Chapter 131: Just To Satisfy You
Having awoken in the Witch of Greed's Tomb for a fifth time now, the wake-up routine seemed to be getting etched into YN rather deeply now. Using the opportunity of Emilia still being asleep for Subaru and him to discuss things regarding the last forgone Loop, this limited time was valuable since if they left the Tomb immediately, there were so few opportunities to speak until the next morning.
Given how there was Ram, the meeting with Garfiel and Ryuzu, and Garfiel's after-meeting discussion that all would occur back-to-back the moment they leave the Tomb, it was essential to be on the same page of things so YN and Subaru could coordinate.
Leaning against the wall of the inner Tomb, the very same wall YN had been pushed against by Emilia in her "Yandere" temperament that had sprung up due to the overwhelming pressure she felt, that was the very first thing YN told Subaru of.
To which, Subaru described to YN how he himself had died; in the arms of Emilia not long after.
He described it as a "kiss of death."
After he and Roswaal had argued for sometime with YN gone, going after Rem, the Margrave had resigned himself to death, and had given himself to the Great Hare.
Subaru: —right before he died, he told me, 'Cast away everything except the most important person to you,' and that if I did that, I could become 'just like him.'
Clearly disturbed by those words, YN didn't entirely know how to respond.
YN: So, basically become a psychopath?
Without a response from Subaru, who could only shrug as he looked over to Emilia, still taking her Trial, YN theorized further.
YN: Maybe that's why his Gospel wants Emilia isolated? If he knows you can push back time, and he's responsible for all of this stuff happening... Maybe what he wants is to trim what he views as 'fat' in the Camp. He wants you to focus exclusively on Emilia and save no one else.
Subaru: —I'm not about to do that.
YN: I never said you were, or that you should.
Snapping back at his friend, YN clarified what he felt was obvious to that.
Subaru: Sorry, sorry...
YN: It's fine, I understand you went through a lot at the end there... I take it after Roswaal became rabbit feed, you wandered to the Tomb and that's where you found Emilia?
Subaru: Yeah, and you know the rest from there...
YN: ...One hell of a first kiss...
Only getting a nod in response out of Subaru to that, he figured given everything that had happened, YN must have had it rough towards the end too.
Subaru: —And you? What happened between getting to Rem and trying to get Emilia?
YN somberly told Subaru of what the villagers had been pushed into doing, which of course sent chills down the black-haired boy's spine.
Not wishing to dwell on that subject though, YN told Subaru of the conundrum involving where he could have hoped to bring everyone to if Emilia had indeed come out of the Tomb.
They agreed the Tomb indeed seemed like a safe place to get away from the Great Hare, but Rem, or for that matter, any of the Arlem villagers couldn't go inside it, or at least, not far past the entrance.
Subaru: —I do appreciate you trying to save Emilia. But I actually think at that point... she was beyond saving...
Hearing these heavy words, YN sighed as part of his guilt from his failure to do so was lifted off his shoulders.
YN: And I appreciate you saving Rem from the Mansion...
Thanking each other for their efforts, the two admittedly did feel their trust for one another was better for it, even if those actions were ultimately in vain with the birth of a new Loop.
YN went on to briefly explain what happened after he left Emilia, and how he had driven around aimlessly in the snow until the Great Hare had disabled his car.
YN: —and now we're here.
With both wayward traveling companions caught up on each other's discoveries, Subaru made the call to wake up Emilia while YN gave them space.
Exciting the Tomb first, YN was once again beset by Ram and her worries. Before Subaru emerged with Emilia on his shoulder, helping her out, YN struggled in this moment with Ram. While he definitely knew her heart was a complicated mess right now, he seemed to still not understand what part he played in it.
Ram changes so much based on what happens... It's hard to choose my words and actions until something else happens with her.
It seems when push came to shove, Ram would cave into these odd behaviors regarding YN. In the midst of danger, or once finally experiencing the "expendable-ness" Roswaal had for her, Ram always seemed to crumble to YN, going as far to sacrifice herself for him if need be, and even if that was against Roswaal.
YN could feel small inklings of that behavior out of Ram right now as she flaunted over his safety, having gone inside the Tomb.
It's not so much as Ram is worried that 'the same thing will happen to me what happened to Roswaal...' No... It's not as simple as that.
Ram's worry was more complex than that.
She knows Roswaal well enough to know he harmed himself on purpose. Ram's worry for me is genuinely independent of that... she really was scared for my safety... And not in a way an ally would fear for an ally's well being. Her reaction here is a lot like how Rem's was when I told her...
Comparing the two twin's behavior, it circumvented even the possibility of "they are twins so of course they'd react the same way" type of rationale.
The way Rem reacted was due to her unyielding and unfathomable love she had for YN, and if Ram was reacting the same way to the same information...
That's... not what I honestly expect out of Ram in regard to me...
Unsure if this was just simply more of Gluttony's influence on Rem's disappearance, YN was unsure of just how much longer he could keep Ram at bay as she continued her worried frenzy over him on the steps of the Tomb.
Thankfully though, stepping out from the Tomb, were Subaru and Emilia.
Relieving YN's faltering courage to hold his tongue from Ram and break down, asking her so many things that now stemmed from his mess of thoughts caused by the previous Loops, the progression of events in this new Loop carried on.
In this Loop, Subaru simply chose to leave Emilia's wellbeing to Ram after the meeting with Garfiel, Ryuzu, and Otto. He wouldn't pursue a conversation with her afterwards like he had before yet.
Yet, with YN separated from Ram's side, post-meeting, and with Subaru not waiting on the opportunity to speak with Emilia, Garfiel had come to them on the way back to their shack to retire for the night, something they each knew was going to happen.
Garfiel: Oi. Both of yas. Follow me. I wants to talk.
Before, either might have felt an intimidating aura from this. Getting called out into the forest at night to "chat" with Garfiel could have any sort of underhanded purpose to it. But by this point? Both Subaru and YN understood the golden-haired youth's rationale enough to be unafraid.
And this lack of fear didn't go unnoticed by Garfiel either. Being the person he was, he relied on that thin veil of intimidation to get his points across. However, he could tell that wasn't going to easily be the case here.
So long as YN and Subaru didn't give him reason to, Garfiel wouldn't do anything rash. Knowing of how he acted when things really came down to the wire, like in the past Loop, or when Satella had taken over Emilia, this allowed the two wayward traveling companions a great leeway in what they knew they could say and do, and how to best neutralize Garfiel's ire should they need to.
Coming to a small clearing illuminated by a nearby torch, Garfiel posted up against the trunk of a large tree, crossing his arms as he did so while YN and Subaru stood just opposite of him.
While there was a silence among them for a moment, it was broken by Garfiel finally.
Garfiel: So, what—
Subaru: '—What did y'bastard see in the Tomb?'
Garfiel: —hk!
Mimicking exactly what Garfiel was bound to say to a tee, the golden-haired youth fumbled his composure from how accurate the impression by Subaru was.
Garfiel: D-Don't be so damn creepy... But I guess if ya knows what I'm goin' to ask ya, I guess that means I don't gotta hurt ya to find out.
