The sound of frantic footsteps and heavy breathing filled the air, accompanied by the crunching of leaves and snapping twigs. The rustling of bushes and other foliage only added to the noise.
Brushing aside any plants in his path, Subaru sprinted through the woods at full speed, kicking up a tiny trail of dirt behind him.
"Emilia! Rem! Otto! Where are you?!" he shouted, running aimlessly. If not for the sunglasses covering his eyes, one would see them darting wildly. His head spun in every direction, worry clear as day on his face.
When preparing for the trip that morning, Subaru had mentally accounted for every possible scenario: a mabeast attack, the carriage getting stuck in a mud, even an ambush by witch cultists of all things.
It was supposed to be simple—just follow the unmarked dirt road cutting through the forest, and they would reach the sanctuary. Plain and simple.
Yet he hadn't accounted for that the necklace meant to ensure Emilia's safe passage would instead teleport and separate him from everyone, dropping him in the middle of the Lost Forest of Kremaldy.
Based on what Rem had told him, the barrier in the forest surrounded the sanctuary to protect it. Emilia had been given the necklace to safely cross it—not to be teleported through it.
But now, an unsettling thought gnawed at the edges of his mind. Why did Emilia alone have to wear it? If the barrier caused people to become lost in the forest, shouldn't all of them have had one?
And why had Emilia lost consciousness to begin with? The way it happened was anything but normal—even dangerous.
Dangerous…
'No… Don't tell me that—!' Subaru gritted his teeth, anger rising inside him, his fists clenching so tightly they turned white.
Of all people, it was Emilia who had received the necklace from Frederica.
From the very start, it was clear that Frederica held intimate knowledge about the sanctuary and its protective barrier. She could have given Emilia the necklace at any time they rested in the mansion, yet she chose to do so only when Emilia was alone—right as they were departing.
Like the death of the Royal Family, this reeked of a setup. But speculation alone wouldn't answer anything. What was her motive? Why would Frederica do something like this? She was a trusted, long-serving maid—someone both Rem and Emilia knew and seemingly liked—so why?
Unless—
'She wants to hurt Emilia… or even kill her!'
It was the only logical conclusion Subaru could reach. The forest had an infamous reputation, as people who enter it are never to be seen again. If he were to dispose of someone, he'd do exactly what Frederica did—send someone there and sabotage their journey.
'Dammit! She played us by the nose! I should've checked the necklace with my Six Eyes! I have a literal cheat code for understanding any phenomenon, and I didn't use it! I'm so fucking stupid!' The urge to slam his head against a tree was almost unbearable.
Now, everyone was likely scattered like him—separated and vulnerable. Otto, in particular, was in grave danger, being a non-fighter. Emilia had Puck for protection until sundown, and Rem could fend for herself, but that didn't rule out other lurking threats.
The thought of Frederica putting the people he cared about in such danger sparked an overwhelming urge to turn back, storm the mansion, and give that traitorous bitch the same beating he had once given Julius—
He rapidly shook his head, forcing the thought away.
'Calm down, Subaru. Calm down. Take a deep breath. Rushing won't lead you anywhere.' He inhaled deeply, steadying his nerves, forcing clarity back into his mind.
A few moments later, it worked. His head cleared, his emotions steadied, and instead of running in circles, he could now focus on planning his next move.
'First, I need to find everyone. Emilia and Otto take priority—once I have them, I'll find Rem. After that, we make our way to the Sanctuary, clean up whatever is going on there, and then deal with Frederica.'
'When I have everyone gathered, I'll explain everything—how Frederica betrayed us. And when this Sanctuary fiasco is over and everyone is safely back home, I'll return to the mansion and make sure she pays the price'
His mission was clear: His friends come first, then the sanctuary and Roswaal, and then Frederica would pay for her actions. There was a chance she might flee, but just as likely, she would stay and play innocent.
'Yeah… That plan should work. I need to find everyone first and foremost.'
