Summary: We are back to the Sage crew. New high jinks await.

"Oh, everything's shaking…"

"Woah, caught you."

Before the Witch could collapse on the floor Emilia managed to caught her in an embrace.

"Oh, thanks. You're the one at the trials, right?"

"Yes, that's me. Subaru told me about you, Minerva."

"Sorry for precautions back then. Echidna asked me to leave you in the dark about the others."

"It is fine. Do you feel better?"

"Yes. Was that supposed to happen?"

"That's normal, Ner Ner."

"Y-yes, resurrection feels very disorienting at first."

"Yes, side effects of Subaru's Authority include headache, hunger, and sleepiness, I suppose. Just look at Daphne and Sekhmet."

First was currently finishing the remaining rations, while the latter was napping at this exact moment, straight on the rough sand.

"Nah, that seems normal, actually. Pretty sure Master got nothing to do with that. Mom's always hungry. As for the Sleepyhead, she is often like that."

"Ya also forgot 'bout turnin' into half-beast, ankle-biter."

"Stop calling Betty that, show some respect, in fact!"

"Nah, Great Spirit card won't work on us two. Both Bimbo and I are four-hundred years old, and she's da Great Witchbeast, while I'm da strongest dragon-slayer there is."

"Hmph!"

"Yo, Reid, don't be mean to Beako.

"Eh, sure, Flugel. She's a good lass since she was helpin' ya out, just don't like the altitude. "

"'lright, aaanyway, now that Nerva is back only Dona is left and we are dooone! Witches' Tea Party, part two would be asseeembled! Tella, could you help? Dona's alive, but she in Gusteko, riiight heeere."

Subaru pointed at the spot on the map that he yanked from Julius's hands.

"Mhm, on it."

"Mother is alive?"

"Yeah, I kiiinda forgot to ask how exactly she brought herself baaack, but she's theeere. Met her when I was bringin' the ooothers back."

Beatrice's eyes glowed with excitement while both half-elves felt uneasy, albeit for different reasons.

"Oh, yeah. There's also this one tooo, I guess."

The Sage picked up another book.

"Weeell, let's try this ooout. Star eating, phase one."

"Master?"

"You again, meatbag!?"

"Shut the heeell up, Capella."

Before she could react he knocked her out with a bonk by Reality Slasher.

"Annoyin' hag. Aaanyway, glad you sound sane, Geuse."

"What… happened… I remember things… I remember the horror… that I caused… Emilia! Fortuna! Wait, the Cult… the Ordeal… you… you have killed me, Master..."

"'lright, memories seem intact. As for thooose two – the first one's fine, Emilia-tan is with me. As for the seeecond one, well, I don't know if I can brin' her back."

"Master, what exactly did you do?"

"Oh, this? I've just yanked you out of Od Lagna's graaasp. At least that's what this Authority seems to be capable of doooin'. Now all we need to do is designate a body for you to return to aaand... Baaam! Back to the wooorld of the livin'!"

"Master, I don't deserve… I've done so much harm…"

The green-haired spirit began to shred tears.

"Of course you fuckin' did! I don't fuckin' excuse you for thaaat! You have nooo god-damn idea how much headache you've created for me! Stiiill, it's fine, since you're the old Geuse and not "MY BRAIN TREEEMBLES!"-Geuse. We need company."

"Master…"

"For fuck's sake stop wailin', you crybaby. Your adopted daughter is waitin' fooor you. That bein' said, one thin' I don't get is: what exactly happened with Sloooth? Since old-me's memory got reseeet, I need some info. Emilia, said a bit, but she's hidin' things. Dunno, why."

"I was charged with keeping the Witch Factor safe for you and, upon hearing news of your arrival, delivering Sloth, myself and my subordinates to your service, Master. We had a contract."

"Ah, shiiit. Another four hundred year promise. Weeell, go on."

"At the same time my goal was also to watch over lady Emilia and her community."

"The elven village. Heard 'bout that."

"Invasion of Witch of Vainglory and Archbishop of Greed ruined all of that. I've grown desperate and… I was never lazy person…"

"Witch Factor incomparabiiility. Heard that tale with Tella. What happened neeext?"

"I… the Witch Factor combined with Pandora's influence… I have… I have… killed her. Her foster mother… Fortuna."

"Aaand?"

"I don't blame Lady Emilia, she was just a child in state of shock… Her magic went out off control. It froze her and entire Elior Forest."

"A-ha, so thaaat's the reason she's seekin' to be a ruuuler. Damn, no wonder she kept that from me. Why was Pandora there?"

"The Seal. She came to open the Seal."

"Wait, Tella's thin' is underground in Auguuuria."

"Other Seal. Not the one restraining Satella-sama."

"Oh, okay. What is it fooor?"

"Unknown to me. It was yours and Witch of Greed's project."

"Ah, craaap! Another fuckin' mystery. Another centuries old fuck up."

"Emilia-sama has the key for it. That was the reason it all happened."

"Alright, we'll figure things out as we gooo. Now let's get back. I can't promise another contract coz I have Beako, but we can hang out just like befooore."

"I will go wherever you lead me, Master."

