Chapter 132: Lust Driven Wrath

Knocked off his feet from the sudden and unexpected impact into the ground to his side, Subaru had the wind thrust out from his chest as the shock wave transferred to him.

Spitting a clump of grass and dirt from his mouth, he looked to where he had just been standing, and saw a crater with a brim of upturned earth. To his left and right, he looked for Echidna, but she was nowhere to be found. While YN was accounted for, just at the edge of this impact area, he was only lightly peppered with bits of thrown soil.

But at the center of this crater, like a living meteorite, the one responsible now stood.

Blonde hair and blue eyes, they looked to YN as soon as they were upright.

Minerva: Thank you for calling me.

Getting only a nod in reply as he patted himself clean, Minerva turned her attention to Subaru, still in a daze as he too began to pick himself up.

Minerva: I will not let a Contract like this come to fruition! This stops now!

Minerva pointed directly at something just past Subaru as she said that, at first thinking she meant to point at him.

Echidna: Well, isn't this an unexpected development.

Acknowledging her, the one Minerva had been truly pointing to, emerged from behind Subaru. Speaking now, Minerva folded her arms, pushing her chest up and outward more as Echidna went on.

Echidna: You should understand how significant it is to form a Contract with a Witch... but you chose to interfere anyway.

Echidna narrowed her eyes as she spoke to her fellow Witch.

Echidna: Are you maybe jealous and want to form one of your own with him? Does his particular Ability... fascinate you?

Minerva: How can you assume that?! There's no way I'd do something so placid!

Fists shaking at her sides now, Minerva let her built up frustration be seen. Getting it out as she yelled that, a more calm mind came to her.

Minerva: Besides, I wouldn't form a Contract with him! But—

Speaking under her breath, no one but herself heard.

Minerva (whisper): —maybe with YN...

With a shake of her head, Minerva promptly returned to the topic at hand, speaking as if she was continuing from before.

Minerva: —I'm unsure of what I could even offer him! So... So don't distract me from being mad about this! I'm not about to let you off the hook so easily for this one!

Tears running down her red face by the time she was done saying that, she looked like a child about to throw a tantrum

Subaru: You really have the strangest demeanor, considering your body...

Minerva: —!

As if about to sound off on Subaru now, YN stepped down into the crater of soft earth next to Minerva and halted her from doing that.

YN: Nevermind what he says, I'm just thankful you're here. There was some cursed stuff about to happen...

Hearing YN's choice of words, Subaru furrowed his brows in question.

Subaru: Why did Minerva all of sudden show up?

Minerva: YN called me here.

Subaru: Huh?!

Looking to everyone else involved, he was dumbstruck at the stated reasoning.

Subaru: W-Why?!

YN: Because you were about to do something extremely stupid.

Echidna: Ugh...

Glaring at both Minerva and YN, the Witch of Greed put her hands on the sides of her black dress, resting them on her hips.

Echidna: Manifesting myself and another of the Witches at the same time... That's rather taxing on me. Of course, why would be I surprised that you have so little care for my wellbeing? Being an Anomaly and all...

With the mentioning of that topic, it spurred Subaru's mind to another observation of his.

Subaru: Wait, I thought you could only be replaced by another of the Witches here in this domain... Not be out at the same time...

Minerva: She never said we couldn't be out at the time... If she implied that, it's only because she's mean-spirited.

Echidna: I just didn't want him to know other Witch's could manifest as they pleased! I was afraid they'd take him from me!

Echidna snapped back at Minerva's words as if she were some kind of poorly performing tsundere actor, before dropping it all together to glare at Minerva again.

Echidna: —Just like it seems you did with YN.

Her chest puffed out at hearing that, causing Minerva to brashly defend herself.

Minerva: I'm certainly not the one taking someone else here!

Echidna: Oh? But you and Carmilla both have already taken a liking to YN. As far as I'm concerned though, you both can just have him, tis not in my interest to care.

Saying that, the Witch of Greed turned back to look upon Subaru.

Echidna: Him though... I'm rather fond of.

As she said that to the black-haired boy, a tinge of scarlet went across his cheeks and under his nose.

