Ayanokouji exited the basement, but his heart was full of concern.
Elsa had an abnormal self-healing ability and often tried to engage him in verbal sparring initially. Although her thoughts were almost entirely captured by him, at that time, Elsa was thinking about how to escape.
And just now, after learning that Meili might have had an accident, Ayanokouji could feel that Elsa seemed to have a self-destructive tendency.
Was it because of Meili's death? Or because of her own character?
He did not know as he struggled to understand the relationship between Elsa and Meili. He believed that this relationship was what led to their deaths.
The sibling love between Rem and Ram, and similar emotions between Elsa and Meili, were truly incomprehensible.
'Is such a thing really logical?'
While Ayanokouji was deep in thought, Emilia quickly ran up behind him and asked with a slight worry, "Ayanokouji, how is Elsa?"
"She's been taken care of." Ayanokouji said very calmly.
He omitted the various methods he used to try to kill Elsa. Saying it like that would be too overwhelming for Emilia, so he answered lightly.
"Mhm..."
Emilia nodded, pursing her lips, a bit of doubt in her eyes. Although Elsa once tried to kill her, and Meili killed Rem, they indeed deserved to die, but thinking of Meili as just a 12-year-old girl made her uncomfortable.
"I didn't expect... they would treat children as killers..."
"There is no other way. Because their positions are different, they were destined to be enemies."
Seeing the hesitation on Emilia's face, Ayanokouji said slowly to her, "As a candidate for the throne, you certainly cannot show mercy to your enemies."
After a deliberate pause, he continued, "Once you ascend the throne, you will have the power to change everything, so you must take steps to reach the throne now."
"Yes."
The doubt in Emilia's eyes gradually turned into a bit of determination.
"I have something to tell Roswaal now, let's do it together."
"OK!"
The camera switched, Ayanokouji and Emilia had arrived in Roswaal's room.
"What do you want to see me for, Ayanokouji-sama?"
Roswaal's tone was very strange, as if he were performing a bizarre opera, and his heterochromatic pupils seemed full of peculiar thoughts.
Ayanokouji did not trust him now.
There were too many things about him that could not be clearly explained. He needed to secretly investigate Roswaal's true purpose. Perhaps Roswaal did not fully trust him now, but he did not show such thoughts, and no emotions appeared on his face.
At least now in terms of attitude, he and Roswaal were in the same camp for the time being.
Ayanokouji then told him about the footprints he found in the forest.
After Roswaal heard this, he frowned slightly.
"Ten people... I don't know who they are? Given the likelihood of murder. The organization has been ruled out, could they be spies from another country or members of the Witch Cult?"
Listening to their conversation, a bit of worry appeared on Emilia's face.
"Witch Cult?"
Ayanokouji remembered that he had heard the term Witch Cult from Beatrice before, and it seemed to be related to the 'witch's scent' on his body.
"What is the Witch Cult?"
"It's a cult that the world considers to worship the Witch of Envy." Roswaal said, while his eyes were always focused on him.
"Is this a crazy organization..." Ayanokouji extended his hand and rubbed his chin, "It seems the forest needs to be carefully searched."
"If Ayanokouji-sama wants to investigate the Witch Cult, then you can ask Ram to accompany you. Regarding the Witch Cult, Ayanokouji-sama can also ask her. She also has a very deep understanding of this. Besides, with Ram accompanying you, you can also be safer."
When Roswaal mentioned Ram's name, a meaningful smile appeared on his face.
"Let me go too!" Emilia wanted to offer a little help.
Ayanokouji looked at her and nodded.
One more person could increase the efficiency of the investigation, and with Puck's presence, if a special situation occurred, it would be easier to handle it.
"Yes." Ayanokouji nodded.
The scene changed, Ayanokouji, Emilia, and Ram had entered the forest, searching for clues about the unknown group. At the same time, Ayanokouji also asked Ram about the Witch Cult.
After hearing the term Witch Cult, he clearly saw Ram's face darken instantly, biting her lip tightly, and anger flared in her eyes.
"Ram and Rem's hometown was destroyed by the Witch Cult... They also..."
As Ram spoke, Ayanokouji couldn't help but move his hand as he watched her.
Ram introduced the Witch Cult. Although the information was limited, he understood that the Witch Cult was a very dangerous existence.
After he listened, he nodded slightly. No wonder Rem hated it so much.
But at the same time, some problems arose in his mind, namely the so-called 'witch's scent' on his body. It was precisely because of this that he was regarded as a member of the Witch Cult by Rem.
What exactly is this lingering scent?
Does he have a relationship with the Witch Cult?
