Meeting Roswaal
Awakening to the sound of knocking, Subaru drew back the curtains.
The weather was cloudy.
On the table lay the study materials from last night.
After tidying his room, Subaru took his toiletries and went out.
Standing outside the door was his true supervisor, Ben Child.
In short, he was a very serious person, extremely strict about reviewing the work of those under him.
Most of the few times Subaru was scolded yesterday came from him.
However, since his demands were always things Subaru could easily accomplish, Subaru felt more shame than dissatisfaction.
"Good morning, Subaru. Here is your work for today. I've prepared a reference timetable for you. At the back are corrections for the mistakes you made yesterday. Lastly, I've listed the times when I will check each task. At those times, you must be at your work station waiting for me."
Ben handed over something as thick as a reference book and then left.
Subaru flipped through a few pages, all full of pictures.
Judging by Ben's tired expression earlier, he probably stayed up all night preparing this.
"Alright, I must do better today than yesterday.
Let me see today's work... It's 8 o'clock now, the timetable suggests starting work at 9:30, so I'll do some morning exercise first."
Subaru put the reference material in his room's cabinet, then changed into sportswear and headed to the courtyard.
The old butler was practicing morning boxing in the courtyard, each punch accompanied by the sound of air exploding.
Because of the speed, there was even a residual shadow.
Possibly noticing someone, the old butler stopped.
"Good morning, Winston. You're stronger than I imagined. How did you get to this level?"
"Good morning. Actually, I'm still far from it. Lady Reinhild can produce sixteen afterimages.
As for my strength, it comes from continuous training. I started martial arts at six years old, so this year marks 36 years. Subaru looks surprised—understandable. Very few normal people can reach my level even after 36 years."
"No, no, no, that's not the point. The point is, you're only 42?"
Subaru's surprise was understandable because the old man looked more like he was in his sixties or seventies.
"Yes, I looked older because I used some forbidden techniques in my youth. My only regret is not having enough life to use more forbidden techniques. I was only just starting to touch on them."
The old butler showed a rare expression of disappointment for the first time. Subaru sensed it would be better not to pursue this matter.
.
.
.
"Listen carefully, the person inside wearing the strange clothes is Lord Roswaal I mentioned yesterday. Don't be rude."
Having just finished his exercises, Subaru was abruptly brought, dressed in heavy formal wear by Ben, to the guest room.
Otto, waiting at the door, gave some hurried advice and knocked on the big door.
Upon hearing consent from inside, Otto led Subaru in.
"I am Roswaal L. Mathers. I trust you are spending your time peacefully and comfortably in this household. That is more important than anything else—Natsuki Subaru."
He was a tall man with dark blue hair nearly touching his back.
Rather than thin, he was slender, with skin that was sickly pale.
With a handsome face, he gave the impression of a gloomy and depressive young man. His eyes were heterochromatic—left yellow, right blue—further strengthening that impression.
—If not for his outrageously peculiar outfit and clown-like face makeup.
cough cough cough
"Oh, I am Natsuki Subaru, currently an apprentice steward in this mansion."
Otto's light cough brought Subaru back to attention. It wasn't that Subaru was stunned by Roswaal's appearance, but rather that he felt like a poisonous snake was staring at him, a sensation that made him momentarily dazed.
"Well, from my perspective, it's a rather humble repayment. I hope you would grace this humble residence for rest and recuperation, rather than toil away in hard work."
"You don't understand. Being able to live and work in an environment I truly like is a reward so luxurious it's unbelievable. Plus, Reinhild gave me the choice. I chose this life myself."
"If you enjoy living here, that's wonderful."
Because Reinhild was spoken of so dismissively, Subaru nearly blurted out his true feelings.
Hearing the girl's response, Subaru felt like he had been shot in the knee.
Slightly frustrated, he sat opposite Roswaal, who was next to Reinhild.
"Ah, excuse me. Shall we withdraw for now?"
"Wait, Rein-chan. There's still much about this country I don't understand, so I need your help to make judgments. Is that okay, Lord Roswaal?"
Subaru stopped Reinhild from leaving. Facing Subaru's request, Roswaal shrugged and agreed.
"Then I'll ask directly. I know Lady Emilia is a candidate for the throne, but as her supporter, what is your position? Also, why does naturally airheaded Lady Emilia act alone in the capital? Is that a common thing?"
"You—your understanding of things is incredible. Considering you both come from commoner backgrounds, do you know too much?"
"Being praised like that is an honor, but that's simply because I'm influenced by anime and light novels, making my brain accustomed to fantasy storylines."
"Hm, seems you aren't hiding anything. My title in the Lugunica Kingdom is… roughly equivalent to a border count. A nicer title would be court magician."
"Court magician… meaning a mage employed by the castle?"
"Yes. Lord Roswaal is the kingdom's most powerful mage, holding the titles of Red, Yellow, and Green."
"There are six main magic attributes: Yin, Yang, Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind. Our kingdom gives mage titles named after the magic color for those who reach the peak in one attribute.
If multiple reach the peak, only the strongest gets the title.
For example, the water magic title [Blue] is currently held by Lord Felix."
Then Reinhild spoke, perhaps noticing Subaru's confusion, and Otto further explained.
"Continuing from that, my position is to support Lady Emilia, the king candidate.
Another way to say 'support' is a fairly well-off patron.
Yesterday was the first time, I believe, that my capable assistant should have been with us. But Lady Emilia seemed distracted by a bit of curiosity? In short, she got lost."
"That sounds like a moe character excuse. Even if Lady Emilia's airheadedness is overflowing, failing to protect such an important person is your mistake, Roswaal. What do you think?"
Subaru pointed directly at Roswaal.
"That's true to some extent. The guards were inadequate. Perhaps—I should also take responsibility. But dragging this out, what exactly do you want to say?"