Chapter 124: Hunger Strike
Shook to their core by the intensity of the small girl's voice, the two across from her were stunned silent.
Neither could figure why such a question would be so bluntly asked of them. As the small girl gave each of them a side eye, it was finally YN that was pressured into speaking up.
YN: A-Are you asking if we're both good people or not?
With YN going first, it prompted Subaru to mumble out a question for more clarification himself.
Subaru: I don't think we understand the question...
In response, the small girl with green-ish hair put a hand to her chin in thought for a brief second before coming to a solution.
?: I know! I'll check you both!
Hoping down off her seat, the eager girl ran around the table to Subaru's side. Extending a hand to both of them, the little tyke shook with childlike enthusiasm.
?: Gimmie your hands!
Her hands opening and closing in anticipation, Subaru obliged, while YN still had Echidna's warnings fresh in his mind.
No... Don't oblige her...
While Subaru paid the fresh warning no mind, he placed his hand in her much smaller one.
Subaru: W-Will you find something out by shaking our hands?
As the young girl smiled warmly at Subaru, he consented for her to continue.
Subaru: A-Alright... go ahead.
Knowing this girl had to be a Witch at the very least, Subaru put his trust in her.
A second later, the warm expression on the girl's face vanished. In its place, was a stare a thousand years long.
?: Sin must be repaid with Pain.
Upon her saying these heavy words, a ripping, snapping, and tearing sound was briefly heard from Subaru's flank.
Subaru: —Huh?
YN: —Tch!
As if trying to take Subaru's arm, the little girl did.
Subaru: What...?
Holding it like a young child might hold a doll or a precious toy, Subaru's arm was removed from the rest of his body and held by the girl who had replaced Echidna.
YN: —!
Subaru: —Gah!
Bone and gristle and veins and blood and flesh were visible from Subaru's arm socket and the detached limb this girl held.
?: Ahh... You're not writhing in pain? That must mean you're a good person. Good. A good person.
Ignoring her words, the terror was slow to hit Subaru.
Subaru: Aaaahhh... Aaaahhh. AAAHHHH!
Subaru knocked the chair down behind him as he stood quick enough to even tip the table before him.
Subaru: M-My arm!
In full panic mode, YN took a quick back step before any blood splatter landed on him.
Subaru: AAAAAAAHHH!
His screams were not ones of pain, but rather of shock. Had there been pain, YN knew for sure that Subaru wouldn't be standing right now.
?: Hey, if you keep yelling like that for no reason, Dona-Dona isn't going to like that... It shouldn't hurt at all, right?
Even as Subaru patted the open wound on his body, he came to the realization too, that there was no pain.
Subaru: Y-You're right... It doesn't hurt... But... how?
Smiling that she was successful at getting Subaru to stop his frenzy, the little girl held his detached limb like she truly was proud to have it.
YN: Umm, maybe then you could give his arm back to him?
Still, it was an unnatural thing to do, and if he were in Subaru's situation, he'd like his appendage back too.
?: — — —
The young girl now turned to look at YN and respond.
She spoke, but it was not a reply to his request.
?: Sin is not a cage you can escape from.
Once more with the infinite stare of great ominous intent, the little girl passed her judgment to YN.
Instantly, YN felt the world fall out from underneath him. Like he was on a collapsing bridge, his vision was lowered to the ground with a free fall.
But before his vision could even reach the ground, came a pain.
YN: Ah...
A great, great pain.
YN: AAAGGGHHH!
Impacting his chin on the grassy ground, YN shrieked in terror as he flailed about.
YN: —It hurts!
Watching on as his friend writhed in pain, Subaru couldn't believe his own eyes now.
It was like what happened in the forgone Loop when the two had tried hiding out in the forest away from the Mansion. When Subaru had his leg blown off by Ram's wind magic.
YN's legs in this case, had broken apart in multiple places below his body, and had fallen like a toppled house of cards.
Subaru: YN!
Too shocked and knowing he lacked any real way to help his friend, Subaru's own fear of this pain kept him from approaching YN.
?: Hmm, it seems Baru is a good person, but considers himself a sinner. That's why I have this!
Proudly showing off the arm she still held, YN looked up at the little girl despite his pain and heard her words.
Seeing he was looking at her though, she jeered at him.
?: Yu though... Yu is not a good person.
Shaking her head as if in pity at him, the girl concluded her judgment of him.
?: He is overwhelmed by the guilt of his Sins.
Looking to Subaru once more, the small child dropped the arm she held.
Typhon: Typhon's task here is complete! Baru can have this back now!
Subaru: — — —
Speechless, Subaru was powerless to do anything.
Typhon: Hmm hmm... Okay!
Looking upward as if communing with an entity in the sky, Typhon jumped for joy.
Typhon: Gotcha! Bye-bye everyone!
Swoosh.
As if called back from wherever it was she came from, Typhon was gone in the blink of an eye.
This of course left Subaru still without an arm, but worse was—
YN: AAAAHHHGGG!
Still floundering in pain, Subaru finally got a grip of himself and knelt down by YN's side.
Subaru: Hey! YN!