Trying in vain to regain the aura of intimidation he hoped to have, even Garfiel knew he was overplaying his cards in regard to that, and his words frustratingly had zero effect on the two strangers before him.
Subaru: We're sorta busy ourselves here, but we'll entertain some questions if you'll answer some too.
Garfiel could only give Subaru a disgusted look before replying, doing so with a great irritation in his voice.
Garfiel: Yous—
YN: 'Y'think yer in any position t'negotiate? I'll bite ya head off or something yadda yadda...' And then you'll use some weird and obscure literary reference we don't know.
Not even letting Garfiel get a single word out, YN nailed exactly what the youth was about to bark back out at Subaru, doing a perfect job following his lead.
Garfiel: ...The hell?!
Doubly put off now, Garfiel felt like his mind was being read faster than he could think.
Scanning his emerald eyes left to right between the two, things remained silent as Garfiel tried to contemplate what was going on, but speaking up before he could, Subaru now clutched control of conversation.
Subaru: You know we both took the Trial. Why not just come out and ask about it?
Garfiel: —Pft. That's pretty damn obvious. The result though...
Subaru: We both failed it.
YN kept a straight face upon hearing that. Any way he interpreted that statement, it was false.
Subaru had passed his first one, where YN had failed, but, Subaru passing his first Trial had strangely enabled YN to take his own second Trial, which he had passed.
He's going with a different strategy this time. I just have to play along...
Subaru: It seems we all have a hard past to face. Emilia isn't an exception to that.
Garfiel: Bah. I couldn't care less about how sad princess-sama's tragic past is.
Subaru: It's odd you'd feel that way, given she'll need to overcome that to free the Sanctuary.
Garfiel: The hell you gettin' at? Huh?
Uncrossing his arms and standing up straight from leaning on the tree behind him, Garfiel definitely let his irritation begin to show more easily.
YN: He means you look happy knowing Emilia-sama failed too. Which makes sense; you don't want the Sanctuary liberated.
Garfiel: Oi... I can excuse ya knowing how I'll talk... Granny does that sometimes too... But if yous wanna also act like you can predict what my feelings are...
With his fists clenched at his sides, Garfiel was hearing things he now couldn't excuse.
Garfiel: Yous both better explain where ya got that idea from, and ya better do it quick.
Levying his terms and consequences, Garfiel spoke in a low voice.
Subaru: My Trial involved the creation of the Sanctuary. Which included a bit about you, and about Ryuzu too. —The original Ryuzu Meyer, and her... counterparts.
While Garfiel could only slowly let his jaw become more slack as his eyes also widened, YN struggled to maintain his poker face.
Damn Subaru... that's smart.
YN felt that not even in a thousand years could he have hoped to outwit Garfiel like that. Obviously they'd need to justify how they knew these things. Just saying "we can't tell you how" left tons of things up for speculation, but by coming out and saying "The Trial showed us" remedied all their problems with that approach. It provided a perfect justification for knowing these things right off the bat and making that apparent. After all, what else was Garfiel going to assume? That they had died and relieved all these events multiple times? Preposterous.
Being on the receiving end of all this though, Garfiel had dropped his hands wide open from the tight fists they had been.
Garfiel: No. Ain't no way. There ain't no way you know about my past! That's not how it works!
Subaru: We weren't shown your past specifically, however, we're aware of the difficulties you've faced though regarding it.
Garfiel: ...Bullshit.
With things hitting too close to home now for the golden-haired youth, he could only cling to somehow calling a bluff that didn't exist. Seeing this though, YN went in for the kill.
YN: Subaru said earlier we all had a difficult past to face. He included you when he said that.
Garfiel: Don't... Don't you say it...!
Clenching his fists again but giving them each an expression as if he was begging them stop, rather than threatening them if YN did say, the groundskeeper went ahead with the deathblow regardless, capitalizing on Subaru's masterful handling of the conversation thus far.
YN: Why not retake the Trial yourself?
Garfiel: — — —
Letting his pained expression fade away like any hope he had that not everything had been laid bare for these two to see, Garfiel's face became more neutral.
Garfiel: — — —
Frozen in silence, the shark-toothed boy let a long break in the dialog form as he refused to answer YN's question. Not wishing to let this go on any further though, Subaru spoke up.
Subaru: Your actions lack consistency, Garfiel. First you say you want Emilia to be the only one to liberate the Sanctuary, now you're saying you were relieved that she failed it. If you really don't want the Sanctuary Liberated, you're being too half hearted about it.
Garfiel: — — —
Driven into a corner by these truths being aired out, one after another, Garfiel remained un-vocal. Right now, it felt like anything he said either further harmed him, or gave the two before him more insight into things they shouldn't know.
Garfiel: — — —
Such behavior was rare out of him, as he seldom held his tongue when he had to anyway, so for him to remain as silent as he was, perfectly illustrated the gravity YN and Subaru had in this conversation.
Taking his turn though to break the stalemate, YN took a step forward, and offered a hand to Garfiel.
YN: Can we please try something different? Why not work together? We can get out of this mess if we collaborate.
Doing his best clue in to Subaru he too was thinking about destroying the enemy that was Garfiel by turning him to an ally, YN had chosen the words "-get out of this-" intentionally. It signaled Subaru to what his goal was, but remained vague enough for Garfiel to not think too deeply into its meaning.
In response to YN's words though, it appeared the unthinkable was happening.
Slowly raising to meet his hand, Garfiel seemed to at the very least be considering YN's offer. While both him and Subaru kept a poker face, they each feared any movement or small discretion would be enough to break Garfiel's motivation here.
Yet just as the golden-haired boy's hand met the groundskeeper's—
*Smack*
Batted away by a backhand, the hand Garfiel had lifted did meet YN's hand, but not in a way that welcomed an ally.
Garfiel: Bah. As if I'd trust either of ya leeches.
Rallied into speaking again, it seemed the collapse of the potential partnership had been the catalyst.
Garfiel: Our interests ain't aligned. Can't make a pact on that. But,—
Denying an alliance, he was willing to compromise on a truce.
Garfiel: —I won't get in yer way either. Ain't like there's much to hide anymore anyway... Don't mean I'm going to help yous though. I'm stayin' neutral in this. Ya hear?
While not as good as it could have been, YN and Subaru were keen on taking this preliminary victory though, as it was something they'd desperately need as early on in this Loop as they could get, if only to better their chances of making it the last Loop.
Subaru: Ya know, this isn't like you.
Glaring over at Subaru for a moment before turning away, the youth's expression was the personification of "what good would it make?"
Garfiel: Just doesn't matter anymore. I've only got actin' like this left.
With his gaze back to facing them, Garfiel went on.
Garfiel: Get the princess-sama to beat the Trials or don't. If the Sanctuary is freed... Whether or not I leave it is another matter altogether.
Getting YN and Subaru to look at each other, Garfiel went on as a rather apathetic tone took over his voice.
Garfiel: If you twos are gunna make a break for it and leave, go ahead, I won't stop ya. Just don't try nothin' that's meddlin' in the Sanctuary's affairs. Provided yous all do that, I won't bother ya back.
Turning to leave now, he spoke while walking out of the torch's direct illumination.
