(Rem x Reader) Re:Reader - Starting YOUR New Life in Another World

by Kaip0

After being teleported to a world filled with magic and fantasy, YN (Your Name) meets a girl he had no clue could exist. Inexplicably infatuated for the blue haired maid, YN will do everything he can to keep her safe from danger, even if she herself is the danger. During his time in the Roswaal Mansion, YN will find out the true meaning of why it's called a "crush."

133. Chapter 133: Why Not Me?

Chapter 133: Why Not Me?

Here was the Witch of Envy. She was a slender woman, with her arms to her side, and a black, mist-like veil covering her head.

Building up the courage to take his eyes off her, YN observed what the other Witches were doing. With only Minerva's expression being the one out of the ordinary; a smile of all things, a more hostile expression of another Witch turned into hostile words, and stole everyone's attention to her.

Echidna: Now, just why have you barged in here? You've broken my barrier and now you're choosing to trespass? There's always something like this with you. How heinous.

What felt like their latest antagonist in a long line of them had suddenly spoken with venom in her words at the one person whom both YN and Subaru viewed as ultimately, all powerful. Especially over their lives.

Damn, is Echidna finally being mean to someone else other than me? Or is she trying out that 'being angry' thing Subaru suggested earlier?

His initial reasoning of course, if he had ever been faced with a confrontation against the Witch of Envy of all people, would have been to try his best at not inspiring her ire. Yet, here Echidna was, doing everything it seemed she could in the opposite of that endeavor.

The more YN thought about it though, the more it seemed natural Echidna might act this way, and less so for Minerva, who was smiling now.

The Witch of Envy killed all the Witches if I recall correctly... So why is Minerva smiling?

Too disturbed by the wide array of reactions to the approaching Witch of Envy, YN, without taking his eyes off her, leaned over towards Minerva, and spoke out of the corner of his mouth.

YN: H-Hey, Minerva. Why is she here now? Any clue?

Looking over to YN and disregarding Envy's presence all together basically, Minerva answered him with a pout.

Minerva: It's probably because Subaru said something he shouldn't have again. You just can't trust men like him to keep their mouths shut.

Subaru: —tch.

Thrown under the bus for a lack of reasoning it felt, Subaru too was now witness to Minerva's stand-out uncautioned attitude.

Subaru: A-Aren't you all supposed to be her enemies?!

More or less saying this to all the other Witches present, it was still only answered by Minerva, who now frowned in addition to her cross-armed pout.

Minerva: No? That's a stupid conclusion to draw.

Just like how YN could never hope to draw any answers from Echidna if he asked, YN stepped in to fill that role for him in regards to Minerva.

YN: Minerva, please pardon our ignorance. We've only been told that was the case. Are you saying we're mistaken about that?

Minerva: Well you only had to say that. I'll show you both the truth.

Slumping his shoulders in mild defeat at the Witch of Wrath's drastic tone change between himself and YN, Subaru waved off his own concern as he spoke under his breath, just loud enough for YN to hear, but not Minerva.

Subaru: Kinda dumb she's only being nice to YN, but whatever I guess...

Speaking with blissful ignorance, Subaru could only watch on alongside YN.

Minerva: Hey! It's me!

Waving to get Envy's attention, the black veil over her head continued to obscure her actual identity as Minerva approached her.

Subaru: —Woah woah hey! That won't work!

Alarmed and concerned, Subaru's wide eyes and expression were reined in by another Witch's words.

Sekhmet: Just watch. *Huuuuaaaa...*

It wasn't just Subaru that feared for Minerva now, but YN greatly did too. What kept his tongue held though, was that he wanted to trust the Witch of Wrath's judgment, —that this was fine for her to do.

But even as YN swallowed his worry, Subaru had gone as far to take a half-step forward still, fearing the worst was going to happen. This only earned him more criticism from Sekhmet though.

Sekhmet: Don't be so high strung *hhhuuaaa...* Yeah Minerva can be reckless sometimes, but she's really not being so right now.

As Sekhmet said that, Minerva and her began to bicker back and worth, to which, the Witch of Envy, standing right before the buxom, blond haired Witch, paid them no mind at all.

Standing there, mute, she halted herself before Minerva as if she were a maid of some kind, waiting for her betters to finish speaking before she herself spoke.

YN could only watch on, but as he did, he felt a small tug on his sleeve, the cause of which was Carmilla vying for his attention now.

Carmilla: Minerva-chan will probably be fine... But... If she hurts her... I will kill Envy.

Her ultimatum, voiced in that same intimating tone she had used against Echidna not even an hour prior, let YN feel a distinct, dark aura radiate off the Witch of Lust.

Echidna: I would have to join in on that too, even if my own affinity with that thing is terrible. Only Sekhmet is capable of really resisting her.

Only lazily turning her head halfway to the Witch of Greed in reply to that, the Witch of Sloth spoke.

Sekhmet: I really can't do much to it *huuaaa...*

Echidna: It's enough for you to crush its limbs and snap its neck. I can banish it from here after it's weakened.

As if taking great joy in that thought, Echidna had a wry smile creep across her frustrated expression.

All of what was being said though only further deepened YN's misunderstanding of how all these dynamics between the Witches worked though.

YN: Then is there a reason why it's Minerva who's the one to make first contact here then? Isn't this extraordinarily dangerous for her to undertake?!

Subaru: Y-Yeah... Isn't this a bit too much?!

Seeing now that even YN was thoroughly confused by everyone's direct course of actions, Echidna slowly shook her head and chastised them both.

Echidna: Neither of you should try and understand a Witch. After all, if anyone could understand us, we couldn't be Witches.

As if saying these behaviors were part of their existence, Echidna went on.

Echidna: Believe me, I wish I could muster all the Authorities together to smash into that awful thing and expel it from here... But that'd be making enemies out of everyone here afterwards.

Even more lost as to what this Greedy Witch was going on about, Subaru voiced his ever deepening confusion.

Subaru: W-What?! Huh?! Why are you saying it like everyone else here is on her side? I've heard it too many times to just discount it, but the Witch of Envy is your enemy here, right?

Carmilla: No... Not like that, anyway...

Shaking her whole body "No" as she said that, Carmilla explained in a way that finally made sense.

Carmilla: Envy is someone we're hostile too... Not who the person Minerva is speaking to.

YN couldn't help but raise an eyebrow to that fact either now.

YN: I-I'm sorry, that really opens up more questions than it answers for us... Can you please explain in an even more—

'—dumbed down way?' was more or less what YN had wanted to say, but his honest inquiry was now answered in a rather simple, straightforward way.

Carmilla: —Look.

Pointing out, Carmilla's hand, covered by the pink sleeve that was too long for her arm, had Minerva at its referenced end.

Minerva: —so, are you the Witch of Envy? Or are you Satella?

YN & Subaru: —?

Utterly caught off guard by the confusing question asked by Minerva to Envy, both Subaru and YN looked at each other in bewilderment.

What Echidna had said only a brief time ago, about how'd they'd never begin to understand Witches, fully became clear to the two outsiders now.

Minerva went on and on to Envy now about lighthearted topics. 'We never get to talk anymore!' and of how they used to be friends, and many other things a young woman might say to a friend whom they'd grown distant towards since their school days.

This continued on until—

YN: —!

Seeing the buxom Witch of Wrath reach back with her arm, to wind up what could only be a punch, her fist flew forward towards Satella.

YN: —Gk!

All his muscles tensed in apprehension for what could come next. It was like watching someone ignite a stick of dynamite or pull the pin on a grenade with no clue as to what either of those things did.

Waiting for the worst, he tightly shut his eyes until a familiar voice made him open them again.

Minerva: —Just as I thought.

With Minerva's voice as clear as could be, YN halfway opened his tightly shut eyes after anticipating the worst.

With a sliver of a view now, he saw Minerva turn back towards Echidna and proudly proclaim her findings.

Minerva: It's Satella.

Deciding on who the identity of the Witch of Envy was here, all the present Witches entered a prolonged state of bickering and banter with one another. Namely, the topic of how risky Minerva's actions were, —or weren't, was the most thrown about discussion piece.

After more of this, eventually Minerva gestured for YN to come over and join her next to Satella.

Still wanting to trust Minerva, since at this point, she'd not been harmed at all, YN only hesitated for a moment before he gave in..

I guess Satella has already been in the backseat of my car... willingly walking up to her has to be less scary than that..

Two steps closer than Subaru was now, he voiced a great concern to YN about his encroachment.

Subaru: How can you just let your guard down so easy now of all a sudden?!

Not giving YN a chance to reply to the black haired boy though, Minerva did so in his place..

Minerva: Are you a man or not?! I already said she's not dangerous.

Subaru grit his teeth at having his masculinity besmirched, but the cause for his hesitation was incorrectly assumed.

Subaru: I-It's not that I think it's too dangerous... I'm just wondering if I should even show my face to her. But... why does 'Satella' get treated differently than the 'Witch of Envy?' Are they a split personality or something?

Asking the Golden Question, it was Echidna who answered him.

Echidna: It is not as complex as that.

Echidna went on to explain the intricacies of Witch Factors, and how some people have a 'good affinity' for them, while others have a poor reception. A Witch's culminating "personality" from accepting a Witch Factor might very well greatly conflict with their former self.

Echidna: —that's how some would like to think of it all. Frankly though, I don't see a point in trying to dissect it into an easily understandable context. What's not understandable to all others is just that. It's a wasted effort.

