This first chapter is a sort of a prologue to the main story, so it'll be really similar to both episodes 37 and 38. The main big events and changes don't happen till later in the chapter, though there are differences in dialogue in the early half. Still, I'd suggest you read it all just to get an idea of what's going on.

Oh, and one more thing!

I want to give a big thanks to RushAlias and Infinite The Celestian for helping me with this fanfic! They were the ones who gave me great ideas and are even responsible for a good portion of the new dialogue you see, so without them, this fanfic would've been radically different.


"Would you be willing to form a contract with me, Natsuki Subaru?"

A look of curiosity would form upon Subaru's face as he leaned forwards ever so slightly… A contract. He hadn't heard such a term since his fourth loop in the mansion. You know, it might not be that bad of an idea, I mean, Echidna has only helped him so far! Of course, he did have some minor doubts about her goals in his mind, so he decided to inquire.

"A contract?"

"Yes, a formal contract with the Witch of Greed. Would you enter into one with me?"

"What happens if I do?"

"It's very simple. From now on, whenever you run into an obstacle you can't overcome, when you feel you're being crushed by the weight of your sins, I will give you my support."

Echidna explained, putting a hand to her chest as she'd close her eyes and give a smile slightly bigger than usual.

"I'm confident in the amount of knowledge I have. I should be able to come up with a way for you to deal with any problem. Above all, I can share in your Return by Death ability."

Eyes widening, Subaru would be surprised with what she could offer… To him, this seemed like quite an attractive offer. A contract, huh?

"What does that mean? You're actually telling me the selling points of making a contract with you?"

"I think it only makes sense to explain the merits of such an act. All the better for me if it makes you lean towards agreeing to it all."

She would raise her arms and hands up as she gave a sort of shrug.

"It's all calculated."

Subaru's eyes were still wide, only now a big of sweat was trickling down his cheek. He'd give out a sigh, before looking up into the sky, just around the umbrella keeping the Witch and Sage Candidate shaded. Subaru just stared into the sky for a few seconds, deep in thought.

"That might not be such a bad idea."

Echidna shot up from her seat, knocking it down in the process as she'd lean over the table and smack her hands down, shaking the cups on the table as a result.

"Meaning?!"

Subaru recoiled back a bit in surprise, with his mouth agape. He was not expecting that!

Echidna just stayed in the same position for a few seconds, before she'd look to the side with a coy expression and a blush, realizing what she just did.

"I mean, uh… Right. If you absolutely insist, I wouldn't mind entering into a contract-"

Trying to act cool again, Echidna would glance back towards Subaru, before getting cut off.

"It's a little late to try and play it cool now! Anyways, how would we form this contract?"

Echidna stood up straight, happy to see that her plan was going perfectly without a hitch.

"To establish a formal contract, you and I need to form a bond between our souls."

The Witch of Greed walked around the table, raising her hand to Subaru in preparation for the contract.

"First, we raise our palms to each other, like this."

She'd explain while keeping the palm of her hand out and facing Subaru.

Without saying a word Subaru would stare at Echidna's face for a few seconds, before looking down and sighing. He was going to do this! Subaru began reaching his hand out, when suddenly…

An explosion sounded as a bright pink light along with many darker pink hearts filled the air, mixing with a lot of kicked-up dust. A crater was left where the table and chairs once more, with them most likely having been thrown far away if not outright reduce to dust also.

"Wha- What?!"

With the dust clearing, a blond, busty woman would be standing at the center of the crater, her fist firmly planted in the ground. She wore an outfit that consisted of a white cloak and purple underclothes underneath, along with white sleeves that ended off in pink-outlined hearts. A cute expression would be plastered across her face, which, in actuality, was a very outraged expression of hers.

"I'm going to have to put a stop to that contract!"

She rose her head, it becoming clear who it was (if it wasn't already). Minerva, the Witch of Wrath. Tears would be at the edges of her eyes, her clearly being beyond enraged.

"The Witch of Wrath?!"

"I won't accept it!"

"So you're after him, too? I suppose you're jealous."

"If it's to save him from you, yes! I'd contract him any day to save him from what torture you'd put him under! This is outrageous!"

Minerva put her hands in the air, as she'd bounce up and down a bit. She spouted out what she thought without thinking, as per usual. She was a more action-oriented person rather than one who sits down and spends time thinking after all. Normally she is on good terms with Echidna, seeing as Echidna does actually help people sometimes, but as soon as she saw Subaru's Return by Death, she immediately figured out what Echidna was going to do… Abuse it. She couldn't let such a thing happen to someone like Subaru who had to go through so much suffering already. Hell, she wouldn't want such a thing to happen to anyone!

"I'm absolutely boiling with anger!"

"How is she even here? Don't you have to swap places with the other witches to let them appear?... Wait, save me? Torture? What is she talking about Echidna?"

"That's a lie! She's a bad-natured jerk who plays mean tricks like that for no reason! She'll try to use you and your Return by Death to satisfy her own selfish greed!"

Wrath said aggressively (who would've thought?) as she'd point towards Echidna. Subaru turned to her to see what she had to say. He couldn't imagine Echidna doing such a thing, especially not after helping him so much. Maybe Minerva really did want to try and steal him from Echidna.