Garfiel: —And don't try askin' me again to be friends. I don't want any of it. Neither of yous can help me get what I want.
Stopping just before his figure melded completely with the darkness of the forest he was walking into, Garfiel left them with his final words for the evening.
Garfiel: As for this conversation? It's done. Don't go around doing dumb shit and maybe wes won't have to talk anymore.
Now left alone in the light of the single torch, YN only had a brief moment to reflect on the entire ordeal before Subaru turned to leave in the opposite direction Garfiel had.
YN: Where are you off to?
Subaru: To the Citadel of Dreams.
Stopping without turning to answer YN much like Garfiel had just done, his fellow wayward traveling companion eventually did turn to face him.
Subaru: —You coming?
Inviting him along on this endeavor, YN nodded and followed the black-haired boy into the nearly equally black forest, bound for the Tomb they had just been inside of.
With the ascent of the stairs leading up into the dank and dreary Tomb already behind them, Subaru and YN reached the two ruined doors to the inner sanctum of the Witch of Greed's resting place.
Subaru: I don't know if this will work, but it's the only thing I have left that I can try.
Dropping to the floor, Subaru crossed his legs and held his hands on lap, imitating what a monk might look like in deep meditation.
Subaru: I'm counting on you... Echidna...
As YN watched the rather eccentric display unfold, he figured he really could only copy his friend.
I got nothing different I can try... so I might as well too...
Joining Subaru on the ground, YN sat in a more relaxed way and closed his eyes.
By now, a decent amount of time had passed by, and YN had kept his eyes shut the entire time.
He'd let his mind wander aimlessly during this, his thoughts traversing many of his most recent troubles.
Ram, and how her complicated feelings related to him.
Rem, and how much he missed her.
Pico, and how he still couldn't properly process why she had sacrificed herself for him in the last Loop.
Roswaal, and his treachery.
Emilia, and how she had been while mind-broken.
With his eyes shut, YN hadn't afforded himself a moment of mental silence like it seemed Subaru was trying for. His mind was too abuzz with his stresses and worries.
But what had made him open his eyes now was the rustling fabric noise of Subaru's tracksuit.
YN: Hmm?
Slumped over, still in place, Subaru had slouched to the side, showing his obvious lack of consciousness at this moment.
But what made YN perk up slightly to this display, was the pained expression on the black-haired boy's face.
Oh shit, is he in the Second Trial?
While YN was about ready to lean forward and shake Subaru back awake, he stopped.
No, that's the opposite of what he probably wants now. He wants to meet Echidna... If I interrupt his Trial attempt, that might make him lose his chance to speak with her.
As YN recoiled his hand, a sudden wave of fatigue overtook him.
A-Ahh... I see it... it's my turn now, huh?
Not fighting it like he had his very first time, YN let the Tomb's power snuff out his consciousness and lull him off to the Citadel of Dreams.
Passing out too, the last thing YN saw was his vision alter as he too now slouched over.
YN: Goodnight...
Consciousness began to return to YN once more. Across his face, he felt a gentle breeze as tiny blades of grass gently reached at the ends of his skin where he laid. From waking up so many times on the Tomb's hard, stone ground, he could tell he wasn't there by the feel alone. Rather, what he laid upon now was the soft, earthy ground.
Opening his eyes, a lightly clouded, blue sky was visible above him, something he felt like he hadn't seen in some time now, not with the forest canopy of the Sanctuary being so thick, and the batches of blizzard he had been forced to deal with.
It was a blue he was somewhat familiar with. While not exactly the same as Rem, the blue was just dissimilar enough that it still appeared dull in his vision, making it lack the true hue the owner of this domain might have wanted it to have.
YN: Rem...
Saying her name out loud, the melancholy feeling of his loneliness without his beloved shuddered his soul under this great, expansive sky. As another calming breeze blew across his body as he laid there, a shout of anger broke the calmness of the moment.
?: Are you trying to deceive me?! Huh?! Are you so sick in the head you want to trick me like that?!
Sitting up, YN looked over to where the shouting was coming from.
YN: Here we go...
Standing up from where he had been sitting, YN approached Subaru, the one who had just stood up before him, and was the one yelling. The recipient of his anger was someone neither of them recognized.
?: —D-Dona-chan made me! Y-You weren't supposed to get angry... A-All I had to do was spoil you so that—
Subaru: —No! I don't know where you think someone wouldn't get angry doing that, but you've got another thing coming!
?: P-Please don't hit me!
With his voice still raised at this pink-haired girl who sat on the ground, her arms covering her head, and tears forming in her eyes, YN could tell that Subaru was seeing nothing but red at this moment in time. Whatever had just happened, he was in no mood to be rational.
As Subaru stood over this short girl, YN had jogged up and put his hand on his shoulder.
YN: H-Hey, Subaru! I know you're pissed about something, but let's not turn this civil dispute into a domestic violence case.
Subaru: I-I wouldn't do anything like that! I'm just...
Turning his eyes away from YN, they narrowly glared back at the girl on the ground.
Subaru: —What did you even do that for?!
?: D-Dona-chan lied to me... she asked me to greet you even though I didn't want to...
Subaru: Hey! I'm asking you why you did what you did, not who told you to! Why did you... transform into Emilia?! What sort of path were you trying to lead me down there?!
?: 'Path?' No...
Unable to keep eye contact with Subaru, the pink-haired girl timidly kept stuttering her words and mumbling. She seemed rather frightened of being shouted at, but YN still couldn't tell if it was actually deserved or not.
?: If I appeared as anyone else to you... It's only because... that is who you truly wished... to see at that moment... right?
Subaru: Are you listening to me...? I'm asking you that.
?: A-All she said was that I had to spoil you a little... That w-was all... Everyone is ganging up on me...!
Curling into a ball as if to protect herself, the girl's words became more panicked.
?: I-I just had to do it a little bit she said...! But I didn't want to, e-everyone made me do it...! Everyone is being so mean...!
Every whimper or stutter this girl made while ignoring Subaru's question only made him more visibly upset as she did this. It seemed any mannerism she expressed right now only irritated and aggregated him further until—
Subaru: —Can't you understand I'm trying to ask you something?! Don't you know what 'Listen to me' means—?! Hk—!
Shouting, his words were cut off like the air had just been taken from his lungs. While the pink-haired girl before him still continued to cower in fear from the words Subaru had thundered out in anger, it was clear she was responsible for it.
Shit, not this kind of stuff again!
YN quickly put two and two together, and realized that since this was Echidna's dream world, the girl before them of course had to be a Witch, one they just simply hadn't met yet.
Subaru: —! —! —!
Even despite being choked up, his rage towards this girl wasn't subsiding, and as such, YN took action.
Pulling his fellow wayward traveling companion away from her near vicinity, he heard Subaru gasp for air.
Subaru: —Gah! *Huff!* *Puff!*
Subaru had been so enamored in his own emotions of wanting his frustration to be understood by the one who seemingly caused it, he had completely not realized he was suffocating.
Yet, before Subaru or YN could say anything else, a new, but familiar voice rang out.
?: What you just experienced, was the faceless Witch of Lust, Carmilla. People tend to forget to breathe when around her, especially if she gets upset. Sometimes even, their hearts stop too.
