"Since we can't win no matter how we play the game, why not just flip the board and make the rules ourselves?"
Ryou smiled slightly, revealing a set of perfect teeth.
To others, however, his expression radiated killing intent, as if he were a monster ready to devour someone.
"What do you want to do?"
Echidna's eyes sparkled with excitement. She realized that following her instincts and aligning with Ryou was the best decision she had ever made. He was like a vast library—every time she opened a door, thinking she had reached its limits, she would find it was only the first floor.
Echidna loved the constant surprise and novelty he brought. To satisfy her thirst for knowledge, she would give up more than just her chastity—she would be willing to sacrifice anything, even her very soul, for a lifetime. That was the kind of woman she was.
With an icy smile, Ryou uttered two words coldly:
"Slay the dragon. Slay the Sword Saint."
The dragon was the guardian deity of the Kingdom of Lugunica.
The saint was none other than Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint.
In an instant, the air in the study seemed to freeze.
"Ha! Did I hear you wrong? Forget where you got the confidence to mess with that overgrown lizard—are you seriously saying you want to kill him? Either my ears are broken, or your brain got caught in a door!"
Puck, having just freed himself from Anastasia's ice, couldn't help but ridicule Ryou after hearing his outrageous words.
Behind Puck's scornful tone, however, lay a deep fear of Reinhard, the man known as the Sword Saint.
Ryou glanced at Puck. Of course, he knew Reinhard's strength. In one timeline of the original story, Reinhard had defeated an enraged, fully powered Puck with just two sword strikes.
Puck might rank among the top five strongest beings in this world, but Reinhard and Satella were tied for first, their strength almost equally matched. Though it might seem they were on the same level, the gap between them and the rest of the world was as vast as heaven and earth.
As the strongest man and woman in the world, Reinhard and Satella existed on an entirely different plane.
It was like scoring 100 on a test—others could only ever achieve 100, but Reinhard and Satella could have scored higher if the test allowed.
With the world itself backing him, Reinhard could receive blessings at any time, making him virtually invincible in some sense.
If not for his high moral character and refusal to abuse his power, there would be no need for a royal selection. Whoever Reinhard chose would instantly become king.
Reinhard possessed supreme power yet maintained a noble character, restraining himself and never using his strength to oppress others.
He was rigorous, honest, incorruptible, brave, and courteous.
In many ways, Reinhard was more of a knight than even Lancelot.
At least with Reinhard as your knight, you wouldn't have to worry about betrayal.
Ryou admired Reinhard.
If he had such overwhelming power, he would never endure any grievances. He would never let himself suffer even the slightest injustice.
But for the sake of the kingdom, Reinhard could.
He truly deserved the title of Knight of Knights.
However, for that very reason, Ryou couldn't let him live.
Unlocking the Witch's Core was one reason.
But more importantly, Reinhard's unwavering sense of justice would inevitably place him on the opposing side.
After all, Ryou planned to destroy the royal selection and flip the entire board.
As the kingdom's protector, Reinhard would undoubtedly obstruct those plans.
Ryou couldn't afford to be constantly watched by the world's favored son.
So, he had to strike first and eliminate Reinhard.
As for Lugunica's symbol—the Divine Dragon? That was just a side task.
With Ryou setting the tone, Semiramis, Anastasia, and Echidna all fell in line, and the group quickly began discussing the specifics of their plan.
Only Emilia seemed conflicted.
Watching everyone grow more and more enthusiastic, she finally couldn't hold back.
"Um, isn't it wrong to kill the Divine Dragon and Sir Reinhard just because of what might happen?"
Her expression was filled with unease, as if Ryou had handed her a knife and asked her to stab Reinhard herself.
The room went silent.
Ryoug paused before speaking.
"I don't expect you to adapt to this right away. In fact, with your personality, you might never be able to adapt.
But every crown, though shiny and beautiful, is forged in blood.
To wear the crown, one must bear its weight.
That's not just a saying. The weight of the lives it carries is far beyond your imagination.
Without that resolve, don't even think about becoming the Witch Queen—let alone a puppet queen of Lugunica."
Ryou's blunt words left Emilia feeling deeply dejected.
She had thought her recent efforts to learn and grow had shown progress, but it seemed she was still as naïve as ever in her Sensei's eyes.
"Hey! Stop bullying my girl!"
The overprotective Puck tried to jump on Ryou in a rage but was swiftly frozen again by Anastasia. This time, she not only immobilized him but also flung the ice block out the window with a casual flick.
