Location confirmed. Natsuki Subaru mumbled to himself. In his mental vision, a twisted subspace entrance slowly unfolded before him. Countless memory fragments swirled like meteors at the entrance; that was the trial scene Emilia was experiencing.
"The Witch of Greed Echidna's Tea Party, huh…"
Natsuki Subaru's gaze pierced through the spatial barrier, directly looking into the mental world constructed by the Witch of Greed. Without any hesitation, his soul, following the trajectory of the Shadow energy, pierced into the core of the trial space like a sharp sword.
In an instant, the boundless darkness receded like a tide. The world before his eyes suddenly burst into brilliant colors.
Underfoot was an endlessly stretching deep green grassland, and overhead, a clear blue sky without a trace of impurity. A gentle breeze brushed his bangs, carrying the fresh scent of grass and flowers.
Natsuki Subaru subconsciously raised a hand to block the sudden sunlight, the light escaping through his fingers made him squint.
"This is… the Dream Castle?" Natsuki Subaru looked around, pondering inwardly, "The mental world constructed by the Witch of Greed Echidna, right?"
"Don't just stand there dazed. Why don't you come and sit?"
A voice as clear as a spring came from behind him.
"Hmm?"
Natsuki Subaru turned to look, only to see a massive sunshade casting a circular shadow on a low hill. Under the umbrella were pure white table and chairs, and sitting there was—
a maiden who seemed to have stepped out of a black-and-white painting. Her waist-length hair was as pure as fresh snow, and her skin was so white it was almost translucent. Only her exquisitely tailored jet-black dress and her bottomless black pupils added the finishing touch to this minimalist painting. Her extreme beauty was even more breathtaking in the clash of white and black, possessing a suffocating, demonic charm.
It truly was her… the Witch of Greed Echidna.
Although Natsuki Subaru knew full well, he still feigned caution and frowned, saying: "What is this place? Who are you?"
"Oh dear, did I startle you?"
"Oh my, how rude. It's been so long since I've had guests, I've forgotten basic etiquette." Natsuki Subaru remained silent. Echidna suddenly clapped her hands as if realizing something, "I am Echidna, or perhaps…" A meaningful curve appeared on Echidna's lips, "you are more familiar with the title Witch of Greed?"
"So, you are the legendary Witch of Greed, then?"
Natsuki Subaru deliberately widened his eyes, a perfectly feigned look of surprise on his face.
On the white chair, Echidna was gracefully sipping black tea. Hearing this, she set down her teacup, the porcelain cup clinking against the saucer with a crisp sound.
"It's truly saddening how wary you are of me~" Echidna tilted her head, her silvery-white hair sliding from her shoulder. "Aren't I just an innocent maiden?"
"Anyone would be wary of someone who introduces themselves as the Witch of Greed right after meeting them, wouldn't they?"
Natsuki Subaru's mouth twitched slightly. Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, he inwardly grumbled: "This old hag, pretending to be young, has clearly lived for hundreds of years."
"I see, that's true." Echidna lightly covered her mouth with the back of her hand, letting out a clear, bell-like laugh. Her silvery-white hair flowed like water with her slight head tilt. "This was another oversight of mine~"
Natsuki Subaru remained silent, a sharp glint of vigilance flashing in his eyes. He knew better than anyone what kind of being this seemingly elegant maiden truly was.
The Witch of Greed Echidna! She ranked high on Natsuki Subaru's internal danger assessment list.
As the holder of the 'Book of Wisdom', Echidna knew everything about this world's past and future. The 'Gospel' held by Roswaal and Beatrice was merely a degraded version of that original tome, and the 'Gospel' revered as a holy scripture by the Witch Cult was an even lesser copy.
Even so, these incomplete Books of Wisdom had already granted their holders an ability akin to precognition. Although, in terms of practical combat ability, Echidna might not be equal to her disciple Roswaal, being limited by magical power and proficiency, her vast, ocean-like knowledge reserves were enough to crush anyone.
As Roswaal's teacher, Echidna knew almost all the magic of that era. Even more terrifying was her ability to transform knowledge into tangible creations.
The magical artifacts she created once made the Divine Dragon cry, and she possessed the technology to create artificial spirits, along with the immense power to construct the entire Sanctuary.
Puck, Beatrice, Donaro—these miraculous artificial spirits all came from her hand. Not to mention this Dream Space, which not only contained the souls of the six Witches but also achieved resurrection four hundred years later.