Both Subaru and YN looked to where these words originated from, and upon a grassy knoll behind them, there she was.
The Witch of Greed, sat at her tea table. Adorned with a shady umbrella, it was fitting for someone with such a fair complexion as herself.
As Echidna was looking down upon them practically from the height difference between their two knolls, YN, Subaru, and this girl, Carmilla, whom they could only assume was the Witch of Lust from what she had just said, the Witch of Greed took a sip of her own tea before speaking again.
Echidna: I'm aware you two have a great many deal of things you've come here to ask me, but things will only begin once all the Tea Party's guests have come to sit at the table.
Glaring one last time at the girl still on the ground, Subaru turned with a mild huff of annoyance as he made his way up the grassy hill, departing without even a word to YN on what to expect.
I guess whatever happened before I woke up really put Subaru in a bad mood... I don't think I've ever seen him that irrationally upset before...
As YN watched Subaru trudge up the hill to the Tea Party, he turned his own gaze back to the one who was the catalyst for his anger.
Still sat on the ground, Carmilla had only just begun to come back out of her 'shell' as she lowered her arms, still held in a protective manner. Seeing that the one who frightened her was now leaving, small tears of relief began to form in her eyes.
While it only made sense YN should follow Subaru up the hill to speak with the Witch of Greed, he couldn't help but pity the still shaken pink-haired girl.
Flinching at first to the hand suddenly appearing before her, Carmilla let out a small "Eep!" of shock. But seeing it was being offered by the one who hadn't been the one yelling at her and was the one who had at least tried to de-escalate things, she mustered just enough courage to take a hold of the hand.
As she got to her feet though, YN let her hand go and took a step back from her as Echidna's previous words echoed in his mind still. He knew from previous experiences that her words of warning regarding the other Witches were best followed.
YN then turned and began to take his first step up the grassy knoll to follow Subaru, but as he did, he felt a gentle tug at the back of shirt.
Carmilla: Ummm...
YN: —!
Now flinching himself with this seemingly dangerous entity so close to him, YN quickly inhaled through his nose in a bid to best increase his chances should he all of a sudden be unable to breath normally like Subaru had been rendered.
While one hand remained in connection with YN's shirt, her other was held over her mouth. Neither of her hands were visible though, as each were fully concealed by the sleeves of her shirt being so long the ends remained empty.
Carmilla: I... T-Thank you...
Unsure if she was thanking him for helping her up, or simply not yelling at her where Subaru had been, YN was simply too alarmed to respond to her. His own vision remained locked down to the sleeved hand still pinching the bit of fabric on his shirt, worried something terrible might stem from this small amount of contact.
Seeing his apprehension though, Carmilla dropped her hand to him suddenly, moved her other hand away from her mouth, choosing to push away her own timidness to clear any worry he had.
Carmilla: T-There's no need to worry...! While it seems the premise of Lust is drawn to you... y-your devotion to one soul leaves you almost immune to the effect of it...
YN: H-Huh?
Croaking out a single word response, YN did so while tentatively letting a minimal amount of air out as possible while doing so, fearful he'd be unable to breath. It was akin to dipping one's toes in water to know the temperature before just jumping in.
Carmilla: I-I can tell I'd have a hard time using my Authority on you... You're very attached to one other single soul, and that connection is a very sincere one, despite that it seems Lust tries to lead you astray.
Carmilla's words could only describe the devotion YN had for Rem. But as for the other part of what she had just said—
YN: '—Lust is drawn to me?' I mean, there was this time in a tavern where this forceful woman tried to have her way with me...
Speaking the last half of that under his own breath in regards to when Rem saved him from Isabella in Costuul, YN also recalled the many times Rem had become lust driven towards him when they were alone and the mood was right.
YN: Well... maybe you're right when you say that... And you're welcome. Subaru can probably get pretty scary when he yells, huh?
Admitting she might have some truth to what she said to him, YN did acknowledge her thanks for the kind gesture, and tried sympathizing with her, if only to put himself in her own shoes.
YN went to turn again, thinking all that could be said here had been said. Yet, as he did, Carmilla's words stopped him again.
Carmilla: I-It would be a good idea to be weary of Dona-chan right now... She's up to no good... She's scheming something, so any offers she makes, may not truly be as they seem.
Sternly saying the last part of that without any hesitation or stuttering, the gravity of it was not lost on YN. Nodding at her seriousness, he took the Witch of Lust's warning to heart regarding the Witch of Greed.
YN: Thank you for the heads up. I'll be sure to follow it.
Getting only an assured nod of confirmation from the pink haired girl, YN turned for a final time now, and began his own trek up the grassy hill just as Subaru had reached the top for himself.
Subaru: —I want you to say you didn't mean to do that!
By the time YN had gotten up the hill and taken his own seat at the Witch's Tea Party table, Subaru was already giving Echidna a piece of his own mind regarding what had occurred with Carmilla.
YN had been sitting here for a few minutes now, letting time tick by slowly. He fiddled with his thumbs and sat patiently, waiting for whatever outcome Subaru was trying to garner from the Witch.
Subaru: —you sicced the Witch of Lust on me, in the shape of Emilia-tan no less, right when I was at my most vulnerable! I want you to say you didn't mean to do that!
Echidna: Fine fine. It was pure luck you're able to be here now after you were able to see through the Witch of Lust's predatory attack on you. Right as you exited the Trial, she went off on her own to seduce you. As soon as I was able to, I brought you here to my dream-world where you'd be safe.
Subaru: — — —
In the driest way possible, Echidna spoke the exact words Subaru might have wanted to hear initially, but this entirely had the effect Echidna wanted it to have instead.
Echidna: ...See? Can you truly say you're satisfied after hearing that? Could you have accepted that even if I had said it initially?
Subaru: — — —
Making Subaru hear just how hollow the thing he was asking for was, Echidna took a sip of her tea as her lesson sunk in.
Subaru: It still doesn't make sense... Why send the Witch of Lust after me for absolutely no reason?
Echidna: I truly do not understand what you're after, Natsuki Subaru...
Subaru: I'm—!
YN: —Now hold, hold on.
Finally speaking up in this conversation, his interjection was met by the white haired Witch's glare of contempt, mid sip of her tea.
YN: Echidna isn't really the kind of person to mess with someone for just sick kicks.
Exchanging a look with Subaru, YN and him both silently agreed his statement just now was wrong, but Subaru could tell YN was going somewhere with this, so in the bid of not thwarting whatever his angle was, he didn't object to what he had said.
We both know that's not true at all, but at least he's letting me finish my point here.
YN: —Echidna, there was a different reason for taking things so far there, using Carmilla to do that, wasn't there?
Echidna: *Sigh.*
Setting her empty tea cup down, the Witch lamented YN's words as she went to pour herself a fresh cup.
Echidna: Of course the Anomaly tears down the facade. But I must give credit where credit is due. Yes; there is more to it.
Subaru: —Then tell me damn it!
With the heel of his fist slamming down on the table, Subaru's bottled up anger was let out, and his action had made the Witch spill the smallest amount of tea onto the small saucer her cup rested upon.