Mulling over all that the Witch of Greed had said, YN struck back with a simple, but weaponized response.

YN: ...So it's a split personality.

Echidna: —It's not that!

Managing to get a raise out of Echidna by just saying that back to her, the Witch sighed, pinched the bridge of brow, and explained what she meant in a more specific way.

Echidna: Satella made the choice of consuming half the world, and devouring the other six Witches. Satella did that. Not the Witch of Envy.

Unsure if Echidna was actually just getting things mixed up, Subaru finally blurted out his take on all this.

Subaru: All of what you just said makes zero sense!

YN: Yeah... I'm lost too.

While he wasn't about to be as bombastic about it himself either, YN had to agree with Subaru.

Countering their conclusions though, Sekhmet and Carmilla both spoke up, saying they couldn't forgive the Witch of Envy, but held no grudge against Satella.

As YN struggled to understand still, he put his mind at work to grasp what the Witches meant by all this. At the same time, Subaru and Echidna had gone back and forth about the dangers the other Witches faced with Satella or the Witch of Envy here, yet Echidna countered saying she couldn't just expel either from her realm here now and survive.

Unable to come to the beginning of any conclusion to the rationale presented by anyone here, YN shook his head and stole Subaru's attention back to himself.

YN: Subaru. I don't think they can explain the bond they all have with one another in a way we can understand. It's hard to just accept that with the questions it leaves us with, but I think it's for the better if we just stop trying to do that. Let's not question it anymore, or think ill of it. What we really should be focusing on is why Satella is here now.

Sighing, Subaru kicked his shoe at the grass ground.

Subaru: You're right, you're right... She might not be attacking right now, sure, but that still doesn't mean the Witch of Envy is any less dangerous than Satella then right? Or is that the other way around?

Asking this bluntly, and out loud, no one had the chance to speculate before a new perplexity was sparked in Subaru's mind.

Subaru: Wait a minute. When either of us have dealt with her, from our own individual times, or when we said things we weren't supposed to... Who exactly were we dealing with? Was it just the Witch of Envy? If that's the case... What does Satella want with us now?

Getting into the real 'meat and potatoes' of the subject at hand, Minerva was the one who gave a possible path to the solution for those questions.

Minerva: Just. Come. Over. Here. And ask her for yourself. Both of you are fine.

Finally managing to coax them over, Subaru and YN walked in parallel to greet and come face to face with Satella.

With Minerva now standing off to the side, both YN and Subaru were left unsure of what to say now as Satella's face remained concealed by the black, foggy mist. It wasn't like the shadowy hands she possessed and they'd seen her use before on them, rather, this black "veil" she wore now was like a cloth casting an illusion upon her face.

Seeing as they remained silent, it was Echidna who correctly guessed the source of their apprehension.

Echidna: If neither of you can see her face, it is due to a problem in your own heart.

Well that really narrows it down...

YN could only factor Echidna's comment as something said from the peanut gallery, but while he did, his thoughts were cut off as Satella's own arm began to move.

YN: —!

Reached out fully now, YN's alarmed senses realized he was not at the receiving end of this hand, but rather, Subaru was.

Looking to the hand, and then Satella's concealed face, YN expected to see an equally alarmed look on Subaru's that was similar to his own.

Yet—

Subaru: Why...? Why are you giving me this power to rewind time?

An intense rush of emotions ran across Subaru's eyes as he said this to the Witch, —to Satella.

And to YN's utter surprise, and immense unexpectedness, Subaru was given a reply.

Satella: I will always, always, always love only you.

While not an answer to what he had asked, YN's eyes couldn't open any wider to the unanticipated response he had just overheard. He couldn't have bargained he would have ever come to expect dialog from her at this point, not to mention words that were mostly coherent.

At the same moment, Subaru was awash with emotion, so much so YN continued to feel it almost radiate out from him.

Raising her other hand to the black haired boy now, it fully appeared as if Satella wanted to pull him into an embrace. If she were to hug him though... Who's to say she'd ever let him go?

Also somewhat sensing that same threat, Subaru mumbled defiance just under his stiff breathing.

Subaru: S-Stop...

Satella: I love you.

Creeping ever closer to embracing him, the reply to his soft whimper was a confidently said repeat of affection.

Subaru: Please... Stop...

Satella: I've always loved you, and I will always love only you.

As the words of infatuation began to grow more and more intense the more he tried to deny her, Subaru's mind made a choice.

Ducking out of her hug and backing away, he yelled out at her.

Subaru: —I said stop!

Shouted with meaning, Subaru tore himself away from Satella's incoming embrace. His teeth bared and ready to move more if she pursued, at this point YN now stood closest to the black veiled woman.

Unable to see her expression, he couldn't tell how she had taken this rejection; if she was upset, or angered.

Either of those things could prove to be terrible here...

As sweat began to roll down Subaru's brow, a paranoid expression went across his face.

Subaru: For a second... I... I felt things change... Why...? Why did I—?!

Hand to his chest as if this "change" he felt was emotional rather than physical, his eyes narrowed as he threw an accusatory finger towards Satella.

Subaru: —You! You did something to manipulate my heart! —My very feelings!

Looking at Subaru as if to try and ask him what he meant, he caught YN's look as he stumbled toward his fellow wayward traveling companion.

Subaru: —It... For a second, —a moment. Less. I had... I had Satella, and Emilia, at the same place in my heart...

Widening his eyes upon hearing that, YN couldn't immediately respond.

But, as if the sensation was hitting him for a second time, having confessed to feeling that just seconds ago, Subaru began to take on the appearance of someone on the verge of a breakdown.

Subaru: Everyone here... Everyone here is crazy.

Looking all around him, making eye contact with each other person present, Subaru held his hands to his head as a massive emotional pressure formed in it.

Subaru: —You're all weirdos! I'm surrounded by crazies! —Satella! —Echidna! —Even YN is getting hard to understand! It's just all incomprehensible!

Also labeled in those he now felt his friend viewed as hostile or enemies, YN didn't approach the overwhelmed self-proclaimed knight as he struggled in this breakdown.

Yet, even seeing he was this way, Echidna didn't hold back on his criticism of her. Hands on her hips, the Witch of Greed scowled as she barked back at Subaru.

Echidna: I can hardly tolerate being lumped into the same category as her on anything. But, you aren't wrong about us being incomprehensible.

Petty as could be, Echidna only threw more gas on the raging fire that was Subaru.

Subaru: Go screw yourself! I want off this ride— I want out. I'll solve all this shit on my own! —Even if YN wants to help or not I don't care! Just lemme out of here now! I'll figure it all out on my own, —I'm capable of that!

Ranting and raving, it was clear Satella's words had been a breaking point for Subaru now. Hearing him say all this though, another Witch put her hands on her hips now, and chastised Subaru for his outspoken words.

Minerva: So ya leave, then what?! Is it back to death after pointless death again? What about all the people you'll make cry just to gather a little bit of info? How would YN feel having to go through that too? Can you really say he can take the same strain as you can?

Subaru: S-Stay out of it! YN has his reasons too for going through all this with me! Y-You have no place to say what it's been like for both of us... —All that we've had to endure!

In a full blown argument now, Minerva got in Subaru's face as she answered his rebuttal.

Minerva: Just because you're taking the worst of it, doesn't mean others aren't getting hurt too! What about their pain? —Oh! But because you're suffering the most, everyone else should just shut up and fall in line?

With Minerva being true to her dislike of anyone getting hurt, she sarcastically mocked Subaru.

Subaru: Do you really think I enjoy any of this?! Would I really do all this just to assert myself over others?! —That this is just a pity dance?!

Minerva: No. That's not what I'm saying at all.

As Subaru yelled right in her face, the Witch of Wrath responded in a much calmer tone now.

Minerva: What I am saying though, is that your mentality is; 'I'm not doing anything wrong if it's me who gets hurt more than anyone else.' That's shameful. —Cowardly.

Shunning Subaru for his actions and the disregard of their consequences, Minerva went on.

Minerva: Echidna and Satella might both have worldviews I can't understand or maybe even agree with... but your thoughts on the actions you do and the things that stem from there being so easily disregarded... It's worse than those two other things combined! It's disgusting!

Taking a step back from Subaru now, Minerva held up her hands to show.

Minerva: I strike things with violence in order to heal and save them. You're going on, living this life... It's the opposite of me! Your actions are the antithesis to my Wrath. Is living this way not scornful to the one who's doing so much for you?!

Pointing to Satella as she said that, Minerva demanded an answer out of Subaru for this, trying to catch him in his words versus his values.

Yet—

Subaru: Hahaha...

Throwing his head back, Subaru laughed softly with a horse throat from his yelling.

Subaru: Oh? It's 'disgusting?' 'Scornful,' even? Such a comparison is ludicrous.

Craning his head back forward to face the blonde haired Witch, Subaru spoke as if he was dead tired.

Subaru: Do you think either of us like having to live this way? It's twisted. You're damn right there... YN and I both have been pushed to this point. —He might not seem it now, but he hides it better than I do. Our minds... Our methods... You're so quick to give me gaff because you think it's a 'me' problem, but anyone in our position would be the same. Even you.

Minerva: Than at least YN is a lot more tolerable than you are right now!

Now becoming the unfortunate center point at the shouting match over morals and ethics, YN swallowed a lump of anxiety in his throat.

