[FGO]: 217

With a flash of purple light, Semiramis appeared within the teleportation array. Her sharp gaze swept across the area, and Emilia, caught in her line of sight, couldn't help but shiver, deeply awed by the empress's overwhelming presence.

At this moment, Semiramis was entirely different from her usual self. Normally, she was lazy and indifferent, almost like a slacker, even while teaching Emilia. She always exuded a sense of decadence. Though Ryou had told Emilia that Semiramis had once been a queen under whom the nation flourished, wise and capable, Emilia, in her innocence, had her doubts.

"Was this person such a virtuous queen?" she wondered.

"She seems more like the incompetent rulers from chivalric novels."

Today, however, all of Emilia's doubts were utterly shattered. Semiramis stood there, composed and graceful, confident and proud. Such presence, Emilia had only ever witnessed in Reinhard, the strongest Sword Saint of the current era. Even the Duchess Crusch or the Council of Wise Men could not compare.

"I want to be like her. I want to be a ruler like her," Emilia thought, her heart filled with admiration.

Semiramis, however, paid no attention to her student, instead turning her gaze to Elsa.

"Well done. When the Master returns, I shall commend your efforts."

Elsa, momentarily overwhelmed by the recognition, responded with difficulty despite her injuries.

"Lady Semiramis, you overpraise me. This is simply my duty; I dare not hope for the Master's reward."

"Rewards for accomplishments, punishment for failures—that is the path of a ruler. You need not be humble."

Though Semiramis wasn't looking at her, Emilia felt as if the statement was directed at her.

"Understood."

Elsa no longer refused, and Semiramis continued, "Besides, I guarantee you will like this reward."

As she spoke, Semiramis flashed a strange smile. Elsa couldn't help but feel a chill down her spine, sensing something off about it. The smile was oddly familiar, though she couldn't quite place it. Only when the reward was revealed days later would Elsa realize why—by then, however, she'd be too overwhelmed to think clearly.

Semiramis ignored Elsa's scattered thoughts and turned to Emilia.

"The enemy has already reached our doorstep. This place is no longer safe. We must retreat to the manor at once."

"Yes, teacher."

At that moment, a familiar figure—often absent at critical times—floated over. It was Puck.

"Lia, are you okay?"

Puck flew over, fussing over Emilia as he circled her, checking for any signs of injury.

"Puck, I'm fine. Thanks to Elsa for protecting me..."

Emilia's expression darkened as she trailed off, realizing that she had been a burden from start to finish. As the royal selection progressed, these assassination attempts would only increase, and more people would get hurt—or worse, die—protecting her.

If only I had more power. Could I protect everyone without them needing to sacrifice themselves?

For the first time, Emilia began to seriously consider Ryou's offer, despite her previous reservations due to her resemblance to Satella.

"Enough of this fatherly display. There'll be time for that later," Semiramis interrupted, growing impatient with Puck's doting. Even the mighty Beast of the End did not defy the empress's authority. Knowing his limits—especially as he couldn't beat her even in his full form—Puck backed down. If the battle took place at Roswaal's heavily fortified manor, he'd be crushed for sure. Perhaps only Reinhard, the strongest Sword Saint, could breach this magical fortress head-on.

"Tch," Puck muttered, dissatisfied, before retreating into Emilia's hair to hide. Emilia gave Semiramis an apologetic smile. Semiramis snorted but chose not to bicker with a cat-like creature.

With another burst of light from the teleportation array, the group was transported to the manor's most secure location. Semiramis internally praised herself for following Ryou's advice to remodel the manor based on the Hanging Gardens design. While it wasn't as powerful as the original—more akin to a strategic weapon—it was still an impregnable fortress. Within the manor's bounds, she could use teleportation, shield allies with magical barriers, and unleash A+-level magic attacks.

Though the manor itself couldn't fly, it was essentially a weakened version of the Hanging Gardens. Now, all that was left was to wait for the enemy's arrival. Semiramis wore a solemn expression; she didn't believe they would send just one assassin.

...

After killing the Sloth cultist with the watermelon-shaped head, Rem drove the dragon carriage further, soon arriving at a small village near the manor.

"!!!"

What greeted them was a hellish sight. Corpses littered the ground, stabbed through the heart with daggers, heads crushed by maces, charred by fireballs, split in two by wind blades, or impaled from groin to throat with spears.

The cruel Witch Cultists weren't satisfied with this carnage. They continued searching the houses, dragging villagers from beds, cellars, closets, and secret passages, only to mercilessly slaughter them. It was as if they were competing to see who could kill most grotesquely. The cultists, dressed in black robes and pointy hats that hid their faces, reveled in their barbarity. The ground was stained dark red with blood.

Witnessing this unbearable scene, Echidna—who had recently developed an unsettling fascination with death—looked around with great interest. Ryou even suspected she might be thinking of trying such methods herself. Rem, however, was trembling with rage. Having worked for Roswaal, she frequently visited this village to buy supplies, and she knew every villager by name. Now, they had all been reduced to gruesome corpses.