Paying Subaru no mind, the Witch lazily looked over to YN.
Echidna: If I tell him, he's just going to get more angry than he is now.
YN: He's probably heard worse.
Waving off the concern to her as if it were nothing, the white-haired woman turned back to Subaru to explain.
Echidna: You were insistently challenging the second Trial over and over again. If I hadn't made Carmilla intervene to get you out, chances are you would have let the mental strain of it burn your mind out.
Seeing what the purpose of such a drastic action was now, Subaru collapsed back into the seat behind him, humbled by Echidna's tactfulness.
Echidna: It's pretty apparent you were close to your limit by how charming you've been since arriving here.
Sarcastically laying the final point down, Subaru could only silently nod his head, admitting the Witch was in the right to have done so. Even if it had been extreme, it was what simply was needed.
Surprised to hear all this, YN sat up in his chair and looked over to Subaru.
YN: That sort of makes it sound like you didn't pass...
Subaru: No. No, I didn't...
YN: What uhhh... What did you see?
Unsure if he should ask so soon, YN took the gamble, as since Echidna was the proctor for the Trials, of course she'd know. If he didn't ask, he'd be the only one here who wouldn't know. Shaking his head though, Subaru answered as he exhaled.
Subaru: What didn't I see?
Slumping over in his chair, Subaru held his head in his hands, pressing his palms on his eye sockets.
Subaru: —I faced every single death I've ever had... And I got to see the aftermath that followed it. —Things I was sure would have never happened had time just wound backwards like I had thought...
While what Subaru said did alarm YN on the nature of what truly happened to the world upon a Return, a much smaller, more personal qualm had snagged all of his dumbstruck shock.
Shit! If he saw every single death... That means he could have seen what happened in Saluzzo!
Immense worry now threatened to overwhelm YN. A cold sweat had broken out on his body and he looked at Subaru with a face that if seen, was pale in fear.
As Subaru continued to hold his head in his hands, his vision was still blocked, or at least downward, and in the same time, YN looked up to Echidna, thinking she was getting ready to bring such a thing up, if only to take every opportunity possible to throw YN under the bus.
Yet, as his expressionless face looked to her, she relayed back to him an equally blank one, with the only exception being she had brought one of her slender, fair-skinned fingers to her mouth, in a gesture that could only mean "be quiet."
Echidna continued to give YN this lamenting stare until Subaru sat upright again, looking defeated.
Okay... Echidna seems to know I'm worried about Subaru knowing about things I've kept hidden from him... And Subaru would have immediately brought up those events too had just seen them.
YN knew Subaru wouldn't have beaten around the bush like this if he truly was aware about what really had happened at Saluzzo, or at least, how many times Saluzzo had happened.
He'd just come right out and ask me right away. And he hasn't... that can only mean such things were omitted from Subaru's Trial...
As the Witch dropped her hushing finger, she looked to Subaru with her previous expression.
Echidna: Do you now understand why I had to trespass into your mind? Yes, I had Carmilla transform and take you down a wayward path. You have the right to hurl all sorts of insults at me, I wholeheartedly agree I deserve them... However—
Looking sternly at Subaru, Echidna pleaded her case.
Echidna: —Had I not taken action, your mind would have been irreparably damaged. It would have broken— or 'snapped' is a better word for it.
Subaru: — — —
Only appearing to be halfway convinced by Echidna, she laid down her final point.
Echidna: Care to recall what happened to someone else you know that took the Trial over and over again, and what became of them?
YN and Subaru both knew of whom the Witch spoke of by that description.
Emilia-sama...
The poor girl had been pushed to the point of becoming a twisted yandere of sorts when YN had come across her... He couldn't imagine how she had been with Subaru later on in that Loop.
Subaru: I—!
Trying one last time to voice his frustration, doing his best to try and avoid diminishing his previous anger, the black-haired boy finally sighed in defeat.
Subaru: Fine! ...I understand why you did what you did then... I get it.
Finally getting past his own frustration, Subaru folded his hands, and scooted forward on his chair to the table.
Subaru: Now, I have no intentions of drinking any tea you make, but I do have questions for you. Care to answer them now?
Getting the Witch to smile in a rather telling way, she set her tea cup down, as if she had finally decided she was getting to the exciting point of this visit.
Echidna: The thirst for knowledge is in your eyes—, both of your eyes.
YN & Subaru: — — —
Blank expressions from her two guests upon her diving into this topic in such a cryptic way only seemed to have a marginal amount of the impact she had hoped for.
Echidna: Really. I can tell that. I am the Witch of Greed after all.
Not entirely up to speed on what game she was playing by being this roundabout regarding what he wanted answered, Subaru sighed.
Subaru: Can you start by better explaining what the Second Trial is supposed to be? 'Witness, a present that was not to be.'
Reiterating the words spoken to both YN and Subaru in their attempts, any light to be shed on this topic was halted with the raising of Echidna's hand.
Echidna: If we wish to discuss anything on the subject of the second Trial, we must first discuss what the subject of the Trials in general mean to the both of you, rather.
YN & Subaru: — — —
Again drawing blank expressions from them both, the white-haired Witch readjusted herself in her seat as she pushed the subject forward, as if keen to make her mind heard.
Echidna: Do you both recall when I said your Trials were linked? From what I can gather now, that was due to when I originally gave Subaru the Qualification to undergo the Trials. It was also, without my knowledge, extended to YN as well.
Oh here we go.
Ready to roll his eyes and just tell Echidna to move things along rather than prattle on about "Anomalies" or "her domain," YN was pleasantly surprised to be spared from the Witch of Greed's third degree.
Echidna: It's apparent now that when Subaru passed his first Trial, and YN failed, only the success was counted, which in turn, let him also take the second Trial, which he passed.
Subaru: Haven't we already been over this?
Echidna: We have. But our most unexpected recent development is why I'm bringing it up again. Why is it only when Subaru succeeds, it's counted as a success, yet when YN succeeds, it still hinges on Subaru? Why wasn't Subaru allowed to take the third Trial?
Truthfully, to everyone at the table, the Witch had a point. The logic wasn't following.
YN: Well, isn't that also true for our ability? It's only when Subaru, ya know, does his part, that it triggers. If I do it, that doesn't get us any further.
Echidna: That was one avenue of thought I ventured down, but one other event regarding the Qualification is a much more likely the culprit.
Subaru: And that would be?
Echidna: Think for a moment. Other than partaking in the Trial, what other aspect of the Sanctuary does one need the Qualification?
As the two guests thought for a moment, nothing came to either of them for the first few moments until—
YN: —The Command Authority?
Feeling like he was taking a shot in the dark, the Witch's answer genuinely surprised him.
Echidna: Correct.
Immediately though, this spawned confusion in Subaru.
Subaru: Huh? How does that even begin to be related?
Echidna: From what I can observe and feel, it was at that moment when the Command Authority was taken from Garfiel and levied to YN, the Qualification you both shared was split into two, becoming two unique copies. Since the last Trial YN faced was the second Trial, he retained that mark, while you did not.
Slamming his hands down on the table in shock, Subaru exclaimed loudly at this misfortune on his end of things.
