CHAPTER 10: THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE INCARNATE
About 15 minutes after leaving Roswaal's recuperation hut. Garfiel announces they've reached the tomb, which is an old ruin made of primitive stone construction, with some shallow cracks along the walls and dense thickets of ivy growing over it. Definitely over 100 years old.
The entrance faces out toward the forest, but half the structure in itself is swamped by the forest so it's hard to gauge how large the tomb is. If this tomb is dedicated entirely to the WITCH OF GREED, then perhaps it's safe to consider it something like a pyramid in the original word.
Subaru: “Guess important people wanting to sleep in giant tombs is the same, no matter what age or world you're in...”
Subaru tilts his head at the huge scale of the tomb as he rubs his chin. Subaru, being someone who lives in the moment, doesn't have much interest in what his value will be after death. There's also the fact that he's not the kind of gigantic person to have their name applicable for remaining in history. Anyway.
Emilia, standing beside Subaru, looks up at the ruins and asks Garfiel what exactly they're supposed to be doing here. Subaru, having the same question, also looks at Garfiel, who clicks his teeth as he turns to face them.
Garfiel says they can get the details from Roswaal after they're done here, but for now he wants Emilia to enter the tomb.
Emilia asks if that's okay, and tries to get confirmation that nothing will happen if she does enter.
Garfiel says that the sun's up. Even if you go to the back of the tomb, the TRIAL won't start. Preparations aren't ready yet either, and first they have to check whether Emilia is qualified or not.
It seems Garfiel could just forcibly push Emilia inside, and Subaru interrupts to stand between them before he can, and hurriedly asks that Garfiel slow down and explain what the hell is this 'trial' and 'preparations' and 'qualifications'.
Garfiel scrunches his nose up and is like, you really think that's a good idea, you'll understand everything if you go back to Roswaal after she enters the tomb. Garfiel admits he's bad at doing logic and shit so if he does the explaining it'll turn into a mess.
Subaru tells Garfiel he's pressuring them to sign a contract without reading the contents, no way they're not gonna be terrified. He goes on to say that if Garfiel's bad at talking about things in an organized way, then all he has to do is politely answer Subaru's questions one at a time.
Garfiel accepts this but advises they keep it short so the sun doesn't set on them.
Subaru: “This is the CEMETERY... meaning, it's safe to call this the Witch of Greed's tomb, right?”
Garfiel answers that it is, but honestly, no one knows if there's actually any bones buried here. That it's the Witch of Greed's cemetery, at least, is what both he and everyone in the village were taught.
Subaru asks what the TRIAL is. Though honestly after the past several weeks he's had, the word doesn't leave him with a very good impression.7 Garfiel: “Relax, I hate gettin' tested too. So, well, the TRIAL... I dunno the content.”
Subaru: “Hey now.” Garfiel: “Don't get mad. It ain't like I'm messin' with you. 'S just, I dunno what'll happen inside the tomb. 'F you don't bust through that Trial, you ain't gonna be released from this deadlocked testin' site.”
Subaru: “Released... who exactly?”
Garfiel: “This's where th' QUALIFICATION's is. Guys with the qualifications can't leave the testin' site. 'Long as the TRIAL ain't over, you ain't getting outta the witch's possessive hands.” It's not exactly the best explanation, but it doesn't seem like Garfiel's trying to be misleading on purpose. That he's failed to give his information more cleanly might just mean his understanding of all this is also vague. Subaru puts the pieces of what Garfiel's said together. Subaru: “So only people who're qualified can enter the tomb, and if those qualified people don't pass the trial, they can't leave SANCTUARY... is about right?”
Garfiel: “Ehh...? 'S sorta like that... maybe?” Subaru: “I had it pretty succinct and you're really saying it's still not good enough?” Garfiel tilts his head. Subaru looks at Emilia, she picks up in voicing her conclusion in the wake of the answer they've reached.