He hadn't seen him act this way since that very same Loop he had recalled just moments ago, when Rem had tortured YN, seeking a confession to things he hadn't done.
YN: Subaru! S-Subaru! G-Get Echidna! Please! I can't take this!
Seeing his friend in such a panic with no way to help, Subaru could only look about for something, but could not see anything worthwhile, all the while, YN yelled in agony.
YN: R-Rem! Rem! Reeeem...
As tears began to cloud his vision too, his mind was taking the toll of pain he wasn't allowed to perish from. It was as Echidna had said, they couldn't die here, but they could definitely feel anguish.
Subaru: YN! You gotta keep it together!
While Subaru wished to flip YN over to better get him to understand, he was unable to with only one arm still. Cursing his situation, he felt frustration at his own powerlessness.
YN: A-A-Anyone! Please—!
His eyes bloodshot and mind near the point of no return, YN screamed to the heavens above.
YN: —Help me!
Fearing the worst for his friend now, it was then Subaru noticed a glimpse of light from his flank, and a rumble seemed to come from the sky above, like a passing jet.
?: First! Punch the foolishness of humanity!
Hearing a thunderous voice ring out over the incoming whine of a high speed projectile, it rang out again.
?: Second! I don't give a damn about your ignorance, or your misdeeds!
Genuinely fearing whatever this high speed object was, closing in dangerously fast towards them, Subaru stood up and looked around at the sky above trying to locate it.
?: Third! It matters not if you're beautiful, or ugly—!
Dangerously close, it was nothing but a blur for Subaru.
?: —when in this phantom world—!
With a vestige of just pink, blonde, and blue mere fractions of a second from impacting him, Subaru could only choke out a brief sound of disbelief before the air was knocked right out of him as he was impaled straight into the ground with a mighty blow.
Subaru: —Wha—GAH—!
?: —my strikes will rehabilitate this world! My fury will placate this world—!
As Subaru was slammed into the ground, the force that had done so had been so great his limp body had rebounded off the grass, and as he was airborne, punch after punch was slammed into him like he was some sort of boxer's bag.
?: —And my Wrath will heal everyone with my fists!
With one more final wallop, Subaru was slammed back into the ground.
?: That is my answer!
Despite the beating Subaru had just taken, he still felt the same absence of pain as before. Only this time, his balance and feeling seemed to return to the appendage he had lost.
Subaru: —Huh?
Before he even bothered to look up at who had been hitting him, Subaru saw that his arm had been restored to normal, like nothing had ever happened to it.
Subaru: My—?
?: —Your arm is already healed! I knew I possessed the ability to do so!
Yet, as Subaru looked up to see who this person was.
Subaru: —breasts!
?: —Eh!?
Immediately recoiling as if disgusted in him, Subaru hadn't felt such feminine rejection since his days going to high school. The woman before him, short in stature, but by no means immature looking, tried shrouding her figure with her arms.
?: K-Keep that perverted stare to yourself!
As if starting to sob, the woman pouted.
?: Men are always like this…
Simply walking around Subaru now, he followed her figure as she passed him. As he turned with her, the wails of YN still in pain came back to his conscious recognition from the event that had just occurred.
YN: Aaahhhh... Aaaahhh!
Yet as Subaru's worry shifted back to his friend, the short, blonde haired woman that had fallen from the sky approached YN. Raising a fist high above her head, she impacted in right into YN's back.
YN: —Gah!
Feeling the force of the impact, but no pain, it seemed rather, all of his pain was gone.
He once more felt his legs, and his feet, and his toes. He could wiggle his toes in his shoes and feel them.
YN: Huh...?
As he had felt the madness he was falling into burning away in his mind, it was like someone had just come along and doused the flame with a bucket of water.
With all his normal senses and feelings returning, YN at least knew someone who wasn't Subaru was standing over him. The light from above was blocked, but as his head still lied on the grass, he could see Subaru a few paces away, his arm returned, but nonetheless, a stupefied look across his face.
Turning his eyes and face to view this person, YN at first saw a pair of white boots. Following them up, he then saw thighs, a short purple skirt, and a white coat of sorts. His eyes only glanced over the ample chest that was above that, and rather met square with her face instead.
Had he not heard her voice or saw her face, YN could have easily mistaken this girl for Rem simply based on the physique alone, even if the maid never would wear clothes like this.
Yet as he looked at her face, he noticed the blonde, side-pony-tail hairstyle this woman had. Her hair still fell mostly across the same side it did for Rem too, and while still different, a heart shaped hair clip held it out of her left eye, again, much like Rem's did.
YN might have been posed to shut himself down and dwell on his sorrow for Rem at this time, being somewhat greatly reminded of her by this woman, but one thing had caught his eyes that prevented himself from immediately keeling back over.
YN: U-Umm...
His voice felt slightly horse from all the yelling in pain he had just been doing, so at first, his words were shaky and groggy, like he had just woken up in the morning.
YN: Why..?
As he looked up the blonde-haired woman, it was clear she was the one who had just healed him, that much YN could understand immediately, however—
YN: —why are you crying...?