"Well, I didn't want to keep popping witches into existence and let one of them take you from me, and I wouldn't say torture, that'd be the overstatement of the century."

Echidna used a metaphorical phrase she found in Subaru's world from his world… She knew if she could feel familiar enough, and friendly enough, she would quell any doubt that may arise or has arisen. That's simply just how the human mind works, and unsurprisingly, it worked. Subaru was very fond of Echidna, especially since she was there to comfort him when he spoke about his Return by Death. Using phrases from his homeland made him feel even more comfortable and at ease around her, quelling the worries he had about her down significantly.

"Stop being taken in so easily by all of Echidna's smooth-talking! It pisses me off!

Snapping her head away to face a different direction, she'd close her eyes at the end of her statement, the tears of rage still visible. Minerva didn't want another innocent person to fall victim to Echidna's greed, let alone one who has suffered so much already.

"Also, she hasn't even told you what parts of the contract…"

She'd stomp one foot into the ground, kicking up dust as she just grew more and more wrathful.

"Would be…"

Her other foot stomped into the ground, this time making a substantially bigger dust cloud and an airwave, causing Subaru to rear his arms up as to not get dust in his eyes.

"Bad for you!"

"H- Hang on! 'Bad' for me?! Is Echidna's contract really going to be torturous?!"

"She's talking about your payment for contracting with me. I think calling it bad and torturous is a bit of an exaggeration, though."

A look of confusion would spread across his face… Echidna never said something about payment when they were originally going to form the contract. Was he being deceived?

"What is it you want from me, then? What payment do I have to give?"

"It's very simple. Everything you feel, everything you think, everything that remains in your heart, the future as you know it, anything you accomplish, all potential within you, all the fruit of the unknown that is borne from your very existence…"

Echidna would turn her head towards Subaru.

"I want a taste of it."

A look of doubt would spread across his face… The seeds of doubt were planted, and now Subaru really didn't know if he could trust Echidna. She never spoke to him of such payment, even though it didn't sound so bad… Maybe she was withholding even more information?

"Th- That's all true… B- But don't assume she j- just told you everything…"

"The Witch of Lust?"

He exclaimed in shock, as he turned to the new arrival. A third witch appeared, Carmilla, out of nowhere once more… This was getting weird to Subaru. So many witches were appearing and warning him about Echidna's contract being a bad idea, were they really all right?

Carmilla's reasons for warning Subaru were a bit more selfish than Minerva's. She was the type who held grudges and seeing as Echidna sent Carmilla to get yelled at Subaru, she wanted revenge, so she decided to ruin this contract. It was a win-win to be honest, for both Carmilla and Subaru.

"E- Echidna-chan… Isn't lying… But there's a lot… She's hiding from you."

"Don't bother listening to these two, Natsuki Subaru."

Echidna said as Subaru turned back towards her.

"Once you have formed a contract with me, I will, without fail, guide you to the future you desire."

"This wouldn't be the promise you always proceed with 'In the end…' would it?... Hah…"

"And who are you?!"

Turning to the side Subaru would see yet another witch appear, slothfully lazing on the ground.

"The Witch of Sloth, Sehkmet… Hah… Just letting you know my name for the record and all… Hah…"

Subaru could tell Sehkmet was the true embodiment of Sloth, she kept exhaling as if she was out of breath from just talking even! This witch seemed like a far cry from the Sin Archbishop he once had to face.

"You're the sixth-"

"I'm only here as a watchdog to preserve the fairness of this place… Hah… But I will fulfill my obligation to her… Hah…"

"Oh, Baru, you're here? Is everyone here now? That's unusual!"

"Ahahah~ It's been a long time since we had a tea party. You should have invited me, too."

Now there were six of the Seven Witches of Sin here, and Subaru was in shock at how fast they were appearing. Shit, Echidna damn lied to him about only one witch at a time being able to exist. There are six in existence right now!

"Why do you guys keep appearing one after another?! What do you want from me?!"

"I believe I told you already… Hah… It's always the promise that is preceded by 'In the end…'… Hah…"

"In the end?'…"

Subaru would turn back to look directly at Echidna, as the emotion of worry would take hold of his mind. He needed to ask something…

"Echidna, you said you'd guide me to the best possible future, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did. It was true."

"And with your help, would I arrive to the best possible future by following the best possible path?"

Silence… Subaru's tone would grow ever so slightly more aggressive, while his face began filling with an expression of disbelief.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Answer me, Echidna!"

More silence… Echidna wasn't responding, she was purposefully trying to withhold information. Maybe Minerva was right… Maybe it would be better to take Minerva on her offer… Just maybe.

"Answer me, Witch of Greed!"

Echidna let out a short sigh.

"For the purpose of attaining the future you desire, you must accept any sacrifices along the way. Is that not the resolution you made, Natsuki Subaru?"

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!"

"No, I will not wait. You are the one who needs to understand better! Just think about it!"

Echidna would put her arms and hands into the sky as she began giving her speech.

