Player's Journey In Anime World

"You're too naive!"

Ryou responded with a harsh tone.

"Let's not even discuss how someone who looks exactly like the Witch of Envy could manage to defeat all the other candidates and ascend to the throne. Tell me, how exactly do you plan to achieve this wish of making everyone's lives better?"

"Hey! If you bully my daughter again, I'll bite you, you know!"

Puck was baring his teeth and claws in mid-air.

Ryou shot him a cold glance.

"If you truly care about her, then be quiet. Governing a country isn't like hosting a dinner party, and wearing the crown isn't as simple as you think."

"Tch~"

Though Puck was both a powerful fighter and an adorable companion, he knew nothing about ruling a country, let alone one primarily populated by humans—creatures known for their cunning and complexity. Though visibly displeased, he set aside his pride to listen for Emilia's sake. However, he secretly resolved that if Ryou started spewing nonsense, he'd immediately give him a cat-paw punch.

Ryou turned to look at Emilia, who was at a loss for words.

"Let me ask you a more specific question. If you wish to make people's lives happier, you have to ensure their basic needs—food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—are met. Beyond that, there's healthcare, education, and more. So, what are your policies if you become queen?"

"I-I… I haven't thought about that yet..."

Guiltily, Emilia averted her gaze.

Having been rescued from the ice by Puck, she had lived in the forest ever since. Only recently, thanks to a certain manipulative jester, had she entered the royal selection with pure intentions. But she had never received an elite education, and governing even a small border territory was a daunting task for her.

"Just saying pretty words won't make people happier."

Ryou's final remark left Emilia flustered.

"I-I'm not! I didn't mean it like that!"

She wanted to argue but found herself at a loss for words. It was only at this moment that Emilia began to truly reflect. What she lacked wasn't the resolve to "do it" but the knowledge of "how to do it."

Seeing Emilia's stubborn expression, Ryou decided not to push her too hard; after all, he still needed her for the mission.

"Let's set aside national policies for now. What you currently lack is experience and knowledge, which can be gradually acquired. Having a good teacher would help as well. But the most critical issue right now is this: even if you do become queen, you won't be able to change anything."

"What?!"

"Haven't you realized it yet?"

Ryou smirked.

"The king of Lugunica Kingdom is nothing more than a powerless figurehead."

"!!!"

Emilia covered her mouth in shock.

"The real power in this country lies with the Council of Wise Men, backed by the nobility that controls the finances and the Royal Guard that commands the military. This stable triangle of power maintains Lugunica's balance. The Dragon Volcanica serves as an external stabilizing force. If this triangle becomes unsteady, the dragon intervenes to restore balance.

"And the king? Perhaps just a figurehead, a beautiful bird in a gilded cage. The loss of the king and royal family with succession rights should have led to the country's collapse, but Lugunica has remained stable—a fact that proves my point."

Having once ruled a world himself, Ryou easily saw the hidden dangers within Lugunica. His words tore at the darkness beneath the nation's surface, delivering a heavy blow to the naive Emilia. Her expression became that of a confused and helpless child.

To completely discourage her from participating in the royal selection, Ryou pressed on.

He placed his other hand on Emilia's shoulder, forcing her to look him in the eyes.

"Among the other royal candidates, the duchess has the military's support; the widow likely represents the nobility; and the merchant woman, at least, has wealth. Whoever among them is chosen will have a faction behind them and won't be a powerless puppet. But you, Emilia—who is your supporter? What faction do you have behind you?

"Is it that ridiculous court jester of a magician? Or this adorable little slacker of a pet?"

"I-I…"

Emilia instinctively wanted to argue, but she realized that her only real supporter was Roswaal, the lord of a remote border territory. As for Puck… could she rely on freezing all her opponents?

Ryou's expression became contemplative.

"Now that I think about it, you might have the highest chance of being selected. Choosing someone without a faction would make it easier for the hidden powers to control you. If I were in their shoes, I'd choose you too."

"So, it's truly unfortunate, Emilia-tan. Even if you put in all the effort to become queen, you still won't be able to achieve your wish of making the people happier."

Ryou's words struck Emilia like a sword, piercing her heart. Her violet eyes dimmed as she murmured, "How did it come to this? I just wanted everyone to be happy… How did it end up like this?"

"Hey! You've gone too far! I'm going to bite you! I swear I'm going to bite you!"

Puck bared his teeth and claws, attempting to leap at Ryou, but Semiramis trapped him with magic.

"Ryou-sama, you're being such a big meanie…"

Anastasia's voice echoed in his mind through telepathy. A bead of cold sweat appeared on Ryou's forehead. Why was she calling him out like that?

But he hadn't finished his speech. Enduring Anastasia's odd gaze, he put on the smile of a caring older brother.

"The ruling class in Lugunica is completely ossified. To fulfill your wish, you'd have to dismantle the existing system. Doing so would make you the common enemy of the Council of Wise Men, the Royal Guard, and the nobility. And with your resemblance to the Witch of Envy, the people won't stand by your side either."

"Then… what should I do?"

Emilia asked instinctively.

'Gotcha!'

Ryou thought, mentally celebrating as his expression softened.

At this moment, to the others, Ryou looked like a big, bad wolf tempting a little lamb.

"It's simple, young girl—become a magical girl (crossed out) Witch!"

