In Roswaal's office on the top floor of the mansion, a long couch and coffee table for receiving guests were placed in the center of the spacious room, while the master's ebony desk was situated at the far end.
Files and a quill pen were scattered on the desk, and the teacup beside them still steamed, emitting a faint aroma of tea.
"How has——Natsuki Subaru been performing these past few days? It's been four days since——that witty conversation, we should——be able to see some clues by now, right?"
Roswaal, seated in the master chair, asked in his characteristic peculiar tone, his heterochromatic eyes glinting with amusement.
"Subaru is a very ordinary but barely usable person. As a servant, he's barely qualified."
Ram stood respectfully before the desk, her pink hair glowing softly in the sunlight, her expressionless face stating this.
Today's report involved only the two of them, as the topic solely revolved around Natsuki Subaru, and Ram was responsible for instructing the new servant.
"Aha——is that so, a qualified servant——dayo～"
Roswaal was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"When he first arrived, he truly knew nothing. His cooking was a complete disaster; the dishes he made even the earth dragons wouldn't eat. However, his knife skills were surprisingly commendable, but his cleaning is still clumsy, and whenever it's time to do laundry, his gaze is always very lewd."
As she spoke the last few words, Ram's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Mhmm——living in a mansion with many girls, including this point, is a very serious matter——ne～～～"
Roswaal said, dragging out his tone meaningfully.
"Although Subaru is unsatisfactory in some areas, he is at least slightly less disappointing than expected."
As Ram recalled the bits and pieces of instructing Natsuki Subaru over the past four days, her usually perfect poker face showed a rare crack. Although the change was extremely subtle, it didn't escape Roswaal's keen eyes.
"For you to show such an expression, it's truly——rare, isn't it."
Roswaal observed Ram's reaction with great interest.
Ram's wine-red eyes flickered slightly, quickly returning to her usual cold expression:
"I am merely stating objective facts. After all, instructing a passable and motivated servant is less trouble than dealing with an utter waste."
"My~ why the sudden increase in your evaluation of——Subaru?"
Roswaal dragged out his tone, his heterochromatic eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Although at the beginning, even the most basic etiquette had to be taught three times, and he looked very clumsy..." Ram's tone remained flat, but the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed a hint of her true thoughts,
"But Subaru's memory isn't bad..."
"Oh~?"
Roswaal raised an eyebrow with great interest.
"Subaru can already accurately remember the cleaning order of all the rooms in the mansion, and even notices details that Ram herself would overlook." Ram paused for a moment, as if choosing her words,
"Teaching him... is somewhat fulfilling."
"Ram, how strict——oh."
Roswaal suppressed a laugh, took a sip from his teacup, and amidst the rising steam, their conversation continued.
"Although he is still very weak now, his learning ability and adaptability are indeed beyond ordinary people, and most importantly..." Ram paused, then continued,
"He has a strange kind of persistence."
"Persistence, huh..." Roswaal repeated meaningfully, his fingertips gently tapping the edge of the desk, "Speaking of which, has he been running in the courtyard every day recently?"
"Yes." Ram nodded slightly, her pink hair swaying gently with the movement,
"And every morning he trains autonomously. Although his movements are as clumsy as a penguin's, he is indeed improving at a visible rate."
"What an interesting person——dayo～" Roswaal's heterochromatic eyes twinkled with amusement, then his tone suddenly changed, "Then Ram, tell me the crucial question——what is the possibility of him being a spy?"
Although his tone was still frivolous, Ram could sense the seriousness in her master's words.
She pondered for a moment, her pink hair trembling slightly in the sunlight:
"It cannot be completely ruled out, but the possibility is extremely low."
"Phew——hmm, then what about his true nature?"
"Neither good nor bad..." Ram paused, a rare look of trouble on her face,
"That being said, he is far too conspicuous in the 'despicable' aspect, whether it's the means by which he joined the mansion, or his subsequent actions... Rather, Subaru himself is the biggest problem."
"Is that so——"
Hearing this evaluation, the smile on Roswaal's face grew even brighter, and that "as expected" expression made Ram frown.
"I see, I understand." The clown-dressed Roswaal clapped his hands happily, "It seems——he really is a benevolent third party, isn't he～"
Saying this, he elegantly swiveled his chair, the wooden chair emitting a "creak" sound.
His body, originally facing the desk, turned completely towards the floor-to-ceiling window, allowing the sunlight to fully envelop his exaggerated clown costume.
"How-ever, he is also an unyielding person——ne."
"I take my leave, Lord Roswaal."
Ram bowed elegantly, her black skirt tracing a perfect arc as she turned.
After Ram left, Roswaal narrowed his heterochromatic pupils, gazing through the window at the running black-haired figure in the courtyard, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, his voice almost inaudible:
"Then——let me see, Natsuki Subaru, if you can truly become——the one to correct this world, ne～"
...
...
"Hmm... Today's butler is also handsome as ever."
Because he had completed the system's hidden task, Natsuki Subaru was in a great mood. He casually adjusted the collar of his butler uniform, looking at his reflection in the window glass with a satisfied smile.
Then, he lightly stepped across the neatly trimmed lawn, heading towards a green corner in the depths of the courtyard, surrounded by several large trees.
There, the silver-haired half-elf girl was communicating with spirits with her eyes closed, her moonlight-like silver hair shimmering in the morning light, a faint halo of magical power surrounding her.
"Good morning, Emilia-tan, this must be fate's arrangement for us to meet again."
Natsuki Subaru smiled, waving his hand in greeting.
"Subaru, this is already the fourth day you've 'coincidentally' met me, and besides..." Emilia opened her purple-blue eyes, looking at Natsuki Subaru and said, "We clearly live in the same mansion."
"Is that so, so we're under the same roof..." Natsuki Subaru clasped his hands behind his head, grinning as he sat down beside Emilia, "Doesn't that mean we're like family? Being able to become family with Emilia-tan, I'm so happy."
"Eh? Family or something..." Emilia tilted her head slightly, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall, a trace of confusion flashing in her purple-blue eyes,
"I somehow feel that way of putting it is too strange..."
_____
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