"The Return by Death that you possess is an incredible Authority. You do not comprehend how it is truly to be used. You can redo the world any number of times before you arrive at the result that you desire. To a researcher, this is the ultimate ideal manifesting in physical form. Is that not so? By rights, you should only be able to obtain one result for any particular thing. You can make excessive amounts of varied deductions and suppositions about the results. But there is usually but a single result. You can never repeat the exact same conditions in search of a different result. The conditions all shift: time, environment, memory, procedures. 'Back then, if I'd only changed one thing, the results would be different.' This is not in the realm of ideals but of dreams and delusions. Because I have the heart of a researcher, your Authority truly makes my mouth water. With 'identical conditions' and 'verification of differences' secured, one can identify a 'proper result' and a 'variant result.' How could I not covet that? With it before me, how could I not test various possibilities? Of course, I will not coerce you to use Return by Death. You will use that power for the sake of the result you desire. And I shall lend my wit as much as you please so that your desire might be granted. I have high hopes that the great many results that shall be borne from this shall serve to satisfy my inquisitive mind. No one would punish a girl for wanting such a small thing, surely? Your desire for a future and my curiosity shall be satisfied together. Perhaps this makes you uneasy, for I do not know the future, either. I will not purposefully lead you to a mistaken future in order to test the results. All Unknowns are equal before me. By mulling and struggling against the same problems, the answer will come. This makes necessary the highest form of relationship between us. I swear I shall protect you with all my heart. But that does not change the fact that I cannot interfere with reality. If a physical obstacle stands before you, I can expect that challenging it will break your mind and body many times over. If it comes to that, I genuinely intend to exert my every power to protect your mind. I will not tell you there are no ulterior motives involved in that. But I don't want you to think that I am calculating everything because of my inquisitive mind. I do think fondly of you, and it is a fact that my maidenly heart wishes to be of aid to you. I am repeating myself, but you and I are ideal compatibilities. I can say it plainly. I will use your power, and you will use me for the sake of your 'optimal future.' It is my genuine desire to be a woman used for your own convenience. Though it would only be in this dream world, should you desire it, I do not mind using this body of mine to comfort you. I shall happily grant it to you. Oh my, that might not be the best thing for the people you care for, that silver-haired half-elf and that blue-haired demon…they who you have sworn to save and protect without fail. Not that I can claim any particular opinion toward them, but at any rate, please take it as expressing how strong, how unshakable my feelings are. Many difficulties shall befall you in the future as well. Your resolve shall lead you to challenge them, but that is tragic. I will become the beacon that lights your path. So, too, will I be the bonds you wish to protect. Your questions, your burdens, your feelings, your hopes…unexpectedly, through the Trial, you have taught me just how much value these things hold. Certainly, to you, the scenes you saw might have been Hell itself. But given the choice between knowing beforehand and ignorance, I wish to praise the will to learn even such tragic facts. With these serving as your gruel, you shall stretch a hand toward the future, even at the cost of your life. That Trial was necessary so that you might learn there might be sacrifices made for that future's sake. As you use Return by Death more and more, perhaps your emotions might fray, perhaps the deaths of people precious to you might fail to move your heart, but most of all, you might have to lose some part of yourself in order to arrive at the place at which you are destined to reach. The Trial prevented that end. I did that, in order to protect you. If those scenes pained your heart, putting you on the verge of breaking, I do not exaggerate in saying I did it for that sake. Because it would serve as the linchpin for your moving forward, I accepted it. With my words, I shall grant you the strength to advance forward. I will console you, I will scold you, I will even love you. Or if it is hatred you require, I will devote that to you, all for you. You like girls who devote themselves to you, yes? You need me. By yourself, you cannot grasp the future. It is none other than I who is the most suitable girl for you. —You need me. And I need you. Already, there is none other than you who can satisfy my curiosity. I mean, I've already discovered you. You broadened my world. Through you, I, said to be the Witch bearing the greatest intellect in the world, have tasted the fruit of the Unknown once more. If you want to use that power to save someone, then save me. Having even the crumbs of that noble thought is enough for me. Please. I want you to trust me. Perhaps you think I deceived you because of the fact that I did not expose enough of what I truly thought beforehand. I wanted to get the timing right. If I exposed these feelings while our relationship was still shallow, you would probably have pushed me away. I did not want that. I could not endure that. That goes for you too, yes? If you lost me as a collaborator, your heart would surely be broken. We are both working toward our optimal ends. And I know what that optimal end is. I can help you. Through infinite trial runs, you will arrive at the future, albeit with your heart worn down and scarred by the ordeal. Let me do this. I will never betray your trust. Certainly, my heart might be attracted to the resulting choices, and my inquisitive heart may waver toward paths other than that which is optimal. I cannot hold my own greed in check enough for me to tell you that will never happen. I acknowledge that. But I will gloss over nothing. I will speak openly and honestly. Even if the result of that will damage your trust, I will expend no effort to win that trust back. No matter what might happen, I will, without fail, bring you to the future you desire. I absolutely, absolutely will. So as the choices necessary for that become clear, would you not let me be the one to choose? It will be precisely according to the preamble for the pact: I will grant what you desire, what it is that you seek. It will be no more and no less than this. After that, how much you permit your body to be sliced for the sake of that which you desire and crave is up to you. I have conveyed my resolve. Next, I want to hear yours. I want you to demonstrate that you, who would form a pact with me, who would benefit from my cooperation, have the enduring spirit required to arrive at the future without fail. It is you, the first and only one to overcome the second Trial, who can puff out your chest and speak these words with pride. Do this, please me, and I shall release you from the tomb and guide you to the third Trial. Beyond that rests the liberation of the Sanctuary. In so doing, the precious people most important to you, the people you care about held captive in the Sanctuary, will be saved. For the sake of this, you will undergo a true Trial. For the sake of that, seize me, use me, do with me as you please as you let your greed rage, and we shall grasp the future together. This is everything I have to offer to aid you and find what you desire, what you seek. I intend to peel back everything honestly and earnestly. I will not allow the other girls around us to interfere any longer. It is as you said: This is a matter between you and I alone. I want you to give me your answer. I have told you everything… Truly the naked truth. Passionately. This might be close to love. A vow of love. So how will you respond to my love? I want a reply. This reply, after all, will be another thing serving to satisfy my curiosity."

