〜Inside, the Theater〜
"B-Body fluids?!"
Emilia and the others were endlessly astonished.
"To let… to actually let Subaru-kun drink that sort of… drink that sort of…"
Rem couldn't help but grit her teeth.
"This really is… hard to understand."
Anastasia shook her head with a bitter smile.
"…T… Teacher."
However, there was one person here who wasn't repulsed, or rather, was endlessly envious. Roswaal put a hand to his lips, staring blankly at the cup that had been drained dry.
"…"
What a vulgar fellow.
Ram remained silent, thinking this inwardly.
—
[ "Pfft—!" Subaru kicked his chair away and stood up, spitting out the body fluids he had just drunk, falling to his knees and dry-heaving repeatedly.
"What the hell kind of ghost stuff did you make me drink, you bastard?"
"That's so hurtful. I actually think I don't look all that bad."
"Even if it's a beautiful girl's body fluids, drinking it without mental preparation is unbearable. Actually, even with mental preparation, who the hell would drink something called body fluids! Damn it, I can't spit it out… Hey, that isn't something harmful to the body, right?"
"Rest assured. It is extremely easily absorbed by the body; it is body fluid, after all. Speaking of which, you truly are a mysterious person. If it were an ordinary person, they would vomit just standing in front of me, you know? Isn't that interesting?"
"What you're saying isn't funny at all, and it's not interesting in the slightest!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"They would vomit? Witches really can't be judged by common sense."
Otto said in surprise.
"But regardless, it feels like Natsuki-san has interesting conversations no matter who he's talking to."
Anastasia remarked.
"Huh? They'd vomit?"
Al voiced his confusion in a low voice.
—
[ After that, this farce finally came to an end.
"Allow me to introduce this place. This is the Witch's Graveyard, used to imprison my own soul after my death. What was invited into this castle was your spirit, not your flesh. In other words, this place exists within my dream."
Echidna introduced the location.
"Inviting only the spirit—is something like that possible? Does that mean my body is currently sleeping outside?"
"Why do you think it's impossible? You should be quite familiar with a space similar to this place, no?" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Windows XP."
Outside the screen, Al once again said words others couldn't understand.
Just looking at this scenery, the first thing I thought of when I saw it was Windows XP.
Al thought.
—
[ "Anyway, if possible, please let me go back. I'm very worried about the person outside who got separated from me. Rather than drinking your body fluids here, I want to reunite with them as soon as possible."
The screen continued. After a simple conversation and understanding the situation, Subaru thought about hurrying back.
"That doesn't matter, but do you really not care?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, leaving my tea party—for others, the chance to speak with the Witch of Greed is something they would beg for, you know… Hmm, faster than expected. As expected of a compatible candidate, your adaptation speed is quite fast. That helps a lot."
"What are… you… talking about?"
"Didn't you drink the tea? That cup of tea catalyzed the Witch Factor, thereby strengthening your resistance. With this, you can speak with me. My, oh my, the benefits of this for both you and me are plentiful, aren't they? Ah, I hope you don't misunderstand; I didn't make you drink the tea out of malice. On the contrary, I find you quite likable… It's a little embarrassing." As she spoke, Echidna's cheeks flushed, revealing a shy expression. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"…Something is wrong."
Wilhelm narrowed his eyes.
From her initial words and actions to her current shyness, it was all too wrong.
In other words, it was all an act.
She was performing behaviors she believed a man would like to curry favor with Subaru-dono.
"What exactly does she want to obtain from Subaru-dono? What is she plotting?"
"…"
Roswaal and Beatrice fell silent for a moment.
"…Don't… please don't use Subaru, Mother."
"Regardless of the objective… I really do envy Subaru."
They both knew that this was manipulating Subaru, and the ultimate goal was to satisfy her thirst for knowledge.
But their views on this were starkly different.
"Oi, oi, don't tell me my Great Self is gonna get another sister-in-law? That bastard Witch, my Great Self won't acknowledge her."
It seemed Garfiel was still in the dark.
—
[ "Regardless, let me confirm one more time. This place is… no, I mean outside. Do you know about the forest outside the ruins? Can I assume that place is the 'Sanctuary'?"
"You really don't give me any face. However, since you asked, I will answer—that is correct. Just as you expect, outside the ruins is the 'Sanctuary'. To be precise, the place protecting this graveyard is called the 'Sanctuary'."
"In that case… my desire to leave has suddenly increased. As long as I tell you, you'll let me out, right?"
"Eh? Yes, I can guarantee that point, you know… Although I say I can guarantee it, if I let you run off just like that, I will be very lonely. Um, don't you have any questions you want to ask me?"
"Sorry, rather than chatting with you, right now I want to reunite with Emilia, who should be outside. Besides… you don't know much about things outside, right? It's rare for you to set up such a big scene, so I'm really sorry, but to be honest, given that, I really don't have any questions I want to ask you…" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Haha, not giving her any face."
Old Man Rom laughed.
"After all, for Subaru, Emilia-sama's safety is more important, nyan."
Felix said.
—
[ "Huh? You're lying, right? How is that possible? I am the Witch of Greed! All the people in the world, all the knights, all the rulers have constantly pursued me to grasp my knowledge. Facing a version of me like this, possessing the qualification to ask questions freely, you actually say something like that."
Echidna waved her hands in a panic, her expression twisted.
"But I don't have much interest in Witches. I have too many things to think about, and I heard you're all dead, so I'm not particularly… Alright, alright, you can let me out now, right? I'll find another chance to keep you company for a tea party."
"To be so dismissive, and even make a promise with a dead person, and a Witch at that… Sigh, as long as you pass through the door, you will wake up outside. Really, this is the first time I've attended a tea party like this."
Then she sighed heavily and spoke again: "Alright, it is time to let you leave the Witch's Tea Party. At the very end, let me state the price. Specifically, the price to be paid is a vow. You are strictly forbidden from speaking about what happened at the tea party; that is the condition. For you, who are bound by a similar contract, this should be simple, right? Oh, right, let me give you one final gift."
Saying this, Echidna reached out and pressed her hand against Subaru's chest.
"I shall grant you the qualification to challenge the 'Sanctuary's' Trial." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"'For you, who are bound by a similar contract, this should be simple, right'… What is Echidna referring to…?"
Outside the screen, Emilia was particularly curious about this sentence.
"Could it be… Mother knows… No, it's only natural."
Beatrice said.
"Teacher naturally knows. She knows about 'Return by Death'. Even the Tome of Wisdom knows, so it goes without saying for Teacher."
Roswaal said.
—
[ Then, on the screen, Echidna withdrew the finger that had been pressing on Subaru's chest and lightly licked the fingertip.
This series of actions seemed to make Subaru's skin crawl.
"You really are a Witch."
"Yes, that is only natural. I am a very bad Witch, you know."
Saying that, she lightly pushed Subaru's forehead with her finger, and then Subaru fell backward as the screen went dark.
"Ah… Ugh…"
When the screen lit up again, he was in a passageway very close to the entrance of the ruins.
"Anyway, I have to get out first, and then reunite with Emilia and the others…" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Oh! Looks like my Great Self is about to make an appearance!"
Garfiel said excitedly.
—
( Translator-kun: yeah, your Great Self... let's see how you behave, Garfiel. )