The woman looked down at YN as if genuinely concerned for him, and that she was thankful he was alright now. Yet, her lip seemed to slightly quiver and both her blue eyes, again very similar, but not identical to Rem's, had tears welling up in them.
At the same time she wore the expression of a pout-y, child-like sob, which was mixed with the mature concern of a genuine care for someone else's well-being.
?: —Wha-huh? —M-Me?
But upon YN asking this of her, she was forced to couple these two simultaneous expressions with one of surprise now, as if she truly hadn't expected such words of concern reflected back at her.
?: I-I'm not crying! I'm not sad! I'm just... I'm just angry!
YN: Then, why are you—?
?: —That's right! I'm angry! I'm furious!
As if oddly remembering this was an emotion she should be experiencing right now, and had been neglecting to do so, the woman stood up straight again, and slammed her heeled boot into the ground in frustration, like a child about to throw a tantrum.
YN: Well... If it's any consolation... I'm really thankful you showed up to heal us. It's really important we're able to get out of here with our minds in one piece... Especially since I've got someone I need to save too.
Sitting up now, he put a hand to the pewter necklace tied with that someone's pink hairband. From this, YN took a deep breath and tried to recompose himself.
YN: Thank you...
?: You're welcome... I appreciate that you at least looked me in the eye...
Surprised she would be so genuinely thanked, her quelled demeanor was thanks to YN too, as her sobs had stopped.
Subaru: Um... Just who are you?
Getting the idea she obviously wasn't the Witch of Gluttony as well, Subaru inquired on her identity from where he now stood after picking himself off the ground from where he had smacked down into.
Turning around, this woman, presumably a Witch too, declined to answer him.
?: You don't deserve to know my name! Perv!
Subaru: *Sigh...*
Once more dealing with someone uncooperative, Subaru couldn't even bring himself to argue with the blonde-haired woman as she pointed her accusatory finger at him.
YN: Umm... Can I at least inquire if you're a Witch as well?
Turning back to YN, the woman put a hand over her ample chest as she declared her name to him.
Minerva: I am Minerva! The Witch of Wrath!
Subaru: —What makes him worthy of knowing and not me?!
Bellowing out her name proudly at a volume that was still fit for conversing with Subaru, who was nowhere near YN, the black-haired boy blinked twice at the audible introduction.
Noticing the closer of the two wince from her shout though, Minerva relaxed her body language. "She hadn't frightened him from all this yelling, had she?" was what her prime concern was now.
Minerva: You aren't still hurt, are you..?
Shaking his head, YN rubbed his eyes to hide the wateriness in them.
YN: No, no... Sorry I'm just a little shocked still is all.
In truth, after all the adverse pain he had just finished suffering, YN was feeling more emotional than normal.
Minerva: ...It wouldn't have anything to do with that someone you said you were trying to save, would it?
Speaking softer to him, it was in Minerva's nature to be concerned about people in pain, and usually, someone who needed saving fell under that concern too.
YN: It's an odd coincidence you would think that. The person I'm trying to save sort of reminds me a little of you... Always wanting to help and heal. I've been trying my hardest to get her back... That's one of the reasons we're here today, so I again thank you for helping us.
Getting himself to stand now, he bowed his head while trying to hold off tears. YN's still feeble mind, resulting from all the pain he was just subjected to, could only think of comforting memories of Rem, perhaps spurred on by Minerva's actions.
Minerva: —!
Rather caught off guard by his kind words, to mask her own emotional investment now, the Witch of Wrath turned away from YN and stomped her booted foot into the ground with even more force than before, nearly knocking the two onlookers back into the ground.
Minerva: Why does the one person who thanks me here and looks me in the eyes have to be the one Typhon said was 'evil?!' —How is the nice one the 'evil' one?! Why does Typhon need to be this way?! I hate it! I hate the world for making her this way!
Lashing out in anger against her fellow Witch, she turned back to YN again with tiny tears in her eye. Her fists pressed up against her chest, she took a step closer to YN, getting close as she looked up at him, much like Rem had done many times.
Minerva: What possible 'evil' things have you done?! That can't be right! Was it just someone hurt by you?! That happens sometimes, but I'll heal whoever it was so it won't matter!
Perhaps too hung up on how she could heal people, and not if she could, being seemingly trapped in here, YN himself was hung up on contemplating Typhon's judgments of him.
...Am I really a bad person at the end of the day? Is Typhon right in saying I'm evil?
Seemingly, Subaru was able to have his arm ripped off because he thought of himself as a bad person, even though he was judged as not being one by Typhon. YN on the other hand, felt extreme pain without even needing to be touched. Typhon had judged him as evil, but said his pain came from the "guilt of his sins."
...Is it the guilt of not being able to save Rem? Is that what makes me an evil person?
With his mind contemplating this, YN looked back down to Minerva, his expression softening, and a pain reentering his eyes she could now see.
Minerva: W-Wait, wait. Stop. I-I didn't mean to—!
YN: —No... She's right. I am.
Worried her brutish motivation had startled him and made him sad again, it wasn't that this time.
YN's mind had reached a conclusion, and an answer to his own question. He had rationalized in his mind just how he was, in fact, a bad person.