Upon Echidna's face would be what could only be viewed as an adorable smile, a cute smile, one that any man would fall for… But alas, this was only a mask for the truth before. In reality, Echidna was a witch. Truthfully the most witch-like of them all. It was absurdly clear to Subaru why she was called the Witch of Greed by this speech. Covered by her cute smile would be a wicked grin, a smirk befitting for a witch. She would do anything to satisfy her endless curiosity, and right now Subaru was the one who might be able to.

"Echidna…"

"Yes?"

"You're going to use me?"

"I am. And you can do the same to me. That's what this contract is for. If you want to criticize me for using it as a means to keep you as my own, I'll accept that. It's the truth after all."

"It's not as if I've never considered that your intentions might not be 100% good…"

Subaru would put his hands to his face as he looked up. He felt deceived, betrayed even. Hell, he even sounded like he was on the verge of tears.

"But… that's just way beyond the pale!"

"I don't quite understand what you find so problematic."

"Everything about your attitude is so infantile and shallow! It's all completely superficial!"

Subaru would release his hands from his face as he looked at Echidna, his hands now making some hand gestures as he spoke. Subaru now truly did not want to contract Echidna, all of this was a scheme from the start, a lie… And now he knew it. There was another witch he'd much rather be with.

"When you laugh, even when you're mad, your attitude is… Echidna, you're incapable of understanding how anyone else feels!"

Seeing how Echidna didn't even give a reaction, his mood would worsen. She was seeming worse and worse by the second.

"This is one of those times when you could get angry…"

He'd trail off, as Echidna closed her eyes, giving a nod.

"I see. You have taught me much. When we next have a chance…"

An expression of anger would spread across her face, just as Subaru requested… She was abnormally good at faking emotions. Such a thing was a really bad trait to have unless you were a movie actor or something.

"I will do just that."

With a snap of her fingers, the table of the tea party would appear, as would seven more chairs, for the six sins and Subaru. Along with its appearance, the crater they were all standing in would promptly disappear, getting replaced with the vibrant green grass of Echidna's dream world.

"But first, why not have a seat? I'd like to discuss our contract a bit more."

Echidna was acting as if she still had everything in the bag. She really believed Subaru was still going to contract her.

"I just remembered… There was one thing I wanted to ask you when I saw you again."

"Oh? What might that be?"

"Once I hear your answer, I think I'll be able to make a choice… You know Beatrice, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. I was deeply involved in her birth, after all."

A gust of wind would blow, allowing Echidna's hair to flow which only added to the dramatics of the situation.

"Beatrice has lived her life under a contract forcing her to wait for 'that person'. I believe that contract was with you."

"True. I'm the one who ordered her to protect The Forbidden Library and await the one who would come for her."

"Then who is 'that person'? How can I set her free?"

Echidna's face would be expressionless, showing no signs of what was going on inside her head right now. Subaru's on the other hand would be of utter longing for the answer, as it was deeply important to him. Beatrice was one of the people he cared the most for in this world.

A smile would quickly overtake her neutral expression as she spoke once more.

"Good question! Whoever could it be?"

A violent expression of shock and anger would overtake Subaru's face, not believing what he just heard. Did Echidna really say that? Was there no 'that person'? Had Beako waiting 400 years… For nothing? Echidna is truly a despicable being.

"What?! You… you're saying you don't even know who Beatrice is waiting for?!"

"I really don't know."

"But why? Weren't you the one who told her to wait for them?"

"You made quite a misunderstanding. I didn't force Beatrice to make that promise so she'd give The Forbidden Library to 'that person'."

"What?"

"That wasn't my goal at all. By making her promise to wait for 'that person' to come for her, I want to find out who she will choose to be 'that person'."

A look of wrath would be spread across Subaru's face, and even more so his terrifying eyes. The same could be said for Minerva, who was boiling with anger at the fact that Echidna would do something so cruel, though she didn't intervene. This was Subaru's discussion.

"Of course, her staying there for 400 years without choosing anyone is one result of that. Her inability to choose anyone so easily all this time and wanting to die as she agonized over whether to keep upholding the contract or not are also results of that."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"I think it's wonderful."

She'd respond without a worry in the world, tilting her head. As this conversation went on, Subaru gradually became more and more enraged. Wrathful.

"Echidna… You are a witch! You're an unfathomable monster beyond all comprehension! And I... I won't take your hand. I know whose hands I want to take. There's a girl who's been tied down by the words you spoke out of pure curiosity, without malice… And there's another who has saved me twice now, once from whatever hell your contract would put me through. I'm going to take their hands. I won't go with you!"