Emilia: “I fell unconscious before when I entered SANCTUARY... was that what was happening then?” Subaru: “So that was the boundary line, and you fainted because we crossed over into entrapment range? No but, me and Otto were lively as anything right then...” Garfiel: “'S 'cause you ain't qualified.” So looks like they've figured out the answer as to why Emilia mysteriously fainted back then.
Garfiel points at Subaru with one hand, then at Emilia with the other.
Garfiel: “Half-elf Emilia-sama's qualified. Full pure-blooded human Subaru ain't. So yer free to go in n' out as ya want. But it means you can't take the Trial.” Subaru: “Waitwaitholdup. So basically, thinking about what you just said, then it'd mean this?”
7 The 'Ordeal' Betelgeuse talks about in arc 3 uses the exact same word that I'm translating as 'Trial' here.
Subaru: “That the people who can take the trial are half-elves... no, people who are half-human and half-demihuman. Which'd mean everyone living in Sanctuary fits that description.”
Garfiel: “—Yeah, 'guess I didn't tell you.”
Garfiel nods and blinks, satisfied. The next instant, his eyes turn golden and his pupils narrow to slits. His canines elongate and his fingernails sharpen into daggers. His petite body seems to enlargen—wait no that's not a 'seems.' Short golden fur sprouts down to cover his back, and covers the entirety of the exposed flesh on his legs.
Garfiel: “My amazin' self's still got alotta blood left. 'V got my own speciality of ANCESTRAL RETURN.”
Subaru: “...Wow. Can I pet you?”
Subaru forces back the excited shaking in his fingers. But Garfiel returns back to his original form, thoroughly declining the request. Emilia takes a step forward.
Emilia: “So this village really is a gathering of demihumans...”
Garfiel: “More accurately, 's a gatherin' of demihuman n' human mixed things who came here. 'S a just goddamn bunch of random races n' similar standin's who're here by choice. 'F you wanna bring up that bastard Roswaal's DEMIHUMAN FANCY then that's probably part'a it too.”
Emilia descends into thought as Subaru considers it too. The people here would understand the anguish that the scorned, ostracised Emilia has suffered. That might just be nothing more than licking each other's wounds. But what did Emilia think about there being something out there for her that could possibly turn into a thing of licking each other's wounds?
Subaru has no idea how to heal Emilia's wounds without worsening them, having not tasted the same pain as her. This truth grated on him and vexed him greatly.
Subaru gets back on topic by saying they more or less understand what's up with the 'qualification', so next is the trial. Subaru acknowledges that Garfiel said he didn't know the content, but at least the trial starts after sundown.
Garfiel affirms that and again says that he doesn't know the details. The only reason they're here right now it to check whether Emilia's qualified to take the trials. The trial will start at night, so if they try then they'll wind up seriously doing the real thing.
Subaru nods at this and stares at the tomb's open maw. Bound in thick ivy, the tomb waits for them, its darkness beckoning. The weight of the word 'TRIAL' also tips this off, but it's highly unlikely this is going to get settled just with your average spelunking of an old ruin.
More than anything else, sending Emilia into a place that might be dangerous is extremely difficult to bear for one Natsuki Subaru.
Subaru: “Sorry, Ram. Doesn't look like I'll be able to stick by your warning.”
Garfiel: “Whattyou said?”
Subaru: “Shunting Emilia-tan in there's ripping my chest apart with anxiety. So why not shunt you in Garfiel, as validation and a sacrifice?” After a second of being dumbfounded, Garfiel gives his knees a hard slap.
Garfiel: “That's somethin' yer'd us'ly say when offerin' yerself up t'go!” Subaru: “There's mountains of things I wanna do and say to look cool, but just for example let's say something happens here, then after considering probabilities of survival I'd say this'd be suited to not-me and instead you. You can stomp the ground to bits and stuff so looks like you've got plenty of leeway to live. You're the strongest.”
Garfiel is pleased and agreed with this assessment of being the strongest, nevermind the trial, no matter the danger it's a PENNY-PENNY DOESN'T SURRENDER. But his good mood immediately vanishes. Garfiel: “But,” Garfiel: “Sorry 'cept I can't go in. Contract.” Subaru: “...Contract?”