I've kept too many secrets from someone who's supposed to be my friend. I know that. I know that I should trust him, but I still can't bring myself to tell him those secrets even though I know it's wrong to keep them.
From as minor as Rem knowing they were both from another world, to keeping the truth about the deaths in Saluzzo from him, and even as grave a sin as concealing the fact that Rem knew about Return By Death, YN had practiced intense dishonesty, and now held a massive potential breach of trust with Subaru by doing these things.
And that wasn't the end of his transgression against his fellow wayward traveler either. Among other things, YN had killed him in a bid to try and get Rem back. A disregard for one of his lives could be an argument that there could be one for any and all future lives too. Now, they had a price attached to them, one that YN seemed to be willing to cash out should things not go his way.
Minerva: — — —
Awaiting any response, YN could only shut his eyes to her.
YN: I am not the best person. I have sins that will haunt me till I die. But—
Looking back down at her, YN forced another smile as he bowed his head.
YN: —I do thank you for healing a bad person like me, and helping me realize why Typhon was right.
Taking a step back from him, Minerva looked away from him as well.
Minerva: I'm... I'll leave now, with that.
Somewhat going tsundere now at his continued thanks to her, she pointed back at him with her same accusatory finger she gave Subaru.
Minerva: I-I hope you've learned your lesson then! D-Don't hurt others!
YN: I'll heed your words.
Dropping the finger, Minerva seemed ready to jump back up into the sky from once she came, but just before she did, she spoke quietly to YN one last time.
Minerva: If you get hurt again here... don't hesitate to ask for help, okay?
Giving her a simple nod in reply, Minerva looked back up at the wild blue yonder above, and with one leap, she was gone like a flash of lightning.
As the sonic boom of her departure echoed across the rolling hills of grass, YN looked up at the sky too.
Be it her personality, or just simply her looks, in a small way, Minerva had reminded YN of Rem just enough that it stoked the memories he had of her to keep his sanity from escaping him completely.
Catching both Subaru's and YN's attention now though, was the return of a familiar face and voice.
Echidna: My, that was entertaining.
Sat right back in her tea table chair, the Witch of Greed smiled widely as if greatly amused. And in truth, she was, even if things hadn't matched her expectations.
I was hoping that the anomaly would be broken by now... Pity...
Nonetheless though, seeing him suffer had been an enjoyment for her.
Subaru: I gotta say, you're a sight for sore eyes...
Getting the Witch to change her expression from stoic to that of a surprised school girl, Echidna's cheeks went pink with a bush on her pale face, her lips partially parted.
Echidna: Oh~~?
Unsure if her initial reaction was genuine or not, it seemed as if Echidna quelled her own honest feelings and played up her continued reaction.
Echidna: And here I was thinking you wouldn't want to talk to me again~~.
Fake-gushing her words while she had both hands on her face and used her forearms to compress her chest, she dropped the act as she side-eyed YN, glaring at him now.
Echidna: —Although I wouldn't mind if you never uttered a word again.
Flatly saying that, YN could only roll his eyes in response. He simply didn't have the patience to deal with the Witch's antics.
Echidna: I must apologize to you though, Subaru. Typhon's... interference was unexpected.
Subaru went on to inquire more about the young, green-haired girl in the sundress, and happy to explain, Echidna did.
That small child was indeed a Witch, namely; the Witch of Pride.
Possessing the Authority of Pride, she was able to scrutinize someone and pass judgment upon them. The loss of their limbs and whether or not they had pain resulting from it was part of her power.
YN: And the one who saved us, Minerva... She said she was the Witch of Wrath?
Nearly giving him a bonafide death-stare, Echidna responded to YN's open question.
Echidna: It is immensely unfortunate that you swindled your way into leaving a preferable impression on Minerva. I wonder just how long it'll take for you to prove to her you really are an evil being, unworthy of helping.
But, upon Subaru lightly inquiring about her, Echidna was much more receptive to answering him.
Minerva was indeed the Witch of Wrath, much like how she had introduced herself to YN. Her Authority enabled her to heal anyone she wanted, so long as she touched them. Even the action of punching yielded the same result.
Her fists heal, rather than harm... Talk about an oxymoron...
Echidna: Still, even though it was unplanned, I believe this had an unintended positive lesson for you both.
YN: And... that would be?
Grinning in a somewhat sinister way, the Witch of Greed seemed glad he asked.
Echidna: You've both experienced a Witch's Authority.
Left speechless at that prospect, both YN and Subaru remained silent as the notion sunk in.
Echidna: I say that, because Daphne is much more dangerous. Her Authority is much more of a threat to you both.
Seemingly trying to give them a better idea how dangerous the Witch of Gluttony was, it did serve as a wake up call of sorts.
Echidna: So, I ask of you both; do you still wish to meet her, despite the threat to each of your lives?
YN and Subaru only needed to exchange a brief shared look, if only to make sure the other wasn't having second thoughts, as they both were determined to carry through with this.
Replying to her with a shared nod, the Witch still hadn't accepted their answer.
