Re:Zero -Starting Life in Zero

Green strode forward and swept Betty up in his arms from behind.

"Okay, okay, my dear Betty, don't be angry anymore, or you'll get wrinkles."

He chuckled softly, his fingertips gently brushing against the girl's furrowed brow, his tone full of doting affection.

Betty's furrowed brows relaxed almost instantly. She turned her face away, gave a haughty hum, but still obediently wrapped her arms around Green's neck.

"Hmph, then... then for Green's sake, I'll spare this idiot for now."

Ram, who was standing to the side, had already calmed down. She crossed her arms and a hint of inquiry flashed in her rose-red eyes.

"Grin, shouldn't you be protecting Lady Emilia at all times in the capital? Why are you suddenly appearing at the manor at this hour?"

She really wanted to ask Green when he started spying, but the strong-willed Ram felt that the bigger picture should take precedence.

Green's smile faded, and his expression gradually turned serious.

"We've set up a return route; we need your help to get back here because it's something very important."

Upon hearing this, Ram's expression also became more serious, as she keenly grasped the key point in the words.

"Something important? The faction's main combat force has suddenly returned. Could there be danger at the mansion?"

Green nodded in surprise; this peach-haired little imp's intuition was surprisingly sharp.

"Yes, there might be a witch cult appearing near Alam Village. I need you to take the villagers from the nearby villages to a safe place."

When Ram heard the words "Witch Cult," his whole body tensed up instantly, like a fully drawn bowstring.

Her rose-red eyes suddenly flashed with a chilling light, and her previously peaceful aura instantly turned as sharp as a knife.

She clenched her fists instinctively, her nails almost digging into her palms, her demon bloodline stirring slightly with deep-seated hatred.

Because the witch cult that Grimm spoke of was the enemy that destroyed her homeland, broke her demon horns, and turned her from a "child prodigy" into a cripple.

"Are those blasphemous lunatics planning to unleash another bloodbath?"

After a brief outburst of rage, she quickly suppressed her surging emotions, her eyes filled with only calm killing intent and vigilance as she sharply looked at Green.

"Is their target the mansion? Or... Lady Emilia?"

As a servant of the Mezas family, she immediately transformed her hatred into vigilance, ready to fight alongside her companions at any moment to protect the mansion.

"Don't be nervous, Ram, we still have time. The most important thing now is to evacuate the civilians."

Grimm planned to take Emilia with him, and the Sloth Archbishop would likely follow the half-elf girl's trail, converging on the direction of the Great Tree of Flügel.

Only by gathering the three Archbishops of the Great Sin together can their ultimate attack deal maximum damage.

However, there is no guarantee that other witch cultists will not remain near Alam Village.

For an ordinary village, that would be a devastating blow.

A hint of doubt flashed in Ram's eyes as he looked at Green with unease.

"Where can we hide? This is the border, surrounded by mountains and forests, there's nowhere suitable to go."

Green tightened his grip on Betty's arm, his gaze fixed on the magical mist rising from the wardrobe door, his tone resolute.

"We can send them to the sacred area that the Mezas family has guarded for generations. It's protected by a barrier and is the safest place right now."

As for Roswaal's scheme, it's already a piece of cake. For Green, the Big Rabbit is much easier to deal with than the White Whale.

"Sanctuary?"

Ram's pupils contracted slightly, clearly not expecting Green to bring up this place.

"That sealed land is not a place that anyone can enter at will."

"With Betty around, everything will be fine."

Green looked down at the girl in his arms, his fingertips gently brushing against the top of her soft hair.

"There should be a door in the mansion that has long been connected to the Sanctuary."

Four hundred years ago, Betty and her mother Echidna lived in the Sanctuary.

When the Melancholy Demon attacked, Betty escaped to Roswaal's mansion through that door.

Ram's breath hitched, her rose-red eyes widened abruptly, and the solemnity on her face was instantly replaced by astonishment.

She instinctively took half a step forward, her voice tinged with disbelief: "There's... a door leading directly to the Sanctuary in the mansion?"

Having served Roswaal for many years and believing he knew all the secrets of the mansion, Ram had never heard such rumors before.

The door was hidden so well that even she, her trusted advisor, was completely unaware of it, which shows how confidential the matter was.

Betty, who was lazily leaning on Green's shoulder, stiffened almost imperceptibly when she heard these words.

His amber eyes lowered slightly, landing on Green's lapel, his long eyelashes trembling gently, concealing the fleeting melancholy in his eyes.

The smoke and cries of four hundred years ago seem to echo in my ears once again.

That door was her only way to escape purgatory, and also her last connection with her mother.

For so many years, she guarded the forbidden library and never set foot on the land behind that door again.

"Green, how did you know?"

Betty stared blankly at Green; she hadn't mentioned this to anyone.

Green's gaze was somewhat evasive.

"This...this...divination, those who know, know."

"Big liar."

Betty rolled her eyes at Green, her cheeks puffed out in anger, and grabbed Green's ear, pulling him towards her.

"Then can you tell me what Betty is thinking right now?"

"Pshaw, do you even need to do divination? She's definitely thinking about me."

Green shamelessly gave a perfunctory reply.

After he said that, Betty's expression unexpectedly froze for a moment.

Upon seeing this, Green couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

"No way, really?"

He lowered his head and rubbed the object against Betty's face.

"Haha, Betty, we're practically glued together and you're still thinking about me."

Betty's cheeks flushed bright red, as if they had been doused with scalding hot syrup.

She abruptly turned her head, clenched her small hand into a fist, and punched Green's chest hard, but the force was as light as a tickle:

"You, you get too cocky! You big liar, you big liar, how long are you going to keep fooling Betty...?"

Green's smile faded, and he gently put his arm around Betty's waist, pulling her close in his arms. His voice was tender as he said:

"This is my biggest secret, Betty."

Betty's body stiffened slightly. She looked up, her eyes, reflecting the butterfly's shadow, filled with sorrow: "Even Betty can't know?"

"Um……"

Green pretended to ponder for a moment, then lightly brushed Betty's nose with his fingertips.

"I need at least a thousand years of friendship to tell you this. For the next thousand years, you'd better stay by my side, Betty."

"You cunning fellow, how can Betty refuse you like this?"

Betty angrily buried her face in Green's clothes, her voice muffled.

Ram stepped forward: "Leave the matter of relocating the villagers to Ram. Please, Lady Beatrice, show Ram the way to the door."

Green put Betty down and added:

"We need to check the condition of that door first. Once you've confirmed it, you can go to Alam Village tomorrow morning and bring everyone over. Visibility is too low at this time."

……