After the Shogun spent some time with Ram, Garfiel also came over. When he saw her, his body stiffened for a moment before he deliberately looked away and walked over to stand beside Ram.
"..."
The Shogun's cold gaze swept over him once, and she said nothing further. An awkward silence instantly filled the air.
"Why are you here, Garf?"
Understanding the Shogun's attitude, Ram turned to the sharp-fanged boy and asked.
"Of course I'm here to keep watch. Who knows whether that girl really went in for the Trial or not."
Garfiel snorted in disdain, crossing his arms as he stared at the glowing ruins ahead.
"...Lady Emilia is someone who keeps her word. You don't need to worry about that."
Ram no longer looked at him. She stood up and shifted her gaze toward the forest opposite them, her voice calm.
"Hmph. Who knows... I'm not familiar with her. As the Guardian of the Sanctuary, it's my duty to keep watch here."
Garfiel had no intention of leaving. He remained where he stood. The arm that had been broken by the Shogun had already healed—truly worthy of a half-beast's recovery ability. It was absurdly fast.
"If you wish to leave, why don't you undergo the Trial yourself?"
The Shogun finally spoke, clearly addressing Garfiel across Ram.
"..."
Hearing her question, Garfiel did not immediately retort as usual. Instead, his expression turned complicated, his hand clenching tightly.
"Tch... If I could, I would have gone already."
He spoke through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse as if recalling something painful.
"..." ×2
The Shogun and Ram fell silent.
"...Haa."
She chose not to dwell on it further, simply gazing at the distant stars scattered across the night sky.
Hummm~
At that moment, something strange happened—
The Sanctuary ruins, which had been glowing the entire time, began to lose their light. The azure radiance vanished, returning the structure to its usual dim state. The sharp hum of magic gradually faded until everything fell silent.
"?" ×3
All three of them looked on in confusion.
"What happened?"
She instinctively looked toward Garfiel.
"How is this possible?! The Trial is still ongoing, but the light disappeared?! That's impossible!"
Garfiel looked just as stunned. It was clearly the first time he had encountered such a situation—and judging by his expression, it was not a good sign.
The Shogun rolled her eyes at him.
Crackle!
The next moment, she transformed into lightning and shot straight into the ruins through the entrance without hesitation.
If the Trial had stopped midway, then something had most likely happened to the one undergoing it.
And sure enough—
When she reformed inside the Sanctuary, she saw Emilia lying unconscious in the dark space.
Tap! Tap!
She hurried over, crouched down, and lifted Emilia into her arms. Revealing her face, she confirmed that she had merely fainted. Her breathing was steady, though her complexion was pale, as if she had suffered a severe mental shock.
"Mm... no... I... I'm not..."
Even in her unconscious state, Emilia murmured softly, as though still trapped in a dream. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.
"...Emilia?"
The Shogun called out, but there was no response.
Just as she was about to carry her out of the ruins, the dark surroundings suddenly lit up once more with a familiar white glow. This time, the light enveloped her entirely—and in the next instant, her consciousness began to drift away.
"...!"
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes and instinctively scanned her surroundings—only to find herself in an extremely familiar place.
"...Inazuma?"
She murmured in surprise.
A dreamlike forest at night. Fireflies glowing softly. Pale violet flowers and grass. A clear stream. And the crimson torii gates.
Yes—this was a place she knew all too well.
The Chinju Forest of Inazuma.
Why?
Why was she here?
"Well~? Does this bring back some familiar memories?"
A somewhat familiar female voice sounded behind her.
"Echidna..."
She turned to look at the white-haired girl walking toward her.
This time, Echidna was dressed differently. Her usual black dress had been replaced by an elegant Inazuma-style kimono. It was primarily black, adorned with butterfly patterns in red and blue. Her feet, clad in white tabi socks, stepped lightly upon the stream, the damp fabric faintly revealing the skin beneath. Even her long hair had been styled into a side braid like that of a married woman. She seemed to have even applied light makeup.
The Shogun did not understand why she had dressed this way. Was it simply to match the environment?
"What do you think~? I think it suits me quite well, don't you?"
Echidna spun lightly in front of her.
"...It suits you."
She sighed and answered honestly.
"Hehe~ Thank you. Looks like my effort wasn't wasted."
Echidna smiled with satisfaction, touching her hair.
"..."
The Shogun silently watched her.
"You're wondering how I know what exists in your memories, aren't you?"
Echidna smiled knowingly, then turned and gracefully walked to a nearby stone platform. She sat down lightly and leaned back, patting the space beside her for the Shogun to join her.
"...Let me guess. This Sanctuary is your domain. Anyone inside it can have their memories read by you?"