Echidna: There is an additional warning regarding her you need to know of before I can allow you to meet her still.
Subaru: Okay. Let's hear it.
Echidna: You two aren't going to get along with her. There will be a significant clash of affinity here.
Hearing this though, Subaru took a deep breath, and rebuilt his determination.
Subaru: The odds are dangerous. I—, We understand that. We both have reasons we can't turn our backs on this.
Subaru turned to YN after saying this to Echidna, and simply asked; "Right?"
Asking for his opinion, Subaru saw YN look down at his hands before replying.
YN: I won't lie, I'm a little jaded from the first two meetings with new Witches...
Doubt in his voice, YN changed his tone as he went on.
YN: —but as long as you can be the one to deal with them, I'll be ready to help if you need.
While his determination was definitely curtailed as compared to before, he gave his fellow wayward traveler a weak look.
YN: Someone taught me once you've got to learn to lean on others when you need to. Dealing with this sort of stuff... You're a lot better at it than I am. If it was just me having to deal with all this? I couldn't do it. I can't save Rem without doing this, but I can't do this without your help. So in a sense, I can't save Rem without your help. What I can do though, is help you.
Subaru: —And I couldn't do it without your help. So the only way this is getting done, is if both of us grit our teeth, puff out our chests, and tell our inevitable fate to 'bring it on.'
Showing their stalwartness, Echidna finally accepted their intentions.
Echidna: Very well...
As the Witch seemingly turned to mist again, she departed them.
Echidna: Good luck... Do try your best to not to disregard my warnings this time...
Immediately in her place, a gargantuan figure emerged from nowhere, and with the rattle of chains, it became clear what it was.
Subaru: What the hell...?
Opening wide, it was a casket, supported upright by what looked like several mechanical legs of sorts. Getting a view of who was inside, YN instantly followed his instructions at the pressure this entity seemed to emit. With a step back, he looked over to the grassy hill just beyond this figure, but kept the coffin in his peripheral vision, doing his best to avoid direct eye contact.
From what he could make out, there was another girl, bound in what appeared to be a tight body suit, chains, restraints, and was blindfolded for good measure.
However, despite the pressure she was emitting—
Daphne: Zzzzzzz
The Witch, it seemed, was napping.
Letting Subaru be the one to handle this, he got the Witch to rouse herself with some shouting.
It's like pulling a tiger's tail...
To Subaru's luck though, the girl inside eventually was roused from her slumber. As he introduced himself and told her why he was here, the girl inside finally spoke directly to them both.
Daphne: Hmm? Wow... Dona-Dona has new friends? That's very rare...
Despite the blindfold, she seemed to be looking right at them both.
Daphne: Subaruuun~... YNyn~...
More or less assigning them nicknames, the Witch spoke in a lower tone as she went on.
Daphne: You should be careful being friends with Dona...
As the dark entity gave them a rather ominous warning of her own right off the bat, YN couldn't ignore that.
If this really is a world of Echidna's creations... And she has the other Witches' soul fragments here... What's to say she isn't like... Their master, or owner...
There really had to be a purpose behind this upfront warning.
YN: I-Is there a reason we should be careful?
Asking this, he was given a less meaningful answer than he had hoped for.
Daphne: Hmmmm... Daphne is too tired and too hungry to really get into it...
Figuring this had to be some sort of round about way of asking food for information, YN patted his pockets to no avail, looking for something he could bribe the information from her with.
Shit... If there really is something new we've got to worry about Echidna... —!
Spotting a solution, YN looked to the turnstile of cookies and other baked finger-confections on Echidna's tea table.
Subaru also saw to what YN was looking at too.
Maybe this will go smoother and easier if we use these!
Acting on YN's good idea, as Subaru lifted one of the platters, he was warned by Daphne as she did.
Daphne: It's not a very good idea to get so close if you want to feed me...
Subaru: H-Huh? Why would that be...?
Daphne appeared to be rather excited at the prospect of food, which while it seemed like a rather expected trait of the Witch of Gluttony, she did her best to explain while fidgeting about like an impatient child.
Daphne: It's... Not as if Daphne is repulsed by you both or something... rather, it's your smell is like poison to her...
Hearing these words directed at him, Subaru held the platter of cookies over his head so he could take a smell at his own underarms. Feeling like he hadn't found anything out of the ordinary, he could only shrug to YN.
YN: Umm, Daphne-san... Would it be possible for Echidna to conjure up some deodorant for Subaru from thin air like she did with the tea party set up?
Subaru: H-Hey! When I shrugged I meant that it was because I didn't smell anything!
YN: People get nose-blind to their own scent after a while ya know.
Subaru: —!
Before Subaru could bark back though, the shrilly voice of Daphne broke up their bickering.
Daphne: Hey now, hey now. Daphne said she wasn't repulsed... But... Hmm... How does she describe it...? Don't you understand already?
As her large coffin on legs kept her stationary with it's bindings, it looked as if the girl had wanted to put a finger to her chin in thought.
Subaru: I uhh... I guess we don't...
Thinking for only a moment longer, she seemed to have a clue now.