As Subaru finished his sentence darkness spread across the sky, and at the same time all the witches with the exception of Echidna gasped. They realized who among them he wanted to contract (with the exception of Minerva) and they also realized who has just arrived.

"She's here."

"N- No! I have nothing to do with any of this!"

"A really troublesome girl just showed up at a troublesome time to start some troubles… Hah…"

"Oh! I'm feeling very, very hungry!"

A look of utter hate would be across Echidna's face, as one of the few people she truly despised in this world arrived. Subaru would look over to see who it was, and his mouth and eyes would open with utter shock… No this was more. He felt fear. This was someone he never wanted to encounter, ever. To the left of him, a tan girl would be waving her arms to the new arrival and was clearly happy to see her.

"Hey, it's Tella! Long time no see!"

Walking towards them was the embodiment of fear and envy. An icon that everyone of this world hated and revered. A half-elf woman with silver hair who wore a black dress and vale over her head, with some sort of black smoke emitting from her. It was The Witch of Envy, Satella.

"You made it past all those barriers to enter the castle of dreams? Talk about rude."

"Seriously, what is with you? What do you want from me?!"

"For so long… For so very long… I have loved you… And no one else."

Memories in Subaru's memories would flash by, of all those encounters he has had with her and all that he has read about her… He was genuinely scared.

"Stop…"

"I love you."

"Stop it."

"I have loved only you for so, so long."

"I said stop, damn it!"

Subaru yelled as he quickly jerked his head away, taking a few steps back.

"Both you and Echidna are insane! I've had it! I've had it with you both! I won't accept help any of you! I'll find a way to fix everything myself! Isn't that good enough for you?!"

"So you're just going to keep dying, starting over, and making everyone cry? Really?"

Minerva would ask rhetorically, as she'd walk over closer to Subaru with a stern look upon her eyes.

"Must be nice to be you. No matter how everyone feels, you can always make the excuse that you're suffering the most."

"Are you… Are you saying I'm just pretending to see some tragic hero?!"

Putting his hand to his chest, he would look to Minerva with an expression of disbelief and anger. He wasn't pretending at all! This ability was all that he was, and as long as he had it he'd use it to save everyone, no matter how much he suffers.

"No, I'm not. I'm saying that deciding you're the only one who needs to suffer is cowardly. That twisted thinking makes you way more vile than any witch. And above all…"

She'd look towards Satella as Subaru's expression of disbelief would only grow.

"It's really ungrateful to her."

"Vile? Ungrateful? What the hell?"

Subaru would have a smile on his face as he would almost be laughing. It's not that he thought the situation was funny, instead, it was just he found the situation to be so god damn unbelievable that he could even begin to fathom what was going on inside their heads. He's died more times than he could count on both of his hands, let alone once. No person should ever go through that, yet he did, and he went through some of the most painful deaths one could go through… From being ripped apart and eaten alive by The Sizable Hare to bleeding out by Elsa's slashes. These were experiences he never wanted to go through. Hell, Satella just kidnapped him from his home and threw him into this world. If anything, she was in the wrong.

"You're the one who made me like this! All the pain, all the suffers, all of it… Everything… Only happens to me! If I had done nothing would anything be different?! Aren't I stuck with a horrible future anyways?! Who else but me would have done all the things I've done?!"

"…urt… Don't be hurt… Don't suffer… Don't look sad…"

"You have… The nerve to…"

"So… Love…"

"So that's what it all comes down to? You're that desperate for me to love you?!"

"No. Love yourself more."

"Wh-"

Subaru would take a step back in shock. That was not what he was expecting.

"What the hell did you just say?"

"Don't be hurt. Don't grieve. Treasure yourself more."

"You're the one who gave me the ability to Return by Death!"

"I love you, so I want you to love yourself, and protect yourself."

"If I lost this ability out of love for myself, what would I even have left?! There's nothing I can use but my own life! As long as I get hurt more than anybody else, so I can protect them, no one else will ever have to suffer at all! It's not like anyone cares what happens to a loser like me, right? No matter how bad I get beaten up, as long as everyone else makes it to the future, as long as we can start tomorrow without losing anyone… Then…"

He'd pause, as he reflected on the past. On how many times he has died, let alone how bad they were. It was all worth it as long as everyone else survived.

"Rem is gone. If I had been stronger… If I had put myself on the front lines without worrying about what might happen to me… I could've prevented it. I don't want to… To lose anyone else the way I lost Rem!"

Subaru collapsed to his knees, before going into a fetal position and bursting out into tears, as he wailed in sadness. He didn't want to lose anyone, let alone Rem, yet he did. He failed. He left everyone down and was a failure. Subaru was worthless and pathetic, and he kept proving that fact to himself time and time again.

"You're not a child. Look at you… Crying, wailing, trying to handle everything on your own. You're acting just like a lonely little child."

"Baru, you're crying? Look how much someone made you cry. You poor thing. So who…"

An aura of wrath would surround Typhon, as she would be enraged that someone would hurt her poor friend Baru. Whoever did such a thing needs to be punished, as they would clearly be a sinner!

"Made you cry?!"