All of this was a scheme she had laid out four hundred years ago.
"Knowledge is power," so they say! This phrase was perfectly embodied by Echidna.
Facing such a being, any underestimation would be fatal. What's more, the power of the Witch of Envy Satella alone was enough to destroy half the world, and while the Witch of Greed before him was not adept at combat, in the realm of knowledge, she was even more dangerous than the Witch of Envy.
Natsuki Subaru thought to himself.
"Your wariness is understandable…"
Echidna suddenly changed her tone, a hint of playfulness flashing in her obsidian-like eyes. Her slender fingertips lightly tapped the tabletop, making a crisp sound like chimes, "However, this level of caution is meaningless to me."
Then, Echidna gracefully raised her hand, gesturing to the empty seat opposite her: "At least, I hope you'll take a seat before the tea gets cold."
On the pure white dining table, exquisite refreshments were perfectly arranged. Before Natsuki Subaru's seat, a cup of black tea steamed, the amber liquid gently rippling in the porcelain cup, its temperature seemingly perfectly calculated. A faint tea aroma permeated the air, carrying a subtle, enticing scent.
Take a seat, drink tea, chat with her—these were the Witch's demands?
"How could it be that simple…"
Natsuki Subaru rolled his eyes inwardly. Come on, this isn't some shojo manga tea party plot.
Sitting opposite him was the Witch of Greed, who could destroy the world with her knowledge. How could she genuinely just want to invite him for tea and a chat…?
Thinking this, Natsuki Subaru brazenly pulled out a chair and sat down, speaking directly to Echidna opposite him: "Say, this tea party of yours isn't some new kind of swindling scheme, is it? Like offering free tea first, then suddenly pulling out an astronomical bill?"
"Swindling… scheme?"
Echidna's teacup, raised to her lips, paused slightly. A hint of confusion flashed in her obsidian-like eyes. This Witch, who had lived for over four hundred years, evidently heard this commoner's term for the first time.
"It's a trick where you give a little sweetness first, then fleece the customer." Natsuki Subaru paused, explaining to Echidna, "It's very common where I'm from, especially in tourist spots, specifically to rip off out-of-town visitors."
"Truly… an interesting insight." Echidna understood, gently set down her teacup, the porcelain clinking against the saucer, and a beautiful curve appeared on her lips. "However, I'm more interested in other forms of compensation than money."
She took the bait, as expected. Natsuki Subaru sneered inwardly.
From the original plot, he knew that Echidna had an almost pathological obsession with him—no, to be precise, with his Return by Death ability.
"So this means you're charging an entrance fee?" Natsuki Subaru feigned searching his pockets, playing dumb, "Just so you know, I don't have a single penny on me."
"Oh my, I didn't expect to be mistaken for a shady merchant." Echidna suddenly laughed, her bell-like laughter echoing across the open grassland. "But rest assured, I have no interest in worldly money."
"But you have a great interest in my abilities, don't you."
Natsuki Subaru muttered inwardly. Although Echidna's 'Book of Wisdom' could foresee most things in this world, it absolutely couldn't fully predict the actions of him, a person from another world.
This realization allowed him to regain a bit of initiative.
"Begging your pardon, but besides this table and chairs, there isn't even a proper building here…" Natsuki Subaru looked around, unable to resist complaining, "Your castle truly saved on renovation costs, there isn't even a roof."
As far as the eye could see, there was only boundless emerald grassland rippling in the breeze, waves of grass rolling like a still green ocean. The distant horizon was blurred like ink bleeding in water, and the entire world resembled an overly embellished oil painting, perfectly eerie.
No birds cut across the sky, no insects moved through the grass, and even the clouds in the sky were frozen, like a paused image. This surreal scene indeed matched the bizarre style of the Witch of Greed's mental space.
"This is a mental space I constructed; it doesn't require such worldly buildings."
Hearing this, Echidna's white eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Oh~" Natsuki Subaru drew out his tone, continuing to tease, "So, it's a more dignified way of saying you can't afford a house?"
"You are even more special than I imagined." Echidna said, still smiling.
"Thanks for the compliment." Natsuki Subaru smiled at Echidna and continued, "By the way, since this is your domain, you must know Emilia's trial situation best, right?"
After all, the Witch before him was not only the hostess of the tea party but also the chief examiner of Emilia's trial.
"So concerned about that half-elf? It seems your relationship isn't ordinary."
