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Puck didn't dare guarantee whether even his true form, the Beast of the End coming in person, could defeat Kenma.

This kind of oppressive feeling was something he had only ever seen in three "people".

One was the current Darling of the World, the kingdom's Sword Saint with countless Divine Protections, Reinhard.

One was the terrifying Satella, the Witch of Envy, who had once destroyed half the world and was eventually sealed by the joint efforts of the Three Heroes.

The last one was the pinnacle of swordsmanship, Reid.

Yet now, he sensed this kind of power on Kenma.

With the passage of time, his memories of things in the past were no longer that profound. But he still clearly remembered that Reid's aura seemed to be even lower than Kenma's.

In other words, Kenma was already a terrifying entity in the world's top three, even surpassing the first Sword Saint Reid in his prime.

Just as Puck was pondering, Emilia gazed at the weeping Ram, ultimately letting her vent her emotions.

She walked aside alone, her fingers touching the pendant on her chest as if she had made a major resolution, and finally spoke, "Puck, let's go back to the Great Forest. I don't want to participate in the royal selection anymore."

Puck was so startled by this sentence that he floated right out of the emerald, hovering in front of Emilia.

"Eh! Why did you suddenly make such a decision?"

Emilia lowered her head, her gaze obscure. "The other four royal selection camps are all more powerful than me, especially Natsuki Subaru. I can't see any hope of success in the royal selection."

"Most importantly, Roswaal and Rem have passed away. These disasters might all have been brought by me, I can't stay here any longer. Ram still has Beatrice by her side, and I miss everyone."

Hearing this, Puck was stunned for a moment, his eyes revealing a look of heartache.

He floated above Emilia and patted her head. "I unconditionally support any decision Lia makes. Let's go home."

From this moment on, the five royal selection camps were reduced to four.

A major upheaval occurred in Emilia's camp: her supporter, Margrave Roswaal, died, and the candidate herself, Emilia, announced her withdrawal from the royal selection.

...

Pushing open yet another door, it was still an ordinary room.

Hmm... It seems that loli doesn't want to see me.

Kenma smiled helplessly, then walked over to the final door.

"Shaula, go."

"Yes, Master. Take this!"

Shaula le rushed forward and delivered a flying kick straight at the door.

Bang!

The door was kicked open, and what came into view was no longer an ordinary room, but a library exuding the scent of books.

Among the rows of bookshelves, right in the center facing the door, a petite figure was sitting at a desk drinking tea while turning the pages of a book.

Upon seeing Kenma and Shaula enter, Beatrice sighed.

Although she had been staying in the library all along, she could monitor all the movements of the mansion in real time and naturally knew of Kenma and Shaula's arrival.

A childish voice sounded, carrying a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction. "Royal selection candidate Natsuki Subaru? What are you doing here at my place? If you're here to read books, Betty doesn't mind lending you a few."

With that, she raised her hand, and several archaic books floated up from the bookshelf, flying toward Kenma.

Kenma caught them, flipped through two pages, and his brow instantly furrowed.

Tsk, why can't I understand a single word?

He put the books aside and looked at Beatrice. "Beatrice, I am your "that person"."

The moment she heard those words, Beatrice's movements stopped and her pupils trembled.

"You... Are you Betty's "that person"?!"

"Yeah."

Upon receiving Kenma's response, the book Beatrice was holding slipped from her grip and fell to the ground as tears streamed from her eyes.

"So... Mother's "that person" really exists... Betty's wait wasn't in vain..."

"Uh, interrupting for a second." Kenma interrupted Beatrice's emotional moment.

"Although I am indeed your "that person", everything Echidna told you back then was actually false. She just wanted to see what kind of person you would choose during your long wait."

Hearing someone slander her mother, Beatrice snapped her head up, growing defensive.

"Even if you are "that person", Betty will not allow you to speak of Mother like that. How could mother ever do such a thing to Betty?"

Kenma had long anticipated this reaction. He tapped his head twice, lifted the soul restriction on Echidna, and pulled her straight out of his mind.

Amidst Beatrice's dazed gaze, he placed the translucent Echidna on the ground and smiled.

"Regarding these questions, you can ask your mom in person. I brought her soul out from the Sanctuary."

Having done all this, he closed the door, leaving Beatrice and Echidna to passionately argue inside.

Whew, I am getting kinder and kinder. I am simply a dream-granting Master.

A few minutes later.

Echidna's soul drifted back from behind the door.

Kenma looked at the somewhat guilty Echidna, suddenly feeling that something was amiss.

"How did the chat go?"

"Uh..."

Echidna shrank her neck, not daring to speak.

Seeing her expression, Kenma roughly guessed the result and helplessly opened the door to take a look.

He happened to see Beatrice, who had already pierced herself with Yin magic and was gradually dissipating into spots of light.

Wait, why did she commit suicide?! Echidna, what the hell did you say?!