Garfiel: “Yeah, 's a pain. 'N toppa that ain't like I even made it.” Garfiel kicks the ground, clicking his tongue. Honestly doesn't seem like he can go in. So things aren't looking great. To send Emilia in alone is not happening, but the plan of having Garfiel scout it first is also a no-go. Subaru can see only one remaining option.
Subaru: “Could you wait here for a sec while I go look for Otto?” Emilia: “The sun will set while you're off doing that. —It's okay. I'll go.” Emilia's resolve looks to be hardened as her gaze turns to the tomb's enterance, her eyes hosting caution for whatever may happen inside. More than likely, she's expecting nothing gentle. Embracing the same anxiety and fear, that Subaru lacks the strength to pull her hand back truly is pathetic.
Subaru: “Just a little ways inside... no, if it's just the entrance area then me going in ahead to check should be—” Garfiel: “Fine, 's what yer thinkin'? You ain't qualified. Someone who ain't invited tries enterin' the witch's tomb, and they turn out like Roswaal.”
Subaru: “Like Roswaal... you mean, his wounds were because he went inside?”
Subaru forces down his shock at this as he turns back to Garfiel. Arms crossed, Garfiel nods.
Garfiel: “'S what happens to unqualified guys who go in at night. 'Cuz it was him that's all that happened, but wouldn't be weird f'r a normal unqualified person to just burst 'f they went in.” So Subaru finally understands what Roswaal was getting at with all his roundabout talk. He said he wasn't hurt by any specific person, which in other words meant this. But that gives rise to a new question. Why did Roswaal enter the tomb? He's unqualified. And he surely should've known that.
Subaru: “...Yeah, I'm going in first.”
Subaru puts the Roswaal question aside for now. Emilia and Garfiel are stunned silent for a moment. Garfiel: “Oioi, 'd ya hear what I just said? 'S dangerous t' go in without qualifications. Roswaal turned out like that 'since it was night, but that doesn't make it safe just 'cus it's afternoon.”
Emilia: “Exactly. It's dangerous so you're stopping, right, Subaru? It'll definitely be fine if I go. It's not something I'm grateful for, but being half-elf could be helpful here...” Subaru: “You know, it still does make me happy you're worried for me.” Emilia pulls back on Subaru's sleeves, but Subaru unhooks her fingers. Subaru: “If you calm down and think about it, this is just the obvious outcome for our roles. That it might be dangerous inside's the same no matter who goes in. We barely have any information in advance, but enough to know that it could be dangerous for me. So then it turns into a story of what we all can do afterward.”
Emilia: “What we can do?” Subaru: “On the million to one chance something dangerous happens inside and someone gets injured, I can't heal Emilia-tan. If Garfiel's a man of incredible surprises and he's really a crazy-skilled healing magic user then it's another story, but...” Garfiel: “'Can just spit'n most wounds to heal'em.” Subaru: “...is the suspect's testimony. Regardless if it's me or Emilia-tan, if there's a chance one of us is getting hurt, I'd like to keep healing magic user Emilia-tan leftover as insurance.” Emilia seems to get somewhat swayed by this, but shakes her head, not giving up the central point. Emilia: “A serious injury... or a life-threatening injury wouldn't be something I could heal. Puck isn't reacting, and I have a limit. Roswaal's injuries are settled down right now, but...” Subaru: “Well, those wounds of his sure did look pretty nasty. ...But y'know well, try believing in the dirtiness of my living and see what happens. I'm more than pretty sure that I rank near the top in this world for tenaciousness.” He smiles at Emilia, his words here being not a joke at fucking all. In complete honesty, Subaru doesn't think it's that common for there to be people as bad as giving up as him. If given infinite chances to challenge something, he'd surely challenge it infinitely. No matter how many times he breaks, shatters, he'll keep struggling to reach the answer he desires. For Natsuki Subaru, this was—
Subaru: “If you wanna, promise? Then you can rest easy. I absolutely am going to return to you, Emilia-tan. I won't be leaving your side.”