For Natsuki Subaru, Saving the ones he held dearly was—and always would be—his top priority.
He refused to let any of them die because of his negligence.
He would not make a repeat of that mistake.
Never. Again.
Subau removed his glasses, revealing his Six Eyes, which now graced the world with their rare sight. His azure-blue pupils scanned the surroundings, scanning for his friends.
In this world, every individual possessed a soul, known as an Od, and each Od was as unique as a fingerprint, distinct in its own special way.
Much like a fingerprint scanner, Subau had honed his ability to identify these Ods and attribute them to the people he had memorized, which encompassed those in the mansion and the nearby village.
However, he had to cut his search short as he sensed something… Powerful in the distance. In fact, with his mind now clear, he could perceive it even without his eyes.
'Maybe they're over there?' he thought, hopeful that he would find them at the source of this phenomenon. Without hesitation, he donned his glasses and made his way there.
Before long, he ran through the forest and emerged into a clearing, where he was taken aback by what lay before him.
"Ancient," was the first word that came to mind to describe it.
Before him stood a large structure hewn from stone, with wide steps leading to a door, flanked by towering pillars. Its age was evident, with plant life and moss adorning its surface.
It reminded him of the ruins he encountered in the RPG games he played and the images he had seen online.
Yet, he wasn't here for sightseeing; he had more pressing matters at hand.
What had drawn him here was the overwhelming flow of mana emanating from within, radiating outward.
Subaru's been magically attuned to feeling mana after growing and training his gate, and right now his skin felt tingly from how dense and heavy it was.
The mana surged through the ruins, taking on tunnel-like forms as it dispersed into the distance in various directions. His Six Eyes informed him that this strange mana was merely a fuel for a spell, nothing more.
'The Sanctuary is protected by a barrier. Is this the source of the mana sustaining it? Puck did mention that barriers made from pure mana need a continuous supply to function and maintain,' he thought, recalling Puck-sensei's teachings.
While this information was useful, it didn't help him locate his friends, and he knew he needed to move, yet he found himself unable to budge.
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a strange familiarity with this place, reminiscent of a location he had visited before but couldn't quite remember.
It was a feeling of Deja Vu, to be precise.
'Maybe they're inside? The teleportation might have brought them to places rich in mana…'
Ultimately, whether this decision was influenced or not, he decided to enter the ruin.
He ascended the stairs cautiously, the sensation of mana intensifying as he neared its source.
Upon reaching the door leading inside, he peered into the darkness beyond. It was quite dim, with no light visible, but it seemed like a suitable refuge for anyone who might find themselves there.
"Hello? Emilia? Otto? Rem? Are you all in there?" he called out, his voice echoing through the deserted corridors. He paused for a moment, listening intently for any sounds or movements, but there was only silence.
The darkness may have kept others out, but Subaru was undeterred; his eyes adjusted in spite of the absence of light.
As he stepped inside, the sound of his footsteps echoed against the stone walls, and the presence of mana grew stronger and more oppressive.
Passing a row of closed doors, he reached for a handle—
"Oh? My my, what a delightful surprise. Yes, a wonderful surprise indeed."
He heard it. Clear as day. The soft, feminine voice echoing clearly in the hall, sending a shiver down his spine.
Subaru tensed up. "Who's there?!" he shouted, scanning his surroundings, his eyes darting from side to side, but the only thing accompanying him was the mana.
"Show yourself!" he shouted, waiting for the woman's voice to come back so he could pinpoint her location. Whoever she was, she must have an idea of where his friends are.
"How forceful! Yet entirely reasonable. No need to strain yourself—I'll gladly bring you to where I am."
Before he could ask what she meant, Subaru felt a wave of magic wash over him, enveloping him like a warm blanket, and he instinctively reacted.