Echidna: I was afraid he'd become interested in the more charming and helpful of the Witches...

Taking a step towards him, Echidna put on a new mask of emotion.

Echidna: I realize I must sound rather foolish right now... So please, laugh if you wish, I will recognize that such a display would warrant that…

The Witch, displaying every drop of bashfulness she could muster with that performance, had all the other faces look upon her, none of them thinking remotely the same thing.

Yet to this, Subaru was stunned at the "endearment" radiating from the Witch. A glimmer in his eyes seemed to be forming as Echidna looked back to him. Just what sort of path was he heading down, following her like this?

On the other side, YN admittedly couldn't believe Subaru, his usual go-to for strategy in these Loops, was being led astray like this. As the feeling of hopelessness just began to creep back to him, Minerva tapped him on the shoulder, gesturing to Subaru with her thumb.

Minerva: Should I?

Speaking only two simple words, and even from as briefly as YN knew the deceased Witch, her words quelled these negative feelings from returning as he had half a clue what she intended to do.

YN: If you feel there's no other way around it.

Fleetingly, YN shrugged as he said that, giving Minerva the permission she required.

Taking only a few long strides to meet Subaru face to face despite her shorter stature, Minerva lifted the blushed boy's arm above his head, but didn't stop there.

With great force, the Witch tossed him airborne, about twice his own height. As he flipped and was now going to hit his head on the way back down, and very much crack his own neck from the angle he was about to land, Subaru was jolted stationary again.

Held only by his ankle high above where his head was, just ticking the longest blades of grass below him, Subaru could feel the head rush that normally came from being like this. Shaking and jiggling him about though before dropping him, Minerva yelled out.

Minerva: Would you quit being so easy to dupe?!

With her shout, she highlighted Subaru's folly here, and wanting to be sure it wouldn't be forgotten, she made a point to really drive that home.

Before Subaru could sit up fully on his own from being dropped, he was hoisted back up by Minerva on his tracksuit collar.

Subaru: Wha—?!

The only thing Subaru saw upon being "helped" back up was Minerva reaching back with her free hand, and—

*SMACK!*

Spinning him around like a top as she also let him go now, the open palm slap Minerva had delivered to Subaru's cheek only made him dizzy. Her Authority had removed all the pain that would have normally been associated with such a devastating wallop.

Almost four rotations went by in a blurred world before Subaru finally got himself to stop, holding a wide stance as he struggled for balance.

Subaru: W-What the hell was that for?!

Even if the slap delivered no pain or harm, it didn't stop there from being a large, red palm-mark on Subaru's cheek. He felt like his teeth and jaws had never been better, but that wasn't his main concern right now.

Minerva: My Authority heals rather than hurts! I could punch you and close your wounds! I could throw you to the ground and cure your disease! I could put you in a headlock and ease your shoulder and neck aches! But—

YN: —The one thing she can't cure, no matter how hard she punches you, is your stupidity.

Minerva: R-Right.

Realizing what point Minerva was trying to make, but was getting carried away, YN finished it for her as he stepped out of the crater too.

Minerva: If I hadn't done all... this, you would have been coerced into signing a Contract with Echidna! How brain dead is that?!

Still standing behind Subaru somewhat, the Witch of Greed answered the Witch of Wrath.

Echidna: 'Coerced' makes it sound so dishonest. I only remember plainly explaining the benefits and working to reach an agreement on that.

Minerva: And that's only half of it! You failed to fulfill your responsibility of informing him of the detriments of the Contract, and only spoke of the benefits!

Hands on her hips now, Minerva's chest was finally given the chance to rest from her arms pushing up into it, but this only made its subsequent "jiggle" more pronounced when she stomped the ground at the end of her argument.

Despite the distracting show, and the dramatic yelling, a look went across Subaru's face now that YN could tell he was finally getting a clue.

Subaru: Is... Is it really fair to call them 'detriments?' It can't be that bad? Echidna wouldn't offer something with such horrid strings attached, right?

About to look back at the Witch behind him to see what her answer would be, the other Witch pulled his attention back forward with her stern answer.

