Ayanokouji followed Puck and Emilia and talked about Beatrice again, realizing the importance of "that person" to Beatrice.
That might be the key to turning her into a suitable tool.
But now Ayanokouji also had many questions. Who signed the contract with Beatrice?
What was the purpose of the contract?
If Beatrice could be freed after waiting for someone, then what was the content of the contract?
Guarding the forbidden library seemed meaningless.
And the identity of "that person" was uncertain...
At this moment, he had an idea in his mind. If he became that person, he might become the key to controlling Beatrice.
'Has she ever been bound to the Forbidden Library?' Ayanokouji raised his head and his eyes focused on Roswaal's house.
In a certain sense, Beatrice's situation was somewhat similar to his.
He had been confined by his father in the White Room since he was a child, undergoing various experiments to exterminate human nature.
Beatrice was bound by a contract and "imprisoned" in the Forbidden Library.
A white bird fluttered and flew in front of Ayanokouji, bringing his thoughts back to the real world. Only then did he realize that he was a bit distracted.
"...By the way, Ayanokouji, would you like to go to the village with me this afternoon?" Emilia asked, "The village is undergoing reconstruction, and I will help a bit. Rom, Ram, and Meili will also follow."
"Yes." Ayanokouji nodded.
If Emilia helped the villagers rebuild, her image in the villagers' hearts could be further enhanced.
And this afternoon, Ayanokouji also had an appointment with Petelgeuse.
"Emilia-sama, Ayanokouji-sama!"
Rem brought a basket and quickly approached with a smile on her face.
Ayanokouji could feel that Rem's smile came from the heart. The previous hostility towards him had disappeared. It seemed that his desperate steps to protect the children yesterday had successfully achieved their goal, and he would be able to establish a foothold in Emilia's camp.
However, he noticed that Ram seemed to be absent this morning.
"These are some snacks I prepared! Eat them while they are hot!"
Rem took the food out of the basket and distributed it to everyone, especially giving an extra piece of sweet potato to Ayanokouji.
She lifted her head, a bright smile appeared on her beautiful face, and her blue eyes looked at the paralyzed man in front of her.
"Thank you." Ayanokouji nodded, and his eyes met Rem's.
The scene changed, it was already afternoon, bright sunlight descended and fell to the ground.
Ayanokouji took Meili's hand and went to the village with the others.
Under the attack of the Demon Beast yesterday, almost half of the entire village had been destroyed. Now these ruins had not yet been completely cleared.
"It's really scary... This village is so damaged, it's terrifying..."
Felt looked at the half-ruined village and couldn't help but purse her lips.
Emilia, Rem, and the others were able to withstand such a fierce attack.
'About ten people died.' Ayanokouji thought in his heart.
However, he realized that the number of villagers in the village was much fewer now. Because the village was destroyed, many people lost their homes.
He thought that Roswaal should have set up temporary housing for them, but he did not see any along the way. It seemed that the missing villagers must have been relocated elsewhere.
Ayanokouji had seen the map of Roswaal's Territory before. Except for the village with the mansion, Roswaal's Territory was basically all forest, and there was no place that could provide housing for people.
"Emilia, do you know where those people went?" He turned and asked, "They shouldn't have a place to live now."
"Last night, Roswaal-sama and Onee-sama took the villagers whose homes were destroyed to the Sanctuary. Let them stay there for a while, and then return after the village is rebuilt." Rem explained.
"Sanctuary?" Ayanokouji asked.
"It's equivalent to a secret base in Roswaal's territory." Emilia said slowly, "But I don't know the specific location."
"Does Emilia not know either?" Ayanokouji frowned.
It seemed that although Roswaal was Emilia's supporter on the surface, he still had doubts in reality.
Combined with all the previous abnormal behaviors, Ayanokouji felt that Roswaal's behavior was somewhat strange, and even felt that the other party did not want to support Emilia at all.
This person must have an agenda, but anyway, what is he planning? Ayanokouji has not yet figured it out, but there is no doubt that this further proves that Roswaal cannot be trusted.
Emilia and the others soon began the reconstruction work with the other villagers. Ayanokouji realized that the hostility towards Emilia among the villagers had weakened. This was all part of his plan for the village and entering the forest.
Others were busy with reconstruction work, and now they had great faith in Ayanokouji, so they would not pay as much attention to his whereabouts as before.
The two passed through the barrier reset by Roswaal. Meili whistled, and a large Demon Beast rushed out of the forest.
"Let's go, Brother Ayanokouji!"
Meili grabbed his hand, leaped onto the Demon Beast together, and headed towards the Witch Cult's secret stronghold.
The speed of the Demon Beast was much faster than that of ordinary humans, and it could move freely in the complex forest environment. This was something that no other means of transportation could do.