The Shogun walked over and sat beside her, leaning back in the same posture, calmly analyzing.
"Smart~ But I'm not as powerful as you think. You're special—you don't belong to this world. I can only see a small portion of your accessible memories. To be honest, this little area is everything I can see. I don't have the 'permission' for the rest."
Echidna looked at her with slight regret.
"Permission?"
The Shogun was taken aback.
Even she did not know about that.
"Mm... Your mind is fascinating. It's like a machine, managed by higher-level authority. I can't break through it at all."
"...Then why is this the only memory you can see?"
She asked.
"Because... for you, this seems to be the place you can never forget."
Echidna answered.
Never forget?
Why?
Chinju Forest?
Was it because of Ayaka? The memory of watching her dance?
"Looks like you figured it out. So? Tell me~ What is it?"
Echidna leaned in like a curious child.
"...I'm not telling you."
The Shogun shot her a flat look and refused outright.
"Eh~? So stingy. And here I went through all the trouble of dressing up like this."
Echidna pouted.
"...Was it you who caused Emilia to faint?"
The Shogun shifted the topic, her gaze turning slightly colder, though her tone remained calm. She still held a relatively favorable impression of this witch.
"You really blame everything on me, don't you? She simply couldn't withstand the mental impact. If you want to blame someone, blame her weak mental endurance. I didn't do anything."
Echidna shrugged indifferently.
"But you observed everything, didn't you?"
She countered.
"So what if I did? My role is only to guide her into the process. Besides, the Trial is meant to force people to face truths they refuse to accept or have forgotten. It's a test of one's life. It's very difficult."
As she spoke, Echidna slowly leaned closer again, her alluring body pressing gently against the Shogun's. Their skin made contact.
"You... what are you doing?"
Feeling the warmth of her body, the Shogun's face flushed slightly. She glared at her, though she subtly shifted away.
"Oh my~ you're blushing. How cute. Could it be that the Shogun has a pure maiden's heart?"
"You... mm... stop joking."
She tried to move further away, but Echidna did not allow it.
"Hey~ Shogun... how about we make a deal?"
Echidna wrapped an arm around her, resting her chin lightly on the Shogun's shoulder as she whispered intimately.
"Speak plainly. Stop touching me like this."
She stopped resisting, forcing herself to remain composed as she met Echidna's teasing gaze.
"Hehe~ It's simple. Tell me about those locked memories of yours—whether they're beautiful, painful, or moments you shared happily with certain people. Tell me everything, and I'll let that girl pass the Trial. How about it~?"
As she spoke in a soft, enticing voice beside her ear, Echidna's hand slid onto her leg. Her slender fingers traced slowly from the Shogun's calf up to her thigh, even teasingly snapping against the edge of her black stocking.
Snap.
Th-This girl is... a pervert?!
"///!"
That instantly made her flush deeply, her face turning bright red. She bit her lip unconsciously, and the alluring expression she revealed made even Echidna's heart itch slightly. Although her earlier actions had been an act meant to please the Shogun, her heart still couldn't help but race a little.
"Well~?"
She whispered softly by her ear, the fingers resting on the Shogun's thigh even attempting to push further.
Snap!
"—!"
But the Shogun did not let her succeed. She had no intention of letting a stranger take advantage of her. The moment she sensed Echidna's hand trying to move further, she grabbed it firmly. Perhaps she used too much force, because it hurt.
"Ah—w-wait—ow, that hurts—!"
Echidna immediately trembled in pain. The seductive expression she had been putting on collapsed instantly, replaced by a somewhat pitiful tone.
"If you touch me like that again, I won't be so polite."
The Shogun warned her coldly.
"Ugh—d-don't be mad..."
Echidna behaved herself, pouting as she complained softly.
"You really shouldn't be called the 'Witch of Greed.'"
The Shogun flung her wrist aside.
"Then what should I be called?"
Echidna asked blankly.
"You should be called the 'Witch of Lust.'"
She replied flatly.
"Pfft... sorry, but that position is already taken~ Otherwise I might have considered taking the role."
Echidna returned to her usual demeanor, crossing her arms as she joked.
"You are truly shameless."
"...I-I'm embarrassed too, you know!///"
Echidna flushed as well, smoothing her hair and abandoning her earlier seductive posture.
"Then why did you do that?"
The Shogun asked, displeased.
"Well, Emilia is always being all lovey-dovey with you, so I thought you liked that kind of thing. I figured you might loosen up toward me. Who would've thought you're this pure? We're both girls—what's the harm in a little touching?"
Echidna twirled a strand of hair, looking disappointed that her plan had failed.
"Both girls? Hah... Are we that close? Why should I let you touch me however you like?"