Echidna narrowed her eyes, seemingly enjoying the change in topic.
"Of course. After all, Emilia is my liege." Natsuki Subaru shrugged, making a joke, "If anything were to happen to her, who would I get my salary from?"
"Salary?"
The Witch Echidna tilted her head. This gesture should have been cute, but when she did it, it felt somewhat incongruous.
"It's work compensation!" Natsuki Subaru rolled his eyes, counting on his fingers, spouting serious nonsense: "Compensation includes basic salary, along with food and lodging allowances, transportation fees, overtime pay, high-temperature subsidies… You don't think knights work for free, do you?"
"Hmm, reasonable compensation is indeed very important…"
Echidna nodded understandingly, then suddenly leaned forward. A scent mixed with citrus assailed him. Her eyes, like two black holes, stared directly at Natsuki Subaru, almost threatening to pull one's soul in, "Then… what if I could offer you even more generous compensation?"
The atmosphere at the tea table instantly froze. Natsuki Subaru felt a chill crawl up his spine.
This was the true nature of a Witch: always probing, always trading.
Natsuki Subaru rejected her with an almost instinctive wave of his hand: "No thanks. As Emilia's Guardian Knight, I'm quite dedicated. I don't take side jobs."
"Hehehe…" Echidna suddenly covered her mouth with a light chuckle, her shoulders trembling slightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement, "You are truly interesting. Few people besides the other Witches can ramble like this in front of me… I never expected to encounter such a being even after death. It's truly delightful."
As the Witch of Greed, Echidna possessed an almost fanatical craving for the unknown. And Natsuki Subaru carried the Authority of Return by Death, bestowed by the Witch of Envy Satella, a unique existence she had never encountered.
In her eyes, this boy from another world was like a living Book of Wisdom, containing new knowledge about the Witch of Envy and the essence of the world. This was precisely Echidna's true purpose for exceptionally inviting Natsuki Subaru into the Dream Castle.
"Speaking of that half-elf girl you asked about, let's talk about that later…" Echidna elegantly swirled her teacup, looking at Natsuki Subaru with a beautiful curve rising on her lips, slowly saying, "Would you like to try the black tea I brewed first? It's a specialty of the Dream Castle~"
"Uh, black tea?"
Natsuki Subaru stared at the orange liquid in the cup, his mouth twitching uncontrollably.
"Master's creation in a small can, a taste passed down through a millennium, Echidna's Black Tea."
This must be the so-called Dona Tea… This term sent alarms blaring in Natsuki Subaru's mind.
If he remembered correctly, Dona Tea was specially made from Echidna's bodily fluids, though it wasn't clear if it was sweat or other fluids. Most uncomfortably, this recipe was openly admitted by the Witch Echidna herself, and she showed no qualms about it.
Just imagine: A cup of mysterious orange liquid, meticulously refined from the bodily fluids of the Witch of Greed Echidna, every drop rigorously selected, pure, natural, and additive-free. Its taste was said to be magically indescribable: the first sip unforgettable, the second making you question your life, and the third sending you soaring. That unique, Witch-specific stimulation would give the taste buds an unprecedented shock, with every layer of flavor precisely controlled, truly perfect. One could practically write an advertisement for it…
Natsuki Subaru's internal monologue had already begun to auto-play: Dona Tea—Natural Witch Bodily Fluid, 100% Refreshing and Invigorating, a product personally authorized by the Witch of Greed, you deserve to own it! Experience the taste of a Witch, all in this one cup!
"What's wrong?"
Echidna leaned slightly forward, her silvery-white hair cascading like moonlight, casting delicate shadows on the tea table.
"Uh… I'm not thirsty."
Natsuki Subaru's Shadow power subtly flowed within him, constructing an invisible barrier on the mental plane. He could clearly perceive the subtle magical energy fluctuations contained within Echidna's voice. It was a mental suggestion almost akin to hypnosis.
Truly the Witch of Greed.
"Ngh…"
Echidna's expression froze for an instant, a strange glint flashing in her ink-black eyes. As the Witch who commanded the 'Book of Wisdom', she immediately realized that her magic had been nullified by some unknown power.
However, Echidna quickly regained her elegant smile, her fingertip gently tracing the rim of the cup as she looked at Natsuki Subaru opposite her and said: "Tea parties have their rules, you know. Only those who taste the tea can be considered official guests~"
"Sorry, I'm not really a tea person."