Subaru: You never saw how he was! After he lost Rem, —right after, he was a mess! He completely lost it! He'd make me look sane right about now!

Fully aware of how he looked in this argument, Subaru stood his ground, even if it meant standing at the moral high ground at YN's expense.

Still, knowing how dishonorably he had acted when he first lost Rem, the shock had driven him to mental extremes, and now that YN knew Rem wouldn't have approved of it from his impossible meeting with her, it was the least he could do to own up to it.

Thinking what Subaru was saying had to be an exaggeration at worst, Minerva looked to YN, waiting for him to deny it, but only received a solemn nod of admission.

Minerva: —!

As if seeing him in a new light, the Witch was stunned to see that not only did YN admit to being a worse example of what she now criticized Subaru for, she could scarcely imagine him going to such lengths compared to what she knew of him.

Subaru: This is exactly why none of you get it... Everything that we had to go through... What we've become... Of course we're going to turn out this way! It's a natural consequence of it all!

With hate and anger in his narrowed eyes, he sharply turned his gaze to the one responsible for this trauma he and YN felt.

Subaru: YOU!

His finger of accusation pointed at Satella, still in her black veil, she did not react to the emotional outburst.

Subaru: You made us become like this!

Yelling more and more, Subaru actually began to approach the Witch of Envy on his own now, keeping his finger locked in on her the entire time.

Subaru: If my suffering was limited to only me, I'd just endure it all and carve out the path to salvation for everyone I love! If it was only me who had to suffer... If it's only me getting hurt... Why should anyone else care!?

Like he was disregarding everything Minerva had just said to him, Subaru went on with his approach on this topic.

Subaru: That's why I'm choosing the path of self-reliance. If I take Echidna's hand... That would actually only increase the pain others felt if she had her way. Way more than I ever could...

Letting his voice mellow out more, Subaru was back in front of Satella again. Bringing in a deep breath as his eyes shut, the black haired boy calmed his outrage, and looked back to her without so much anger in his gaze anymore.

Subaru: You're incomprehensible, just like I told Echidna she was too.

Satella: — — —

There was a brief silence between the two as the stood atop this grassy hill, with everyone else looking onward.

Subaru: ...I'm sorry I said all that to you. But it is the truth.

Civil in his words to her now, it was a stark contrast from just mere moments ago.

Subaru: —Rather, what I should be saying to you; is thank you.

YN: —?!

Even more stark in his flip of feelings, YN hadn't ever seen his friend change so quickly on how he felt about something. Or rather, was this just him choosing to be honest about it now?

Subaru: Thank you for Return By Death. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to protect a single thing, and YN over there wouldn't have the chance to get Rem back. We both should have thanked you a thousand times over when you arrived here in good faith. The fact we didn't was a mistake on our end.

Being spoken for by Subaru, YN might have been more speculative at first, but having mentioned Rem, he really couldn't fault him for saying these things now.

If not for Return By Death, me and Rem would have never been a thing...

Subaru: We both need to keep relying on the power to Return By Death, so the least we can do is thank you profusely for it...

Laughing to himself as he ran a hand through his short hair, Subaru shook his head.

Subaru: I bet it really sounds like I'm being manipulated into saying these things all of sudden, aren't I?

Saying that over his shoulder to everyone else, he returned his entire attention back to the Witch before him.

Subaru: It's your power that lets me... A completely useless person, at least be somewhat helpful to someone who is useful.

At the end of him saying that, Subaru actually did fully look back to YN, referencing him directly.

Going on and on, Subaru began to more or less pour his heart out to Satella. Mentioning how he was thankful for Return By Death, he began to spiral into a rationalization of his own sacrifices. He spoke on about how if he just suffers on his own, it'll all be worth it, since no one else will have to suffer. He'd endure a hellish existence just for the people he loves.

Just like Echidna had gone on a long, seemingly never ending rant, Subaru was approaching that same act. However, in rare form, his words were cut off.

Satella: —Please...

Subaru: —!

His speech halted, Subaru took a sharp breath inward as he did so.

Satella: —Please... Be more kind to yourself...

In a soft spoken protest of his words of candid self-sacrifice, as Satella said that, Subaru staggered backwards. Holding his head, a moment later, he collapsed, his legs crumbling under his own weight which were now made heavy.

His heart, pained, felt like it had turned to lead, and had been crushed.

With only a few spoken words, Satella had seemingly poisoned Subaru with them, getting him to break down right in front of her.

Curling into a tight ball, like a newborn child, the black haired boy's mental capacity was compromised.

Subaru: Waaaaa... Wwwwaaaahhhh...

At first groaning like something horrific had just been told to him, it quickly developed into a full blown panic attack.

YN now worried Subaru was on the brink of being mind-broken once more, a permanent type of damage that of course would linger beyond being in this Citadel of Dreams.

YN: Suba—!

Halting not only his words, but also the single step towards his fellow wayward traveling companion he had made, Minerva grabbed a hold of his shirt.

Looking back to the Witch, without blinking, she solemnly shook her head. Getting the message he should stay back, even despite his instincts telling him to help Subaru, his judgment defaulted on one key thing said earlier; the Witches are impossible to understand.

If one is telling me right now to stay away... I better do that.

Forced to watch his friend roll in the grass, a prisoner of his own mind now, Sekhmet spoke up. In a sympathetic, pitying voice, she equated Subaru's current state to that of a lost child.

Now just an onlooker, things began to move faster than YN could almost comprehend. On one hand, he felt the burning need to help Subaru before this damage took a real toll on him. On the other, he too desperately feared to disregard a Witch's advice now. While Minerva was gentle in hers, Echidna had been completely correct in her warnings of Daphne, and YN really felt that these warnings, from Minerva now, were equally important.

Trying to make sense of it all, that task was suddenly made much more complex; Typhon had shown up. Caressing Subaru's head as he laid wailing, she sought who it was here who had made him end up like this. She accused Sekhmet first, then Minerva, then Echidna, and finally YN. While every Witch keenly denied this, before YN could snap back to answer her, the last of the absent Witches had appeared.

Daphne.

Remarking how this was the first time in centuries all the Witches had gathered in one place, the Witch of Gluttony even remarked how the "Sage Candidate" was also present, and "the anomaly of all things too!"

Still shocked silent though, as the Witches bantered among themselves, namely on the topic of Subaru, YN's mind went onto a side tangent now.

Damn it... I want to ask about the Anomaly stuff... But what's this 'Sage Candidate' business now? That sounds important... and they clearly mean Subaru when they say that, there's no question about that...

Standing among all seven Witches, a "sage candidate," and himself being the "anomaly," YN swallowed a large lump in his throat.

All around him were incredibly powerful people. Although dead, their motivations, egos, and abilities were at the drop of a hat to them.

YN knew, despite how things were at this second, one small thing out of place, —one misspoken message, —one misheard word, and—

—all this could turn into the world's biggest shit-slinging competition.

Right now, YN felt like he was standing in the eye of a storm. Things were calm now, but they could turn tense at any second.

Yet, as things continued as they did, a change occurred in Subaru. The sound of his wails had been slightly altered. Among them was the sound of liquid, and something else.

As YN peered over, just to see what the cause was, his eyes went wide.

While he had begun to foam at the mouth, and accompanying his own spittle now, was blood.

YN: —tch!

A lot of blood.

Daring only to take a few steps forward to get a better view, Minerva was too caught up in the Witch-banter to stop him again. While YN at first believed this to be Satella somehow, as he got a better look at Subaru's face, it became apparent he was the sole cause of this blood flow.

Subaru had bitten his tongue off. His goal now, was either to choke on it, or drown in the blood.

Right now, Subaru had chosen his own death. With YN paying closer attention to the dying boy now, all the Witches now too had their attentions on him.

Minvera: Damn it! You've gotta be kidding me—!

In the Witch of Wrath's usual fashion of despising physical harm being done, she had rushed in to undo this damage. Yet as she got close to Subaru, another Witch halted her movement, and her words.

Typhon: —Stop! This is Baru's choice! 'Nerva can't stop him!

Minerva: I will not overlook this! Self inflicted or not! I can't heal what's inside, but I will heal what I can!

Rolling up her sleeve, Minerva wound back for a punch not aimed at Subaru, but at the small girl before her.

To YN, it was like seeing Typhon be hit by a freight train. While Minerva's strikes dolled out no harm, only healing, Typhon's tiny frame was still launched away with an enormous force.

All that was missing from the scene YN thought, was someone to yell "GAME!" at the top of their lungs with how hard and fast Typhon had been propelled from a single punch.

Yet, even despite the morally questionable action Minerva had committed; punching someone even shorter and smaller than herself, that wasn't the biggest issue now the Witch of Wrath faced.

Minerva: —Gah! Grrr...

While her punch levied no damage to Typhon from her own Authority, it wasn't as if no damage hadn't been levied at all. After all, Wrath wasn't the only Authority at play here.

Minerva: This... This is nothing!

Upon impact, the fist's force was delivered, but at that same moment, Minerva's entire arm shattered into a thousand pieces.

Pride too, had its effect realized at the same time as Wrath.

Minerva ignored the pain she most certainly felt though. YN too had once experienced the same sensation brought on about by Typhon and her Authority, and as such, he was wide eyed at how Minerva could so easily shoulder the pain.

—especially since she was missing one now.