"Oh, by the way, we've got Volc, Reid, Shaula, Tella and all the other Witches on board already, plus a couple of friends I've got before I've met my old buddies. 'lright, take my haaand. Star Eating, phase two."

"Emilia-tan, I've got you an early biiirthday present."

"Geuse!"

"Emilia!"

Before anyone could react the two rushed into a deep embrace.

"Lady Emilia, please stay back, we are not certain Pe-"

"Rem smells no Miasma on him."

"Yup, Crybaby is clear."

"Shush, Julius, you think I won't check if he's fiiine prior to bringin' him back?"

"Oh… My apologies then."

The purple-haired knight quickly sheathed the blade that he drew in a panic.

Anastasia chuckled:

"This gettin' out of hand, now there are two of them. First that Gluttony, now Sloth?"

"Uau!"

The former rushed towards the Sage and hid behind his back, seeking protection. Others were still very cautious with the former Archbishop of Gluttony, after all. Utilizing his greatest technique, Subaru rather easily calmed Louis down.

"It's a long and fucked up story as it tuuurns out. From what I've got he was nooormal before Sloth debacle happened. Since I brought him without it, his mind is peeerfectly clear tho. Just some PTSD left to deal with, but thaaat's better than nothin'."

"I'm sorry dear… I'm so sorry for her..."

"No, don't be! I understand it was her, always her! She's the one that killed Mother Fortuna, not you! Please! I'm just reeealy glad that you are here now."

"Aaah… You're so kind, Emilia..."

The eyes of the spirit were full of tears.

"Geuse!"

"Oh, hey, Betty. Master told me you made a contract."

"We did. Subaru is the best contractor there is, as deserved by Betty, in fact!"

"Ooow, I'm flattered."

"Master is an exceptional person."

"Betty's Subaru doesn't like it when I tell that, but he is the one for Betty. You know that one. If there was supposed to be the one, I suppose."

"Hmm, I had a sneaking suspicion. Maybe you were the reason for Betty's creation, Master."

"No! Just, no! I'll not gonna accept that Beako is just some sick birthday present from Dooona! No fuckin' way! And, Beako, stop with "thaaat person" thin'. I thought I taught you – it was not about fulfillin' the stupid contract with Echidna, it was about choosin' to break it and doin' what you waaant!"

"See, he's always like that. One thing that he and Betty can't agree on."

"It's still a great thing. I'm glad that you Betty and Master are happy."

"She is not that, by the way. I made her for a different purpose."

"Oh, heeey, Dona! Wait, what the hell?"

"I brought her before you returned, dear. She's… different now."

"Took you long enough, bitch."

"With your new body you were difficult to find."

Oddly enough the silver-haired half-elf paid little attention to her insults.

"New… Wait, you used one of the Ryuzus as proooxy?"

"Correct. Shima to be exact."

"I thought she diiied. So, she survived the Sanctuary… 'til you used her as a veeessel... Hold on, you've killed her!"

"It was her purpose. I'd say she got a rather peaceful end, however, won't you say? She is overwritten just like you overwritten the souls of these beasts."

"Kinda not true, Dona. Ya don't look like da old self."

"But of course, Reid. I do not claim that my spellcasting skills are superior to an Authority."

"Well, we can prooobably find her book..."

"I don't think you can bring her back even with your Authority. She's not so much dead, more like changed to fit my soul instead."

"Ah, fuuuck. You could have just waited… Weeell, now only Hoshin and Farsale remain. Let's go back to the library."

"That won't work either."

Echidna simply stated it as a matter of fact.

"Why?"

"You intend to use books to reach for their souls, correct?"

"Weeell, yeah. Why are you askin'?"

"Do you know them?"

"Know them?"

"You've already met us before, Subarun, so you were able to read our books. But do you have meeemories of Lec Lec or Farsy?"

"I mean, there were very brief mentions in yooour books."

Subaru remembered how the first book that he tried to read did not actually do anything. Was it because he did not know the person before?

"B-but they were very brief, r-right? I d-did not know either much, so didn't the others. T-that means that you w-won't be able to…"

"...find them, haaa…"

"Beside their souls were probably already recycled by Od Lagna, baka! Dona preserved us Witches."

"What 'bout me then?"

"You, pervert, were saved by his ritual. You were in-between, bound to the tower and its trials."

"That means we not gonna have all Baru's friends with us? Awww…"

Typhon looked sad. She liked people that were hanging out with Baru back then.

"Unless, he manifests another Authority in a certain way, no. Not right now, at least."

"Don't wooorry Typhon, we'll figure things ooout."

In just a few head-pats the Witch of Pride's mood was returned back to normal.

"So, Beako, glad I've got your Mom back?"

"Betty is happy, I suppose, but… Mother feels weird…"

"Weird?"

"Incomplete."

"Ah, this might be due to my failed experiment, Betty."

"That might be the reason, I suppose."

"Failed experiment... You're talkin' about usin' Ryuzus to body-hop, riiight?"

"Exactly. Another fragment of my soul still walks among the living. She's called Sphinx."

"Sphinx? That's a name of one of the most important figures in Demi-Human War."

