Subaru opened his eyes and his whole body immediately tensed up. He even began to curl up into a ball before stopping himself. It's okay. It's okay. I'm okay. I'm back.
Subaru: Even with that many deaths, it never becomes painless huh?
He took a deep breath and relaxed his whole body with a sigh, slumping down into the chair.
Subaru: I have to say, freezing to death is still one of my least favorite ways to go. It's probably second only to Capella's godforsaken authority of Lust.
He shuddered at the recollection of said memory.
Subaru: I'll never forget how it feels to have your consciousness shattered into hundreds of pieces.
?: In the past, Subaru always said the rabbit was his least favorite so I guess this means that you never encountered it. Fascinating.
Had he not relaxed himself, Subaru would have likely thrown the pendant again right then and there. Instead, he thought, I guess there's nothing to be lost talking to this thing.
?: It wounds my maidenly heart to be referred to as such.
Subaru: Did… did you just read my fucking mind?
?: As per our contract, we share every sensation you have. That includes your pain and your thoughts.
Wow that's… a massive breach of my privacy! My rights! Wait I'm starting to sound like Regulus.
?: It's not a breach of privacy if the sharing is consensual.
Okay I think I'm done with you... talking crystal, lady, thing. How do I break our contract that I do not remember signing?
?: Sigh. No matter what about you changes you're still you.
The voice began to speak to him like a primary school teacher explaining a math problem for the eighth time, "Like. I. Said. Before. Touch the pendant around your neck if you desire answers to your questions."
Subaru: Alright, alright. But you better be honest with me after I do.
Impatient and fed up as always, Subaru grabbed a hold of the black crystal. He felt it begin to have a pulse of some kind, like it had a life of its own. The pulse sped and strengthened until it matched Subaru's own heartbeat. This better not be some Lion's Heart Authority of Greed bullshit.
And with that, Subaru blinked and found himself in a vast open field. There were small green mounds in every direction seemingly endlessly but before him was the only notable one. Atop it lay a table and two chairs, hidden in the shade of a parasol. There sat a woman Subaru had never seen before.
She had pure white hair but wore a black dress akin to those used when grieving. She was slender and not very well endowed yet she was beautiful. The green butterfly ornament in her hair complimented her looks wonderfully.
The woman gave him a knowing smile.
?: My, it's been quite some time since you've stared at me with such intensity. Have you finally begun to see me as a woman?
Ignoring that comment, Subaru yelled out, "Alright I touched your damn crystal. Now answer my questions."
The woman simply gestured to the seat across from her as she closed her eyes and took a sip from her teacup. Subaru sighed, walked up the mound, and sat in the chair. He glared at her expectantly.
Subaru: Well?
The woman began to loudly sip from her tea cup as Subaru maintained his glare. This went on for a full minute. How the hell is there even that much tea in the cup?
Subaru: You know if you want me to drink your damn tea you could just ask.
Seeing no change in the woman's behavior, he grabbed the tea cup before him and chugged it in three seconds flat. Slamming the cup down on the table, he continued to glare, "Happy?"
She lowered her cup and stared at him with a smirk, "You seem rather eager to gulp down my bodily fluids like that."
Subaru: Your- sigh of course it's something like that. First it was Capella's dragon blood sharing and now it's piss tea. What's next? Swapping Spit with Sirius?
?: I never said which bodily fluid it was. For all you know, it could be my blood as well.
Subaru: Whatever. I've tasted plenty of blood and stuff far worse than piss. I'll never get the sewage taste of a mabeast out of mouth.
?: Fascinating.
Subaru: So you gonna answer my questions now?
Pouting, she replied, "As always, you're still no fun."
?: In the order that you asked them: No one's physically there but you, I am the Witch of Greed Echidna, Satisfaction, Petra, She's a maid under Roswaal's employ from Arlam village, she remembers Subaru but not you, that whore has feelings for Subaru because he made up for her useless and reliant nature, Echidna, I was referring to your previous loop, the Sword Saint is not insane but is merely filled with self hatred, Subaru gave him a place to go after secretly taking away the place he was already happy at, he hopes to be Subaru's friend but thinks himself unworthy, and he had his trust in the one person he can still rely on shatter to pieces.
Subaru: …
Echidna: Fascinating.
With that, she noiselessly took her tea cup to her lips and took another sip, awaiting his response.
Subaru: …
Echidna: …
"The Witch of Greed", huh? I wonder if there's other ones too, like with the archbishops...
Subaru: …
Echidna: …
Subaru: Repulsive.
Echidna: …
Subaru: You failed to answer my final question, Witch of Greed.
Echidna: I promised you answers to your questions but never to all your questions.
Subaru: Can you answer it now?
Echidna: I'm fairly certain that I can.
Subaru: …
Echidna: …
Subaru: Well?
Echidna: What?
Subaru: Answer the question!
Echidna: What question?
Subaru: Sigh Of course you're like this.
Echidna: Sips tea.
Subaru: Echidna, the Witch of Greed, I demand that you tell me immediately how I can break our contract, that I have no memory of forging with you.
The smile faded from her face as she gave Subaru a serious look, "I will tell you if you fulfill some requirements."
Subaru: And those requirements would be?
Echidna: First, I would like to know for what reason you would desire to break this contract that you prostrated yourself at my feet and begged for in the first place.
Subaru: Clearly, I was either triple insane and I've gone back down to double cause I'd never make such a contract that would impede on my autonomy to such a degree. I am Pride after all.
Echidna: …
"are you not truly Natsuki Subaru?" Was that clown right?
Subaru: … or I've found myself in the shoes of another Natsuki Subaru who made all these terrible decisions for me.
Echidna: Fascinating.
After several minutes of silence filled only with the gentle sound of the passing wind, Subaru stood up from his chair. He did a quick stretch and looked back down at Echidna.
Subaru: Are you able to see what I do even without my wearing of your crystal?
Echidna: In a way, yes.
Subaru: Sigh. I trust that Natsuki Subaru had a very, very good reason for doing this with you so I'll hold off on the divorce papers for now. But I'll be back to break this contract next time we speak unless circumstances change.
Seemingly unconcerned with the prospect of severing their bond, the Witch questioned him largely emotionlessly.
Echidna: Why are you leaving so soon?
Subaru: I have to do the one thing I always do: gather information.
Subaru walked back to the place where he first found himself after touching the crystal. To his surprise, a door had suddenly appeared there. I guess that's the exit then.
He opened the door and turned before entering, his gaze landing on Echidna.
Just like with Elsa. Another useful woman who's so beautiful yet so repulsive. What a fucked up world I live in.
He stepped through and exited Echidna's Castle of Dreams.
She sipped her tea calmly, a smile on her face. It seemed far more genuine than the one she'd shown to Subaru for the duration for their meeting.
"Just when I thought my love would fade. You never cease to satisfy me, Natsuki Subaru."