Natsuki Subaru shook his head. He remembered Echidna's tactics from the original story; this Witch was most skilled at using various hints and rules to subtly wear people down, making them fall into her rhythm unknowingly. His original self, despite resisting in every way, still inexplicably drank that cup of Dona Tea in the end, feeling as if he had been hypnotized upon reflection.
"But this time, I won't fall for your trick."
As the Monarch who commanded Shadows, Natsuki Subaru could directly see through these petty mental tricks. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to accurately locate the subspace entrance in the vast void and forcibly break into this Dream Castle.
"Then what do you like to drink?"
Echidna tilted her head with interest, her ink-black eyes sparkling with inquisitive light.
"Cola, orange juice, and cappuccino…" Natsuki Subaru deliberately listed them offhand, then shook his head, "Well, never mind, you definitely wouldn't know any of these."
"Cola?"
Echidna frowned slightly. This completely unfamiliar term made her show a rare expression of confusion. As the Witch who knew all things, this domain of knowledge clearly intrigued her greatly, and she couldn't help but continue to ask Natsuki Subaru: "What is that? Some kind of special tea?"
"Well… you could think of it that way…" Natsuki Subaru shrugged, "Cola is a kind of specialty drink from where I'm from. It's refreshing and keeps you energized at all times…"
Mid-sentence, he suddenly had an epiphany. Since this was a mentally constructed space, theoretically, as long as one's mental power was strong enough, they should be able to create objects out of thin air, just like Echidna could materialize tables and chairs.
Might as well try…
Natsuki Subaru's mind raced. The Shadow power and mental power within him began to perfectly meld. He clearly visualized every detail of an ice-cold cola in his mind: the cool condensation on the aluminum can, the crisp "fizz" sound when pulling the tab, the joyful ascent of carbonation bubbles in the amber liquid…
"Fizz!"
With a soft pop, two cans of ice-cold cola appeared out of thin air in Natsuki Subaru's hands, real water droplets condensed on their surfaces.
Even more astonishingly, this creation process completely bypassed Echidna's control over the mental space.
"Oh, this…?"
Echidna's eyes widened, a rare sight. One must know, to create objects out of thin air within her mental space, disregarding the owner's will, required an unimaginable level of mental power. Even more shocking to her was that Natsuki Subaru used neither magic nor an Authority, but rather a power system she had never seen before.
"Want a can?" Natsuki Subaru triumphantly shook the cola in his hand, deliberately mimicking Echidna's previous tone, "It's a specialty from my hometown~"
"Fzzzz—"
As Natsuki Subaru skillfully pulled the tab, the refreshing scent of carbonation instantly filled the tea party.
Natsuki Subaru tilted his head back and took a large gulp. The ice-cold liquid slid down his throat, making him close his eyes in satisfaction: "Refreshing! Still the familiar taste."
"This material…" Echidna held the ice-cold cola can with both hands, her slender fingers curiously caressing the metal surface, murmuring to herself, "It's neither silver nor iron."
"This is called aluminum alloy, very common where I'm from." Natsuki Subaru smiled, shaking the can in his hand, "It's lightweight and doesn't rust easily."
"There's such a strange metal as well…"
An unfamiliar cold sensation emanated from Echidna's fingertips. She lowered her gaze to the metal container, watching the bubbles continuously rise and burst in the amber liquid, her expression showing a rare flicker of emotion. In four hundred years, this was the first time anyone had been able to turn the tables in her mental domain and take control.
"This is… Cola?" Echidna cautiously shook the can, hearing the liquid slosh inside, "It's… bubbling? Like a boiling potion."
"It's called a carbonated drink," Natsuki Subaru explained with a smile to Echidna, "Be careful the first time you drink it; it might be a bit stimulating—"
"Woah…"
Before his words finished, Echidna had already taken a tentative sip. In an instant, the Witch's habitually elegant and composed facade showed a slight crack. Her pupils widened slightly, and her slender fingers unconsciously tightened. The tingling sensation of carbonation bubbles bursting on her tongue, mixed with a complex sweet-bitter taste, brought an unprecedented sensory shock to this Witch who had lived for four hundred years.
The ice-cold, crisp liquid slid down her throat, yet left a peculiar warm sensation, making her unable to resist taking another sip.
"This taste…" Echidna frowned slightly, "It's like… a thousand little spirits dancing on my tongue?"