Emilia: “—It's a promise.” Subaru holds out his little finger as he speaks, his tone somewhat joking, and is surprised at how she bites at his proposal more than he expected. She holds her pinky out too and tilts her head slightly.
Emilia: “Um, what do we do with the fingers?”
Subaru: “Er? Ohh, we link our fingers together like this... uuhwuah, Emilia-tan your fingers're so dainty and white and cute and...” The look in Emilia's eyes urges him to continue. Subaru clears his throat. Subaru: “Pinky promise if I lie swallow a thousand neeedles.”
Emilia: “Pinky promised!”
They release the pinkies. THE PROMISE IS MADE. This time with the understanding of how serious promises are for Emilia, so no way he's going to treat this one lightly. Subaru: “Alright, I'll go take a quick look inside. I'll be trying to look around while calling out, please keep calling back from outside so I don't get lonely.” Garfiel: “Seriously can't tell'f yer cool or yer awful.” Subaru: “Just an advocate of cautiousness.” And he notes how easily he's totally destroying Ram's warning. Mentally, Subaru humbly apologizes to her. Spuriousness of a witch—not peaceful-sounding vocab, but not something he wanted to voice to Emilia. She'd almost certainly end up stressing that she be the one to go in even harder. Emilia: “Subaru. If you think it's dangerous, come back straight away.” She doesn't look happy about it. Subaru shoots her an original kind of thumbs-up using his pinky and flashes her a smile, then peers forward—into the tomb. He scales across the ivy underfoot and strains his eyes as he stares into the tomb, where the dark makes everything more than a few meters in invisible. But it doesn't look like there's any signs of anything disagreeable living here.
Subaru fires himself up by using the Japanese version of 'nothing ventured nothing gained' which has to do with catching tiger cubs and shit. Not like Subaru wants a tiger though.
HOWEVER in terms of fluffy a tiger cub is a very desirable target BUT too dangerous to try for so Subaru wouldn't say he'd attempt it.
And, the instant he steps on the cold floor of the tomb—
Subaru: “—huh?”
He feels a sensation as if the ground under his feet is fading. Stupefied, Subaru looks down. The floor is disappearing.
With the floor beneath him going out of existence, he has no way to support his body as he falls forward. He reaches his arms out but they don't touch either the walls or floor, and Subaru proceeds to fall into the darkness below, screaming.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The falling goes on for a fucking while. And at the end of it and after his walking around, he meets the girl. Which is where he is now.
Subaru: “Which makes you the one I found after all that falling, walking around helpless, trembling in hunger. ...I sure hope you're all satisfied.”
Echidna: “Yup, definitely satisfied. It doubtless seems you're a someone far beyond what I expected.”
The back of her hand pressed to her mouth, she laughs like kukukuku as Subaru stares back at her with a cautious gaze. He forces strength into his legs so that he's always ready to run, and opens and closes his hands, prepared to grab her at any moment. It's a pretty shitty attack plan.
Echidna: “You don't really need to be that on-guard. And besides, I'm pretty sure you can judge yourself that even against me, you're not too likely to win? Bravery and recklessness are easily confused things.”
Subaru: “Sorry, but giving up after losing isn't in my character. And telling me not to be on-guard... do you really think I can do that when I'm talking to someone who introduced themselves as the Witch of Greed?”
Echidna: “I see. You're exactly right. That was my mistake.”
Subaru's filled with rebellion and irritation, but Echidna's attitude doesn't falter. This could be because she has room to be so lax, or amusement at Subaru's struggling. That kind of completely unimaginable, transcended aloofness. Her gaze is that of someone reading a manga, looking down at the characters. To her, Subaru's no different.
Which is why Subaru keeps on maximum caution when facing her. She exerts pressure leagues above the White Whale. And introduced herself as the WITCH OF GREED. This wasn't some kind of trifling problem of her legitimacy. It's the fact that she's so overwhelming that even Subaru can sense she's not someone who can just be laughed off. But she shoots Subaru, sweat arising on his forehead, a glance.
