even wiping entire cities from existence.
Relying on the terrifying numbers of the Shadowkhan, Shendu managed to maintain a temporary stalemate.
Once they arrived in full, it would be time to eliminate the Great Rabbit completely.
Unlike the White Whale, not a single one of these creatures could be allowed to escape.
If even one survived, their overwhelming numbers would soon return.