Chapter 8:

Inside her private chamber, Emilia sat by the window, a gentle breeze brushing through her silver hair as she pondered deeply.

"Hmmm… what can I do to make the citizens vote for me, Puck?" she asked, turning toward the small, floating cat-like spirit beside her.

Puck tilted his head, his tail curling in thought. "That's a tough one, Lia. How about asking Subaru? He's better at talking to people. I'm sure he could come up with something charming."

Emilia giggled softly. "I will ask him later… but right now, I want to hear your thoughts, Puck."

"Oh? My thoughts, huh?" Puck crossed his tiny arms, pretending to think deeply. "Hmmmmm…"

Before he could finish, the door creaked open behind them.

A soft hum filled the room. Then—blocking the light from the doorway—a massive curved horn came into view.

Puck froze. "Oh…" he muttered quietly before darting behind Emilia's shoulder like a startled cat.

"Ah, Mom—you're here," Emilia said, smiling as she turned to the tall figure entering the room.

"Yes," Tiamat replied, her voice calm and warm. "I wanted to see my sweet child."

She moved forward gracefully, lowering herself to embrace Emilia's head against her chest.

From the outside, it looked less like a mother embracing her daughter and more like a small girl clinging to her big sister. Puck thought exactly that—but wisely decided to keep it to himself. He wasn't ready to be banished to another dimension by this "monster goddess."

Emilia smiled, resting her cheek against Tiamat's soft, warm skin. "By the way, Mom… what do you think would make people like me more?"

"Be yourself," Tiamat replied simply, stroking her daughter's hair.

Emilia blinked. "But… my identity. The people—"

Tiamat interrupted her gently, her voice low but firm. "It doesn't matter. A certain golden-haired king once said 'A good ruler should never be swayed by the voices around them. They must hold to their own belief, so their people can truly respect them.''"

Emilia's amethyst eyes shimmered with admiration. "That person must have been very wise… Thank you, Mom. I think I understand now."

Tiamat smiled softly and nodded. Of course, that wasn't exactly what Gilgamesh had said.

The true quote was far less… appropriate for her daughter's ears.She could still remember his booming voice echoing across the golden halls.

"What is a king without an ego?!"

No, that part she would leave out. The last thing she wanted was for Emilia to start walking around like that half-naked tyrant, declaring herself divine.

Elsewhere, in Chaldea Base…

A sudden, loud "ACHOO!" echoed through the marble corridors.

Gilgamesh straightened from his sit, nostrils flaring. "Hmph. Someone dares to speak of this king?"

Across from him, Enkidu tilted his head, concern flickering in his calm, green eyes. "Gil… what's the matter now?"

Gilgamesh huffed, folding his arms. "Nothing. Merely the universe acknowledging my glory once again."

"Right…" Enkidu murmured, unconvinced.

Before he could respond, a sudden burst of orange energy interrupted them. A cheerful voice called out.

"What are you two playing?"

Both heroic spirit turned to see a girl standing between them her bright orange hair messy, her expression was curious.

"Ritsuka Fujimaru," Enkidu greeted politely.

Or, as the fandom preferred to call her—Gudako.

A creature of pure chaos. A gambler of cosmic proportions. A girl who had once turn Beast I Goetia into a Mecha and pilot it for "fun."

Though legends exaggerated her deeds, one truth remained: she was the final Master of Chaldea—the last hope of humanity.

"Playing?" Gilgamesh snorted, smirking. "Hmph. This king does not 'play.' I merely observed the weakness of man."

Ritsuka blinked. "Oh. So… Monopoly again?"

For a brief moment, even the King of Heroes fell silent.

Enkidu smiled faintly. "She's not entirely wrong, Gil."

"Silence, Enkidu," Gilgamesh muttered, clearly offended yet somehow amused.

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"WHAT?!" Subaru's voice echoed through the library, startling a few dust motes from their quiet slumber.

"Quiet down, I suppose," Beatrice muttered, looking up from her book with visible irritation.

Subaru scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Ahem, my bad… but seriously, who wouldn't freak out when someone just tells them they were about to die!?"

Beatrice sighed, flipping another page. "You're fine now. Beatrice has already removed the curse, I suppose." Her tone was casual, as though she were discussing the weather rather than a near-death experience.

"Still, how did I even get cursed in the first place? Did I accidentally offend someone's grandmother or what?" Subaru asked, half in panic, half in disbelief.

"Don't ask me. Beatrice doesn't know, kashira," she replied, shrugging nonchalantly and returning her attention to the tome in her hands.

Subaru crossed his arms, thinking hard. "Okay, okay… who was the last person that touched me before Madam Tiamat told me to come see you?"

Beatrice didn't even look up this time. "Why don't you try remembering?"