Trudging forward to close the gap and heal Subaru though, Minerva was halted again.

Minerva: —Agh!

YN: —Minerva!

As if raining down from the sky, a dozen or more shadow hands, not unlike the ones Petelgeuse had commanded, pushed the Witch of Wrath to the ground, immobilizing her.

Even while this went on, Subaru continued to choke on his own blood, all the while Satella was saying something about how even "Subaru-kun's life needs protecting."

For a moment though, as YN watched these hands strangle and crush Minerva, his mind leaped back to dreadful memories of the cave, and how he has seen his beloved strangled in a much too similar way.

A horrid rush of images entered into YN's mind, as he had been forced to watch The Sin Archbishop of Sloth greatly harm, and kill Rem.

Pinned to the ground, her arms and legs crushed by these hands Sekhmet, the Witch of Sloth controlled, to YN, and his shell shocked mind, could only see Rem and Petelgeuse faintly being in their own respective spots.

He wasn't hallucinating, yet rather, the scenes being so similar was enough to tug at him emotionally.

YN: —Jiwald!

Shooting rays of white Yang magic at the hands covering the blonde haired girl, for a moment, the shadows vanished. Using that solitary second of freedom, Minerva covered the distance of perhaps half a pace, before the hands all returned, forcing her to be immobile again.

Minerva: —Gah!

Her eyes wide from the pain, she did nothing else but grit her teeth and try and push forward to Subaru nonetheless.

Minerva: —I cannot standby and let his wound not be treated!

Sekhmet: *Huuuaaa...* Sorry, but I gotta side with Typhon. The kid has made his decision, he's chosen to cause his own death.

While Minerva wasn't going to accept this outcome on the grounds of her own morals, YN wasn't either on the simple fact he had no idea what would occur if Subaru were to die in this dreamworld. What sort of consequences would that render for them both?

I don't wanna find out... so I gotta get Minerva to Subaru!

Looking to where the hands originated from, YN focused his mana into his fingertips.

I gotta cut them off at the source if I want to give Minerva enough time to reach Subaru!

His hand poised to just above Sekhmet, the built up mana took a second to reach its required quantity. With Algol not here, YN was on his own when it came to mana and spell usage.

YN: El Ji— Gah!

Just as he was set to release the shadow hands that prevented Minerva from moving, a pair or more had suddenly came down for YN.

Forcing him back, the hands pushed down into him with incredible force. Trying as he might though, YN could barely keep himself on a single knee as the hands sought to push his nose into the dirt like they were doing to Minerva.

Sekhmet: I'd *Huuuuaaa...* appreciate it if you'd stop trying to do that.

Without Algol here to help him manage his mana consumption though, YN was burning through a great amount of it.

I... If I can drag Subaru to Minerva—!

Pushing back with all he had, YN got back up to two feet, yet as soon as he did, more hands rushed in to put him down.

YN: —Gah!

Sekhmet: If you make me actually have to use effort on you, I can't promise you I'll be *Huuuuaaa...* able to hold back. You *Huuaaa...* might actually die before Subaru does at that rate.

Held down, and being told this, YN was utterly powerless to do anything now though. Despite everything he had done up until now, it seemed everything was going to come crashing down.

Subaru had played with fire and got burnt. Seeking the Witches and their forbidden powers... it was all coming back to get them both now. If things ended here in death, especially with Satella standing there, YN severely doubted any normal Return By Death may occur, if any at all.

That means Rem... —Rem won't be saved! —I can't let that happen! —I won't!

With rage boiling over in YN now, his body grew hot with heat. Reaching up with both his own hands, he clasped the wrists of a pair of shadowy arms that were pushing him down.

YN: —Ger!

Summoning a large amount of Yang magic into his hands, he crushed two of the shadowy vestiges keeping him down.

Sekhmet: Oh?

With two off him, the pressure declined enough so he could stand once more, and as he did, be shook off the remainder of the hands.

As soon as he was free though, more came for him. With a few actually retreating from Minerva for reassignment to YN, he met them all with his hands raised.

YN: —Quit holding me back!

Meeting even more hands with equal force, while he hadn't realized it, YN's outstretched arms, matching the shadowy, inky black hands contrasted greatly against them with the white aura growing on them and the rest of his body.

Just like against Elsa in the Mansion, a heatwave radiated off YN as he felt his senses become more finely tuned to the world around him.

Matching the force of potentially "serious" Sekhmet, YN could see the lazy, half asleep expression the Witch always wore change into one that had a mild amount of concern in her one visible eye.

Sekhmet: If this keeps up—

Yet just as she was about to worry, a voice not heard in a long while spoke up.

?: I... I...

Amid his gurgles of blood and spit, still collapsed on the ground, Subaru mumbled something loud enough for everyone to hear.

Subaru: I don't... I don't wanna... die.

Spoken in a slurred way thanks to a lack of tongue too, it was still clear enough to make out.

The very next second after Subaru had said that though, the pressures on both YN and Minerva instantly subsided.

Sekhmet: A change of heart. Very well. I will respect that, as Typhon would *Huuuaaa...* too.

As the pressure was removed from YN, he felt his body become almost feather weight as his elevated state no longer struggled against anything external. With his priority now to get Subaru the help he needed, the rage almost immediately subsided as well.

This wasn't without consequence though.

YN: —GAH!

Like someone had just taken a white-hot piece of steel from a forge, and quenched it into an ice bath, the recoil of rapid change greatly harmed YN.

Collapsing hard onto the ground, he struggled for air.

Wheezing and coughing, a dizziness took over him as he tried to push forward with getting to Minerva.

Despite being free now, the hands had much more greatly harmed her. None of her limbs, —the ones still present at least, could bend in the right direction. In this state, the Witch couldn't even hit herself to fix the damage.

Shit, I gotta go back to plan 'B' then!

Forcing himself to crawl in the grass, by this point, Subaru and Minerva were about the same length apart as YN's arms were wide. With only perhaps moments left for Subaru in his state, YN acted with all due haste.

Despite all the damage to his muscles, torn and screaming with fatigue and mana whiplash, he worked himself between the two who needed to meet.

If he failed now, he feared not what would become of them. No.

What he feared, was Rem being unable to be saved.

YN: —Gah! —Ack! —Tch!

With each movement, he crept forward with Rem at the forefront of his mind. It mattered not if he was destroying each muscle beyond repair now, he had to close this gap.

Arriving at his goal, YN was now between Subaru and Minerva.

I gotta... One last—

Reaching out to each of them, YN clasped Subaru by his jacket in one hand, and Minerva's ripped and tattered clothes in the other. With a firm hold on each, YN summoned all of his remaining strength in each arm and—

YN: —Pull!

What felt like tearing muscle, nerves, and tendons was all he could feel from each arm, spanning both sides, and through his chest. With all his strength, at the ends of his reach on each side, YN pulled Subaru and Minerva together.

Meeting in the middle, Minerva took advantage of the inertia and rocked her head forward. Essentially headbutting Subaru, the powers of her Authority activated, and the black haired boy on the brink of death was saved.

Subaru: —*Gasp!*

With fresh air filling his lungs, he immediately sat up, his lungs pleading for as much air as he could deliver them.

As Subaru was too preoccupied with himself though, Minerva, forcing herself to move more, now shifted her head over to YN and—

*Bonk*

Headbutting him now, even such a light impact at this point might have been all that was needed to get YN to pass out now, but, with her Authority at play, the exact opposite happened, which greatly compounded the oddness his body felt now.

It was almost like being a dried up, shriveled organism that was long out of water just a second ago, only to then be re-hydrated again, and be restored, was what this feeling was akin to.

YN: —Ah!

Also coughing, but not so desperate for air, YN sat up instinctively too.

As the two settled their coughing fits from the hell they each had just experienced, it was Subaru who was first to speak back up.

Subaru: Do... Do I—? Does my life, have any value? Besides dying over and over again? Is R-Return By Death the only thing of value to me...? O-Or is there more?

Stuttering over his words like he was deranged, Subaru spoke these words to Minerva who was struggling just to remain upright on ground still. She had not yet healed her own body, but was making herself ready to hit either him or YN with her Authority again if need be.

Minerva: ...That's something you should ask Satella, not me. She wants you to live more than anyone else here.

Looking to Satella now, Subaru turned himself to more directly speak to her over anyone else.

Subaru: My life... The Second Trial... All my failures... All my sins...

Seeing as Subaru had himself under control, YN sighed as turned back towards Minerva, the one who had just healed him from a near death experience once more. Moving towards the Witch of Wrath, he helped her sit up more comfortably despite the damage she still had.

YN: You'll have to excuse Subaru... He gets a little simple-minded during these sorts of times.

Minerva: Hmph.

Only able to pout with her facial expression, Minerva looked away from Subaru, as he and Satella were now in a dialog of sorts, speaking chiefly about "being saved" and how "Subaru should be saved too."

YN: So, are you able to heal yourself? Do you need any help?

Without any real meaningful control over her three remaining limbs, Minerva looked a tad defeated as YN asked that of her.

Minerva: I... Yeah... I do need some help.

At her request, YN acted as he thought was most appropriate.

Taking her one remaining arm, flaccid and useless as it was, YN made it slap the missing area of the arm Minerva had lost to the Authority of Pride.

Instantly, upon contact it healed. With one fully functioning arm now, Minerva looked down at her fresh palm, opening and closing it a few times. Unable to generate new clothes alongside this arm though, it twas completely bare.