Minerva: 'It can't be that bad?' Is that really the amount of uncaring thought you've given this? And with someone known as a Witch no less? You realize she's the Witch who's meddled the most with the course of history, right? She's made the most Contracts out of all us Witches... We've seen how bad they can end for people on the other side of her's...

Clearly caught between the two Witches and each side of their argument, Subaru did pick apart each side.

Minerva really doesn't have anything to gain or lose by me being brought into a Contract with Echidna... So she wouldn't be doing this for any other reason than if she truly wanted to help...

Seeing that Subaru was beginning to witness the error of his ways, YN finally turned to Echidna to try and really nail in what she was intending to do.

YN: Echidna, do us all a favor, and just fess up to what the real details of your Contract calls for. Tell Subaru exactly what he'll have to give in return for your 'help.'

Disgusted enough to even elate what Echidna was offering was anywhere remotely close to "help," YN spoke this ultimatum to the Witch.

Sighing in a frustrated manner, the white-haired Witch crossed her arms.

Echidna: My only goal in the end, is to observe. I want to see everything Subaru does... And hear and feel.

Subaru was honestly shocked to hear how innocent it sounded. Skeptical still though, YN called her bluff.

YN: Right now, you've got words between the lines of this Contract, but you've got 'em so small no one but you can read them.

Hearing him say it that way, Subaru finally mustered the courage to turn around and face the Witch.

Subaru: You... You're not lying, right?

Hand to her chest, Echidna's expression softened as she answered the black-haired boy.

Echidna: I promise on my life.

Yet, before Subaru could accept her words—

YN: —That's mighty empty sounding, considering you're already dead.

Instantaneously, the warm expression Echidna had for Subaru turned into a dastardly glare for YN.

Knowing another spat between Echidna and YN wasn't going to get him any closer to the truth, Subaru turned to Minerva.

Subaru: If Echidna is being honest... What reason do I really have to go against her?

Tch.

YN, even despite getting Minerva involved, realized this still wasn't enough to get Subaru to reverse this path towards a terrible decision.

He's falling into a trap! If even Minerva isn't enough to stop him—!

?: She hasn't... told you everything yet... Has she?

Almost as if summoned from his desperate thoughts, YN turned to see the pink-haired Witch had trudged up the same hill he and Subaru had to reach this spot, the former location of Echidna's tea party, now smashed and destroyed.

Standing to the flank of YN, Carmilla held a hand that was covered by her long, long sleeve to her chest, as if bracing herself to join this tense standoff of sorts.

Somewhat caught off guard by her words though, but more so that she herself was here now, Subaru questioned Carmilla on them and her intentions.

Subaru: What do you mean by that?!

Startled to be pointed and yelled at so suddenly, and so soon, the Witch of Lust stepped behind YN, as if hiding behind him, and asked him why it was Subaru was already angry at her.

Carmilla: W-What did I do to get those scary eyes to look at me that way again...?

Turning and looking down at the short, scarfed girl, YN gave her a weak smile.

YN: In his defense, he was born that way. He's actually being quite mild right now.

Subaru: Fine fine, I'll soften my face and speak calmer if you can explain what you're getting at.

Rubbing his face with his palms and giving them a slight double-pat to 'seal away the scary,' Subaru poised his question to the girl more calmly. Taking a step back out from behind YN, Carmilla spoke up.

Carmilla: Echidna-chan is hiding lots and lots of stuff from you... She's... telling the truth, but ummmm... she's dishonestly hiding more with it...

Echidna could only intensify her frown upon hearing that. Hands still on her hips, she glared at everyone here besides Subaru.

Echidna: So it seems everyone is coming out now to badmouth me, huh? I still can't understand how it was the Anomaly managed to woo both Minerva, but Carmilla too. I'm curious why you of all people would speak up for someone you already don't like for all the angry yelling.

Carmilla: I... I don't want to see a friend of YN's suffer... Since he was nice to me. S-Subaru suffering would make things harder for YN... Not to mention, it was Echidna-chan who tricked me into transforming into that girl for Subaru...