After Ryou's lecture, Emilia began doubting whether she was truly fit to be a ruler. Just then, she felt a warmth on her head—Ryou was patting her.
"But staining your hands with blood doesn't suit you. Leave that to me. You just need to become the wise ruler in people's hearts—someone with the power of the strongest witch yet remains kind and benevolent."
Emilia looked up at him, her violet eyes rippling with emotion. Ryou's declaration, that he would bear the burdens for her, touched Emilia deeply. She had grown used to scorn, coldness, rejection, and insults. For the first time, she felt a sense of warmth and protection.
But how could she let him carry all this alone? These tasks were incredibly dangerous as well.
Though she wanted to voice her concerns, the words never left her lips. It was as if Ryou had read her mind, for he spoke first.
"Don't overthink it. These things must be done, so let me do them."
His tone left no room for argument. Emilia obediently nodded, as if awaiting his orders.
With the plan in place, the Roswaal mansion became a hub of activity. The strategy wasn't as simple as defeating the Divine Dragon and the Sword Saint. To flip the board and compel the Council of Wise Men to acknowledge Emilia as queen was no easy task.
If it were, Reinhard, the world's strongest man, would already hold the throne. Even Satella, who devoured half the world and inspired unparalleled fear, had been hunted down.
Ryou didn't want Emilia to become a destroyer; he wanted her to rule the world. Building was far harder than destroying. It's like the real world—launching a few nukes could destroy Earth in moments, but it took humanity millennia to build it into what it is today.
To make Emilia a ruler, power alone wasn't enough. Governance required a balance of fear and favor—a concept Ryou with master strategist life skills, understood well.
Having once ruled as a god-like religious leader in Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Ryou had experience. However, elevating someone else to power was a new challenge, one he was eager to undertake. Fortunately, the world of Re/Zero offered higher energy levels and an extraordinary ceiling for strength, giving him ample room to maneuver.
His prior success in Kabaneri had provided valuable insights. By elevating Emilia to a near-divine position, they could bypass the petty games of cunning politicians. After all, Ryou knew he couldn't outmaneuver those who had spent decades mastering political intrigue.
As the saying goes, "Drag your opponent to your level, then beat them with superior experience."
...
Time passed quickly. Just as Emilia's camp was deep in preparation, a messenger from the royal capital arrived, announcing that the royal selection would begin soon.
Without Roswaal's support, the upper echelons of Lugunica had dismissed Emilia's camp as a contender. The messenger didn't bother hiding his disdain.
Pulling out a handkerchief, he waved it dramatically in front of his nose, muttering loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Typical countryside stench!"
Rem's brow twitched with anger. Puck, hiding in Emilia's hair, nearly transformed into a raging beast. Only Emilia's firm grip kept him from launching at the messenger.
Oblivious to his near-death experience, the messenger smirked.
"Lady Emilia, the Council of Wise Men has summoned you to the Hall of Governance in the royal capital. The selection will begin in five days. If you are late, your qualification will be revoked immediately. That is all."
The man's sneer and aristocratic goatee added to his arrogance. To him, a half-elf competing for the throne was a joke. The Divine Dragon must have been half-asleep when it chose her.
But Emilia's expression remained serene. She smiled gently.
"Thank you for coming all this way. You must be tired. Would you like to come inside for coffee and rest a while?"
The messenger faltered, as though his punch had landed on a pillow. Internally wounded, he scoffed.
"Hmph! No need. I'm far too busy to waste time in the countryside!"
Turning on his heel, he stormed off. As his dragon carriage pulled away, he muttered, "A half-elf as Queen of Lugnica? Laughable! Even if every other candidate died, it still wouldn't be her turn."
Puck squirmed, furious.
"Lia, why did you stop me?! I was going to tear that guy's mouth off!"
Rem frowned.
"Lady Emilia, that messenger was far too rude!"
Emilia smiled bitterly.
"And what good would confronting him do? It would only give our opponents more excuses to trouble us."
Rem blinked, surprised. Emilia had always seemed innocent and naïve. But now, she appeared composed, even mature.
"You're right, Emilia," Ryou's voice rang out.
"It seems my and Semiramis' efforts to tutor you haven't been wasted. No need to bother with clowns like that. If a dog bites you, do you need to bite back? Just stay true to your heart."
His analogy lightened the mood, drawing a laugh from Emilia.