Echidna: “Though, it really does hurt that I'm being treated so cruelly. You know I am just what I appear, a weak little girl? When a man looks at me with eyes like that, it's definitely not that I don't get ideas.”
Subaru: “You know that 'little girl' of yours has DEATH FLAG written all over it? Just saying, my sense of caution hasn't been anything ordinary for quite a while.”
Thanks to dying so fucking much. Going by Subaru's honed danger judgement, this chick is on par with Betelgeux.
Echidna: “So I guess we can't have a real conversation. That was unavoidable. —Alright, then how about we do this?”
She raises her hand before her forehead. Right after Subaru swallows his breath at this action, she clicks her fingers. And the world changes completely.
The cold stoneworks of what felt like the tomb's bottom disappear, and in its place comes a field of green grass, swaying in the wind—and a little hillock, atop of which the two are standing.
Subaru: “Wha—!?”
Echidna: “If you didn't want to hang out back there, how's this?”
Subaru looks around the surroundings in surprise as Echidna smiles at him and seats herself at one of the chairs arranged beside the white table atop the hill. She indicates Subaru take the seat opposite.
Subaru plonks himself down at the recommended seat. Steaming cups of tea are arranged atop the table, which Subaru looks at speechlessly.
Echidna: “Don't worry, there isn't really anything dangerous in there. If you want I could drink one first. Though I don't have anything I could show you if you doubt me, and ask whether or not poison works on witches.”
Subaru: “...I'm bested. Now that we're here my sense of normalcy is just thrown. How did this place happen? Can you use teleportation magic or something?”
Beatrice has used such magic on Subaru before to dump him in barn in Arlam village from the
Forbidden Archive. Julius said that's some crazy magic shit but since Echidna's a witch her being able to use it wouldn't be surprising.
Echidna: “Teleportation... ahh, yin magic. Nope, you'd be mistaken. There's lots of flaws in that magic. I don't really prefer to use it. What this is is just a tiny bit of an extra kind of entertainment. Since here, I've got some workable freedoms. This place is my castle.”
Subaru: “Your, castle?”
The field goes on, disappearing without end past the horizon. Yup this sure is something like a fantastic rather than realistic place. Recognizing this, Subaru swallows his own saliva, shrugs, and lets a smile rise on his face.
Subaru: “Sorry, but no matter how far I look there isn't a castle or even a shed. So what? Are you in the middle of rebuilding this castle of yours? Or did you lose everything except the table and chair to loan payments?”
Echidna: “Huhuhu. You truly are interesting. If you exclude other witches, it's easily countable how many people could joke around in front of me like that without it deteriorating. I really didn't think that after death, that count would increase.”
Echidna smiles as she counts off on her fingers, extremely satisfied that she can add Subaru. Subaru's face scrunches at a phrase he can't just overlook here. After death.
Subaru: “If you're really the Witch of Greed, then going by my memory, you're supposed to be dead. Even the reason I came here in the first place was to stop by your grave.”
Echidna: “And I thank you graciously for that. I would like for someone to leave some flowers for me at the entrance. But I'm not quite the most favourable toward liquor, so if my offering could be something sweet, that'd be great.”
Subaru: “So there's a culture of giving offerings here, in this world... I haven't got any souvenirs and I completely forgot to buy flowers. So I hope you're satisfied with just getting my smile.”
A smile like a field of blooming flowers. Poisonous ones. Echidna cheerfully hums at this, picks up one of the cups on the table, and wets her throat.
Echidna: “Even when I was alive, I've never had so much fun drinking tea. Mmhm, even in death there's things to see. The new discoveries never run dry.”
Subaru: “Whether of not the two of us can have a conversation yet is still dodgy, you know. ...Goddamn it, I'll drink it. I'll drink it!”