Tightening the tiny fist she held to her chest, Carmilla for once spoke in a more serious tone—

Carmilla: —I don't like people who trick me, or are mean to me. I won't forget that.

Slightly intimidated by the tone of voice that had suddenly come from the otherwise timid girl right behind him, YN pursed his lips and thanked his lucky stars he wasn't on the receiving end of that.

Yet, seeing that minute reaction out of him, Carmilla retreated a half step back away from YN, and under her breath, apologized.

Carmilla (whisper): S-Sorry...

Only keeping this weak look for a second though, Carmilla went back to exchanging a glare with Echidna.

Being the first to break this impromptu staring contest though, was Echidna.

Echidna: *Sigh...* Everything was progressing well until I made an enemy out of Carmilla in this.

With things seemingly going into their own tangent now, this was less about Subaru, and more about the personal nuances between the Witches. Not about to stand for this though, Subaru let it be known.

Subaru: I've just about had it! What is everyone even talking about at this point!? Why am I being left out of the conversation when it involves me?! Start saying things in a way I can understand!

On the verge of nearly throwing a tantrum, Subaru was immediately answered by the likes of YN and Minerva simultaneously.

Minerva & YN: You're being tricked!

Echoing out their answer at him, YN and Minerva went on.

YN: Echidna is getting you all buttered up so that you'll take any offered help you can get, even if it means disregarding the consequences.

Minerva: This was all carefully planned by her to get you this way.

For the first time, it felt like they could see progress being made on Subaru's face. Yet, not about to let her carefully constructed plan just go completely out the window, Echidna argued back.

Echidna: The Anomaly has you all thinking I'm some sort of villain. My offer to Subaru is much needed help, and I'm not asking much in return.

Looking keenly at the black-haired boy once more, Echidna reiterated her answer.

Echidna: I will repeat, Natsuki Subaru. If you choose me—, to seal this Contract here and now, I will without fail, guide you to the future you desire...

Spoken with reverence, Echidna once more held a hand out to Subaru, asking to finally complete the deal between them.

?: —Shouldn't you *hhuuuaaa...* have to tell him how long that it'll be before he gets to that future? *huuaaa...*

With a new voice joining the conversation, another Witch was now here.

Looking over to where she lounged, Sekhmet's violet hair had a prominent sheen upon it from the sun and sky above.

Subaru: What do you mean by that exactly?

Off in the grass, she was neither on the side YN, Minerva, and Carmilla stood on, nor was she over where Echidna and Subaru were.

Rather, Sekhmet's position created a new axis, one that placed Subaru at its center on this grassy hill with an impact crater on it.

Sekhmet: What I mean is, it's no doubt she'll *hhuuuaaa...* fulfill the requirements to the Contract. But that she'll do what she pleases to in the meantime *huuuaa...* She'll hide behind that because she will plan to eventually abide by the Contract.

Holding a hand to his chin, Subaru looked down and repeated the Witch of Sloth's words to himself under his breath. "She'll do as she pleases in the meantime..."

Thinking for a moment longer, Subaru looked to Echidna now.

Subaru: Echidna, you'll guide me towards the most optimal future if I agree to the Contract, correct?

Echidna: Of course.

Not hesitating at all, the Witch of Greed answered the question like it was a simple matter of fact.

Not keen on the way she said this, as if she'd never feel any consequence from it, YN chimed back in.

YN: Sure, she'll do that. But will she guide you there on the most optimal path?

Slicing her hidden meaning open, the Witch of Greed glared daggers at YN for that, as now, Subaru had the reason to pry these answers from her.

Subaru: Echidna… How efficient will our path be to this desired future? Will you truly be doing your utmost to take the best route there?

Echidna: — — —

Silence was the Witch's only answer.

Given only her wide smile, and dark eyes in reply, Subaru's hand that was to his chin now formed a tightly bound fist. He knew from her lack of answer now, when all of hers before had been so swift, that something he hadn't seen was now before him.

Subaru: Tell me, Echidna...

His fist started to shake and his voice quivered as he continued.

Subaru: No—,

Gritting his teeth, Subaru then howled his anger to the one who had so sinisterly pulled the wool over his eyes and played to all his vulnerable weaknesses.