"Hahaha…" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but laugh out loud, "That's quite an apt description. So, not bad, huh?"
"Sweetness with a hint of bitterness… the tingling sensation of bubbles… and an indescribable coolness." Echidna couldn't help but take another small sip, savoring it, then looked up at Natsuki Subaru, "People from your world drink this every day?"
"Pretty much, but drinking too much can make you gain weight." Natsuki Subaru patted his stomach. "Oh right, cola tastes best with some snacks."
As he said this, Natsuki Subaru snapped his fingers, and golden potato chips, crispy fried chicken, and other modern snacks suddenly appeared out of thin air on the table.
"Heh—"
Echidna looked at the black-haired boy who was treating the tea party like his own living room, a black line appearing on her forehead.
"This is my mental space, how in the world did he do that?"
As the Witch of Greed who knew all things, she was well aware that Natsuki Subaru was a visitor from another world, but the specifics of his world's nature remained unfathomable. What concerned her even more was that, according to custom, visitors entering the Dream Castle were forced to face memory trials, just like Emilia was currently experiencing.
Yet Natsuki Subaru's mental world seemed to be tightly sealed by some power, making Echidna's proudly possessed wisdom for the first time hit a wall.
"Besides the Authority of the Witch of Envy…"
"What exactly was this unfamiliar power?"
However, these never-before-seen foods before her truly ignited Echidna's intense curiosity.
"So this was the culinary culture of another world?"
Thinking this, Echidna lightly poked a potato chip with her fingertip, making a crisp sound as she asked: "What is this now?"
"Fried potato slices. Want to try it?" Subaru said, suppressing a laugh.
Seeing this Witch, who knew all things, reveal an expression of unfamiliarity with the world, he was already laughing up a storm internally.
"Hmm, crunchy… savory and delicious…" Echidna elegantly picked up a potato chip, gently placing it in her mouth. As she crunched, her black eyes widened slightly. "It's more flavorful than the moonlight biscuits baked by the spirits."
"Of course!" Natsuki Subaru triumphantly tore open a fried chicken package, its enticing aroma immediately spreading out. "Try this too; I guarantee you won't be able to stop eating it—"
"Wait, wait,"
Echidna suddenly put down the snack in her hand, a dangerous yet captivating glint in her black eyes. "I suddenly have a great interest in your world. Can you tell me more? For instance, your magic system or social structure?"
"We don't have magic where I'm from, but we have science."
Facing the curiosity of the Witch, a native of this world, Natsuki Subaru spoke quite candidly.
"Science?"
Echidna rarely froze. This completely unfamiliar term made her slightly tilt her head, and her white hair cascaded like a waterfall.
"How to put it… it's a field of study that uses theoretical knowledge to explain natural phenomena." Natsuki Subaru gestured with both hands, explaining to Echidna, "For example, this cola is produced through chemical reactions. Of course, these principles can't be explained in half an hour."
He hadn't expected the Witch of Greed's thirst for knowledge to be so strong.
"However, I have a question for you." Echidna suddenly leaned closer, her silvery-white hair falling onto the tea table, carrying a faint, ethereal fragrance, "How did you create objects out of thin air in my space just now?"
As she spoke, she lightly tapped Natsuki Subaru's chest with her slender finger. Although it was only a spiritual body, the sensation from her fingertip was incredibly real. Natsuki Subaru could feel a subtle magical energy attempting to probe the energy flow within his body.
"Oh, that…" Natsuki Subaru subtly stepped back, avoiding Echidna's touch, "It's simple: you just think it, and it happens."
"Is that so?" Echidna narrowed her eyes, a hint of disbelief flashing in her black pupils. Her voice suddenly dropped, carrying an intriguing tone, "Then can you tell me, what is that special power within you?"
"Oh, that…" Natsuki Subaru winked, teasingly saying, "It's a secret!"
Speaking of which, this should be related to his powerful mental strength… As a Level 60 Shadow Monarch, his mental strength attribute was already close to 300 points, over thirty times that of an ordinary person. With this level of mental strength, materializing objects in a mental space was no difficult feat.
He just hadn't expected Echidna to be able to sense Shadow power. But then again, it made sense. She was the Witch of Greed after all, and he was currently inside a mental space she had constructed.
"What an infuriating answer…" Echidna narrowed her eyes slightly, her silvery-white hair swaying without wind. "You are the first in four hundred years who can keep a secret in my domain."