Subaru: You mean I could have been taking the third Trial just now and not the second one if YN hadn't touched that big glowing crystal?!
Echidna: Perhaps. While it was never attempted by you, we can only speculate on what that could have yielded in terms of opportunities. However, with the direction things went, you gained valuable information you wouldn't have otherwise attained, yes?
The Witch at the very least made them realize that no matter the outcome, achieved or not, everything came with it's good, and it's bad.
YN: But that means too that if I hadn't touched it, Subaru would be the one eligible for the third Trial, not me.
Subaru: That is right... At least this way, since you actually passed the second Trial, that does make you eligible to take it.
YN: Would there really be any challenge to retaking a Trial you've already passed? If you know the answer, it's not really a test...
Subaru: You have a point there too... We both could have been eligible to take the third Trial, not just one of us.
YN: Personally then, I can say I'm happy with the way things went then. This doesn't break the conditions of our deal after all, Echidna.
Speaking of course about the Witch's promise to answer all of his questions about Rem should he just attempt the third Trial, YN reminded her of this.
Echidna: Oh I'm welllll aware.
Now once more showing YN her negative side, the Witch took a begrudgingly long sip of her tea, and scowled as if it were extremely bitter.
Subaru: Well, we may still need you as a backup plan should things really go haywire. I'll need to pass the second Trial to actually be on even footing with you, and that's easier said than done... Speaking of which, Echidna. Why is the second Trial so much harder? What gives?
Echidna: Let's start simple. Why do you think they're so much harder? And just as a hint: the answer isn't the same for everyone.
Sending the black-haired boy into a brainstorm, his fellow wayward traveling companion joined him in that mental deep dive. After a few moments, it was YN who had the first guess.
YN: Does it have anything to do with seeing alternative presents that are more personally favorable than the present the person taking Trial is in?
Snapped out of his thinking, Subaru disputed this hypothesis.
Subaru: That's really not how mine went... I saw nothing but things that were worse.
Echidna: Your thinking is much too narrow. Any 'present' you saw was simply 'never meant to be witnessed.' It does not imply a degree of quality. Rather, because it's broad, this allows for a wide degree of interpretation.
YN: My second Trial dealt with a present where the path to saving Rem was all laid out and easy to follow, just long, and I saw it's conclusion... Where as Subaru's was about seeing the aftermath of his 'ability...' I can't think of any facet that unites these two experiences.
Speechless for a while and in thought again now, neither could come to any tangible conclusion on this subject, which promoted Subaru's mind to wander slightly until—
Subaru: —Actually, I've got a different sort of question. Just what are the things we saw? Are... Are the world's I saw in my Trial, or even the single one YN saw in his real? Were these glimpses into separate world's that actually exist?
Echidna: — — —
With the Witch silent in response, YN could only figure Subaru had said it in a way that didn't carry much sense.
YN: What do you mean by that?
Subaru: I mean, what if the Witch isn't rewinding time, but is moving space. Roswaal said Yin magic, if powerful enough, can stop time. Maybe he assumes that the Witch of Envy's Yin magic is so strong, it's reversing time.
Sitting more forward in his chair, Subaru shook his head slightly as he went on.
Subaru: What I'm getting at is, what if he's wrong? Yin magic has to do with time and space. What if it's not time that's changing in a way it shouldn't, but space.
YN: — — —
On the cusp of a gut shattering idea, Subaru went on.
Subaru: What if it isn't just time that's going back, but we're moving world lines.
YN: Like separate dimensions?
Subaru: Yes. We're being moved to a new parallel dimension every time we Return, not just going back in time in our own dimension or world line.
Thinking of what all that could entail, neither were YN or Subaru master philosophers, and thus without any context to go off of for this, they once more deferred to Echidna and her vast knowledge, yet—
Echidna: — — —
The Witch remained completely silent. Spare a sip of her own tea, Echidna avoided answering this topic with a blank grin.
After some silence, Subaru spoke back up.
Subaru: Ya know, Echidna... It really seems like you're been avoiding this topic whenever it comes up... There wouldn't be a reason for that... right?
Speaking in a low tone as he said this to the white-haired Witch, he still was not afforded any vocalized answer.
Echidna: — — —
Subaru: I've avoided thinking about it until now... Do these worlds we die in continue to exist after we both Return?
Echidna: — — —
Silent still in reply, the Witch could only look on, blankly, at the one asking her this question of growing agony.
Subaru: Please... I think we ought to know... Echidna.
Echidna: — — —
Only gently setting her tea cup down, she politely folded her pale hands on the clothed table, as if blissfully unaware of what was being asked of her.
YN: —Are you going to answer him or not?!
Shouting from lack of patience, YN brought the heel of his wrist down on the desk hard enough to rattle the porcelain tea set.
Echidna: Oh, are you suddenly worried about this too?
Snapping to an immediate reply to him, YN leaned forward, challenging the Witch's condescending glare and tone.
YN: Yes, I am. We both are. Now, quit getting a kick out of not telling us.
Levying his frustration to Echidna on behalf of Subaru, she could only nonchalantly shrug as if blameless in this entire ordeal.
Echidna: I can promise you, I'm receiving no enjoyment from this. I must simply... think is all. If I say this the wrong way, it could spell disaster for you both.
YN: —tsk.
Rolling his eyes at what he believed to be a disingenuous answer, Subaru viewed it as wholly honest.
Subaru: Please, no matter how difficult it is for us to hear, we'll endure it.
Sighing at both their reactions, Echidna crossed her arms.
Echidna: What you both saw was an unreality built upon each of your own memories. It wasn't so much a glimpse into a former dimension you'd come from, but rather what could have happened after any known record of them ceases to be. These things may have happened, or not. We cannot say either way.
Subaru: So... there's hope that it's not as hellish as I thought...
While Subaru saw the plausibility of doubt as hope that there weren't worlds he'd left damaged and broken beyond repair, this concept greatly disturbed YN as he now came to fear it.
I really, really hope there aren't other [Rem]s out there, suffering...
In all the Loops she alone had saved, YN lamented that for those [Rem]s, there was no closure. [They'd] need to go on, thinking that their own continued existence meant they had failed to get things right for the next [Rem]— that failure was their fault.
Rem always worked so her next self could have the chance to be the one to stand next to her beloved's side, and did so diligently. Even if her self sacrifice meant handing YN over to a different [Rem], Rem did so because she knew only [Rem] could continue on to be by his side. If [Rem] didn't think she was worthy enough to stand by him, she'd do the next best thing; help [Rem] to be the Rem that persisted with him.
After Rem had calmed her maiden heart, and accepted that all [Rem]s were her, and she herself was [Rem], and not another person to compete for YN, this was in part that she had ultimately assumed they were in only one world. One dimension.
Would Rem's maiden heart erupt into a storm of conflict again if the prospect of these actuality being different Rem's was actual truth, and not just a theory? Could the answer she had strived to achieve be undone by all this?
Echidna: —thus, the exact mechanics of your ability are still unknown. It is undeniably the Witch of Envy causing your ability to to trigger, however, through what method you two end up back to where you find yourselves, is a mystery.
As YN had gone deep into thought regarding Rem, Echidna had been prattling on to Subaru.