Satella would walk over in front of Subaru, as Typhon would step aside, seemingly calming down.

"I love you."

"Stop it…"

"It's because you gave me everything. That's why I…"

"Stop it!"

Subaru would yell out as soon as Satella tried to get closer, which surprised even the other witches. Typhon went back over to Baru as she'd bend down to look at his face, worried about him.

"Baru?"

In the reflection of Typhon's crimson eyes, it would become visible what had just happened. Blood would be flowing out of his mouth as it'd become clear to the other witches what he had just done. He bit his tongue off and swallowed it. He was committing suicide to get himself out of this situation.

"Ah, that is indeed one option, Natsuki Subaru."

Subaru's mouth shot open as he would cough up a pool of blood, before falling to the ground right on his side, beside the puddle of blood.

"His tongue… You complete moron!"

Minerva immediately rushed over, wanting to deliver a punch to heal Subaru. She couldn't bare to see someone try to commit suicide in front of her, let alone someone like Subaru. Speaking of Subaru, subconsciously he noted this as the third time she has or has tried to save him… The tally just keeps rising.

At the last second, Typhon would jump in her way, preventing her from healing Subaru, causing Minerva's arm to crumble to dust. The sheer force of Minerva's punch would send Typhon meters away. While she may not be able to cause any damage physically to someone, without authorities she was still easily the most physically powerful witch, by a longshot even.

"This'll be a piece of cake! Stay out of the way, Typhon!"

"Baru made his own choice! You stay out of the way, Nerva!"

"I will not allow self-harm, suicide, or murder to happen in my presence!"

"…Hah…"

Out of seemingly nowhere, Minerva was crushed and pinned to the ground, now unable to move. It was immediately clear who did this. Sekhmet, with her authority of sloth. The unseen hands were a powerful authority, perhaps even the most powerful next to Regulus' abilities.

"Emotionally, I'm on the boy's side, too…Hah… And… I'm on Typhon's side, too…Hah…"

Satella would be now hunched over Subaru, on the ground, as she was close to tears. She never liked seeing her beloved dying.

"Why haven't you realized that you should be included among the ones you wish to save. It should be so obvious… What could you have possibly seen in those two trials?"

As he died Subaru would enter a sort of dream-like state, unknowingly with the help of Carmilla's faceless bride, as he'd recall all the events of the first and second trial. All those that grieved for his death, all those that wanted to be a friend, his parents who wished the best for their child and loved him dearly, and many more things.

"No matter what I believe… No matter what I wish for, I… I don't want to die!"

"See?! That's how you really feel!"

Minerva would give him a headbutt, just like the one his dad Kenichi did in the first trial, before letting him fall to the ground as he began coughing a lot from the blood that once was in his throat, eventually taking big gasps for air before calming down… This is the fourth time she has or has tried to save him. The tally is ever-increasing… Should he still attempt the contract he had in mind?

"Is there any value in my life? What can I do except die and repeat everything?"

As Subaru opened his eyes the clouds of the dream world began to part, shining light once more. A stark contrast to Satella's darkness.

"Can I really believe… That the people I like… Also… Like me?"

"I allow it."

Looking up to see who said that, to the side of Minerva would be Satella.

"You are the one who saved me, so I will allow you to be saved, too. It is my wish for you to be saved."

Subaru would close his eyes and hide them with his arm, laying down, as he began to cry once more.

"Minerva aside, I'm more surprised by the way you two just acted."

Sekhmet was now standing, a rarity, as she looked towards Daphne who was pinning Typhon with her Centipede Coffin. Typhon was powerless in this situation, seeing as the Centipede Coffin didn't have a mind of its own. After all, her authority requires the inflicted to be able to feel guilt and to be able to be a sinner, which the Centipede Coffin could do neither without a mind of its own.

"Stay out of this, Daph!"

"You know, Subarun made some pretty big boasts to me. So I'd love to see him at least try to follow through on them."

"That's an intriguing thought. And you were the one who called him back from the brink of death, weren't you, Carmilla? You even used Faceless Bride. Whatever for?"

"No… Reason… I just… Think… L- Love is important. Even if he doesn't want to see it there is love there. And I… Can't stand to see it taken and not returned."

"Sekhmet and Typhon respected his wishes, and Minerva healed him. Daphne helped prolong his life and Carmilla used her Authority to make him aware of the love he didn't see. So while each of you may have your own reasons, you all wish to help Natsuki Subaru."

A smile would widen across Echidna's face.

"This truly is interesting. Don't you agree?"

"Seriously… What is the deal with all of you?"

Subaru would rhetorically ask as he stood back up, no more tears present and back to normal.

"I can't understand or agree with almost any of your reasons for backing me. No wonder they call you witches."

"Since you're back to vilifying us, shall I assume you've recovered your strength?"

"I don't even know what to do anymore."

"Then let me ask you this, Natsuki Subaru."

Looking towards Subaru, Echidna would walk over to right in front of him.

"If I lend you my assistance, you can be assured that you will arrive at a future in which you save those you want to save. If you don't know what you should do, would you extend your hand to me? I will take you to the future you desire, without fail."

Echidna reached out her hand towards Subaru, wanting to see if he took it and formed a contract with her.

"You have my word."