"Lady Witch, being so inquisitive isn't very polite, you know." Natsuki Subaru casually leaned back in his chair, his fingertips playing with the cola can's pull tab, saying, "Where I'm from, prying into other people's secrets is considered perverted—"
"Perverted?" The Witch's delicate eyebrow rose high, then she quickly regained her elegant and composed demeanor. "What a stingy man…"
"However…" Natsuki Subaru suddenly sat up straight, his tone becoming serious, "If you can tell me in detail the specific situation of Emilia's trial, then I might consider sharing some information you'd be interested in."
"So, that half-elf girl is still occupying your thoughts." Echidna lightly scoffed, taking a sip of cola, the carbonated drink's bubbles bursting at her lips, making her unconsciously twitch her mouth, "She is facing her darkest past. This is a baptism every trial-taker must experience…"
Echidna's gaze drifted to a certain spot in the void, her voice suddenly becoming ethereal, "But unfortunately, she couldn't overcome that hurdle this time."
Following her gaze, the light in the air began to distort, gradually revealing a blurry image.
Emilia was curled up within a giant ice crystal, her silver hair disheveled. Tears on her face had frozen into tiny ice crystals. Her lips continuously parted and closed, seemingly calling out a name.
"Emilia…"
Natsuki Subaru's expression remained as calm as usual. This outcome was already within his expectations. Then, he looked at Echidna and said: "If Emilia takes the trial next time, could you give her some hints or something?"
"The rules of the trial cannot be changed." Echidna shook her head as she spoke, but the next second, a sly glint flashed in her black eyes, and her red lips curved slightly upward, "However… if you are willing to agree to one condition of mine, I can…"
Natsuki Subaru cut Echidna off decisively, not even giving her a chance to finish her condition.
"Oh?" Echidna clearly froze, the cola in her hand tilting slightly. "Why did you refuse so bluntly? We haven't even started discussing the conditions yet?"
"No reason. It's just unnecessary."
Since he had already decided to let Emilia break through the trial with her own strength, there was nothing to discuss.
Although asking Echidna for a backdoor was an option, it was the worst possible approach. Given Emilia's strong-willed nature, she would rather fail repeatedly than accept such charity.
More importantly, he would absolutely not make any deals with Echidna. After all, he knew too well the Witch of Greed's true intentions.
Natsuki Subaru stood up, preparing to leave.
"Wait a moment, Subaru!" Echidna hastily stood up to block him. "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
"Honestly, I don't have anything to ask."
Natsuki Subaru casually shrugged. This was indeed the truth. What he needed to know, he already knew. There was truly nothing he needed to inquire about from this Witch of Greed.
"What?!"
Echidna's expression utterly collapsed for the first time. The mask of eternal composure and elegance showed a clear crack.
"You're lying, aren't you? Impossible!" Echidna shook her head in disbelief, her silvery-white hair swaying with the motion. "I am the Witch of Greed! Everyone in the world—knights, scholars, rulers—all flock to my knowledge like ducks to water. And now, I've made an exception to allow you to ask freely, yet you're completely unmoved!"
Seeing Natsuki Subaru completely unfazed, Echidna uncharacteristically panicked, frantically waving her slender arms, her words growing faster and faster, "Calm down and let's talk properly! I admit I'm not very familiar with the current era, but when it comes to knowledge of the past…"
A rare mix of pride and urgency laced Echidna's voice, "I can confidently say no one can compare to me. Those historical truths that have weathered and vanished over four hundred years—"
"Because compared to the knowledge left by the dead," Natsuki Subaru suddenly dropped his playful expression, slowly saying, "I care more about the living."
"About the true identity of the Witch of Envy, about the truth of the calamity four hundred years ago, the secret sword techniques of the First Sword Saint, knowing the mystery of Great Spirit Puck's birth…"
"Are you not interested in any of this? Don't you want to know?"
Echidna's eyes sparkled with a light almost akin to pleading. This was a stark contrast to the composed Witch from moments before, truly like two different people.
"Sounds impressive, I guess…" Natsuki Subaru looked at Echidna, casually saying, "But right now, I'm more interested in knowing where I can buy delicious candied apples."
Echidna's voice suddenly caught, and a rare look of exasperation appeared on her delicate face.