Subaru: —WITCH OF GREED!

At the top of his lungs, Subaru's yell echoed out across the rolling green hills surrounding them.

Carmilla: —Eek!

Fully hiding behind YN now, the Witch of Lust trembled hearing such a bout of anger be let loose by the one who had already frightened her.

Despite the one before him being angered, and the one behind him being sacred, YN found himself rather pleased now. —Happy, even.

He's finally getting it now, huh?


What followed was an entire appeal of Echidna's darkest, most malevolent side.

A rant of which YN couldn't have expected took place. The Witch of Greed, almost as if seeking to educate them, went on about how Subaru, and most certainly YN, didn't understand Return By Death's full potential.

She went on and on about how Return By Death was perfect for someone who wants to truly see the results of how something affects an outcome.

Echidna professed that in the end, Subaru would get his way, and that her former words of saying she was fond of him were entirely factual. She would never betray him, or hinder his efforts to get to the future he sought. She could never directly interfere, for better or for worse, and that no matter how many tries and takes it took, she would tend to his heart, and make sure he had the strength to carry on.

The Witch still professed how her fondness was genuine, and that she truly wished to help him. Echidna understood Subaru's feelings for Emilia were second to none, as well as that he also highly prioritized helping YN and his situation with Rem. She swore to align herself to those goals too, despite her venomous words to YN, all because she was fond of Subaru.

"You must use every tool at your disposal" she said; that his life is the price for this ability, and if he's not careful, meaningless, abundant deaths will make him become a husk. He'd become so emotionless, Subaru would care not if he dies. The price for his ability, will become too little.

To that, Echidna said it was vital her offer be accepted. If not, all of these plagues would eventually come to haunt Subaru. It will only be through her guidance that Subaru will not fall victim to such a fate.

She went on to offer consolation for his sorrows, incitement for his motivation, and even should he desire it, temptation of love for his heart.

Echidna swore again, she would not lead him astray from the path he needed to walk, and would be there to guide him back should he need the nudge. "We need each other." she said, going on to then say too, her curiosity could only be quenched by him.

The Witch begged for him to trust her, that she would offer him everything she has, and that she again, could not betray him per the deal. If she did somehow managed to wound that trust, she'd do everything she could to rebuild it.

"Use me to pass the Trials, liberate the Sanctuary, defeat the disaster that threatens it, and save everyone." was what she waggled in front of him, should Subaru accept the deal.

Echidna begged Subaru to accept the Contract, that she had stated everything involved with it, and that she was burning to even find out what his answer was.

By the time her breathless rant was over, YN's ears rang at the drone that was Echidna's never-ending appeal.

And in the silence that followed, Subaru was in a deep, contemplative thought from it all. There were countless points for his mind to mull over she had tirelessly spoken of.

Yet, to all that she had said and spoken, Subaru replied with a bluntly short question of his own.

Subaru: You're going to just use me, aren't you?

Echidna: Our agreement is to use, and be used.

Hearing the entire rant be summed up in such a crude way by the one who had just spoken it, YN curled a lip up at her.

It's a morose version of what me and Rem have... When you take all the love out of it, it's no longer 'lean on each other.' It just becomes a way to most conveniently utilize the other party when you need, without a second thought to their needs.

Subaru: Everything you've done... —everything you've said up to this point, was in preparation for this moment, wasn't it? And here I was hoping that just maybe, you were a good person, —a good Witch.

Not changing her expression in even the tiniest of ways, Echidna answered back to that.

Echidna: Does any of that truly matter though? You have to reach your goal. That's your main determination, correct?

YN: Was this really your plan all along? To just try and coerce Subaru into just being your prey the entire time?

Finding even more new ways to be disgusted by her, YN sharply asked this of her before Subaru had a chance to reply to this rant himself really.

Echidna: Do not label me so awfully. I only gave a small nudge for him to arrive at this juncture. The rest he came to on his own conclusion.

YN: Funny how no matter what heinous thing either of us are accusing you of in this offer, you don't deny any of it. Rather, you just try and dance around the question, why is that?