The Shogun crossed her arms, looking at her as if she were ridiculous.
"...Hey, are you looking down on me?"
Echidna frowned.
"...Not to that extent."
The Shogun turned her gaze away.
"Ah—you're looking away! You definitely are thinking that, aren't you?"
Echidna leaned in front of her, puffing her cheeks.
"So what if I am? Have some shame."
She retorted bluntly.
"Have some shame? You think I'm not embarrassed? There are plenty of people who would beg for my attention. It's only because you're... well, beautiful enough that I don't mind doing this. Otherwise I wouldn't lower myself like this. Don't think I'm the type to chase after someone who rejects me!"
Echidna turned her head aside, trying to cool her flushed face.
Though she would go to great lengths for knowledge, she still chose her targets. If it were a man—or someone she disliked—she wouldn't bother.
"...Haa. I can't be bothered with you."
After shooting her a reproachful glare, the Shogun turned and walked away.
"Eh? W-wait—!"
Echidna's expression changed immediately. She hurried after her, trying to grab her, but the Shogun easily avoided her grasp.
"Come on, don't be like that. I went through all the trouble of dressing up for you. At least stay with me a little longer."
Echidna followed closely behind, stubbornly trying to grab her wrist again and again, only to have it shaken off each time.
"Wait! Y-you're not actually mad, are you?"
She hurried ahead and blocked the Shogun's path, asking cautiously.
"...I'm not angry. Why would I be angry? Why would I get angry at a pervert like you?"
The Shogun steadied herself, though she avoided meeting Echidna's bright eyes. Her tone carried a faintly petulant edge, making her seem oddly cute—like a sulking child.
"Ugh... s-sorry... I was wrong! I shouldn't have touched you, okay?"
Echidna quickly apologized. She pulled the Shogun back to the stone platform and made her sit down, coaxing her gently like someone trying to calm an upset lover.
"..."
Though she allowed herself to be brought back, the Shogun still kept a straight face and remained silent.
"I'm sorry... don't be mad. I really thought you'd be okay with that kind of contact. I even practiced a little... but it all went to waste."
Echidna, now blushing herself, sat beside her and tried to coax her softly.
"I-if you still feel like you were taken advantage of... like you've been... wronged... then you can... touch me instead!///"
Having no other choice, Echidna compromised. She took the Shogun's hand and pressed it against her chest, then guided it to her thigh beneath the hem of her kimono.
"Go ahead, touch me. Take back whatever you lost earlier. That should make it even, right?"
She shook her hand gently, asking through her embarrassment.
"..."
The Shogun remained silent, not even looking at her.
"If not, you can hit me instead... Just—since I'm a girl, um... could you not hit my face? Ah, whatever—anything is fine. Just... don't ignore me like this, okay?"
Echidna's tone carried a hint of pleading now, her expression turning increasingly pitiful, as if being ignored would truly torment her.
"!"
Seeing her like this, the Shogun suddenly grew irritated and pinched her thigh hard.
Squeeze—
The soft flesh deformed under her grip.
"Ahh—! It hurts, it hurts!"
Echidna immediately bent over, her body trembling. Her beautiful legs curled slightly as she crouched down, clutching the spot that had been pinched, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead.
"S-stop... it really hurts..."
She pleaded.
The Shogun released her soon after, withdrawing her hand and giving her a look that clearly said she deserved it.
"Serves you right."
She scoffed.
"Haa... couldn't you be gentler? There's already a mark..."
Echidna steadied herself against the stone platform and stood up, lifting the hem of her kimono slightly to reveal the red mark on her pale thigh.
"Does it feel good?"
The Shogun asked mockingly.
"Honestly... you're probably the only one who dares to act this boldly in front of a witch."
Echidna patted her thigh and let the fabric fall back into place, her expression tinged with mild grievance.
"Is that so? I wonder who started it first."
The Shogun crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.
"Hehe... you're really interesting. I like you more and more."
Echidna's smile never faded.
"..."
The Shogun said nothing. She felt that responding would only encourage her further.
"Haa... to think you'd ignore me like this. Are you really not interested in my beauty? Or are you just used to being surrounded by beautiful people~?"
Echidna feigned sadness, playing with a strand of her hair as she spoke teasingly.
Maybe that was true... but it didn't matter.
"What exactly do you want?"
The Shogun asked, clearly growing impatient.
"It's simple... my earlier proposal. What do you think~?"
As she spoke, Echidna suddenly moved closer again, pressing in front of her. One leg hooked around the Shogun's thigh while her hands braced on either side of her, trapping her in an intimate, wall-pin-like posture.
"Tell me those locked memories of yours, and I'll let that girl pass the Trial. A very fair deal, wouldn't you say~?"