"Wait…" Subaru's expression froze as fragments of memory clicked into place the dog… the bite.

"Beatrice, where exactly was the curse mark you removed from me?"

"On your hand, I suppose."

Subaru's eyes widened in realization. "That dog…!" His stomach dropped. "Those kids are still with it—!"

Before Beatrice could respond, he bolted toward the exit. Thud! The heavy door slammed behind him, leaving the library in a stunned silence.

Beatrice blinked once, then sighed. "Why the rush, I suppose…" she murmured, watching the door as though expecting it to explain itself.

A moment later, it swung open again."Oh—by the way, thanks, Beatrice!" Subaru shouted before vanishing once more.

This time, Beatrice simply stared at the door for a few seconds before closing her book with a soft snap."…That idiot." She hopped down from her chair, her small steps echoing softly through the empty library. Then, a faint smile tugged at her lips.

"Well, the job's done. Let's go see Mama Tiamat, I suppose."

With that, she floated out of the room.

A few moments later, Beatrice stood before Emilia's room.She had followed the gentle pulse of mana radiating from Tiamat, tracing it through the mansion's halls until it led her here.

The door creaked open softly.

Inside, the first thing she saw made her blink in surprise—Emilia, fast asleep, her head resting on Tiamat's lap while the goddess quietly hummed a lullaby. The soft, melodic tune filled the air, tender and ancient, like something carried from another age.

Tiamat turned her head slightly, her expression serene. "Beatrice is here too? Come, my child," she said, patting the open space beside her. "You should rest as well."

Beatrice hesitated only for a moment before nodding. "Okay…" she murmured, her voice small. She walked over and lay down on Tiamat's other leg, feeling a gentle warmth spread through her body as soon as her head rested there.

Emilia's steady breathing was soft and peaceful beside her, the sound soothing enough to make Beatrice's eyelids droop.

Tiamat began humming again. The melody wrapped around them like a lullaby from the stars.

"Yawn…" Beatrice's small mouth parted as she tried, and failed, to stifle her yawn.

"Rest well, my child," Tiamat whispered, brushing a few golden strands of hair from Beatrice's face.

"Good night, Mama Tiamat…" Beatrice murmured drowsily before succumbing to sleep, her tiny hands curling against Tiamat's robes.

Puck, who had been pretending to stay invisible beside Emilia, was already snoring softly on a nearby pillow.

Tiamat smiled faintly and continued humming, her fingers running gently through both girls' hair. Her gaze drifted toward the moonlit window.

Outside, she caught sight of Subaru, Rem, and Ram heading toward the village. A thoughtful hum replaced her melody. So, it begins again, she mused.

Her pupils briefly narrowed into reptilian slits as she peered far beyond the forest's edge—past the village, past the night itself. She could feel the faint, lingering malice of the Witch Beast she had once frightened off. It was still out there, circling its prey.

"…I see." She exhaled softly, eyes glowing faintly before returning to normal.

Tiamat's hand stilled for a moment as she whispered to herself, "I hope you make good use of the blessing I gave you, my dear Subaru."

Meanwhile, far from the Roswaal mansion…

Subaru ran as fast as his legs could carry him, the cool night air burning in his lungs. Rem was already far ahead, her light-blue hair like a ribbon in the distance.

"Rem! Wait for me!" Subaru shouted between gasps.

Rem glanced back, her pace slowing slightly—not for Subaru, but to keep in rhythm with her sister, who was catching up from behind.

A hand suddenly grabbed Subaru by the collar, yanking him off-balance.He yelped. "Whoa—hey! Easy!"

Ram held him effortlessly, her expression flat as ever. "You give a grand heroic speech about saving the village, Barusu, and yet you're already out of breath before we've even arrived. Truly disappointing."

"I—I'm trying my best here! Also, it's Subaru! Not Barusu!" he protested weakly, his legs flailing as Ram carried him like a sack of potatoes.

Ram's face didn't change. "You're being carried like baggage. You lose the right to complain."

"Guh—!" Subaru clutched his chest dramatically, as if her words had pierced his soul.

"As expected of Nee-sama," Rem said approvingly, glancing over her shoulder.

Ram nodded with quiet pride.

"Hey, I'm still here, you know!" Subaru shouted, hanging helplessly between them.

"That's the point," Ram replied dryly.

Subaru groaned. "Can't you two be just a little kinder to me?"

"heh"

Ram merely smirked, the faintest curl of amusement tugging at her lips.

"Wait—was that a smirk?! You did smirk!" Subaru gasped.

Neither sister answered. They continued running toward the village, ignoring his complaints as easily as they carried him.

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(A/n: a bit short i don't know why...... when i taking shower/bath a lot of idea pop up but when i sit in front my laptop it suddenly vanish... it take longer than i though to write this whole chapter even if it only 1.6k)