Minerva: This is all I need.

With a series of punches with her new arm across her entire body, Minerva's Authority of Wrath worked wonders on her injuries.

Now as all four appendages of her's were back to normal, YN stood and offered a hand down to Minerva. Taking it, her small frame was helped upwards. To his genuine surprise though, YN couldn't help but notice how similar it felt to when he'd help Rem stand, as the two had relatively similar physiques.

Standing, Minerva dusted herself and looked up to YN.

Minerva: Thank you...

While she was appreciative of his kindness, for some strange reason, YN's vision was locked square in one place, right at her it seemed.

Looking down at herself, Minerva at first believed it was trained upon her figure.

From all the damage her body had sustained, her clothes were in an equally rough state. Naturally, to this, Minerva had crossed her arms, which already pushed her chest up. With all the rips and tears in her clothing, an ample amount of skin all over her body was now being shown off.

With how much of her chest was shown too, especially being pushed up by her arms, it wasn't even limited to that.

She could also see how short her skirt had been torn now, and even that her midsection was visible. Reflexively dropping a hand to pull down on what little skirt she had left to protect her own dignity, just as she was about to chew out YN for staring so intensely, she finally realized it wasn't at her he was looking at.

Past her, behind her, his eyes fell. Even with such temptation before him, something was garnering his attention elsewhere.

While she had just been ready to scold YN for where his eyes fell, she now felt the curiosity to see where it was they now looked.

Minerva: Ah?

Behind her, all hell was breaking loose.

Typhon, having found her way back, was in the midst of an actual fight with Daphne, —or rather, her Coffin on legs, whilst Daphne herself was in a standoff with Sekhmet.

I guess Typhon's Authority can't work on her coffin...

All the while, Echidna commented like a mediator between the parties, her words doing nothing to soothe the situation. If anything, she only seemed to be working as an antagonist to the conflict.

This was, until Carmilla had begun to speak up, to which Echidna put her hands on her hips, and gave the Witch of Lust chaff.

Echidna: —Is there any reason you used your Authority on Subaru again? That was rather bold of you.

Putting two and two together, Subaru's sudden whimper of "I don't want to die" made perfect sense.

That change of heart he had there... That was all thanks to Carmilla!

It was one thing, YN felt, to be okay with someone altering his friends heart and mind like that, but, given the risks he was subjected to with the possibility of what Subaru's "death" in the Citadel of Dreams could mean... In truth, he felt this could be overlooked this one time.

Carmilla: I... I…

Seeing that Carmilla was under the pressure of Echidna, YN was over to her side in a few dozen paces. With Minerva gathering the same conclusion, she too followed YN over.

Now backed with friendly faces, Carmilla shook her pink hair, and replied to Echidna's harsh words with gusto.

Carmilla: I saw how hard YN was working to save Subaru and help Minerva... H-He was even managing to hold his own against Sehk!

Echidna: Oh so has the Anomaly manipulated you into feeling charitable with your Authority now?

Crossing her arms as she said this, venom laced the Witch of Greed's words. She figured, if she was crass enough, she could keep Carmilla in line, however—

Carmilla: —It was also because he was nice to me. In a time where you haven't been.

Carmilla spoke with the same warning-entwined, stern tone she had spoken earlier to Echidna with. Hearing this be used again, Echidna fully backed down, dropping her arms to her side.

Her stand made, the shy, bashful verbiage she used to speak in, returned.

Carmilla: I just... I hate taking without receiving... So it felt necessary to help him.

Having proclaimed her intention, any further talk on the subject was cut short. With everyone's attention taken, it was Subaru they all looked at now, standing in the middle of all the separated groups.

Subaru: You people... All of you... You all confuse the hell out of me.

As if speaking to a crowd, given how everyone was here now, the black-haired boy went on.

Subaru: It's insanity. It really is. It's impossible to understand the reasons why any of you would help me... but you did.

Echidna: Someone's clearly feeling well enough to just insult us now.

Subaru: No. It's not an insult, so much as it's an observation of why you all are the way you are. Your motivations to help confuse the hell out of me, but in the end, I should be thanking you all regardless for that.

Bowing forward, Subaru showed his gratitude.

Subaru: It was my original resolve to solve all these problems on my own, but the Second Trial showed me the error of that way of thinking. I was broken, and I almost committed one of the worst mistakes of my life in that desperation, and it was only thanks to you all that I got around that... YN included.

Looking up at the sky now, words of weakness left him once more.

Subaru: The problem is now though, I'm right back to where I started. I need to be kinder to myself, like Satella told me to be... But that doesn't help me with my problems. Just like the very first Loop... I'm back, stuck, and uncertain of what the hell I'm supposed to do...

Stoically, Subaru kept his face turned upward as a silence brewed. YN wanted to voice encouragement to him to find a new way, yet before he could, the old calling of temptation tried one last chance at coercing him away from salvation.

Echidna: Again, Subaru. I ask for your hand.

Reaching out to him, Echidna placed her other hand over her chest.

Echidna: With me at your side, I promise you will reach your ideal future. That I swear to you.

As Subaru looked out to her hand, her pale skin and slender fingers nearly glowed in the sunlight.

But as he looked at them, he finally, and without remorse, shook his head slowly.

Subaru: I can't take your hand. What you offer requires pain... A lot of pain. And I don't like pain. But what you require most, is death. And I hate death even more. Most importantly though... I need to show everyone, —everyone I want to save, that I have more than just 'death' to offer them.

Raising a brow to him, but not lowering her hand, Echidna slightly gaffed at his words full of resolve.

Echidna: Oh, so you wish to keep your heart and mind, as well as save everyone too? That's quite Greedy, you know. Very Greedy.

With only a solemn shake of the head again to her, Subaru denied even that aspect of it.

Subaru: It's not Greedy to want the bare minimum. And that's what that is. It means nothing if the people I save have to still cry over me.

Echidna: So you entirely reject what it is I stand for?

Subaru: No. Not at all. It's just like I said to everyone else; I'm thankful for it.

Echidna: — — —

Only now, finally lowering the hand she held out to him, it was clear by these words he spoke, he had entirely no intention of taking her offer. Still though, she would hear what he had to be "thankful" about.

Subaru: I have to admit, even if you saw me as little more than an experiment, —like a lab rat, you did save me many times nonetheless...

Echidna: — — —

As if waiting for some huge revelation, or defamation against her, Echidna pursed her lips slightly as her face tensioned.

Subaru: —Thank you, for all your help. I wouldn't be here with you.

Echidna: —!

Getting her dark eyes to open wide and her lips to partially part as he bowed his head forward, saying what he did despite his former outbursts, Echidna was visibly taken aback, even if only minutely.

The Witch averted her intense gaze of surprise at Subaru for only a moment, before turning back to him just as he raised his head again.

Echidna: —Garfiel. He's afraid of the outside world. That's why he's such a thorn in your side, and is the way that he is.

Suddenly changing the topic to something Subaru couldn't ignore, both his brows rose in surprise.

Subaru: —C-Come again?

He was so concerned with what the Witch had just said, he couldn't begin to notice the extremely faint blush on Echidna's cheeks like YN almost instantly saw. Subaru failed to grasp the motivation behind her saying this too with how bluntly the topic was changed.

Not wanting to let this slip away though, it was YN who questioned her on it.

YN: Do you mean outside the Sanctuary? Why is that? Why does he dislike the outside world so much?

Echidna: H-His trial, mainly.

As if almost relieved it was YN asking her this, the Witch fumbled with her words at first but quickly regained her composure given it was the anomaly she was speaking to here.

Echidna: It was many, many years ago, but what he saw inside greatly changed his views and shaped him to be who he is today.

Following this idea, the two guests here knew that was a crucial lead to follow.

Subaru: Why are you only telling us this now?

Echidna: I have my reasons. But, it's mainly because all other Witches have given you something without anything in return...

Her blush deepened ever so slightly as she went on.

Echidna: —it's only right I do so too.

Subaru: *Sigh...*

Subaru could only manage to pinch the bridge of his brow and shut his eyes at hearing her loose reasoning. Given his experience, he could only discount this as a poor attempt to mimic emotions.

Subaru: I seriously can't fathom Witches... All of you have desires beyond my comprehension.

Looking back up to all them though, he smiled.

Subaru: —but, you still all saw our plight, and helped in ways that aligned to your own desires.

Sighing again, he looked to them even more intensely as he went on, as if speaking directly to each individually.

Subaru: Thank you for letting me die, saving our lives, and everything in between. Thank you for letting me hear the voice of my parents, and the ones who do mourn us after we die... For the Second Trial, and showing me all of our deaths in perspective... Thank you...

Bowing to everyone around him, Subaru stood back up straight, and turned to face one Witch in peculiar.

Satella: — — —

Without turning to face YN, Subaru spoke to him as he looked over at the silver haired Witch, who was further off than the rest, standing still in these rolling hills of grass.

Subaru: YN, I gotta go thank someone for both of our sakes.

Noting that he'd be leaving him and everyone else here alone now, YN silently nodded as Subaru began his short trek over to Satella.

Not a moment after Subaru was outside earshot, a closer voice sounded behind YN, as one of the Witches had moved up closer to him to engage in a dialog.

Echidna: Now that we have our own opportunity to speak now...

