Deal With A Sociopathic Clown

"Now, this deal. Let's hear it, shaaall we?" Roswaal said gently as they arrived in his study, a vast room filled with old looking trinkets, paperwork and magical items of various uses.

Looking a bit around with interest, Julian tapped his cheeks. Wondering if it was even possible to nail this conversation on the first try.

But well, there was still too much unknown about his own situation in this universe toward a character like Roswaal for him to have a 100% chance of succeeding.

In the end, all would play on if Roswaal obliterate him after his first sentence and how exactly the replica of the book of wisdom in his possesion would react to his presence. (Context: The book of wisdom is a white book holding the knowledge of the pass, present, and future, created by the witch of greed Echidna. It takes this knowledge from the world memory itself. Roswaal and Beatrice both received a replica of the book that show its holder how to obtain their desired future in v

clear details.)

"First thing first, can you test my magical potential? This is an important part of the deal." Julian asked, feeling that destabilising the all powerful sociopath was essential before anything else.

Raising an eyebrow, Roswaal smiled in amusement. "Hm? I guess I caaan. Though you have me perplexed on why it is so important."

Then, holding his wrist out. Julian let Roswaal take a hold of it.

Slowly, the amused smile slipped up from the Archmage face as he blinked. "Affinity for the six attributes. A ridiculous amount of magical energy. Two... Gates?"

Seeing the manic grins rising on the clown's face. Julian realised too late his gates had been sealed, stopping him from both using any spells if he had known any and calling mana to boost his body.

Fortunately, he didn't need those as he smothered the seals with Pod. While at the same time cutting off his hand with another localized use of the destructive energy.

Taking a step back, Julian frowned. He hadn't expected Roswaal to react so strongly to him having two gates. But maybe the man took more after his teacher than he give him credit for. "Now that was rude. Is that any way for a noble to treat their guest?"

Staring at the separated hand still in his grasp with some incredulity, Roswaal took Julian in with a new light. Offering a wry smile, he said. "Myyy. How embarassing, it seems I let my enthousiasm take a hold of me. I apologise for that, it is not everyday a previously unseen phenomena in magic fall into my lap, you seee?"

"uh uh. Well, I think it's better for both us If I inform you that I can not be immobilized nor cursed or sealed." Demonstrating, Julian made a finger on his remaining hand explode from an overflux of raw mana. Sending a shower of blood anywhere and proving that he had destroyed the seals in his gates already.

"I also have a kill switch I will not hesitate to use. And no, it doesn't even leave blood behind." He vaporised another one of his finger with PoD for good mesure.

Roswaal face's darkened. His first true showing of emotion since he met the man as he immediatly understood the implications behind his words.

Experimentation was a big no no since Julian could vaporize himself any second.

"Weeell, it seems like someone came prepared. But then, that leave the question of how you knew this meeting would come to thiiis. It's almost like youuuu know me more than the rest of the world do." Roswaal squinted his eyes in suspicion, his position becoming guarded.

Julian could clearly feel the feeling of danger the man was radiating, it was akin to a storm beggining to churn and rumble in the distance. Ready to explode at any moment.

"It's because I do. It is not the first time I lay my eyes on you and the big players of this world." Despite the immediate threat of death, he was still cool as a cucumber. Just Satella was scarier. Even if the shadow of her he had fought was not nearly as strong as the true deal.

"How curious, I could swear it's the first time I lay eyes on you."

"It's because it is. But we're going nowhere with this back and forth. So I'll just push my deal forward." Shrugging, Julian rehearsed what he was gonna say multiple times in his head.

"I swear on my name, Julian Håberjorgen-Marquis. That as long as Roswaal A Mathers promise to do the same, I will do my utmost to help him achieve his goals." He was reaching at straw here, because he didn't know how to do contract. But Roswaal did. And anyway, his PoD would be able to destroy anything eventually.

Roswaal, curious to where he wanted to go with that. Didn't react overly much to hearing his true name that should have been buried hundred of years ago.

...

"You know of my teacher, don't you Julian-Kun? Is she the one who sent you?" Roswaal said after some time, trying to make sense of the perplexing individual before him. And just as he became excited, thinking that maybe Julian was another creation of Echidna that had remained hidden until now. His dream was crushed.

"I know about Echidna and of her creations. But I am not sent by her, however. If you so wish for my origin, let's just say that I comes from beyond the waterfall."

"I do not like variables much, Julian-Kuuuun. And somerhing coming from beyond the waterfall is an awfully big one, even if experimenting on your body is impooossible. And more and more I find my patience running thin. So tell, me. Why shoooouuuuldn't I~ remove such a bothersome thorn like yourself from my foot?" Roswaal's vocal tic came back in force as he lifted a brow in askance.

"Check your replica of your book of wisdom." Julian smirked and add simply. While he couldn't do it right now. He would eventually be able to bring back Echidna from the dead one day. Be it by sheer force of his EC or else.

Roswaal squinted dangerously before summoning a book from nowhere, then, he opened it and started reading.

The more Roswaal read, the more his brows furrowed. Before suddenly, his yellow eyes widened in disbelief for but a second.

*PLAK*

Closing the book sharply, a wide and sly grin found its way to Roswaal's face. "Myyy myyyyyy. Julian-Kun, I have to admit that you make very good points. You convinced me, I change my mind. So, why don't we take a seat and you tell me more about this deeaal of yours?"