"Echidna… I'm afraid of getting hurt. I hate hurting, suffering, and being sad. I don't want to feel pain, and I don't want to see terrible things happen to anyone else. I don't want to die."

An expression reminiscent of a mixture of both anger and disappointment would be on Echidna's face. This was not the answer she wanted, sadly, or luckily, she had failed.

"So, since sacrifice is a prerequisite to taking your hand… I can't take it again."

Putting her hand down, she'd continue to listen to what Subaru had to say.

"If I might have any value to them beyond my own death, I'm going to look for it. If I can find it, I have a feeling I can repay them in some way other than death."

"That path is lined with thorns. If you thought of your death as a tool, your heart would be all you needed to offer. But to deny that and try to claim both your own heart and other people's futures would be exceedingly difficult, and above all…"

A smirk spread across her face.

"Greedy."

"It's true that you've saved me time and time again. No matter what you had in mind, that part is true."

"That poor, stupid Garfiel fears the outside world. To free him from his circumstances, you'd have to break that spell."

"Echidna?"

"Oh, I'm just being a sore, meddling loser. I don't want you thinking all the other witches were good at heart, but only Echidna was evil to the very end."

She'd walk up to him and give him a tap on the chest.

"It's true that I am a girl, and that I'm fond of you, after all."

"Most of you all are monsters beyond my comprehension. We'll never understand each other, and I doubt I could ever like you, but…"

Subaru would give a bow to them.

"Thanks for being willing to let me die. Thanks for not letting me die. Thanks for letting me hear those precious voices I needed to hear. I do thank you for that… That being said…"

Subaru looks to Satella, his expression somewhat pleading actually. There was something he wanted to do, but he felt he needed approval first before he could ever do such a thing. As if Satella could read his mind, which she probably could, she would nod her head. Satella knew what Subaru was about to do, and she was fine with it, only but barely though.

A small smile would spread across his face as determination filled his eyes. He'd walk over to Minerva, causing her to fully turn to him in surprise. She expected him to walk over to Satella and say more. Her confusion would be evident on her face, as she looked at Subaru anticipating what he was going to say, Sekhmet, Echidna, and Carmilla on the other hand had long known what he was going to attempt at this point. Subaru brought his hand out as he prepared to say the big words.

"Would you be willing to form a contract with me, Minerva?"

"Eh?!"

Minerva yelped in surprise, having a hard time believing what he just said. She quickly looked over at Satella, fearing Envy might come out… But nothing. She was seemingly fine with it. Minerva quickly looked back to Subaru, and suddenly remembered what she said earlier, 'If it's to save him from you, yes! I'd contract him any day to save him from what torture you'd put him under!'. She said that she would be willing to contract him… It was starting to make sense why he asked now.

The main reason why Subaru asked was that she had saved him so many times so far and seemed to be the only witch who truly cared for other's well-being. Most of all, she saved him from both death and what tortures Echidna's contract might put him through. Subaru wanted Minerva to be on his side, he wanted someone he could trust like her to help him on his journey, and as such he asked.

"Well, if Satella is fine with it…"

She'd look to Satella, and surprisingly, Satella nodded her head in approval once more. A smile would spread across her face, as she thought of the possibilities for what she could do. She could help the world once more, and most of all stop the extreme suffering she had to constantly watch Subaru go through.

"Yes! I would happily contract you!"

"Huh? Really?!"

Subaru was actually not expecting Minerva would accept but seeing as she did a bright smile would spread across his face. He trusted someone like Minerva to keep his and his friend's lives safe, mostly because of her pacificist healing personality.

"Hmph! Of course!"

She'd say with a pout, before reaching her hand out to his, taking his. The contract was now formed.

"I, Minerva of Wrath, on my honor, am henceforth bound by this contract.'

Subaru couldn't help but feel major DeJa'Vu from his sixth loop, back at the mansion. He remembered how this very same phrase was said by Beatrice, and how he broke into tears after the contract was formed. He needed to save Beatrice also… He needed to save them all! Heh, history does repeat itself, doesn't it? Tears would be at the corners of his eyes as he struggled to keep his tears in. He wouldn't ever be alone anymore… He had someone he could vent his Return by Death struggles to. He already had to Echidna, but he knew he was going to go through tougher times, and he'd have Minerva there, ready to hear his pain.

"Hah… I can't believe I'm crying again…"

Quickly wiping his tears away, his eyes would fill with resolve. He couldn't cry anymore today… Today was the day he would free the Sanctuary, kill The Sizable Hare, and save the mansion! And now with the help of The Witch of Wrath, he knew he couldn't possibly lose!

Minerva right now really wanted to discuss more about the contract, but she knew it wasn't time for that. There was someone who needed to talk to Subaru more, and who Subaru needed to talk to more. She'd nod over to the individual, Satella, catching Subaru's attention.

"Hmph, Subaru this is no time for tears! There's someone else who wants to talk to you."

Turning his head, he would take notice of Satella as a smile spread across his face. This person helped him more than anyone else so far, giving him a second chance, no, many chances to make things right. Subaru walked over to her, bending down and reaching his hand out to help her up from her position on the ground.

"I don't understand you, but it's a fact that the Return by Death power you gave me has saved me many times. Is Return by Death one of the options available to me? If not relying on it too much is what it takes to love myself… I can't say that'll be easy, but I'll try to like myself a little more, like you said."