Echidna: —Hmph.

In odd form, the Witch neither denied, nor did she deflect the hardball question from YN. Strangely enough, she pouted at it. This was beneficial for him though, as even Subaru had seen this as a clear sign that something was amiss.

Subaru: Your emotions, your reactions, any sort of feeling you try and show outward... it's all entirely synthetic. They're not natural.

Echidna: — — —

Keeping her same expression, Echidna looked on at them like a robot, with zero actual emotions in her eyes.

YN: It doesn't help either that your emotions aren't ever exactly right for the situation either. You're smart. There's no denying that, but you completely fail to understand other people, don't you?

Echidna: — — —

YN: That's exactly it. Earlier, you tried copying some of the things Rem had said to me, to Subaru, but you still can't understand them. For all your brains and cunning, you still can't begin to fathom what Rem and I share, and it shows.

Echidna: — — —

Keeping her plastic expression, Echidna remained silent to all these points being levied towards her. She knew she was had, and her true intentions were now uncovered.

Subaru: This is usually the part where you get angry.

Even having to cue her on what emotion to invoke, it was clear Subaru's blind faith in the Witch was now gone.

Echidna: Is that so? I should shower you with insults and yell? Raise my voice and shout? I see. I'll do that at the next opportunity I have.

Hearing her say it so bluntly and without a hint of sarcasm or shame, the facade that was "The Witch of Greed" dropped away, exposing an entity no different than a computer. Akin to some cold, self aware AI from some poorly written science-fiction story.

Echidna: For now though, can I offer you a seat again?

With a snap of her finger and a gesture of her hand, behind YN, Carmilla, and Minerva, the crater from before was gone, and a fully restored tea party table took its place again.

Echidna: I'd like to continue our discussion about the Contract.

Looking between the Witch and her newly constructed tea party several times, Subaru raised his voice to her.

Subaru: Are you crazy or something?! Why would I continue to think it's remotely a safe idea to agree to work with you?! Every reason on why I shouldn't was just told to me!

Still, with no emotion in her dark eyes, Echidna answered him.

Echidna: What else will you do though? Will you really let such a small transgression stand in the way of getting past the issues you face regarding the Sanctuary?

Subaru: — — —

Rendering Subaru silent now, YN could tell Echidna's words, despite everything revealed here now, still held weight to the black-haired boy. Even Subaru felt his back was so harshly pushed against the wall he couldn't not still contemplate the Witch's offer.

Subaru... Please... Not after all this...

Genuinely worried everything said was still not enough to guide Subaru to make a better decision, YN swallowed a lump of fear in his throat.

Yet, his actions had an effect. The pressure of him, Minerva, Carmilla, and Sekhmet had eroded this notion that Echidna was Subaru's only hope. Just enough that rather than fall back into accepting the Contract, Subaru put his hands into his tracksuit's pockets, and looked almost directly upward, taking in the beauty of the sky above him as he at the very least, levied one condition of his own before blindly agreeing.

Subaru: I still have one last question, —and its answer is what hangs on if I agree to this Contract or not.

Nodding for him to go on, Echidna's full scheme now was just to get Subaru to agree with forming the Contract, saving no face in how blatant it was. With Subaru going as far as to say his cooperation was entirely hinged on Echidna's answer to this question, it greatly worried YN.

Subaru: —Beatrice. The spirit who lives in Roswaal's mansion. Do you know her?

Echidna: Know her? Yes. I was involved in her creation.

Hearing this, the black-haired boy looked down at his feet now. He and YN both recalled Beatrice speaking of someone she referred to as "Mother," and whom that was, was now made clear.

But Subaru was much more concerned and invested in this topic than YN. After all, it was his own arms he'd seen Beatrice fade away in after Elsa had thrown a dagger into the small girl's body.

The look of acceptance of death was not something Subaru could easily choose to forget. The way the tiny, shy girl had looked as if she was freed by it, was what disturbed Subaru the most.

Subaru: Echidna... Are the one who tasked Beatrice with waiting for the 'that person?' Are you the one who bound her to the Mansion, —to the Forbidden Library?