He spun around in an instant, extending his finger as a surge of cursed energy formed a pulsating red orb at its tip, ready to be unleashed. With a flick of his wrist, Subaru launched the ball—
He paused, realizing that his environment had changed dramatically. The dark, cold hallway was now replaced by a lively and bright landscape, with lush green grass taking the place of the frigid stone, and a sunny sky illuminating the area instead of the previous gloom.
As he blinked to absorb the new surroundings, he recognized that he was no longer in the ruins. This was an entirely different place, where the heavy mana he once felt was absent, replaced by a light and inviting one.
He could sense the mana emanating from the ground, the air, and even the light itself. This was a stark contrast to the ruins, and it almost felt like—
'A Domain Expansion!' he thought in horror, his expression revealing his realization.
In this world, cursed energy and jujutsu don't exist, yet it was clear that, despite the differences, there were magical qualities reminiscent of his previous experiences.
Here, mana had taken the place of cursed energy as the primary magical force, and while spirits existed, they were more amicable and not driven solely by destruction. This led him to conclude that whatever magic was at play here must be some form of domain expansion.
If that were the case, he had unwittingly placed himself in a vulnerable state, as his infinity was rendered ineffective inside of domains.
However, Natsuki Subaru was known for his quick thinking, and as the head of a prestigious jujutsu clan, he had measures in place for situations like this.
All these thoughts raced through his mind in an instant, just as the sound of a woman echoed once more, this time directly behind him.
"I do hope I didn't startle you. Invitations such as this can be rather disorienting, after all. And, well, it has been quite some time since I've had the pleasure of a new company—perhaps I was a bit too eager…"
On a small green hill, a woman sat at a table with a white and light purple umbrella, accompanied by two white chairs.
With skin as pale as porcelain, she resembled more of a ghost than a living person. Her long, wavy white hair cascaded down her back, perfectly complementing her complexion. A delicate black butterfly pin adorned her hair, and her eyes were as dark as the night sky. She wore a simple yet stunning black dress that elegantly covered her figure, showcasing both beauty and luxury.
As she gazed at him, her hair danced softly in the artificial breeze, her deep black eyes fixed on him. At first glance, she appeared to be a beautiful princess straight out of a fairy tale, the kind that a valiant prince would battle a dragon to win over.
However, despite her appearance matching his taste, akin to Mei Mei, he felt no attraction toward her. Instead, what he felt was a sense of wariness.
As the strongest, Subaru had faced countless foes, from the weakest fourth-grade cursed spirits to formidable ones like the White Whale. He could sense, without a doubt, that beneath her serene exterior, this woman was a threat.
Yet, deep within him, there was an inexplicable feeling of familiarity and recognition that he couldn't quite grasp.
Noticing Subaru's silence, the woman broke the tension. "Ah, where are my manners? I've extended an invitation yet neglected to introduce myself—how terribly rude of me." Her expression remained unchanged, that same small smile still gracing her lips.
"My name is Echidna… or, if you prefer, the Witch of Greed."
Subaru instinctively recoiled at the mention of that name, and as the realization sank in, his caution transformed into alarm.
The response was swift; instincts kicked in as he shifted into battle mode, adopting the unarmed combat stance he had practiced since childhood. The red sphere of cursed energy, previously forgotten, began to swell in size, while a similar blue sphere appeared alongside it.
Both spheres, roughly the size of a handball, collided, merging into a singular purple orb that hovered above his middle finger, aimed directly at the Witch.
With a flick, Subaru was prepared to unleash the most powerful Hollow Purple he had ever conjured.
Echidna remained unfazed by his actions; instead, she maintained her composed demeanor and raised her hands slightly in a playful gesture of surrender to diffuse the tension.
"I understand if you find this situation unsettling. But, despite my nature, I am still—at heart—a defenseless young maiden, you know." she said. Despite the purple ball of death, her voice still radiated sweetness.
Subaru nearly scoffed at her assertion.
"Hate to break it to you, lady, but from what I learned, the words 'Witch' and 'Defenseless' don't quite align, you see. So, you can understand my hasty reaction," he replied, finally speaking since his arrival.