"You'll be alright?"

"Yeah. Compared to dying, it's nothing."

Satella took Subaru's hand, as he pulled her up. The dream world began to crack before them as they both looked at each other, paying no mind to what was happening around them.

Minerva on the other hand was wondering about what would happen after Subaru wakes up. How would this contract work? Will she wake up with him? So many unanswered questions…

"Don't fret all alone. Fight alongside the people who care about you. Don't forget that there are people who grieve when you die."

The world around them began fading away, crumbling to nothing as the grassy landscape and the other witches of sin disappeared around them.

'I…"

"And one day, you must come…"

The veil covering Satella's face would fade away, revealing her true appearance. She looked like a twin to Emilia, not to mention they shared the exact same voice.

"To kill me."

Tears would be streaming down Satella's eyes as she spoke out what she desired. Her beloved was the only one who could kill her, and her death was the only way she could rectify her horrible sins.

"I swear… I will save you."

With those final parting words, the world would disappear once more, for good now, as Satella and Subaru faded away to their respective places… The Sanctuary and The Shadow Garden.


Minerva would suddenly awaken, laying on the ground, in a dark shadowy foreign location; One she hasn't been to before. Little did she know that this was Satella's Shadow Garden. As she'd stand up she'd take notice of someone who was patiently waiting for her, Satella. She took it this had something to do with the contract. Oh god, she hoped she didn't make a mistake.

"Okay, Satella, I know what you're going to say, but-"

"Thank you."

"Eh?!"

"Envy is screaming at me to maim you... But I know you... I know you mean well."

Minerva would wince hearing what she said about Envy. She knew how scary and dangerous Envy could be, but still… It was comforting to know that at least Satella trusted her.

"And if I'm being honest, I know of the six other sins you'll be the one to call him out whenever he tries something wrong. I might still encourage his destructive behavior... But you... You'll call him out no problem. You make sure he understands what he's doing is wrong."

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

Minerva just had to be sure. It was clear that Satella fully trusted her, but still… She didn't want to incur the wrath of both Satella and Envy, let alone a friend of hers.

"I want him to be happy and safe… Even if… Even if it's not with me… Besides, I can't blame you if you fall for him… He's so irresistible… But if you love something, set it free… And if it comes back then it's meant to be."

Minerva would give a good laugh at the 'if you fall for him' comment. She couldn't see herself loving someone like him in a million years!

"Hmph! What a funny joke, I don't think I'd ever fall for Subaru in a million years! By the way… How will Subaru's and my contract work?"

Letting out a sigh, she would be a bit disappointed that Minerva didn't understand the greatness that is Subaru (yet would also be slightly relieved), but alas, sometimes people have bad vision. Hearing about the contract part though, she remembered the main reason she brought Minerva here.

"Minerva, you were the only witch I killed, and are one of my closest friends… And because of that II need to give my apologies… I will be reviving you with your body. You won't have your authority, but you'll still be alive and around to protect my beloved… You'll awaken where you died four hundred years ago."

Hearing that she wouldn't have her authority she was saddened. That was one of her biggest reasons she contracted Subaru, to help those in the world… But suddenly a sense of resolve would fill her. She had heard about the Sin Archbishops from Echidna who has watched Subaru for so long now, there must be a Sin Archbishop of Wrath… She'll just take it from them! Another disappointing thing was that she was going to wake up where she died, which is quite the distance from the Sanctuary last she checked… Still, she could make it all the way back in a day or two. She is the fastest witch after all!

"Really?! Satella, your apology is definitely accepted! I promise I will protect him with my life!"

A smile would spread across her face as she saw that someone reliable like Minerva would protect her beloved. For the first time in a while, she felt that Subaru would be safe, that he wouldn't have to die yet another painful death… Minerva was her closest friend after all, and one who prioritized keeping people safe and alive overall. It just seemed impossible for Subaru to die around her.

"Oh! How will I talk to Subaru? Won't I wake up really far away?"

Satella nodded her head, she had been expecting this question to arise, and she had just the solution to answer it.

"You and my beloved will be capable of talking to each other… Regardless of distance… you'll both be talking into each other's heads."

"Telepathy? That'd be incredibly helpful! Thanks, Satella!"

All Satella would give in response was a simple nod, while a slight smile would creep onto her face before quickly disappearing. That was all she had to say, and because of this, she began pushing Minerva out of The Shadow Garden, and back into her body in the real world.

"With that, I bid you farewell, Minerva. Please, keep Subaru safe."

As Satella said this the world around Minerva began fading away as she began waking up. Before she left though, Minerva had one more thing to say…

"Satella, I promise, I will never let Subaru Return by Death again!"

And with that Minerva awoke, four hundred years later into a world that has forgotten her.


A particular dark-skinned individual would be reading a black book he held in his hands, a book nearly identical to the one Petelgeuse possessed. On his wrists would be daggers, and on his head would belong long dark brown hair… I wonder who he might be?

Seeing the contents of the book, he would let out a smile.

"What an interesting development-tsu~. We'll see you in two weeks, our hero!"


Tell me what you guys think of the chapter! If any characters were OOC, just give me a heads up. Expect chapter 2 soon.