Turning to see her, Echidna had silently summoned a tea party on YN's blind flank. Sitting in her chair, she gestured to one opposite of YN, for him to sit too.

Looking between her and the chair a few times, as if considering if he should take the offered seat, he reluctantly did.

Plopped down on the chair, Echidna poured herself a cup of tea, and opened this talk.

Echidna: I'm surprised you joined me. Now, I know things aren't the most... amicable between us, but—

YN: —Before you say another word, I need to know the answer to something I can't ignore anymore. —About Subaru and his Second Trial.

As she finished pouring her tea, Echidna gave him an expression of mild contempt, almost a look of "I knew you were going to ask about that."

Echidna: By all means...

Reluctantly yielding what she wanted to say in favor of his question, Echidna put the porcelain cup to her lips and took a sip.

YN: You showed him every death like he said he saw? Does that mean that he saw—

YN had to forcefully swallow back his own guilt and sin before he could continue. A nervous bead of cold sweat was accumulating on his forehead as he did.

YN: —did he see things I'm responsible for concealing from him?

With this fear burning in his chest, YN asked it to the Witch.

Bringing a single finger to mouth like she was "shush"-ing him, she smiled in an incredibly smug way as she did.

Echidna: I pulled many strings to keep those particular deaths from being shown to him. But rest assured, the 'Endless Eight' or as such you liked to call it, has remained a mystery to him, for now.

YN: Are you saying there's a way he might be able to learn of it in the future?

Echidna: The memories came back for you, didn't they? Such things you could not recollect, the maid girl you're so fascinated over was able to delve into your mind to see.

Remembering that indeed was a potential later on threat, YN could only pray that if Subaru did ever come into knowledge of that, it would come far, far into the future.

YN: Well... I guess I should thank you for doing that... If he learned about those deaths right now of all times—

Typhon: —You really are a sinner for not telling him!

With a tiny frown on her face, the Witch of Pride let her displeasure with YN be known as she now joined the conversation.

Typhon: That was why you were in so much pain! You're a sinner for not telling your friend!

As the tiny Witch pointed at him now, another Witch, Sekhmet did her best to try and coo the child to calm her down.

Sekhmet: Now, now... *Huuuaaaa...* If Subaru would have found out, things would have *Huuuaaaa...* turned ugly, and I might have actually been forced to step in. We both don't want that, don't we?

Taking to her logic like a young child might actually would, YN was spared any more judgment by Typhon.

YN: Typhon is right though...

Ashamed of himself still, not telling Subaru about a mere blind-man's dozen or so deaths wasn't what YN truly felt guilty over.

YN: It still pales in comparison to my largest secret I've kept from him... That Rem found out completely about Return By Death, and I never told Subaru about it. It's entirely out of fear that I haven't. —Fear he'd try and tell everyone he could about... It's just... —tch.

Shaking his head as he tried to justify it, another Witch voiced her support.

Minerva: To try and tell a secret that which the owner does her utmost to try and keep concealed... You're just asking for people to get hurt by doing that.

Speaking of Satella's curse on them, and agreeing with him it was a reckless endeavor, YN felt a modicum of resilience from Minerva about it.

YN: —A-And he really hasn't given me any guarantee he wouldn't try and do just that... Rem found out by pure chance, and the conditions that led to that were unprecedented. As to why she's an expectation now, —That I could freely discuss it with her... we can only guess why Satella allowed that.

While it seemed Echidna might have something to say to that, another Witch spoke out.

Sekhmet: I suppose another way of thinking about it is *Huuuaaaa...* if you knew how to show the maid, but she didn't already know, would you show her?

Asking a real hardliner question, YN truthfully didn't know how to answer.

YN: Having Rem be in-the-know on things has been invaluable. At times she's been almost like an Oracle for me, even after she was erased. But at the same time... I'd never subject her to the danger that might have. The misery... I know there's been times she's forced herself to push on, and do everything she could after losing everything, all for my sake... —Because even at the end of things, she couldn't grieve, or mourn... she could only move forward without time for herself...

Echidna: Then you at least find yourself in the palm of fate where the Witch of Envy has seemingly given her blessing to this failing of her own making. Had she truly detested the maid knowing of your curse, it would be well within her power to undo it, in my opinion.

Giving YN an increasingly evil looking, wide grin, the Witch of Greed shifted the subject. YN had taken notice that since Subaru had denied Echidna's answer for the final time, the white haired Witch had not once been crass with him. Many times she might have been given great opportunities to strike at the low hanging fruit before her, but never once did she at YN's expense.

Echidna: So, perhaps in exchange for shouldering the burden of your continued sins, you'd at least hear out this poor fellow sinner.

Saying this, YN could only guess where this conversation was headed now.

YN: — — —

With no objection, the Witch laid out her offer for him.

Echidna: The offer rejected by Subaru, I now offer to you.

Sekhmet, Minerva, Typhon, and every other Witch now focused entirely on YN. With this diabolic offer still not fully dead, they all waited to see how this would be met by him, and how Echidna might spin things to convince him to accept it.

YN: ...You realize I'm not the one with Return By Death, right?

After a long pause in the dialog, it was YN's only conclusion he could draw from Echidna even offering this to him

Echidna: I am completely aware of the differences between the two of you. My position would only be that of an observer. Purely. However, don't you think having my input on things, —challenges you face, puzzles, traps, altercations, —the list goes on. Wouldn't my expertise, made available at the drop of a hat, be incredibly valuable?

Hearing this modified offer, YN couldn't see the logic behind it. How could this be worth it to her?

YN: So... you'd be okay with just that? Could you really satisfy that curiosity from Subaru with such a role? You wouldn't be 'helping' Subaru as you'd want him to do. —And I certainly won't be doing the things you might want to see him do. I won't make him do those things either.

Echidna: I will not deny that this offer to you is not my first choice. However, my curiosity about the solution he might find to all this, —the Sanctuary, the Mansion, the Great Hare, is greater than any other of my curiosities. 'Just how will he do it?' I keep wondering.

YN: — — —

Still disgusted by her Greedy desires, YN could only curl his lip as Echidna went on, keen on trying to convince him in what felt like a last-ditch effort.

Echidna: I will say my offer does differ in ways I think you'll find acceptable.

YN: I make absolutely no promises on that.

More or less saying she could offer, but not in a way to get her hopes up, YN let the Witch of Greed spin her web.

Echidna: If you were willing to just help influence things, —all of which would keep you both safe from any foreseeable harm, but still satisfies my curiosity, I will promise not to dwell on what might be the solution to Rem's condition afterwards. I will make solving it my number one priority. Above all else, that will be my goal; to find the solution to awaken the maid who so soundly sleeps.

Deep down, YN knew having someone as smart as Echidna in his corner to help cure Rem was invaluable, —so much so, there potentially wasn't a better consultant to have.

But yet—

YN: —The answer is no.

Flatly denying her offer, it went against everything YN still had to cling on to Rem with.

YN: —I couldn't do that. I won't do that. I'm Rem's Hero. I have to be the one to find a way to heal her without compromising on doing the right thing. Giving you your satisfaction at Subaru's expense would compromise that.

Not about to be shut out by what she felt was such puny idealism, Echidna tried to attack just that.

Echidna: I seem to recall in your memories that you and Rem at one point agreed that the consequences of forgotten Loops don't matter if you both do what's right in the end.

While she was correct on the wording, the meaning behind it all was still lost on the Witch, just it seemed many things were.

YN: That's not it at all. Once again, Echidna, you fail to understand what Rem and I share. Just as Subaru and I can't understand you Witches, you can't understand other people, and you certainly can't understand Rem and I.

Laying it out, as bare as he could, YN spoke an undeniable truth.

Echidna: ...That's a rather cut and dry conclusion... even by my logic... But that's not a point worth discussing.

Echidna blankly looked at him whilst saying that, as more emotion seemed to dry up from her words and body language as she went on.

Echidna: Without my knowledge though, what hope do you really have of discovering a way to heal her? In other words, 'how can Rem's Hero hope to be heroic' without my help?

YN: I'll find a way to do it without compromising. That works for Subaru, it'll work for me.

Bluntly swearing off any help Echidna could possibly offer him, YN rejected that his situation was hopeless without it.

Yet, the Witch truthfully believed YN's answer was ignorant, specifically since she viewed Subaru and him in two very different regards.

Echidna: Do you not think there's merit in being more like him, —like Subaru, I wonder? You rely on him to no end to forge a path forward out of these situations fate has sought to put you both in, simply because he is the one your shared ability favors. Do you still not believe it was his oversight that caused Rem to be taken by Gluttony as she was? Have you ever thought that you might need to take the leading role and disregard how your Ability favors one of the other, all to protect that which is most precious to you, —to protect Rem?

Trying her hand at a diversionary tactic again, Echidna sought to use crude logic to warp YN's perception of the situation, and use that opportunity to drive a stake between him and Subaru to weaken him before attacking another angle of him.

Echidna: Rem most certainly would approve too, don't you think? Would she not want you to be able to stand tall, be proud, and be able to say with confidence that you rely on no one else to keep you both safe?

Now bringing Rem's subject into this, Echidna appealed to YN with her solution to this.

Echidna: Together, with my help, I could guide you, on your own path, to achieving the triumphs needed to overcome what endangers you and that which is most precious to you, face. Of course, this involves helping Subaru too, but should you be able to take control of the situations you face, now his only benefit is holding primary control of your ability. You'd stand next to him as an equal. Could that not prove to be a necessity one day in protecting Rem?