Echidna simply hummed in response, "That's a valid point. However, I assure you, I mean you no harm nor do I pose any threat to you."
Subaru narrowed his eyes, analyzing her behavior. She appeared calm and relaxed, as if she had expected this situation. Either she was genuinely harmless, or she was hiding something.
'Most likely the latter. From the stories I've read, never trust a witch, nor should you take her words at face value.'
Echidna, seeing that he remained weary of her, understood that her words didn't have the effects she wanted, so she opted for a second approach.
"It seems you don't trust me, and that is entirely understandable. After all, trust is never built on a mere handful of words—At least, that's how any sensible person would see it."
She then lowered her hands and motioned them towards the other chair.
"Why don't we take the first step toward building trust? Come, have a seat—standing there all tense will do us no favors. And, of course, you must have questions, ones you are simply itching to ask. So, ask away. We can discuss everything over a cup of tea."
Subaru remained silent, contemplating her words. It's true that he has no trust in her, given her witch status. Yet, she has treated him with politeness and is extending an olive branch to alleviate the tension between them. Should he take her up on it?
"You may keep that magical orb of yours around, if it brings you some reassurance. I won't object to its presence in the slightest," she murmured, her gaze lingering on it with faint yet noticeable fascination.
A few moments later Subaru made up his mind.
"That won't be necessary," he replied, dismissing the hollow purple object and relaxing his tense body as he approached the small hill.
However, he wasn't defenseless; he subtly activated his Domain Amplification Technique, enough to be unnoticed, just in case this "Domain" had a guaranteed hit-effect like the Jujutsu ones.
And if she attempted anything, she'd find her mind friend in moments.
Ultimately, the sole reason he was willing to accept her offer to build trust was that he was confident in his ability to protect himself if needed.
Upon reaching the hilltop, Subaru pulled out a small chair and sat down, greeted by a steaming cup of brown tea and Echidna's cheerful smile, her hands cradling her head.
"Come now, have a taste. It would be such a shame to let it grow cold—after all, tea is best enjoyed when it's still warm."
Subaru glanced at the teacup, squinted at the steaming liquid, and then met the witch's gaze.
"...What's in it?"
"Nothing harmful, I assure you! Simply something to quench your thirst—and perhaps offer a bit of assistance later on," she replied innocently
Subaru looked back at the teacup. He didn't need his Six Eyes to sense the mana within, specifically blue mana. His Six Eyes revealed to him that it was top-tier healing magic, akin to ferris.
Even though it was healing magic, he hesitated to drink something offered by a witch. But then again, he had accepted her gesture of goodwill...
'What's the worst that could happen? Healing magic is harmless, no matter how strong it is, and if anything goes wrong, that Witch will have it coming,'
With that thought in mind, he lifted the small teacup to his lips, drank the entire contents, and swirled it around in his mouth before swallowing it in one, big gulp.
Subaru proudly considers himself a tea Connoisseur; the mansion boasted an impressive selection of teas, each with unique qualities, and he had sampled every single one at least once. Why? To deepen his understanding of the craft, of course. Nothing else.
So, he could confidently declare—
"Bleh, this is the blandest tea ever!" He grimaced in distaste.
'Even Ram's horrible tea has some flavor! This is more like hot water than tea! Brown water, at that!'
She chuckled at his reaction. "I take it that you enjoyed it, then?"
He sighed and rolled his eyes at her. "Very funny, Echidna. Hot brown water hardly qualifies as tea."
"Oh, that's not merely water. It's something unique to this place—something that cannot be found anywhere else," she said, watching him carefully.
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "What is it then? Mana? Did you create magical food or something? If that's true, I think you might have just solved world hunger!"
'If that's the case, maybe this witch isn't so bad after all!' he thought, nodding in approval. Even if it had no taste, it would stop thousands of people from starvation!