Echidna: She could just be rewinding time, undoing the wrongs she's seen, or—
Speaking again in her lower tone, the Witch levied the theory both YN and Subaru dreaded.
Echidna: —your consciousnesses— your very souls, are pulled from your current vessels by her, where she brings them to an identical parallel world, and overwrites your then current existence.
YN: So... the timeline from there splits, meaning the bad worlds we leave behind continue to go on...
Echidna: Potentially yes. Potentially no. We simply don't know.
Subaru: But how can we know for sure? Echidna... there's gotta be somehow...
Echidna: If you are in such desperate straits for a conclusion to know, I would suggest starting with him.
Loosely gesturing to YN of all people as she said that, Subaru turned to him as Echidna went on.
Echidna: The truth might lie in how the Anomaly arrived in this world initially.
Curiously, Subaru looked to YN for a brief second before turning back to Echidna.
Subaru: What do you mean?
Echidna: He never showed up until you were on your third go around of things when you first arrived in the Capitol, correct? Perhaps the first two worlds you existed in couldn't support him being there, and the Witch of Envy moved you to a world that finally could?
YN & Subaru: — — —
While neither wanted to admit it, that did seem likely enough proof that it wasn't just time reversal, but world hopping.
If that's true... There's still whole world's out there where [Rem] is all alone... Or the world was ended by Puck... All sorts of failures and hellscapes to be found...
It sent shivers down YN's spine just thinking about it.
Echidna: Truthfully, the only way for you two to know for certain, would be to ask the Witch yourselves. That would be quite the tall task though, wouldn't it?
Offering only a rhetorical solution to them, it did remind Subaru of one thing he had to ask of this Witch while here.
Subaru: Echidna, about the last Loop where we joined your tea party... When the black mass took over everything...
Subaru went on to inquire about the Loop YN had practically been absent from, the one where Emilia's body had been taken over as an avatar of sorts for Satella, as punishment for outwardly saying how Return By Death worked to an outsider.
—Sans Rem.
Echidna went on to say what they had seen was but an imitation of the Witch of Envy, and that she had definitely appeared for obvious reasons.
This of course made Subaru upset, saying that if Echidna had known such a thing was inevitable, why hadn't she warned them? In typical Echidna fashion though, this angered criticism was denied by her.
Echidna: —it doesn't change the fact that all the questions plaguing your mind can only be answered by Envy herself. The two of you will never reach a satisfying enough conclusion on your own, or with me.
Subaru: Well then I think it's rather cruel that the answer for our Ability, —if it pertains to time or dimensions, and the purpose behind the second Trial both boil down to 'there is no answer...' What kind of sick joke is that?! Huh?!
Raising his voice to her now amid his growing frustration, the Witch only shrugged in response.
Echidna: That is why I suggested you should just decide on one or the other at this point. It's simpler that way, and it will allow you both to move on finally.
One problem with that though, was that neither YN nor Subaru could come to a consensus on that even with themselves, let alone each other.
Echidna: If you at least want something for the Trials, think of this way: the condition to passing is to accept the true present, the one you both hail from, as the only present. It's up to you both, individually, to recognize utterly unreachable worlds, no matter how appealing they may appear.
Taking a sip of her tea with the two speechless guests still before her, Echidna concluded her advice.
Echidna: Regardless of all that though, the most important thing for you each to overcome isn't how your Ability works, but rather, that those left behind, if different worlds, or different timelines are beyond your help now. It's a fool's errand to spend your time dwelling on that simple fact, futile to feel bad about it, and pitiful what it would shape the rest of your lives into being.
Finishing her second cup of tea as she concluded that, the Witch let a wry smile creep across her face as she set it back down.
Echidna: —You both agree, yes?
As Subaru took a moment to process her words, YN had an immediate response.
YN: You're just being a hypocrite now. Do we come to a conclusion for the simple sake of having an answer? Or are we supposed to just drag this dead-end attitude around all the time so that we shouldn't worry about things outside our control? How basic and selfish is that when you consider the ability we have?
Speaking his mind at the Witch, YN didn't even wait for a response from her before rolling his eyes and disengaging from the conversation completely now. To him, it wasn't worth time arguing in circles with someone so stubborn and cold cut.
YN now pulled his seat away from being directly sat at the table, leaned back, and listened on, giving no real scrutiny to Echidna should she continue to say things he either didn't believe in, or was just pure malarkey.
But it wasn't like the tea party would just end like that.
Halfway building off what YN had last said to Echidna, Subaru and her went back and forth on the topic of morality on just looking forward with only hope, counting who could and couldn't be saved by their Ability, and how all the paths they'd each taken had got them to this point right here. Had it been "worth it?" was a question that had no way of being answered, as no one could tell either of them they hadn't tried hard enough, and the fact that was agreed upon by Echidna had piqued something in YN.
That I feel is something she'd not normally agree with... Is she just trying to be agreeable now? Why start to do that now of all times?
The seeds of suspicion had been planted.
Subaru: —ultimately, no one can really forgive me for the things I've done... Not even YN.
Looking over to his fellow wayward traveling companion, Subaru gave him a weak smile.
Subaru: It's not that I think he wouldn't... but really, how could he? I failed to save Rem for him when he saved Emilia-tan for me... With the weight of that sin, and all the damage and pain it's caused... How could I ever hope to be truly forgiven? A few deaths aren't anything to gawk at compared to that.
While YN wanted to at least give Subaru some words of encouragement after hearing him say that, he was halted after he noticed a district glint in the eyes of Echidna as she smiled wickedly at the downtrodden composure of his friend with his head in his hands, making him entirely un-privy to this expression.
What's she up to...?
As Subaru continued to hold his head, Echidna changed her tone to be lighter, and more friendly, smiling while she did so.
Echidna: Even if no one else will, I'll forgive, because I know everything about you.
Subaru: If that's the case, you can't fairly judge me.
Echidna: But I will judge you, since I know all of your sins.
Subaru: No one could ever accept what I've done though... Even YN truly doesn't, at his heart of hearts.
Echidna: If you cannot truly accept yourself, then I will deny the self you cannot forgive.
Subaru: — — —
No matter what it was that Subaru said, Echidna had a counter for it. While he was now silent, so remained YN, however, where Subaru felt tranquility hearing those words, YN felt suspicion.
Those words... Those sound a lot like a bad copy of what Rem has said to me before... If she's truly pulled out memories from us both before, that would be part of what she's gotten from me...
As if trying to mimic the words Rem had said to YN when he was at his lowest, Echidna very well seemed to be using them in a fashion to entice Subaru's vulnerable self right now.
It's like she's trying to rope him in…
Subaru: Echidna... Why are you so insistent on helping me?
Bluntly asking her, YN felt a tad bit better knowing Subaru wasn't just getting dragged along with these hollow, honeyed words. To this question though, Echidna only blushed.
Echidna: My, it's far too cruel to ask a maiden that so outright...
At the simple mention of Echidna equating herself to a "maiden" now, YN had enough.
YN: —Alright.
Slamming his forearm down on the table, YN pointed at the Witch and glared.