In less than ten minutes, Ayanokouji and Meili had arrived at the destination, while Petelgeuse had already arrived at the agreed location.
"My friend, Sir Ayanokouji, you are finally here, you are finally here! You and I can be loved by her!"
Petelgeuse's face bloomed when he saw Ayanokouji, as if seeing a close friend.
Meili still hated Petelgeuse in front of her and hid behind Ayanokouji again.
"How are the preparations for the trial?" Ayanokouji asked.
"I not only brought ten fingers, but also more than a hundred witch cultists who have the same desire as me! And a sufficient amount of fire magic stones!" Petelgeuse said excitedly, his eyes full of hope.
"I can't wait, I can't wait to start the trial! Ah, Sir Ayanokouji! My friend! When can we start the trial!"
Ayanokouji narrowed his eyes slightly.
There were more members of the Witch Cult than he expected, and the other party also brought fire magic stones. He had heard that these were stones that could be used as explosives and were highly destructive. This was enough to show that these witch cultists were very dangerous.
Ayanokouji then began talking to Petelgeuse and learned from him about the Witch Cult's layout and the fire magic stones, but he also knew that among the Witch Cult, the most threatening thing was not the ordinary believers or the fire stones, but whether there were other Sin Archbishops on this journey.
If there were other members of the Witch Cult who had infiltrated Roswaal's territory this time and had the same strange abilities as Petelgeuse, it would be troublesome.
Ayanokouji continued to ask, "This trial might require more manpower. Has any other Sin Archbishop come?"
"Those people... those people!!!"
Petelgeuse stretched out his hands to tear his face, as if to vent his anger, "They are not worthy to participate in this trial! They are not worthy to be with us! Those people are lazy, lazy, lazy!"
He had an expression of anger and hatred on his face, and he continued to curse the other Sin Archbishops, especially the Sin Archbishop of Lust, all of which were caught in Ayanokouji's eyes.
'Are the Sin Archbishops of the Witch Cult not united? But at least it shows that no other Sin Archbishop will participate in this operation, and that's a good thing.'
Ayanokouji thought in his heart, and listed the names of the Sin Archbishops mentioned by Petelgeuse.
"Sir Ayanokouji! When can we start the trial, when can we start the trial! I, I, I, I can't wait to undergo the trial! My brain is trembling!"
Petelgeuse was full of excitement.
"Then let's decide the day after tomorrow." Ayanokouji said with a smile, "Then, I will contact you, please step aside for now."
"Good, good, good! Sir Ayanokouji is too diligent, too diligent! I feel ashamed, I am too lazy, too lazy!" Said Petelgeuse, then disappeared into the darkness.
Ayanokouji now had enough information. Petelgeuse was now a grasshopper in his hand. He could eliminate them completely and secretly. However, in this case, Petelgeuse could not be fully utilized.
Ayanokouji knew that Petelgeuse was the most notorious among the Witch Cult and was wanted by the kingdom. If he could be killed, it would definitely be an achievement that could shock the entire country.
If he gave this achievement to Emilia, it might give her a certain advantage among the throne candidates.
But now Emilia and the others didn't know that members of the Witch Cult had infiltrated their territory. If he directly stated that the Witch Cult existed, it would be a bit unusual, so Ayanokouji needed support from others.
There was someone suitable to speak on this matter—such as Elsa.
To others, Elsa had been sent by him to investigate something, so it would be most appropriate for her to reveal the truth about the existence of the Witch Cult.
"After eavesdropping for a long time, it's time to come out." Ayanokouji turned slightly and spoke to the trees behind him.
"As expected of Master, did you notice me?"
Elsa slowly emerged from the other side of the forest. Only Ayanokouji had been aware of her presence from the start.
"Elsa!"
Upon seeing her, Meili threw herself into Elsa's embrace.
While Elsa gently stroked Meili's hair, she raised her head and directed her gaze at Ayanokouji.
She always smiled as if she had seen her prey: "Are you going to do it the day after tomorrow? I can't wait any longer."
After she finished speaking, her tongue slowly passed through the gap between her lips.
"Yes." Ayanokouji nodded, then took a small object from his pocket and handed it to Elsa.
"What's this?"
Elsa took what was given to her, with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"This is my magical weapon." Ayanokouji said slowly.
What he handed to Elsa was the cellphone he brought when he traveled to this world. Since he had previously learned that there was no signal for cellphones in this world, he had turned off the phone, so it still had plenty of battery life.
"It has the ability to record real-life scenes. Now I'll teach you how to use it, and then you'll act according to my plan..."
Ayanokouji slowly explained his plan to Elsa.
"So there is such a magical weapon? I understand." A meaningful smile appeared on Elsa's face.
"See you tonight."
Ayanokouji and Meili mounted the Demon Beast and quickly returned to the village, while Elsa ran in the opposite direction.