Emilia was the type who couldn't keep anything hidden in her heart. One look at her face, and anyone could tell what she was thinking. On the way to the slums, she had already clearly rejected Ryou's earlier proposal. This time was no different. Even after enduring Ryou's barrage of persuasive words, when he mentioned the Witch of Envy, Satella, Emilia's eyes gradually regained their brightness. Her brow furrowed slightly, her lips moved, and it was clear she subconsciously wanted to refuse.

The toll on her psyche was evident. For someone so innately kind to be slandered as a madwoman bent on world destruction—yet still hold fast to her beliefs, despite the coldness and disdain from others—was truly admirable. Anyone with a slightly weaker resolve would likely have succumbed to the darkness by now. This was what people might call a "natural protagonist's personality."

Ryou had only seen such a rare trait in a certain golden-haired ninja who had been possessed by an evil fox.

"Don't be so quick to refuse."

Noticing the resistance in Emilia's expression, Ryou immediately cut in, temporarily dispelling her thoughts. He knew they were at a crucial moment.

With each of her refusals, Ryou's chances of persuading her would diminish. After three rejections, without external intervention, the chance would approach zero. Every refusal would strengthen her inner resolve, turning rejection into a habit. Ryou decided he had to shake her determination on this second attempt. The key was breaking down the cage in her heart—a cage built from others' cold stares, curses, and disdain.

Organizing his thoughts, Ryou continued, "Right now, all of Lugunica is like a doomed chessboard for you. What do you do when faced with a situation like this?"

His tone was that of a sly uncle, gently luring the innocent, pure-hearted Emilia.

"I should…"

Emilia's face showed a hint of confusion, thinking that the appropriate response would be to admit defeat.

Reading her thoughts, Ryou pressed further.

"Do you resign, give up your wish, and accept the prejudice others have against you?"

"I won't!"

Emilia shook her head instantly.

"Good!"

Ryou smiled, resembling a scheming wolf in disguise.

"Since you don't want to give up, yet you have no moves left, there's only one solution…"

He deliberately paused.

Just as he expected, Emilia's eyes instinctively focused, listening intently for his answer.

'Don't let that cat interrupt,' Ryou mentally instructed Semiramis.

A strange glint flickered in Semiramis's eyes, and her bright red lips curved into a lovely smile. Without a word, she moved her fingers slightly, and the magical barrier surrounding Puck immediately silenced all sound from inside and out.

"Lia! Don't listen to him!"

Puck sensed something amiss and anxiously pounded on the barrier. But unless the seal was broken and he released his true form, there was no way for him to break through Semiramis's magic.

Then, Ryou spoke, enunciating each word clearly:

"Overturn the chessboard and start everything anew—on your terms."

A thunderbolt seemed to strike in Emilia's mind. To overturn the giant chessboard of Lugunica would mean countless lives lost. Even someone as innocent as she could imagine the endless clashes of swords and rivers of blood that would follow. Her slender body trembled slightly, and her eyes revealed a trace of fear.

"I can't do that!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, you can. To break the old order, bloodshed and sacrifice are inevitable. But sacrificing a few can bring happiness to the many."

"But many innocent people would get caught up in it…"

"Innocent? In a revolution, there are no innocents! Or is this the limit of your resolve? That you're willing to abandon your ideals just because you don't want to dirty your hands?"

"I… but…"

Emilia hesitated, a look of uncertainty crossing her face. She felt that something was wrong in Ryou's argument but couldn't pinpoint it.

"Think about it. With the power of the Witch of Envy, Satella, you could overthrow the Council of Wise Men, the Royal Guard, and the nobility. You could reshape Lugunica according to your will and bring happiness to all the people. And it won't stop at Lugunica—the neighboring nations, perhaps even the entire world, would change because of you. Use fear as a tool for governance, and spread light across the world!"

Like a cult leader recruiting a new member, Ryou continued to influence Emilia, instilling the belief that with the witch's power, she could change the world and bring happiness to the people. Having once led the world's largest religion, Ryou's manipulation skills, though unofficial, were undoubtedly at an EX level.

Emilia's violet eyes wavered as her long-held beliefs began to crumble.

"But I…"

She trailed off, uncertain.

With a gentle, brotherly smile, Ryou placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Are you worried that you can't control the power of the Witch of Envy, or that you cannot rule the world? Don't worry. Power is just power—neither good nor evil. And I will always be by your side, guiding you to become a capable queen."

The hesitation in Emilia's eyes grew. Knowing that haste could lead to a backlash, Ryou decided to ease back.

"You don't need to give me an answer now. After all, this is a decision that affects the future. It might be best to think it over carefully—maybe even discuss it with Puck," he kindly suggested.

He knew his words had planted a seed in her heart. Emilia had a bit of a savior complex, carrying an extraordinary sense of responsibility. This trait gave her a steely resolve but also burdened her with unnecessary obligations. Though the welfare of the slum dwellers had nothing to do with her, Roswaal had persuaded her into the royal selection, pushing her forward unprepared. Now, likely, she was filled with visions of his grand idea—absorbing the witch's power, bringing happiness to the world, sacrificing herself for the greater good.

It was truly tragic, yet it made her all the more endearing. Ryou was beginning to understand why Subaru Natsuki, the original protagonist, risked his life repeatedly for Emilia. A girl like her was simply impossible to hate. The people of this strange world were blind to her value.

Having said all he needed, Ryou signaled for Semiramis to release Puck.

As soon as the barrier lifted, Puck flew to Emilia, spreading his paws protectively in front of her.