Julian too grinned, and regenerating his missing hand and fingers with EC, he said. "With pleasure."

—————

"If I understand weeell, you want a partnership. I~ help you with my knowledge and ressource, and you~ with bringing back to life my teacher with your unique magic that is akin to a diviiine protection?" Roswaal asked, his hands placed under his chin.

"That's about it, but I'll let you know that 'keeping' my loved ones alive are one of my goals too."

"Mmmm. That is quite triiicky. If we are to make a binding contract, defining exactly what those 'goals' represent and really means is a priority. It would be uunfortunate for one of us to be fouled by the other. Wouldn't it?"

"Indeed." Julian agreed easily.

And thus, both of them ashed out the details of the contract. What exactly were the 'goals' both of them wanted help in and fulfilled and the punishement if one of them was to renegate on the deal. Aka good old death contract that would destroy their souls. No big deal. In the end, Julian accepted a time limit of 100 years to ressucitate Echidna, body, memory and sense of self intact. While Roswaal's part said he would have to do his best to fulfil his end right away. Depending on Julian own needs.

The deal wasn't equal at all, at least in Julian's eyes. Roswaal only cared about bringing back his teacher, and if the book had deemed Julian the best way to achieve that, then what he had to give didn't matter.

So, it was only after Julian himself wrote the terms of the contract and both revised them multiple times that they shook on it. Stamping a bloody imprint on the paper as was proper procedure for a binding to the death.

Roswaal then hovered his palms over the sheet of paper and intoned an incantation of some sort. At his words, the contract bursted into light motes that zeeped in equal part to Julian and Roswaal.

Feeling a pressure settle on his very core before disappearing, Julian smiled. "Paperwork, speak about something cumbersome. You did that for 400 hundreds years? I feel bad for you."

Roswaal seemed non-plussed as he answered. "Power and immortality does have a price after aaaall. This is but one of them."

Glancing outside through the window, the mage stood up. "Weeeell, would you look at that? It seems our little 'trade' ate a good deal of the morning away. It would be better for you to go back. Leest our little friends gets ideas."

"What about lessons and such?" Julian asked, mirroring the clown.

Roswaal pursed his lips. "I~ am a busy man. But with your arrival, I think I will find myself much less so~. Come find me at dawn, I will make time~."

Nodding, Julian made for the exit. Just to be called out one last time. "Oh~ Before I forget. Know that if you die, since our deal will not hold anymore. I will kill everyone who knew of you in this world. You see, I would rather not risk my secrets spreading to the world. So I have to take some precautions~"

"As for Emilia-San and Subaru-Kun~. Do as you wish with them, and while I will continue supporting her as per our agreement. She doesn't hold any value anymore~."

"Lovely." Was the only reply Julian gave as he left.

—————

Despite how frighteningly intelligent Roswaal was. His incentive for not dying and his reminder that spreading his knowledge about the man was a bad idea was superfluous at best.

He had no intention of antagonizing the man until he could crush him utterly and bring him under his heel like he did with Elsa. And preferably after reviving Echidna.

Otherwise, Julian would say that his endeavor was a massive success.

Of course, there was some thing that he could have done better. But not that much to be franc.

Revising his future plans and planning around events, Julian wandered the corridor aimelessly. After judging that nothing could be improved with his current standing and abbilities, came the next thing to decide.

Occupying his days.

He had five days until a cursed puppy came to the nearby village to hunt with his pack and bite Subaru, killing him. Then he had two months before the royal selection, that was an awful lot of time to kill.

Obviously, a part of this time would be used for training. Both his innate abbilities and to absorb Roswaal's teaching. Though there was no way he would spend all his time on training.

He may be a fool when concerning his own well being. But he knew enough that mental health and rest was, if not essential, at least very important. Especially in his case.

With that in mind, Julian's set his sight on his first destination. The cells.

It was high time to see how Elsa was reacting to his brain rewriring.

But before that...

He brought his hand before him, palm up. Closing his eyes, he concentrated single-mindedly on an image.

A grey rook, something he had technically held in his hand barely a day ago.

Then, he called upon his greatest boon. An orange aura literally exploding from his pores and making his hair whip about like he was in some great storm.

His eyes shone like wildfires as he grasped forward with his hand, as he grasped across realities and infinity. An arc of illusionary yellow lightning snaked across his frame and gathered at his palm upon using his concept of impossibility.

Yet, despite his rightful claim and his powers. Two world rebeled and fought back against his attempt, one attempting to keep one object from being stolen and the other from letting a foreign entity enter its realm.

But despite the blood running down his nose, Julian was having none of it.

Time was absolute, EC was time, and EC was his to wield. That meant his time was the only true one. No matter if two different reality said otherwise.

As this thought crossed his mind, Julian believed it wholeheartedly. The rook had been in his palm not that long ago. He was just bringing it back.

It was that simple.

At that moment, the worlds seems to believe it too. And they slowly up on their resistance.

But even then, the cost was not puny. Everydrop of EC in his body drained away in the connection he had made with the peerage piece before Julian felt something hard suddenly appear into his hand.

Dropping to his knees, he wheezed out. "D-Damn."

Wiping his nose, he opened his hand to see the result of his experiment.

"Still got a way to go, eh?" After taking back his breath, he stood up and threw the piece in the air before catching it back.

Looking thoughtful, Julian kept playing with the piece as he walked down the long halls of the mansion toward his future peerage member.