Unfortunately, he was completely mistaken in that assumption and was about to face a life-altering shock.
"Food crafted from magic alone is, regrettably, impossible. To be blunt, this tea is actually one of my bodily fluids,"
"…"
Subaru gaped at her, his mind momentarily frozen as he tried to comprehend the disgusting words that had just escaped the witch's lips.
"D-did you just say... b-bodily fluids?" he stammered, needing to confirm what he thought he heard.
Surely, he must have misunderstood! Perhaps she was referring to some kind of fruit! The names in this world could get wacky sometimes!
"Yes, it is indeed a bodily fluid that came from within me," she replied bluntly, shattering any hopes he had of a misunderstanding.
Now that he grasped the reality of the drink he had consumed, what could he do? The answer was simple: expel it the same way it entered. He leaned to the side and vomited the 'tea' onto the grass.
Echidna chuckled softly at his predicament, "My, I certainly didn't expect such a strong reaction from you. Usually, those who vomit in front of me do so for entirely different reasons.
"Oh... really? I wonder why..." he attempted to sound sarcastic, but that unpleasant experience drained him dry.
"Because of the miasma coming out of me, of course," she replied matter-of-factly.
"Miasma? Oh right, you're a witch after all..." he sighed, slumping onto the table, wishing this was all just a bad dream.
"Mhm, a very evil witch, mind you," she leaned back in her seat, "Now, as I mentioned earlier, feel free to ask me anything, and I'll be more than happy to answer."
Subaru remained hunched over the table for a few moments, regaining his will to live, while the witch patiently waited for him to speak.
At last, Subaru lifted his head from the table and turned to the witch, saying, "Okay, fine. Can you at least explain what this place is? I was just in the ruins and then suddenly ended up here…"
"It's quite simple," she replied. "The ruins you wandered through are called the Witch's Graveyard, and this place—well, this is the Witch's Tea Party. I'd say the name explains itself rather well, wouldn't you?"
Subaru understood, and he really wished he could erase that knowledge from his mind, so he concentrated solely on the first part.
"Wait, Graveyard? As in where the dead are buried? Are you—"
"Dead?" she interjected, finishing his thought. "Yes, this place is where my soul has been housed—for a very long time."
'Dead... The Witch of Greed is actually dead. That explains the state of her Od, I guess.'
When he first laid eyes on her, he analyzed her as he would anyone new he encountered, and what he found was quite shocking.
Her Gate was formidable, even stronger than Roswaal's, and her reserves were impressive, and she could wield all six magical attributes—which he certainly didn't envy. However, these discoveries paled in comparison to her Od.
Typically, a person's Od is round, fitting comfortably in an open hand, and radiates bright, vibrant colors unique to each individual.
But Echidna was different; her Od was oddly shaped, not the usual perfect sphere, and its color was dim and dark, with the life energy that should have filled it nearly depleted.
His six eyes revealed that her life energy was siphoned, though he couldn't pinpoint the source. The only thing he knew about Od's was that they represented a person's soul; their energy could serve as a source for magical spells in times of need, and after death, they were sent to Od Luguna for purification and rebirth.
However, based on her words, it seemed she might have expended her life energy to anchor her soul to this realm. She mentioned that this place housed her soul, and being a magical location, it required energy—what better energy than life itself?
That was the only conclusion he could draw regarding her state; beyond that, he had nothing else.
"And who was it that killed you? Was it Satella?" he inquired. The tales he had read and the research he conducted indicated that the witch of envy had killed all the other witches before rampaging on the world. With a witch standing before him, he figured it was best to ask her directly.
To his surprise, the bright smile she had kept throughout their conversation disappeared in an instant, replaced by a cold, blank expression. This unsettled him; had he not just been talking to her, he might have mistaken her for a corpse.
"Is that what they say now? That she, of all people, was the one behind my death?"
Her tone was flat, her expression matching it, yet there was a hint of venom in her voice.