What is his relationship with the so-called witch?
Why does he have the lingering witch's scent on his body?
And in Roswaal's mansion, it seemed that only Rem and Beatrice could smell the lingering witch's scent, and no one else could smell it. So can people from the Witch Cult smell it?
Ayanokouji himself was not sure whether the owner of these footprints was from the Witch Cult, but anyway, he had to be prepared for battle.
According to the information provided by Ram, it was clear that the Witch Cult was not good people, their behavior was unpredictable, and very dangerous. Of course, Ayanokouji could not let such a situation happen in his territory.
But now he only knew about the existence of the Witch Cult and their madness. He did not know enough other information. It was still unclear what kind of power they had. If they were all monsters equivalent to Elsa, it would be a bit complicated.
From the current point of view, they seemed to have the ability to move instantly, which made their search much more difficult.
He had to get enough information.
"Ram, please use your clairvoyance to observe the surroundings." Ayanokouji accelerated the search.
"Yes."
Ram nodded, then closed her eyes and slightly raised her head, seeing the animals around her with wavelengths similar to hers.
Now she could use the animals around her to get a view nearby – but at this moment, in her field of vision, there were many black shadows moving, and countless flashes of light passing by.
"Danger!" Ram shouted.
Ayanokouji also noticed with his vision around him many metallic flashes passing in the distance – they were hidden weapons!
He reacted quickly and immediately retreated. Puck also heard Ram's warning and created countless ice beams in front of everyone, blocking all the countless flying knives.
Each sharp blade penetrated the ice several meters thick, and cracks spread like a spider's web.
This made Ayanokouji realize that his opponent had very terrifying strength, which was certainly beyond the reach of humans.
And at this moment, he noticed that these hidden weapons and flying knives seemed to be launched towards Ram and Emilia, and did not seem to attack him.
"What?"
Emilia finally recovered at this moment. If it were not for Ram's warning and Puck's defense, she might have been killed in this sudden attack.
"How dare you attack my daughter? You are so bold..."
The originally cute face of Puck also looked fierce. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and directed his gaze towards the shadows in the surrounding forest.
Ten ghostly figures jumped out of the shadows and suddenly appeared in front of Ayanokouji and the others.
They wore dark purple and even black robes, their faces hidden behind large masks, and their forms were full of religious connotations. Under the hoods, they held sharp knives in their hands, the same type of weapon that penetrated the ice wall.
"Bastards of the Witch Cult!"
Seeing the ten uninvited guests in front of her, Ram's expression became fierce, and the anger in her eyes blazed even more.
In the past, her hometown and Rem's were raided by the Witch Cult. In the end, only the two of them survived, and Ram's Oni horn was also cut off in that battle, greatly reducing her power. Only after being rescued by Roswaal was she safe.
In almost ten years since she came to Roswaal's mansion, Ram thought about avenging the Witch Cult every day, and wanted to personally avenge the murder of her kin.
And she was very clear that the people standing in front of her now were members of the Witch Cult!
After seeing her opponent, Ram launched an attack almost without hesitation. With a wave of her hand, a cold wind emerged from thin air. It was like an invisible sharp blade, able to easily cut through everything in its path.
However, these Witch Cult members were very skilled and easily dodged Ram's attack.
"Ram, let me help you!"
Emilia also raised her hand.
Although she had never met the Witch Cult before, she had also heard about their madness and cruelty, destroying cities and killing people almost without reason, and Emilia also knew what happened to Ram in the past.
And at that moment, a strange voice came from within the forest.
"You have received so much love, so much love! You are truly loved by them! And you are so diligent. Did you bring the vessel here? You are so diligent, you are so diligent! I am ashamed! I am ashamed! I must be more diligent and more diligent to respond to the Witch's love!"
The unpleasant scream was so sharp it sounded like a bird being strangled. His words were full of insane madness.
Ayanokouji turned and directed his gaze toward the source of the voice.
It was a body so thin it was almost sickly. His pale skin was like a corpse, without a trace of life. Two red eyes were open wide as if they could pop out of their sockets at any moment.
Although this person maintained a human form, why was there no rationality of a human left in his body?
"Who are you?! State your name."
Countless ice shards appeared in the air around Emilia's body, and she aimed them at the enemy.
Even though it was the first time they had met, she could feel that the person in front of her gave her a very familiar feeling.
However, the appearance and actions of the unknown man made her feel a bit uncomfortable. There was no doubt that the man in front of her was clearly not a friend.
"Sorry, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself."
The man's face formed a smile that could be called frightening, "I am Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, Sin Archbishop of Sloth from the Witch's Cult."