Daphne: When eating... Daphne prefers meat over vegetables as her choice. —Lean meat, that is... Not so much fatty meat...
"Looking" back at Subaru through her blindings, the Witch licked her lips and let a small drop of drool escape from her mouth as she went on.
Daphne: Subaruun smells exactly like what Daphne likes... Muscled and chewy... Nice, thick bones.
Salivating more as she described it, both YN and Subaru realized Daphne hadn't meant a simple body odor... No... She smelled them like one might smell a cooking meal from a kitchen or street cart.
Described as such, even if she hadn't been speaking to him, YN felt an extreme unease. Echidna had been right to warn them.
Taking a half step back, if only out of pure discomfort, Daphne went on as Subaru stayed planted in one spot.
Daphne: If Subaruun got too close when feeding Daphne... she might try to eat him.
Both Subaru and YN had no immediate way to respond to such a cold blooded intent, even if it was a warning.
That... No... She's gotta be speaking in innuendo.
Croaking out a response, YN avoided eye contact while doing so.
YN: You... You mean in that sort of way, right?
Truthfully, any way she could phrase that is bad... but it can't be that cursed, right?
Right?
Daphne: Daphne means it... in a raw way.
Truly delivering her literal intent, YN felt an instinctual need to create distance between him and the Witch. Taking several paces backward, Daphne's coffin on legs took one step closer to YN as the Witch inside craned her head out towards him more, her bondage keeping her from leaning anymore forward while doing so.
Daphne: Subaruun's smell is so strong... What YNyn smells like is a mystery to Daphne... so she is unsure if she would actually enjoy him more. Maybe he would allow Daphne to have a taste since she can't smell?
Crossing his index fingers, YN immediately protested this.
YN: T-There's only one girl I would allow to do a-any of that sort of stuff to me!
Speaking of course of Rem, YN hadn't exactly thought out his words before issuing his rushed denial, hence it's awkward phrasing.
But, looking despondent and uninterested now, the Witch of Gluttony pouted slightly, puffing a single cheek out.
Daphne: Hmm, lucky her, to get to taste forbidden fruit.
Subaru: I'm sure it's more like sour grapes.
Somewhat lamenting he had to hear such fueled innuendos of questionable nature, Subaru sought to change the conversation for a hope of not only avoiding this topic any further, but to take the pressure off YN. Mainly though, he did this out of worry that he might upset the Witch and derail any chance to discover new, helpful information for the hurdles ahead of them still.
Subaru: H-Here, why I don't I toss you these cookies if you want them so bad.
Tossing out a small morsel, his pitch was on queue as it landed close enough to the Witch's mouth that she easily caught it.
Daphne: Hmmm, tastes like Dona-Dona...
Hearing the supposed flavor of these cookies, Subaru could only have a small traumatic flashback to the tea he had drank earlier. Thinking it was better he should keep what he now thought was in these cookies a secret from the Witch, he kept tossing them one after another.
After a few more thrown morsels, a gust had swept across the grassy hills, making one that Subaru had lobbed to her go astray.
Not missing a chance for food though, Daphne's legged coffin moved to easily catch the airborne but offtrack cookie.
This had prompted Subaru to inquire on the coffin, which YN added on saying it appeared organic in nature. Daphne went on to say she had created it and that it required no real upkeep besides mana, which led Subaru into asking about the other things she had created, namely, the Whale, The Hare, and the Serpent.
Not wanting to believe such terrible things were actually willingly constructed, Subaru went into a fit of anger once the Witch acknowledged actively creating them.
And in truth, YN wanted to yell alongside him, yet his fear of disregarding any of Echidna's warnings made him hold his tongue.
But what frustrated them both, was her reason for creating the beasts. It was as simple as "big animals feed lots of people. Big whales have lots of meat, and the hare multiplies non-stop, so theoretically, it's infinite food."
Unable to keep quiet anymore though, YN argued back.
YN: That's rich, considering both of those have killed infinitely more people than they've fed. Especially since one of them has eaten people itself.
Hearing what she thought was an ignorant view of it though, Daphne responded to him, frowning as she did.
Daphne: How cold of YNyn to think that... Has he never considered the possibility of being eaten if he also eats things? That's quiet selfish is it not?
Raising an eyebrow to such a conclusion being drawn, a look of mild disgust accompanied his words.
YN: ...What? No. Of course not. It's normal to not think that.
Daphne ultimately seemed to ignore his disregard of such a line of thought, instead deciding to double down and further justify her actions.
Daphne: If there are less people because of Daphne's Children, then by that logic, there's less people who would go hungry then. Meaning they have helped feed people.
As both YN and Subaru were both shocked to hear such a cut and dry sense of morality to it, hearing this made one thing clear to YN though—
—that lack of 'Affinity' that Echidna mentioned isn't something superficial... She meant it as a total incompatibility between us when it comes to morals.
Exchanging a side eye with Subaru, YN whispered his revelation to him.
YN (whisper): When Echidna said Daphne would have a bad affinity with us, she didn't mean she was quirky or anything as innocent as that... She meant she would be a total inversion of our values...
Subaru (whisper): Yeah... Yeah I think you're right about that...