Julius knew history of Demi-Human War like a back of his hand.

"This also makes sense. Though her exact actions are not completely clear to me, I can predict her main goal."

"Goal?"

"She wants to become me. Original me. Fulfill her purpose of being."

"Well, there's thiiis Dona and then there's Sphiiinx. Are there any other Echidnas we should know 'bout?"

"My name is Echidna, technically, but I don't think I possess any parts of the soul of my creator."

Anastasia's fox spirit finally revealed herself to the others. Most were surprised by this revelation, but not the Sage.

"Ok, fiiinally you stopped hidin'. I told Julius 'bout you, by the way."

"Natsuki-kun?"

"Yep, figured all out, 'nastasia. So… Foxchidna? I assume you like Puck or Beako?"

"In a way, yes. Albeit, it seems that all three of us are different in certain ways and made for different purposes."

"Correct."

"Damn, that's like talking with two Donas at the same time. One was insufferable enough!"

"Calm down, Minerva. She inherited some mannerisms, but nothing else really. She was a plan B after plan A in soul transference project failed. I had no time to finish it, however."

"Ah, I see, Creator. I was made as an alternative proxy…"

"Yes."

"So, 'bout Sphinx – do you haaappen to know where she is? I mean, I could like… you know… smash the two halves to make one whooole Dona."

"Vollachia is her current zone of operation. Although there is a side hustle in Kararagi."

"How are you aware of her, Lady Echidna?"

"We are two parts of the one whole. Besides, I am one of most proficient spellcasters there is."

"Okay, one mooore reason to go to Vollachia. 'lright, let's have a nap and then we can gooo there."

"Subaru!"

"What? Why, do you look upseeet, Emilia-tan?"

"You forgot about the Council of Elders, you dunderhead! You made them worry with your kooky jokes!"

"No one says thaaat anymore."

"Hmmmph!"

The Royal Candidate turned away from him in frustration, crossed her hands and began to theatrically pout.

"You know, Natsuki-kun, she's right. We need to clear out some misunderstandings and tell them about yo plan."

"Ah, okay, just stop naggin'! Neeew plan! Go back to Priestella, graaab other Candidates and their knights, so it's legitimate. Go to Capital, visit those neeerds, bully them to our siiide, then start revoluuution in Vollachia."

"Bully?"

Julius shivered. Given what the Sage did up until this point, he fully expected the worst.

"Revo… what?"

Since the lecture in Priestella Anastasia began to write down any foreign words that came out from Subaru's mouth.

"Revolution is when..."

"No, Shaula, don't explaaain. Otherwise, they'll start naggin' even mooore."

"Sure, Master!"

"So, how do ya intend to transport us all, Natsuki-kun? I don't know if ya noticed, but we've nearly doubled in size."

"Myself can carry a greater load. 'Tis not a great deal."

"I can help too. I've brought others to Priestella."

"No need, you two. I've got a neeew trick. Behold…"

Suddenly, the Sage's form was enveloped in white light.

Lust.

Subaru was eighteen years old teenager. So, as a guy in the prime of his life, he did have a decent libido. Of course, due to Beako being near him most of the time, along with the heavy amount of daily duties he had to perform, he did not have time nor will to indulge in what most boys without a girlfriend were commonly doing at his age. Not that he didn't ever imagine Emilia or Rem without clothing. Of course, he did. He did imagine other things too. Hence, the Lust wasn't something foreign to him.

Lust was a burning hot inside his chest. Like an ember that he felt every time he gazed at people around him. In a way it was true with all people that he happened to know well enough bar few exceptions. He loved them in one way or another. There were obvious ones, like Emilia-tan, Rem or Satella-tan – he adored them. There were also people he found conventionally attractive, but never actually made a move on like Ram, Frederica, Crusch, Priscilla and Anastasia – he appreciated them. There were people that he found aesthetically pleasing (mostly male) like Otto, Garfiel, Reinhard, Wilhelm, Al, Ricardo and even Julius – he was inspired by them. There were also people he found just really cute in a making you squeal type of way, people he liked to play silly games with or spoil rotten like Beatrice, Petra, Meili, Arlam children, Ryuzus, Mimi, Hetaro, Tivey, Felt and even Patrasche (though he was certain "the best girl" would be mad at him for placing her there) – they were his joy. And in this crazy adventure he had already met quite a few new (and old) people to add to his lists.

In general there were plenty people he liked in one way or another. There was but one person that he knew very well, yet found utterly revolting. Ugly, short, messy-haired, with that annoying unsettling stare, and loud voice, always over the top, but not in a good way.

He never liked himself, his appearance included. He always wanted to be someone else, anyone but Natsuki Subaru, be it like one of his many friends or even someone completely different.

As the light faded the others were surprised yet again. Holding each over's hands stood two little girls – one was known to the Sage party, while the other one looked like a newcomer. The two looked liked twins or, at very least, close relatives. They had the same height, same type of extravagant dress (but in a different color scheme), same adorable puffy face, same drill like hair (the "new girl" had it black-colored, however) and even same crown accessory.

"… my uuultimate form, I suppooose!"

"That's uncanny, in fact!"