Elsa swept her gaze across the room, the realization of her predicament settling in a slow, sharp smile.
"It seems I've fallen for it again," she said, shaking her head. She understood now that the news of Meili's capture was a lie—a probe designed to confirm their partnership and expose her Achilles' heel.
"I'm truly curious about you," Elsa purred toward Ayanokoji. "What would your entrails look like?"
"Confirmed partners, then," Ayanokoji replied, ignoring her provocation. He looked at her raw, mangled hands, the method of her escape already factored into his calculations. During their earlier conversation, he had sensed her subtle attempts to fish for information—a technique that felt as clumsy as a child's prank to a master of psychological manipulation.
He had deliberately let slip the "execution" of Meili to plant a psychological suggestion, giving Elsa a window of hope she felt forced to take. He had even crafted the illusion of a weakened perimeter while Ram monitored every movement through the eyes of a bird in the cellar. From start to finish, Elsa's "breakout" was a script written by Ayanokoji.
The risk Elsa took to save Meili was, in Ayanokoji's eyes, an act of pure irrationality. It proved that her emotions had overriden her logic, exposing a weakness that he could now leverage.
"You monster, tell us everything!" Ram's eyes burned with a murderous heat as she prepared her wind magic, only to be stopped by Roswaal.
"Ram, Lord Ayanokoji said we cannot kill the Bowel Hunter yet," Roswaal chirped.
"Freeze her for now," Ayanokoji commanded. He didn't need words from Elsa; her presence at the door was all the data he required.
"But was this all just to confirm their link?" Emilia asked as she encased Elsa in ice.
"No," Ayanokoji explained. "We now know they are close—perhaps like sisters. If Meili knows Elsa is still held here, she won't flee. She will come back to finish the rescue."
Roswaal smiled, catching the drift. "So, we create another 'opening' for the little girl to attack?"
"Precisely," Ayanokoji nodded. "Tomorrow, we all leave the manor to 'search' the forest. We make enough noise to ensure she sees us. When the house is 'empty,' she will strike. Ram will monitor the perimeter with Clairvoyance, and we will close the net."
The Observation: Terror and Tactics
In the "Blank" room of a different reality, Sora placed a hand over Shiro's eyes before eventually letting go.
"He's a madman," Sora whispered. "Using that girl's love for her partner as the bait for a trap... it's a level of ruthlessness I've rarely seen." He marveled at how Ayanokoji could witness Elsa's gruesome self-mutilation and feel nothing but the satisfaction of a confirmed hypothesis.
The Hunt: The Forest and the Feast
The next evening, the plan was set in motion. Roswaal flew over the forest, a visible beacon for Meili's eyes, while Ayanokoji led the ground team into the brush. Old Man Rom served as a "walking loudspeaker" due to his sheer size, ensuring their departure was noticed.
While the group moved, Ayanokoji scrutinized the forest floor. He noted the potential for development—timber, medicinal plants, and untamed resources. He wondered why Roswaal, the Lord of this land, hadn't exploited this wealth. Does he simply not care about his territory?
Suddenly, Ayanokoji stopped, kneeling to examine a patch of disturbed earth.
"Not Meili's prints," he mused. "Ten individuals, identical boots, varying depths. They appeared here without a trail—teleportation or high-level concealment?" He looked into the distance, pondering if this was a third party.
Before he could conclude, Ram's voice rang out through their link: "Abnormality near the manor!"
At the estate, an army of Mabeasts had surrounded the walls. Meili sat atop a lion-like beast, staring at the mansion. "Elsa, wait for me. I'm coming to get you."
She had seen Roswaal leave. She believed the house was undefended. With a command, her beasts surged forward to shatter the gates.
Then, the sky erupted.
A sea of fire descended, incinerating the vanguard in an instant. Meili froze as the flames circled her, cutting off every exit.
"My, my... exactly as Lord Ayanokoji predicted," Roswaal's sing-song voice drifted from the air as he descended. "You truly are an impatient child."