Echidna's plastic expression was finally broken by a marginal tilt of her head, and a soft "Yes?" as she answered Subaru, as if perplexed by his curiosity on this matter.

Subaru: Who is 'that person' then? Who do I need to find and bring to her so she can finally be free?

YN understood that Subaru's priority here was finding a way to save Beatrice in this Sanctuary mess too. After all, their struggles weren't just limited to one area, but two, which greatly compounded the difficulties they faced.

Hearing his question though, Echidna grew a rather curious smile on her face, as if she too were perplexed by a question she should have the answer to.

Echidna: Hmmm... I also would wonder who that may be. Do either of you have any ideas?

Having Subaru's question just be relayed back to them like they were getting the runaround by some automated call center robot, YN stepped in now, frustration on his voice.

YN: —What?!

Genuinely dumbfounded by Echidna deflection, YN shook his head.

YN: Just... Just answer him! You want him to agree to your Contract, don't you?! Are you trying to sabotage yourself now? Shouldn't you just give him an answer if you want him to agree?! What sort of trap are you trying to lay now?!

With a finger pointed right at her, YN's mental fatigue to this situation was beginning to show with how he was acting now.

Echidna: You misunderstand me. I am really asking you both; what are your theories?

Subaru: I'm not interested in playing a guessing game. YN is right too. It's in your best interest right now to just answer the question, but you aren't... Aren't you supposed to know who 'that person' is?

Rhetorically re-asking his question again, Subaru could also only genuinely believe Echidna was toying with them for another reason.

Echidna: Why would I?

Flat in her response, Subaru struggled to come to the harsh realization that was now rearing its ugly head. It wasn't out of lack of context or information, rather, because neither YN, nor Subaru wanted to believe the reason might be so cruel.

As YN looked at all the other Witches surrounding them, they all had cast their eyes away from this conversation, as if disturbed by their colleague's actions.

Echidna: I wonder, are you assuming I tasked Beatrice with guarding the Library to give it's contents to 'that person?'

YN: —What else would it be?!

Upset that Subaru of all people wasn't also getting upset by this lack of concern to these questions, YN was ready to shout at the Witch just to speed things along. With Subaru saying his answer for the Contract revolved around Echidna's own answer, an anxiety had begun to fester in the back of YN's mind over this prospect, and he wanted nothing more than to just know the outcome already.

Echidna, lifting a single finger now, spoke in a very matter of fact tone.

Echidna: Beatrice's instructions were to wait for 'that person,' nothing more. The Forbidden Library has nothing to do with it. I simply wished for Beatrice to choose who 'that person' was to be. My intention was only to see what conclusion she'd draw on her own.

YN: — — —

Subaru: — — —

The two wayward traveling companions were both stunned silent by such an answer, spoken with not a single shred of concern in it.

Echidna: Beatrice was created by me for one purpose, but events dictated that the purpose was to change. She was sent to the Mansion since it was far away, but ultimately, Beatrice needed a new purpose. She was a child, and now had nothing, —no purpose to her existence even. She needed something to live for, so why not give her something? Anything.

YN: — — —

Subaru: — — —

Echidna: The eventuality of her handing off the Library to someone was inevitable. But with the Contract given to Beatrice, there were no limitations on her choice, or a right or wrong answer. Beatrice stayed alive, which is what was desired.

Almost managing to make this sound like a mother's caring, but tough love, Echidna's true, Greedy colors still showed through to the intention behind her Contract with Beatrice.

Echidna: —But, by doing that, this also gave another result to look forward to; to see her choice. That's quite the convenient solution? No?

As if seeking praise for her "brilliant" idea, there was silence between them all before YN finally spoke up, as he was unable to see Subaru's expression.

YN: Do... Do you really mean that? That was the original purpose behind having Beatrice wait all this time? T-This wasn't something you told your conscious to convince yourself to feel better about it?

If Echidna could have manifested a more confused expression, a small "?" might have appeared above her head on the clouds.

Echidna: No? It really was that. It was clever, don't you both think?

Genuinely believing herself that not a thing was wrong with this line of thinking, the Witch's failure to understand other people was on full display in its rawest form.