It being absurd to keep going while so on edge when speaking to someone with completely no guard up, Subaru snatches a cup of tea and swallows it all down. It tastes not like water, or tea or black tea—a mystery flavour. But nothing unpleasant.
Echidna: “You certainly are brave, drinking up something offered to you by a witch.”
Subaru: “Haa. As if something like this could frighten me. Sides, if you wanted to kill me I'd be nothing but ashes by the next panel. A cup of tea's nothing to be on guard about.” Subaru places the emptied cup back on the table. Subaru: “It wasn't good or bad, but what kind of tea was that?” Echidna: “It's something produced inside this castle of mine. If forced to say, it's my body fluids.”
Subaru: “What the hell did you just make me drink!?” Subaru kicks down his chair as he stands up and desperately tries to puke up the bodily fluids he just drank. Echidna laughs.
Echidna: “That does hurt. I didn't think it was so bad, going by how you looked.” Subaru: “There's lots of hot girls out there whose bodily fluids I don't have the resolve to drink so no! Or really even if I had the resolve I don't want to drink anything called 'bodily fluids'! My fetishes are vanilla!” Subaru is not excited by spit or sweat or whatever excretions. He thinks.
If they were Emilia or Rem's, he might just think otherwise. His heart quietly hides the thought.
Subaru: “Fuck, I can't puke it. —Hey, this isn't going to do something bad to my body or anything, right?” Echidna: “You relax now. The body absorbs it unfathomably easily. Well, they're body fluids.” Subaru: “You didn't say anything so clever, stop smiling!” Says Subaru, kind of fed up with Echidna's self-satisfied grin. Looking refreshed, Echidna takes another sip from her cup. Echidna: “Either way,” Echidna: “You really are a mysterious character. That you're standing in front of me normally, like this, is proof of that.” Subaru: “How. Are you saying that you're too much of a hottie so normally people have their eyes implode? Let me tell you, my eyes're constantly feasting on my ideal for hot girls. So even when I look at you I don't really think you're super cute that often.” Echidna: “Nope, normal people who stand in front of me puke. Isn't that interesting?” Subaru: “Um, no!?” During this exchange, Subaru sits back down in his seat and stares at Echidna. Hair and skin white as snow. Black clothes which looked like a mourning dress, and her somewhat childish looks which convey her a subtle, spicy kind of beauty. Echidna: “Now—”
Echidna sets her emptied cup of tea down on the table and traces her finger along its lip. Echidna: “Talking like this is definitely fresh and delightful for me, but... I'm sure it's not the same for you, right? Don't you have things you want to say, to ask?”
Subaru: “...Yeah I, do. Yeah, I do! I got consumed by the atmosphere and completely forgot, but exactly. You... no, first of all where are we? Are we really inside the tomb?”
Echidna lightly strokes her hair. Echidna: “Your question's half correct and half incorrect. There's no doubting that your body's inside the tomb, but your mind's inside my castle. If I were to tell, this place is a dream.”
Subaru: “A dream? I haven't got your face down nearly well enough to be dreaming about it.”
Echidna: “A dream, but that doesn't really mean it needs to be your dream. This is my castle—so, it's my dream. Don't you know somewhere similar to this?” Subaru's breath catches. He gives a small shake of the head. Subaru: “O-On what basis are you...” Echidna: “Nothing definite. I just kind of thought you would. Your attitude resembles someone who's averting their eyes from something they know, is just what I'm thinking.” Subaru: “...I honestly don't know. But, what you're saying's not wrong.” Echidna's phrasing wasn't exactly harsh, but Subaru ends up feeling accused anyway. And in complete honestly, Subaru can't control the conflicting waves of emotion fighting in out in his chest. Echidna isn't saying anything incorrect, but Subaru's reply isn't a lie either. When Echidna told him this was a dream, Subaru both understood and accepted that simultaneously with his surprise. As if such a sensation was something he already knew well, that his heart understood. Why did he think like that? No matter how hard he searches his memories for the reason, he finds nothing.