Daphne: Hmm? Speeeeeak up!
While the Witch was ignored for a moment, Subaru built up the courage to argue back at her. Surely she couldn't be so truly warped, right? This had to be, on some level, hollow grandeur.
Subaru: But then why does the Whale erase people with its fog? Why can't the Hare just be content with its own cannibalism?
Shrugging her shoulders despite the restraints, the Witch professed her honest ignorance of those things.
Daphne: The Children hunt the way they learned to best do. They simply grew up that way on their own.
More or less... 'The devil is in the details.' They had a twisted purpose for creation, so it's only natural they became even more twisted when left to their own devices...
Subaru: Well, it's not like you made them immortal...
Daphne: That is true. Bad things can still happen to them, but they'll never die of hunger.
Grinning at that last part, Daphne seemed almost sadistically proud that she, the Witch of Gluttony, had thwarted hunger. To her, accomplishing this goal justified any means or malice used to reach that conclusion.
Thoroughly disgusted at this point, given such a lack of forethought went into the very thing that had harmed Rem at some point or another, directly and indirectly, YN turned his back completely to the Witch.
This is a waste of time. She doesn't even know how her own children, —monsters, function.
Still though, as his thoughts went on, YN only made himself feel more hopeless.
And to think too... This is the best possible location to seek answers to our problems. Sanctuary... The Great Hare... Rem... If that information isn't here, of all places... what chance do we even really have of ever finding the solution to them all?
In a dark place now, YN mulled over these issues, which with his loss of Rem still echoing in his mind, they competed for which was the loudest in his head.
Subaru and Daphne went back and forth as this went on though. They spoke primarily on the topic "hunger" and what it meant, and how it could affect someone on the extreme end of things.
Locked in his own hellscape of bad thoughts, one of the few things that could have snapped YN out of it on his own occurred.
Even though he couldn't see it, he knew what had happened even before the sound of chains and restraints being undone could be heard.
This... pressure.
A pure, unadulterated sense of fear and danger washed over YN. Summoning every drop of his determination to look, there she was.
Daphne: —Ugh... It's already so tiring being back on my feet again...
There she was. Daphne's small frame was freed of its coffin, and was standing squarely on the same grassy-hill they both were still on.
No way... Shit. Did Subaru release her?
Thinking his friend had disregarded another of Echidna's warnings, he saw Subaru was just as thunderstruck as he was.
Daphne: It would probably be really easy to eat you both now~~, but Dona-Dona and Met-Met would get angry.
A sort of primal fear ran through YN as he heard the implications of what Daphne truly wished to do, but was only being held back by Echidna and whomever "Met-Met" was.
Swallowing hard, he kept his eyes glued to just around the short girl, avoiding direct eye context as instructed, but he was unsure if Subaru was following the warning.
But as he went to take a step back, he heard a crunching noise of some sort. Instinctively, YN turned to see what it was, thinking he had stepped on a twig or branch.
No... There's no trees here...
And as he glanced, he saw nothing as well. Thinking perhaps it was Subaru, YN took a brief glance at him too, and could only see him nervously standing just as he was, biting his nails perhaps.
I don't think I've ever seen Subaru backed into a corner like this as I am...
Certainly feeling the same pressure and intimidation like he was from Daphne's sudden effortless escape from her coffin on legs, Subaru remained frozen in spot still, continuing to gnaw at the edges of his fingers.
But as YN went to turn his attention back to the Witch, he flinched as he saw her move suddenly, but did so in the opposite direction as them.
Daphne: Ahhh... It's much nicer to be carried...
Daphne had stunningly returned into her casket. Wishing to know if she had actually restrained herself though, YN took the risky chance of looking directly at her.
Daphne: —the left eye should be just enough.
As if adjusting her blindfold as she was putting her restraints back on, YN quickly shut his eyes out of pure fear, he was unsure if the Witch was removing it, or putting it back on, but he knew for sure he wasn't going to reopen his eyes to check, the danger was too great.
His vision, sealed away and tightly shut, YN had his face turned and was simply awaiting further development.
There was stillness.
There was silence.
Until—
*Crunch.*
The sound of something thick being crushed was all that entered his ears. With his face still turned, and being so in the direction of Subaru to his side, a few paces away, the sound had come from that direction.
Timidly, YN opened his scrunched eyes.
It appeared as if Subaru was just still chewing his nails, but certainly such a thing wouldn't make that sort of noise, right? Such a grizzled sound? —A gorey sound?
YN: — — —
Yet as YN looked at his fellow wayward traveling companion with just one eye open himself, Subaru removed that finger from near his mouth.
—or at least, the hand it was supposed to be attached to.
YN: — — —
From Subaru's hand, a ribbon of blood flowed from. Trickling down his wrist and staining his tracksuit, it looked as if Subaru's finger was simply—
YN: — — —
—Gone.
Looking to Subaru himself now, YN heard the awful crunch again.
*Crunch.*
His cheek moved.
*Crunch.* *Crunch...* *Crunch...*
The noise was more muted as it went on, slowly losing it's sharp sound with each iteration. All the while, the blood continued to flow from his hand.