YN: What are you hoping to gain by acting this way, huh? You dropped the 'confident, upperclassmen, senpai' persona for the 'innocent-but-means-well, kohai, schoolgirl' act.
Flatly calling her out, the Witch of Greed ignored him completely as she perked up slightly, keeping her gaze fixed entirely on Subaru.
Echidna: Subaru, how about it? Would you like to form a Contract between the two of us?
Pretending as if she'd never even heard him, Echidna offered this to Subaru as he sat there still, her words making him perk up too.
Subaru: H-Huh? You mean like—?
Echidna: —a formal Contract, yes. One with none other than the Witch of Greed.
Speaking as if this were some ultra exclusive club, YN wasn't sure if his outburst had goaded her into doubling down into this offer now.
Shit.
Subaru: I mean... I guess I gotta ask, what do I get out of it?
Happy he asked, her wicked smile grew with the satisfaction that things were going her way.
Echidna: Whenever there's a problem you face, I will work with you to solve it. Whenever you need to talk to someone who truly understands your pain, you'll have me.
Giving YN split second glare upon saying that, as if to imply he met none of these criteria, she went on.
Echidna: Whenever you feel you'll be crushed by the weight of your sins, I'll be there to help clear those away for you.
Hearing Echidna say these words, YN felt like a blood vessel in his brain might burst.
This is...! This is exactly what Rem told me! —Only it's twisted! She's not offering to share the burden, to help him with it, but merely encourage him to bear more of it! It's the same message of hope, but one laced entirely with selfishness... With Greed...
Echidna: I don't like to brag so boldly... But I'm confident in my vast amount of knowledge and its usefulness... And with me at least, you won't need to rely on convincing others to believe you and your own knowledge of things you shouldn't know, gathered from your many bouts with death. Wouldn't it be a welcome feeling to know you'll have someone you can tell anything to?
Implying YN wasn't that for Subaru, he wasn't sure if this was a jab at him for keeping things secret from Subaru, or if Subaru too had been keeping things hidden from YN.
No... No. She's doing exactly what Roswaal tries to do! It's divide and conquer!
Standing up fast enough to knock his own chair over backwards, YN pointed at Echidna as he roared in anger.
YN: All you are is a sleazy, used car-salesman! If you're going to use someone else's words of hope and encouragement and not credit them, at least honor the original intent behind them!
About to flip the entire tea table as he continued to hear the words Rem spoke to him be used for such an ugly purpose, a rage was building in YN at the Witch before him.
Only serving to entice his anger more, Echidna didn't ignore him this time, but rather waved him off as if his words were of no concern.
Echidna: Is it not unnatural for the requesting party to lay out the benefits of a contract?
Asking this simply of YN, before he could come up with a response, Subaru finally spoke back up.
Subaru: Ya know... Maybe it wouldn't be so bad...
Leaning back in his chair and looking up at the blue sky above, Subaru it seemed was seriously considering this offer.
YN: —!
Normally, each time Roswaal had tried this tactic on them, Subaru and YN had jointly resisted the bait he had cast, but now it seemed, Subaru was being reeled in.
No way?! Is he actually being convinced of this?
The alarming nature of this prospect forced him to shut away all his previous rage to the Witch. Defending his own and Rem's honor was one thing, but this was potentially damning enough to make all of that look puny by comparison.
YN: Woah, woah there... Subaru. Buddy. Pal, wait a second here! What about—
Subaru: —We're out of options.
Sternly looking to YN as he interrupted him, Subaru went on.
Subaru: Regardless of what we can do at this point, this has to be the clearest, easiest way for everyone else involved.
YN: Y-You aren't thinking this through! We can still—!
Subaru: —I'm sorry, YN.
Halting YN's words, at first he assumed this apology was because he wasn't going to listen any further to what he had to say, but really—
Subaru: —I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused you, and everyone else... My poor skills and will are to blame... I don't want there to be any more uncalled for suffering to happen because of me. Even if accepting this contract is brash on my end of things, it's only because I need to atone.
Shaking his head, the black-haired boy's eyes looked almost dead inside.
Subaru: I need to right the wrongs I couldn't and wouldn't have been able to fix without this Contract. Entering into it, here and now, is the best way to prevent more pain for others... so I can begin to atone for all that.
YN could only stagger backwards a step and a half away from Subaru hearing him say that.
There's... There's really nothing I can do to prevent this?! Is this really the beginning of the end?!
Entirely fearful this might be a road that spelled disaster for them, YN wasn't entirely sure why he had this gut feeling, but he knew it was one that Rem might have about it too.
Rem... Rem! What do I do, Rem?! How do I keep this from happening?!
As YN's mind was abuzz of fear and hesitation, he felt he was truly lost without Rem. He'd managed things far enough on his own, but in the end, he still felt that he needed Rem to help in times like this. The maid's wit, brilliant mind, and quick reflexes were nothing compared to his own, and that only compounded the growing uselessness he felt now.
With YN stuck in place, Subaru got up from his seat and walked over to the side of Echidna.
Subaru: So, how do we go about forming this Contract?
Smiling widely at him, it seemed Subaru was oblivious to the Greedful glint in Echidna's dark eyes.
Echidna: We must both agree to walk a path we're both bound to. I will take care of the more minor details, but for now, your hand...
Holding her own hand out, Subaru began to mimic it.
As the black-haired boy's hand crept closer, Echidna it seemed could barely contain herself. Just under her breath, she exclaimed with a mild "Haaaaaa..." as if immensely satisfied.
Damn it! This has to be stopped!
YN's mind raced trying to think of a solution, as Subaru was a pack of lemmings being led to a cliff.
Subaru: With this, the way forward for us, —YN and I, will be opened up finally... The chance for a better tomorrow...
YN had completely no way of stopping this on his own now.
Nothing I try will work! There's absolutely nothing I can do... I can't just strong-arm my way out of this!
Lacking the diplomatic prowess to thwart such temptations that were offered by the Witch, he cursed his own inability.
Anything I do will only assure he gets sucked into this contract! —But doing nothing is basically the same thing!
Entirely alone in this, YN felt he was an audience of one to the demise of his and Subaru's future.
If only he had help.
Or maybe—
Recalling one thing he might have, his mind returned to how desperate he felt watching Subaru chew and bite and gnaw on himself when subjected to Gluttony.
He closed his eyes now, and uttering a name under his breath, almost inaudible to even himself, he hoped this person who had been kind enough to help him before, would find it within herself to help him again.
They did offer to help him again in the future, after all.
*whhiiirrrr...*
—And it wasn't like she was one to ignore someone in need of help.
*WWHHHIIIRRR*
Just fractions of a second away from Subaru's hand meeting Echidna's—
*BOOM*
—The tea table, segregating YN from the botched deal about to be formed between his fellow wayward traveling companion and a woman who's Greed knew no bounds, all of sudden erupted into debris.
Narrowly managing to shield his face from the shrapnel of ceramic tea-wear, wood splinters, and grassy clumps of earth, YN and everyone else here heard a defiant, and familiar voice roar out.
In the middle of the earthen creator of her own making, with her fist firmly cementing her Wrath into the ground, she spoke.
Minerva: I'm stopping this kind of Contract!