Then Echidna blinked, her eyes widening slightly as if she had just realized something, before that icy look faded away, returning to her previous demeanor.
"But no, she never killed me. When the great calamity had ended and Satella was sealed, I was still very much alive."
"...Riiiight..."
He was puzzled by this sudden shift in her demeanor, but one thing was clear: she held a strong dislike for the witch of envy for some reason.
Setting that thought aside for now, he decided to keep questioning her, but then a crucial thought struck him.
"Echidna," he called out, his tone turning serious for a moment, "You mentioned that this realm is where your soul resides because you are dead, but I was still alive before I arrived here,"
He narrowed his eyes at her, leaning in slightly. "So what happened to my body?"
Upon hearing his question, Echidna calmly picked up her cup and took a sip of her tea, an action that made him visibly gag, before she responded.
"You don't need to worry. Your body remains alive and unharmed—your consciousness was simply brought over to the tea party."she said with a calm tone.
Subaru furrowed his brow at her response. "But why invite me here in the first place? I'm nobody special, nor have we ever met before,"
She looked at him calmly, her small smile widening slightly. "Why, you ask? The answer is simple—because your existence is very desirable."
"...What?"
She stood up from her seat, placed her hands on the table, and leaned in slightly, getting closer to Subaru.
"In all my years of travelling, I have met countless individuals. Yet, among them all, you remain the most fascinating and elusive."
She leaned in closer, "I am a greedy seeker of knowledge—a pursuer of understanding. I need to learn everything there is in this world, from the smallest details to the grandest truths. And that includes the people who inhabit it. I want to understand, study and learn their behavior, observe their patterns, and predict their actions."
She leaned in even closer, nearly brushing against him—but he did not recoil. "And you… no matter how long I have observed you, I could never predict you. No matter how much I delved into a subject, you always remained one step ahead. No matter what I tried, I—Echidna, the Witch of Greed—could never truly comprehend you."
"And that is why your existence is so very desirable to me." She ended her speech by licking her lips as leaned back and settled down in her chair.
Subaru was left utterly bewildered; he couldn't comprehend her words. She spoke as if he were someone familiar, someone she had a past with, as if he were a well-known figure to her.
But that was impossible—how could he have met a witch who lived four hundred years ago? He wasn't even from this world!
Perhaps her solitude led her to confuse him with someone else?
"…You really are a greedy person, Echidna." That was all he could manage to say to her.
"Naturally, I am the Witch of Greed; it's in my nature to desire everything," she replied.
Just as Subaru was about to retort, a sharp pain shot through his chest, causing him to yelp and clutch at the area.
"Ghk! What the hell—!" He clenched his jaw as the pain continued, even after trying to apply the Reverse Cursed Technique. It failed, which frightened him.
"Oh?" Echidna murmured, acknowledging his distress with an intrigued glint in her eyes. "It seems the effects have started. It never takes long for those who are compatible."
"What the hell did you do to me?!" he demanded, glaring at the witch responsible.
She shook her head, "Don't misunderstand—I haven't harmed you. I've merely hastened the stabilization of your Sloth Witch Factor."
"What witch factor? I don't have one! I don't have any authority!" he snapped. He may have killed the Archbishop of Sloth, but never went anywhere near that thing.
Just seeing it from afar was enough to make him feel disgusted.
"Are you absolutely sure?" she asked, "You may not realize it, but the reason you entered the Witch's Graveyard unharmed is because you possess one."
"Yeah! I'm sure I don't have—" his words faltered as he gazed at his Od in horror.
During his first day in the capital, Subaru had little reason to pay attention to the Od, aside from a few fleeting glances, as he was primarily focused on his gate.
However, what he had just discovered shook him to his very core.
The same tar-like substance that enveloped the Archbishop's Od was now present on his own, but instead of completely consuming it, this one was writhing, as if it were a flat piece of dough being molded into a ball, trying to get in instead of surrounding it.