"Yeah, it's candy on a stick." Natsuki Subaru said, gesturing the length with his hand, "I had it with Emilia in the Royal Capital before. It's coated in sugar, with a sour-sweet apple inside…"
"I… I'm telling you about lost ancient magic! Precious knowledge!" Echidna's voice suddenly rose, the lace on her black dress sleeves trembling slightly, "And you… you're thinking about street candy?!"
Echidna froze as if struck by lightning, her obsidian-like eyes trembling slightly.
After a long pause, Echidna finally found her voice, her tone filled with barely concealed confusion: "…You truly are a strange human. Are you completely uninterested in my knowledge? I am the Witch of Greed, holding the deepest mysteries of this world."
"But I'm not really interested in Witches to begin with." Natsuki Subaru calmly gazed at Echidna, his eyes so clear that the Witch unconsciously averted her gaze, "Even if I listened, it would just be some dusty old tales, and right now…" Then, Natsuki Subaru pointed to his temple, "I have mountains of things to think about and deal with."
"How can this be…!"
The conversation suddenly turned to farewell. Echidna, clearly not having had enough, unconsciously pouted her lips, and her black eyes even glistened with moisture.
This Witch, who had lived for four hundred years, now looked like a little girl whose toy had been snatched away, completely devoid of her usual elegance and composure. The tables had completely turned. Natsuki Subaru effortlessly rendered the oppressive atmosphere carefully cultivated by the Witch utterly ineffective.
Of course, Natsuki Subaru wouldn't be fooled by Echidna's appearance.
"Nevertheless, Echidna, thank you for the tea party invitation. Goodbye."
Natsuki Subaru waved a hand, and his figure began to gradually fade.
"What?! That human can actually leave the Dream Castle I constructed so easily?!"
Watching Natsuki Subaru's gradually fading figure, an unprecedented ripple stirred in Echidna's heart.
This realization made the Witch's mind uneasy. In four hundred years, this was the first being who could come and go freely within her mental domain.
What concerned her even more was that this human clearly harbored many secrets she hadn't been able to unravel.
"Even the 'Book of Wisdom' can only foresee the future trajectory of this world…"
Echidna's fingertip gently traced the open pages on the tabletop. The words recording the future now seemed so pale.
For this boy from another world, the 'Book of Wisdom' could only display the destinies of those related to him, but his own core secrets remained shrouded in a mist.
"Even stranger, he clearly possesses the Authority of Return by Death bestowed by Satella… but why…"
Echidna slightly narrowed her eyes, recalling the aura she sensed during their recent contact. Natsuki Subaru indeed carried the Witch of Envy's aura, but it was so faint it was almost imperceptible. This indicated that he likely had never used this ability.
This discovery made Echidna's heart beat a little faster, unconsciously.
"Does he not know his own ability? Or is it… that he intentionally avoids using it?"
What concerned Echidna was that Natsuki Subaru had never touched the black tea she had meticulously prepared, his wary eyes seemingly having seen through all her calculations.
"What exactly does he know?"
Echidna unconsciously bit her lower lip. This childish gesture made her look exceptionally young.
On the tea table, the untouched black tea had long grown cold. The orange liquid reflected the Witch's pensive expression.
"Hmph! We will meet again, interesting human."
Echidna said petulantly, grabbing a cola and taking a large gulp, only to be forced to cough repeatedly by the sudden bubbles.
Her black dress swayed slightly with her violent coughing, her exquisite makeup appearing a little messy.
"This hateful fellow…"
As she frantically wiped her mouth, Echidna suddenly realized that it had been a very long time since she had experienced such emotional fluctuations. This novel sensation was like the dancing bubbles on her tongue when tasting cola, bringing a slight tingling, yet also making one inexplicably addicted.
"But…"
Echidna's gaze once again fell upon the open 'Book of Wisdom', a meaningful smile curving on her lips. The records about Natsuki Subaru on the pages were undergoing subtle changes. The originally clear text twisted like a stirred water surface.
"A man who can change predetermined fate."
Echidna lightly caressed the pages. This Witch of Greed felt the emotion called anticipation for the first time. She raised the now flat cola and made a toast towards the direction where Natsuki Subaru had vanished.
"Next time we meet, I will definitely uncover all your secrets, Natsuki Subaru-kun."
The breeze swept across the grassland. The pages on the tea table gently fluttered, as if responding to the Witch's vow.
And in the distant beyond, Natsuki Subaru, who was waking up, inexplicably sneezed.
______
New History: A heart of Ice With a Romance System.
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