Speaking just as devoid of any real compassion or emotion as she did to Subaru, Echidna levied the key difference between him and YN that stood in his way becoming an equal to Subaru.

Echidna: Subaru is able to make such a path forged in solitude work for him because he at least has the support of many other people behind him. The half-elf, the merchant, the spirit knight... The list goes on and on. You've seen his many allies he's made to overcome these problems.

Taking a sip of her tea, Echidna returned her gaze back to YN again. Her dark eyes were definitely looking at him... but could she really see him? Or did she only see what surmounted to data-points being recorded around him?

Echidna: You have Rem, and not a soul else. By strict definition alone, sure, you could also consider her sister as an ally of yourself too, but she only clings to you like dead weight.

YN: —Tch... Nee-sama isn't—! Ram isn't—!

While YN wanted to argue back to Echidna, even if only in petty desperation to preserve Ram's honor, Echidna cut off his words.

Echidna: —I could be an ally to you, you know. You too, could learn what it's like to have allies like Subaru does.

Again, trying to convince YN of the benefit she might have for him, the Witch of Greed went on despite him wanting to protest.

Echidna: Subaru has Emilia, and you have Rem... But Subaru has so many more allies... Why can't you have some of those too?

Softly speaking to try and allure him into her deal, Echidna sat back up straight, and cordially pitched her contract again.

Echidna: Accept this contract, and I shall become a more valuable ally than any other that Subaru possesses.

YN: — — —

Silent, YN's voice dwelled only in his mind at this moment.

She's right... I don't have any allies at this point... I had Rem, but now that she's asleep, I really am alone...

In just the few brief days he'd spent at the Mansion since returning with Rem in his arms, and before departing to the Sanctuary, YN had felt in his heart how lonely he was.

Preying on this emotion she knew was plaguing his soul, Echidna hounded him further.

Echidna: YN, do you think you're capable of functioning in this world without Rem by your side? Will her own loss be the thing that keeps you from being able to awaken her?

YN: — — —

As much as he hated to admit it, —and he refused to at that, this was a fear YN had. Could he make it on his own, truly?

Echidna: What if that wasn't the case though? What if...

Lowering her voice, the tone in her voice didn't match the near blank slate expression the Witch wore. Echidna, seeing how vulnerable YN was now, went in for the emotional kill.

Echidna: —what if... you learned to love me?

YN: — — —

Stonewalled in response, Echidna ever so slightly back peddled, but kept the facade going.

Echidna: —Or, at the very least, learned to lean on me?

Copying the first words of promise YN and Rem had exchanged, Echidna continued to spin her words of poison.

Echidna: I could even learn to be like Rem... —or at the very least, act like I am her in your head, —just until she wakes up.

Leaned forward in her chair, an air of temptation shrouded Echidna and this tea party now.

Echidna: I could work my magic in this contract to make you fully convinced it is Rem herself speaking to you, —guiding you onward to her restoration, and not some ancient and tiresome Witch... That should be enough to keep you going while you're all alone, right?

Trying to also voice this twisted contract as a way to solve his other issues, Echidna continued her sales pitch while YN was stunned silent.

Echidna: Now, now, I know what you're thinking... But surely, it isn't so morbid a thing if you're fully convinced it's not me, right? I can promise you, you'd never know the difference, ever.

Now well and truly devoid of all emotion and reputability, the Witch of Greed went on much like she had when pitching a very similar deal to Subaru not even an hour beforehand.

Echidna: —You'd feel no guilt. And it can't be all bad to know that if you do go ahead with such a deal, this would be your fastest way to actually wake Rem back up. After all, that's what ultimately matters the most, doesn't it?

YN: — — —

Echidna: You know yourself... The longer you go without Rem all on your own... the more despair will build inside you... and you'll be willing to do more and more things you'd otherwise not do. You could even reason with yourself, that taking this deal is insurance against that, and as a way to keep yourself from going down an even darker path...

YN: — — —

Remaining silent through this tormenting temptation, YN could only rationalize one thing—

—It makes sense... She's... she's not wrong about me... It's apparent from just how I was right after I found Rem fell victim to Gluttony...

Despite all the purely logical reasons Echidna had to convince YN, appealing not to his sense of morality, but in a way to bypass it all together, one key thing still stuck out for him, and kept him reaching out to take her hand.

YN: —I can't take that deal. Even though I know how weak I am on my own, it's something I could never do.

Echidna: And just why's that?

Thinking it was impossible to have found something to claw himself away from her honeyed words, Echidna still believed YN was wrapped around her finger ultimately.

But, just like Subaru had circumnavigated this sea of temptation filled with sirens, so did YN.

YN: If you'll make Beatrice suffer for four-hundred years for a single result, it really makes a fella wonder how much Subaru or myself will suffer with something as tactile as Return By Death.

Echidna: — — —

Annoyed that the same argument was being made against her again as rejection to her deal, Echidna continued with her blank, calculated stare at YN as he went on now.

YN: But more than just Beatrice, you've also harmed Ryuzu. Her clones now exist as little more than servants to you. While their suffering isn't nearly as bad as Beatrice's... Just like Subaru is going to extend a hand to her, I'll extend a hand to those clones. Specifically—

YN's mind went back to the one Ryuzu replicant in specific he was the most attached to, and was the cause of this resolve in him now.

Pico...

With the memories of her small frame being engulfed in a fireball for his sake, —to spare his life such an awful fate, the picture of pink turning into orange lingered in his mind.

YN: —!

Realizing his own memories had made him cut off his own words, YN quickly shook his head and delivered what he felt was his most paramount argument to Echidna.

YN: —And besides. There's one glaring thing wrong with a contract like that; it'd be impossible for you to uphold your end of the deal.

Dropping the blank, dead-on glare from her gaze, an air of mild curiosity replaced it as she went "Hmm?" in direct reply.

Echidna: What is it that you mean?

YN: You'd never be able to copy Rem's love. I love Rem more than anything. I'd recognize immediately that whatever you'd try to pass off as her love, wouldn't be close to the real thing.

As YN said this, he felt a profound feeling of victory against temptation well up in his chest. Even as he firmly thwarted Echidna's offers amid intense manipulation, she retorted still, not on the grounds he should form this contract with her, but instead on the basis of his moral high ground.

Echidna: To me, with your lack of allies, it seems not that you love her more than anything... No, not one bit.

Shaking her head now, she almost seemed to shame YN as she concluded her harsh judgment.

Echidna: —Rather, you don't seem to love anyone, or anything else at all.

There was now a stark silence between the two.

While YN was correct that Echidna could never replicate Rem accurately, the Witch of Greed knew she had struck a cord against the Anomaly.

Was she right? Since at least coming to this world, falling for Rem, and having heard her own confession to him, did YN truly not love anything else but Rem in this world?

Sure, there were people who were immensely important to him, but did he love any other? "Love" had become such a fickle term for him since he first laid eyes on Rem, had the scope of his emotions narrowed so much that the idea of "love" no longer applied to anyone but Rem?

Truthfully, he didn't have an answer for that. He knew this world, and Rem, had changed him, especially regarding the idea of "love." Yet, maybe he hadn't realized by how much until now.

Echidna: —This discussion is over now, I'm afraid.

After what must have been almost several minutes of tense and foreboding silence at those words uttered by Echidna, she spoke once more again, but only to put an end to the topic at hand.

Echidna: If you wish to talk more, attempt the Third Trial.

Taking her eyes off YN, Echidna went to fully paying YN no mind. Focused on her tea, and her tea alone, she had no further words for him.

As YN looked back over to where Subaru and Satella were still speaking out on the next grassy knoll over, he had half a mind to go over and ask a few things of her himself.

Yet, just as he was about to—

Minerva: —I think you made the right decision.

YN: —?

Hearing her words, YN turned to address the Witch who had come up to speak with him now. As he processed what she said, he looked down at the ground as he replied.

YN: You honestly think so? You don't think she made some good points?

Minerva: That's besides the point. What matters is, you stayed true to yourself, and your values. By doing that, you've kept yourself, and your friend from being hurt.

Gesturing loosely over to where Subaru still was, Minerva's own bias had been for the conclusion YN had chosen.

Minerva: —And if you don't mind me asking...

Holding one arm with the other, the Witch of Wrath seemed to take on a softer expression, as if she wanted to lighten YN's mood with a change in topic.

Minerva: Last time, I remember you mentioning that I reminded you of someone... Is it this 'Rem' person you and Echidna spoke of?

YN nodded lightly before he answered with his words.

YN: Yeah... You both have a strong sense of idealism... You both can heal others... You're about the same height, same figure... She was, and still is everything to me.

Casting his eyes out upon the opposite horizon, the blue-haired maid laid fondly in his mind's picture.

YN: It feels like wherever I look or go, I see small pieces of her everywhere. I smell flowers that remind me of when we'd hold each other, and I'd bury my face into her clothes or hair and smell them... Her cute, round head, with that same hair that was an even more beautiful blue than the sky above us with eyes to match...

Sadness and pain had begun to become agitated inside YN again. Dwelling on Rem for too long, and in such detail always left him a quiet, unresponsive husk if he wasn't careful.