"How…?" he whispered, the question escaping his lips in disbelief. He had deliberately avoided that thing when he killed betelgeuse, so why was it now attached to him?
"You killed the previous holder of the Sloth Witch Factor, didn't you?" she began, capturing his attention. "When they were killed, the Witch Factor sought out a new host—and it chose you. And now it is integrating itself within your Od—within you."
Noticing the lingering concern on his face, she attempted to offer a comforting smile. "But don't worry. Despite your apprehensions, you are a unique case, and are compatible with it. So it will not have any unwanted effects on you,"
"Remember the tea I offered you? The healing mana within it is aiding in the stabilization process, allowing it to take hold more smoothly."
As Subaru listened, he glanced down at the Od and noticed the mana from the tea was actively interacting with the witch factor, almost as if it were guiding it on what to do.
She leaned back slightly, a satisfied smile playing at her lips. "See? This kind-hearted and tender maiden has gone out of her way to help you—so let's hear your thanks."she said, placing her hands over her ears and closing her eyes, eagerly anticipating the praises she was sure he would offer.
"...I have to leave go,"
"Yes, that's correct. This witch is—" Her mind caught up with his words, and she turned to him, astonished.
"W-what did you just say?"
"I said I have to go." he replied, rising from his seat and starting to walk away.
"B-but—!" Echidna stuttered, her usual calm and relaxed demeanor evaporating as panic set in.
"W-w-wait just a moment! I'm the Witch of Greed! People from the four corners of the world have sought out my wisdom! So—can we just take a second to—"
"Sorry, but I'm going to have to pass," he interrupted, looking back and seeing her surprised and disbelieving face.
Noticing her expression, Subaru sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Seriously, was this really a feared witch? Right now she looked more like a high school girl having her love confession rejected in front of everyone!
"Look, Echidna, with all due respect, you're a pervert—no, a nasty pervert, to be honest," he said without missing a beat, causing her to squawk in surprise.
"But I have to admit, our conversation was… at least interesting. But before that I got separated from my friends in the forest; their lives could be at risk, and I have spent enough time with you. So when everything has settled down, I'll spare time to come and visit. Okay?"
"Y-you…" she slumped into her chair, burying her face in her arms. "You call this young maiden a nasty pervert… and then expect her to just accept it like it's nothing?"
He rolled his eyes at her dramatic display. "Stop whining; you're the one who made me drink your bodily fluids! And you're dead! So, you really have nothing else to do but wait, right?"
She let out a whiny noise into her arms, "Fiiiine, if you're really in a hurry, then I won't stop you."
With a snap of her fingers, a small tear in space appeared before Subaru.
"But before you go, there are two important things you must know," she said, straightening up, her calm demeanor returning.
'Huh? First she was panicking and now she's calm again? This witch has more mood swings than girls on their periods…'
"First, I must ask you to keep what transpired in this tea party to yourself,"
Subaru nodded in agreement; she didn't need to ask, as there was no way he would ever reveal that he had met a witch. He'd likely be executed on the spot if the word got out.
"And lastly, I have granted you the right to undertake the trial of the Sanctuary. I thought it only right that you be aware of this."
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "'Trial of the Sanctuary?' What's that? And why me?"
"You will come to understand it in time. And as for the reason?" She smiled eagerly at him, "I'm greedy—greedy enough to want to see how you face it, how your feelings toward me may shift afterward… and, most importantly, whether you will meet my expectations or not."
"...Okay, then," he replied, quickly stepping through the rift and leaving the witch behind.
She sighed contentedly, "Ahhh~ To think I would see you again after all these years. Despite the differences between you two, you share many similarities."
Then, she slumped back into her chair, resting her face against the table, whining into her arms. "Similar enough for you to call me a nasty pervert! Does he not realize how such hurtful words wound this young maiden's delicate heart?!"
And so, the Witch of Greed found herself alone once more, grappling with the fact that she had once again been unjustly labeled a pervert.