YN: — — —
Now eyes wide open, YN couldn't fathom what he was seeing. His mind wouldn't let him until he saw Subaru bring his hand back to his mouth and—
*Crunch.*
Removing it, blood stained his face and lips from the initial injury, but now when his hand was removed, there were two missing fingers.
What the f—
Before he could even chew, Subaru brought up his hand again, and a third finger was removed.
—And a fourth.
—And a fifth, his thumb.
—And now his other hand, the first finger.
YN: —!
Gasping at his friends behavior, YN couldn't recall ever seeing such a sick display.
Close to losing all his fingers now, YN had to take action.
YN: —Subaru!
Rushing over, YN went to grab his friend's forearms, as if to restrain the black-haired boy from continuing to do this, his motive still being unknown.
Daphne: It's in YNyn best interest to stay away from Subaruun~~.
With the Witch piping up now, as YN turned his attention away from Subaru, a familiar sound entered YN's consciousness.
*Ba-dum Ba-dum Ba-dum Ba-dum—*
Rather than coming from a distinct direction like YN was used to though, the sound of the beating drum seemed to echo in the world all around him. This at the very least had gotten him to look back at Subaru before it was too late.
YN: —!
*CLACK!*
Narrowly escaping from having his ear bitten off like a certain famous boxer, the gnashing of Subaru's incisors at thin air was a loud sound.
Shit—!
As he saw his friend's face in closer detail, the crazed look in his eyes like he'd never seen before alarmed YN to his core regarding his own safety.
On pure instinct now, YN back stepped, and using his mana, he augmented his strength. With Subaru's forearms still in his hands, he had no choice but to use the leg that hadn't stepped back.
Subaru: —Gah!
With a square kick to his abdomen, YN had sent Subaru backwards a good distance, a few dozen paces at least while also falling backwards himself.
But as YN quickly recovered from fall and was back on his feet, Subaru remained on the ground, rolling and thrashing about like a fish out of water.
I didn't just injure him greatly doing that, did I?!
Unsure, YN had to be certain. With great caution, he approached.
Yet as he got a better look, it seemed rather that insanity was taking hold of his friend.
Subaru had, it appeared, forgotten he had just been kicked harder than a horse. In fact, even with YN looking right down at him now, he was paid no mind.
YN: — — —
From every digit on his hand, only a bloody stub of bone and flesh was left. While each gushed blood, Subaru drank it with a crazed lust between gnawing more at the stub of his hand.
YN was simply speechless at this. A gruesome sight like this was not something he had ever fathomed.
Daphne: Hmm, YNyn still doesn't understand, does he?
Even as the Witch spoke, YN couldn't take his eyes off the gory scene. Blood was beginning to stain the grass under Subaru as he became more and more desperate to eat himself. —To take bites and tear at the flesh of his own body.
Finally garnering the will to look away, he turned to the Witch with a voiceless question. His words could only mouth "How?" but even with her blindfold, Daphne gave him an answer.
Daphne: He's expecting Gluttony.
Hearing the name of the Authority that had given way to Rem's condition, the image of her in his mind coaxed YN back to action.
Pushing aside his apprehension, he reassessed the situation now with a clearer mind.
Shit! I've gotta stop him! How though?! Do I break his jaw so he can't chew anything? But then how do I get him to stop drinking his own blood?!
It made sense to YN what this was.
By looking into Daphne's eye, she had used her powers to make him feel an insufferable hunger, which he had no way of combating other than to try and satisfy it.
He's just like the Great Hare now... Damn it!
YN: G-Get him to stop! Make him stop!
Shouting at the Witch now, she only grinned in response to him with her toothy smile.
YN: This isn't cute!
Daphne: Oh? Will YNyn stop his dear friend from trying to satisfy his hunger? He'd make him suffer from hunger with nothing to eat? Or is he offering himself?
With the Witch truly acting on her Gluttony as her basis for logic, YN cursed her in his mind.
This bitch...
YN knew he needed to act fast. Too long like this, and just like the effect and pain that Pride had on him, Subaru would be thoroughly mind-broken.
Echidna... Why didn't you warn us it would be this bad?!
He was powerless to do anything though. He had nothing to restrain Subaru with, and getting close put him in real danger too.
YN: Damn it!
More than anything else, YN wished Rem was here. Either through her mana-manipulation or healing magic, she could fix this, or at least tame his condition.
Rem...
A frustration like no other was building in YN at the powerlessness he felt in this situation.
Why... Why does the world need to be this cruel?!
First Rem, then the Sanctuary, and now this.
What caused Daphne to be this way?!
As he blamed the Witch for this latest catastrophe, the words spoken only in his own mind were almost exactly like the ones he'd heard spoken early, out loud to him.
Wait a minute...
On a pure chance, YN knew that someone that at least reminded him of his beloved Rem might be his only hope in saving Subaru, and in conjunction, that meant his chance at saving Rem too.
While Subaru rolled in pain and insanity, and Daphne faded away much like Echidna did when replacing herself with another Witch, YN filled his lungs to the brim with air, and shouted out to the sky above.
YN: MINERVA!