"You… all deserve to die!"

Rem gritted her teeth, eyes blazing with hatred. Without hesitation, she pulled a morning star larger than her head from beneath her skirt and hurled it at the nearest Witch Cultist. The weapon tore through the air, creating shockwaves as it sliced through the cultist's body as if swept by a typhoon. The cultist, who had been carving something into the corpse of a naked girl with a dagger, tried to defend himself, but his efforts were futile. His enchanted dagger shattered, and the morning star bent his body in half with a sickening crunch.

Rem flicked her wrist, causing the chain of the morning star to vibrate in a unique pattern, guiding the weapon to her next target. In an instant, the battlefield was turned upside down. Many cultists were crushed into pulp by Rem's rampage. Just moments ago, these cultists had been sadistically torturing the villagers. Now, they were the ones being hunted. Truly, as the saying goes, what goes around comes around.

Ryou watched from the sidelines, allowing Rem to vent her rage. Though she outwardly appeared composed, he knew that being forced to serve as his maid alongside her sister had left Rem feeling deeply resentful. The massacre of the villagers had merely sparked her fury. Letting her take it out on the cultists wasn't a bad idea; given their cruelty, they deserved no less.

Turning his attention to Anastasia beside him, Ryou noticed that she had seemed off ever since they entered the village. Her steps were unsteady, her already pale face had taken on an even ghostlier hue, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead as if she were suppressing some great discomfort.

"Are you okay, Ana?"

Ryou asked gently.

Anastasia shook her head, but he could see the unease in her eyes. He sighed softly, a mixture of worry and helplessness crossing his face. Something was wrong with her, but since she wasn't willing to talk about it, there wasn't much he could do. He could only assume that the sight of the slaughtered villagers had triggered something in her. After all, at heart, she was still the kind and innocent princess of Russia.

Even Ryou, who had experienced his fair share of violence, felt a little nauseous looking at the carnage. He reached out and gently took Anastasia's hand, hoping that even a small gesture might provide her with some comfort. Perhaps his intention had reached her because he felt her breathing steady. Though her face remained pale, her steps gradually regained stability.

"Thank you…" she whispered.

Ryou smiled, saying nothing more. Sometimes, words weren't necessary.

While Ryou was busy offering comfort, Rem had transformed into a raging oni, slaughtering cultists left and right. The Witch Cultists, wielding daggers, short swords, and their signature fireball magic, attempted to halt her rampage, but they had severely underestimated her strength. Within minutes, dozens of cultists had been reduced to mush by her morning star.

However, the Witch Cultists had an endless supply of cannon fodder. For every one Rem killed, two more seemed to appear, and for every two she crushed, four more took their place. It was like an endless swarm. No matter how powerful Rem was, she was still human. As she recklessly threw herself into the fray, ignoring defense, she soon became covered in wounds. If this continued, there could only be one outcome—she would exhaust herself and be overwhelmed by the cultists.

Ryou couldn't just stand by and watch his personal maid get surrounded and beaten to death.

"Step back, Rem."

"But…"

Rem's eyes were bloodshot with rage, and she looked reluctant. However, the thought of disobeying her master and facing the consequences made her shudder. She didn't want to endure that kind of punishment again. Reluctantly, she jumped back from the battlefield and returned to Ryou's side. As the adrenaline began to wear off, Rem glanced around the battlefield, only now realizing how close she had come to being surrounded. Her anger and frustration dissolved, replaced by gratitude.

"Thank you, Master."

She instantly froze after saying those words.

Why am I thanking him? Isn't he the one who forced me and my sister into this horrible situation?

Ryou didn't pay attention to Rem's conflicted expression. His focus was now on the swarm of cultists closing in on them.

"Take a short break. I'll handle the rest."

Ryou spoke reassuringly, turning to face the horde of Witch Cultists. His smile gradually faded, replaced by a chilling, murderous intent. A blinding beam of golden light shot out from his eyes.

A true hero kills with a glance!

With a slight tilt of his head, the laser-like beam sliced through the cultists at waist level. Over a hundred cultists stood frozen for a moment before their bodies were severed cleanly in half. There was no blood, only the faint burn marks left by the intense heat. Over a hundred Witch Cultists had their heights dramatically corrected. The scene was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

For Ryou, though, this was merely an appetizer. The real enemy had finally appeared.

"It was you, wasn't it?! You killed my beloved Petelgeuse!"

A shrill, crazed voice hissed from the village. Sirius, wrapped entirely in bandages, emerged from the shadows. Strangely, she was followed by a dozen children, presumably the only survivors of the village. Even more unsettling was the fact that the children, much like Sirius, glared at Ryou and his group with hatred, seemingly forgetting the horrors the Witch Cult had inflicted on their village.

This brainwashed scene was enough to send chills down anyone's spine. Sirius began rambling incoherently once more.

"Oh, my dear Petelgeuse, you were so diligent, so gentle, so handsome! How could you leave me like this?!"