Subaru: “I'm accepting that this is your dream for now at least. So how can I get out?” Echidna: “I'd say waking up from the dream, or being woken up from outside. But I don't have a body to do anything to you from outside, and waking up yourself from inside someone else's dream is tricky. If I don't think to wake up, I suppose you wouldn't be awoken.” Subaru: “—! Then, you...”
Subaru shivers. The term 'Echidna's castle' now gains a more vivid feeling of truth to it. Subaru's soul, trapped here, is in the palm of her hand. The spuriousness of a witch—the truthfulness of these words multiplies.
Subaru: “Aren't... planning to let me out?” Echidna sighs. Echidna: “I mean, whatever? If you want to go back I'll let you go back? It wasn't me who called you here, you came all by yourself, sooo.” Some banter about Serious-san which is far too beyond me. The time they've known each other is short, but Subaru hasn't got a grasp of her character. Though you could also say you shouldn't be able to understand someone called a witch in such a short time. Subaru: “Anyway, if you can let me out then do let me out. There's a girl up there who I'm sure's worried about me. If I've got the time to be drinking your bodily fluids, I want to be helping her relax.” Echidna: “I'm fine with that, but are you?” Subaru: “With what.” Echidna: “Going back when I'm right in front of you. —Getting a chance to talk with the Witch of
Greed really isn't something anyone but you could get so easily, even if it's their desire.”
Right. She's right. In regarding her entirely as a threat, Subaru overlooked something huge. If she's the Witch of Greed, and truly is the existence that was called as such in life, Subaru: “You... know the answers to the things I want to know?” Echidna: “Asking me for the whereabouts of knowledge—are you?” Echidna gives her kukukuku laugh again, her smile this time notably more cheerful than before. A pressure even more intense than what she was radiating before hits Subaru. The atmosphere warps, and the atmosphere of blue skies and green fields instantly starts collapsing. The sky shatters, the field catches flame, the world beyond he horizon progressively collapses.
Feeling a non-existent jolting, Subaru hurriedly reaches his hand to the indeed existent table. The second he touches it, it breaks apart in his hand like grains of sand.
Echidna: “You really are an interesting being.” The scenery around Echidna morphs, terrifying patterns embracing the world. The darkness expands, coiling around Subaru's legs and proceeding to his whole body. Subaru frantically moves to escape, but the world's collapse has already expanded to the area nearby the couple. There's nowhere to run to. And the world's still disappearing.
Echidna: “If we're just trading questions and answers, this space is plenty. Knowing the things you want to know. A thirst for such a thing—greed for such a thing, is something I approve.”
All that remains is the two chairs that Subaru and Echidna are seated in. Within arm's range of the other, a world of two chairs dedicated for a conversation. There's no visible end to the darkness beneath them. Probably not a joke, if they fell they'd never return.
Subaru's spine freezes. Echidna's in good spirits. She claps her hands, and while staring at Subaru, her eyes glimmering,
Echidna: “So, what do you want to ask? If you're doing it to acquire knowledge, I'll answer any question. Is it about the WITCH OF GLUTTONY Daphne, who created godforsaken beasts to save the world from hunger? About the WITCH OF LUST Camilla, who sought to fill the world with love and gave emotion to those without others? About the WITCH OF WRATH Minerva, who punched all people into health while lamenting the strife-filled world? About the WITCH OF SLOTH Sekhmet, who drove the Dragon beyond the Great Cascades just for some peace and quiet? About the WITCH OF PRIDE Typhon, who brought judgement upon criminals with the innocence and ruthlessness of a child?”
None Subaru's heard of before—no. This was a list of information almost certainly not present in the world's existing history. Overwhelmed by the information load, Subaru doesn't speak. Echidna's smile widens.
Echidna: “Is it about the WITCH OF GREED Echidna, thirst for knowledge incarnate, whose vestiges even now linger posthumously in this world, desiring all wisdom there is?”
Echidna: “Or,”
Echidna: “The one who destroyed all the witches, making enemies of the world she marked as her feed, the WITCH OF ENVY—is it about her?”
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