YN: Even though we've been through so many painful things together... She still holds my heart like no one else can. I'm beyond lucky to have won her heart over from the suspicion it once had for me... I don't even think I'd be here today without her... To me, she's everything. But now, with her asleep... I'm all alone. There's no one to guide me forward anymore, and I don't know how long I can keep walking on my own.

Heavy words exited YN's heart as he spoke of his love for Rem, which in turn, wounded Minerva's heart. Frustrated this wasn't something she could just heal in herself, it took all of her resistance to keep her fists from impacting her own chest at the heartache she felt as she held a single one to her chest.

Minerva: I... I wish I could help you somehow to cure her... But unfortunately, it isn't a physical injury...

Minerva continued to look at YN with an extreme amount of pity; her own blue eyes were deep with emotion as a small silence began to brew between them.

Yet, before long, a recently familiar voice spoke up.

Echidna: —What? You're going to get cold feet now of all times?

Minerva: —tch!

Clearly speaking to her fellow Witch by the way she reacted, Minerva turned to face Echidna as her arms went to cross and fold together, barking back at Echidna with her own former bombastic tone filled with energy.

Minerva: I-I was just waiting for the right time to ask! It's your fault for that... After your offer to Subaru, and then YN too, I thought it would be in bad faith.

Going from annoyed with Echidna to bashfully putting herself down, Minerva seemed to avoid eye contact with either her or YN now. Still though, from the moment he had heard Minerva was hesitant on saying something of him, YN wanted to know just what that was. After all, she had helped him immensely by now, and it would feel rude to disregard something she wanted to say.

YN: You... have something else you want to ask me? Is it about Rem?

Minerva: N-No... It's something else actually...

Slightly fidgeting with her hands, Minerva still seemed rather hesitant to say, even with the one she wanted to ask something of inviting her to do so.

Echidna: Go on. Ask it. Satisfy your curiosity. He's asking you to, after all.

Minerva: —tch...

Even being given a constructive push by Echidna, this was enough for Minerva to finally sigh, and build the courage to say what she wanted to. Looking to YN, she at times looked away, but ultimately kept eye contact mostly as she asked.

Minerva: I-If you want... I'd be willing to offer you a contract of my own for you... I'm not asking for anything in return! It's just I feel like I can help you more, if you need it...

Opening his eyes wide at that prospect, YN was now offered a new deal, by a different Witch. Minerva could tell he would be apprehensive about it if she asked, and she was right.

Echidna herself had said a contract with a Witch was something not to balk at, but would one with Minerva, someone who had been nothing but helpful to YN really be as bad a thing as what would have been with Echidna?

Minerva isn't conniving like Echidna is... but don't these Contracts come with give and take?

As YN wondered this, Echidna spoke back up.

Echidna: Where does the power for Minerva's Authority come from, if not herself? Using her Authority causes her no detriment, so where does the energy for it come from?

Asking this not directly to YN, but more so simply out loud for anyone to answer, one was spoken.

Carmilla: Umm... It comes from where all mana comes from... Od Laguna...

Echidna: That's right. But how does the Soul of The World replenish what is taken from it?

With another question spoken out loud, it was again answered.

Daphne: It's random, from somewhere else—

Sekhmet: —and when that happens, *Huuuuaaa...* bad thing occur from where it's taken...

Typhon: Storms! Eruptions! Floods! Earthquakes!

Enthusiastically throwing her hands up in the air as she spoke of the consequences of Minerva's Authority, Typhon levied the true resulting phenomena behind the Witch of Wrath's best of intentions.

Echidna: For every one person she might heal and save, how many others perish in a landslide, or die in some other catastrophe?

Hearing this, YN turned to look at Minerva, who now, with him learning this about her, had to look away, as if pained to be reminded of this.

Daphne: Ner-Ner knows what happens when she punches people, but when she sees pain in front of her, she flies into her rage and forgets about the consequences.

While any help of Minerva might be welcomed by YN, especially if it helped with potentially getting closer to curing Rem, he simply couldn't overlook that such a thing might cause more harm.

Rem wouldn't be okay with that... And neither would Subaru...

Sure, he could keep a contract with Minerva a secret from Subaru, but could he really bear the sin of another dishonesty towards his friend?

Seeing that Minerva was obviously disheartened by him potentially viewing her as dangerous, or even callus now, YN wanted to show he at least appreciated the willingness of her wanting to help him.

YN: Regardless of what might happen, or what the deal would entail... wouldn't you forming a contract with me mean leaving your friends here? You don't seem like the kind of person who could just leave such important people to you behind.

Minerva perked up slightly as she heard YN respond in a way that lacked a judgmental temperament toward her.

Minerva: Y-You're right! I'm not!

In her typical fashion, she energetically agreed with that assumption, as she did value her friends. Yet, as she went on, the reality of her desire to assist was evident.

Minerva: I'd hate to leave everyone I care about here... But I know you're someone who does the right thing, and that you're trying desperately to protect someone who's dear to you, —to keep them from being hurt when they're most vulnerable.

In a way, Minerva could sympathize greatly with YN. When Rem, unable to do a thing to protect herself, had been harmed, YN felt absolutely powerless, and from that frustration, he had become truly angered.

—Wrathful, even.

To see someone so vulnerable be hurt, and not be able to do a thing to stop it, Minerva well and truly understood what that was like to experience. In her past, it was that same feeling that lead to her discovering the Witch Factor of Wrath.

Minerva: I guess I just wanted to help you... —You can say no if you want though. I would understand if you just think all the Witches just want to use others for their own gain.

Gaining a tad of tsundere-ism to the end of her words there, YN returned to her a warm, but reluctant smile.

YN: I don't doubt that your offer is sincere. Rather, I wouldn't want to use someone else's power for my own benefit. That's not what someone's Hero does.

Minerva: *Sigh* I guess you're right about that.

Seeing and understanding the logic in the refusal of her own offer, Minerva too now figured this was for the best.

Minerva: Thank you though, for being who you are. It makes a difference in a world full of bad people.

Still seeing YN as a good person, despite what Typhon had to say about him, Minerva really had no qualms about the way he was, despite what YN himself felt were his shortcomings.

YN: Eh... This world isn't so bad. There's far worse people in the world I'm from.

Minerva: That's a scary thought...

Thinking back on his old world, the one he and Subaru shared an origin in, YN reflexively held the necklace he wore around his neck. Tied with Rem's hairband still, he grabbed at it simply to make sure it was still there, but also because whenever the topic of his old world came up, the idea of there being no one like Rem in it easily entered his mind.

Minerva: That's a pretty necklace.

Minerva, trying to keep from there being an awkward silence lightheartedly complimented the small silvery-pewter ornament that hung from YN's neck on a ribbon of pink.

YN: O-Oh. Thank you. It's really special to me... This is only half of it though, Rem wears the other. They clasp together.

Minerva: So I see that's still a popular thing for couples to do in this age still... I guess some things never change.

Unaware this was perhaps a running tradition, or at least as fondly remembered one from bygone times, YN figured it made sense then why Rem so warmly received the gift.

Minerva: Would you mind if I could see it?

YN: Yeah, sure.

Untying the ribbon, YN let the metallic decoration fall into his waiting palm and handed it over to Minerva. Handing it to her, the second it entered her reach, a shift in the world could be felt.

YN: Wha—huh?

All around him, the grassy hills, the blue skies... it was all starting to break down.

Echidna: The world is beginning to fall apart for our guests it seems. This tea party is at its end.

Taking a sip from her tea cup, Echidna said this as she had been waiting for this to finally happen.

Considering how long we've been here... This seems about right I'd imagine...

Turning his attention off Echidna with this revelation, and back to Minerva, YN was taken back by what he saw her doing.

In her palms, held by both hands, was YN's necklace of silvery-pewter. But gone was the brilliant reflection it normally had, reflecting light from it's shiny surface.

While it still had light, this was not reflected light, but rather, the necklace itself emitted it's own light.

YN: —?!

Not unlike when Subaru had handed over his handkerchief to Echidna as "payment" only to have it handed back to him where then later in the outside physical world, it possessed magical qualities thanks to the Witch of Greed, the same magical light glowed from YN's necklace now.

It was unmistakable what Minerva had to be doing to it by the way she held it.

YN: Umm... Minerva-san..?

Unsure if he should stop her, or just simply let her continue, YN hadn't a clue if doing this to the necklace would cause some sort of detriment to it.

Minerva: What? Did you think it was only Echidna who could do things like this?

Confirming that she was infact doing something similar to his necklace as to what Echidna had done for Subaru's handkerchief, Minerva smiled warmly down at the necklace, and then handed it back over to YN.

As it reached his own grasp, the glow subsided, and only a faint warmth remained in its metallic make-up, like it had been left in the warm afternoon sun for some time.

YN didn't know what to say as the world around him kept falling apart.

Minerva: Hopefully this will help you when you most need it.

More or less confirming she had imbued this necklace with some kind of magic or power, YN quickly went about tying it back around his necklace with the pink ribbon.

YN: I uhhh, don't know what to say... or what to expect of it... but thank you for whatever it is.

Minerva: It'll let you know when it thinks it's time.

As she said that, much of the world for YN, and subsequently, Subaru surely too, went away. Feeling a heavy sensation on his mind, YN wasn't afforded the strength to answer anymore.

Before either of them knew it now, their time in this Witch's Tea Party was through. Falling into a black pit of nothingness, their unconscious minds had finally departed this realm, keen on returning to a world that still had many problems that needed solving.