As silence grew between the two guests and all the Witches present, the only sound that YN could hear other than his own heartbeat in his head, was the tensioning of skin in Subaru's tightly bound fists.

Subaru: Echidna... you are a witch. Through and through.

Echidna: — — —

Wearing the same expression still, Echidna still hadn't grasped what Subaru's words meant in this context like everyone else here had.

Subaru: —You're unexplainably a monster.

Echidna: — — —

Minerva, Sekhmet, & Carmilla: — — —

As more silence descended upon everyone, a tense frustration could be felt radiating from Subaru, but the black-haired boy was clearly holding his tongue not out of diplomatic pressure or courtesy, but rather, to what good it would actually do to vent it here and now? It would be directed at someone who could never understand why he felt that way, or why someone else would find fault in her logic.

YN: ...That's really all you're going to call her? I can think of something better... It even rhymes with 'Witch.'

While he wanted to entertain the idea YN was reposing, Subaru took a deep breath to calm down, and looked back to Echidna.

Subaru: I'm not going to take your hand. You sentenced Beatrice to four hundred years of pain for the small joy of just seeing what she'd do.

Echidna: — — —

A minor scowl went across Echidna's face as Subaru delivered his final answer to her.

Subaru: —I won't take your hand, because I'll be taking that little girl's hand instead.

In a sense, Subaru was officially choosing Beatrice over Echidna. While it seemed a harder task, even just getting Beatrice out of the Mansion was a tall order, let alone garnering her help.

But to Subaru, recalling deaths YN hadn't seen of his, remembered what it was like to die with Beatrice by his side.

At least Beatrice would mourn for my passing... Echidna wouldn't ever.

To the Witch, it would just be another opportunity to see him squirm in a way that most satisfied her curiosity.

Echidna: — — —

Silently, YN could see Echidna thinking away, trying to conceive of a way that she could turn this situation around before her opportunity was gone forever. It was rather unnerving to see the Witch's eyes flicker in intense thought like they were. She was rather computer-like in the way she appeared, like an otherwise humanly android that was stumped, frozen on a logic error.

Before anyone else could say anything though, Minerva spoke with an alarmed tone on her voice.

Minerva: —She's here.

Saying that to no one in particular, not to Echidna, nor to Sehkmet, the Witch of Wrath's words had made the two guests here look at each other with a gaze of confusion.

While Carmilla had been hiding behind YN from Subaru, she now switched sides entirely and was hiding from something approaching from where she had just been.

Something that was scarier to her than Subaru was.

YN: — — —

YN wanted to look and see what the cause of this was, but with Sehkmet also changing to where she looked, matching Carmilla, his attention was paid to that rather.

Sehkmet: What a troublesome time to have a troublesome person cause more trouble—*hhhuuuaaa...*

Subaru and YN both wanted to see what these witches were all on about, yet just as they went to turn their heads, an atmospheric pressure stopped them.

Subaru & YN: — — —

An overwhelming aura of energy and presence had locked their bodies in place; neither could move a muscle.

Remaining like this as they felt the pressure increase, they could each see in the nearby Witch's eyes, this effect was getting to them too.

No one moved at all, except for the owner of this pressure that radiated outward. Until they fully came to a stop, it was only then could anyone begrudgingly move.

We... We gotta know what this is!

Gritting his teeth, Subaru forced his head to look over, as well as did YN.

As the newest figure at this Tea Party just came into their views, it felt like gravity itself multiplied. The draining effect on their stamina and souls was fleeting, like being in the hot sun all day and having to work on top of that.

But as they were determined to center their visions on who this was, their identity became certain.

There was Satella, the Witch of Envy, in all her lasting notoriety and vague familiarity each of the guests felt. They each had their run-ins with her, but never like this before.

Step after slow, but graceful step, she approached. Everything from her shoulders upward was cloaked in a magical veil of black.

Everyone: — — —

No one dared to make a sound with her here now.

Not even able to swallow the growing lump in his throat, YN could only painfully wait in suspense.

The Witch of Envy had come to this place now, and with that, the real tea party could begin.