[ "What is this place? No, I can't worry about that right now! Where is Emilia?" Subaru analyzed the situation while walking around. "I should at least determine the direction based on the position of the sun… Hmm? You… are?" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Huh? Old hag… Oh, no, it's not."
Garfield said from outside the screen.
That wasn't Ryuzu, or rather, it wasn't a Ryuzu copy with self-awareness.
It was a complete puppet copy.
"…Ryuzu."
Beatrice softly called out to her old friend.
On the other side, Old Man Rom was stunned, then began to tremble.
As if he couldn't believe her existence.
Old Man Rom shook his head and said:
"No, that can't be right… I must have mistaken her… She clearly already…"
Meanwhile, Wilhelm also appeared quite shocked.
After all, the clothes were different; had he mistaken her?
—
[ "Those long ears… Are you, perhaps, an elf?"
The Ryuzu puppet made no response, which was to be expected.
She turned lightly, turning her back to Subaru, and began to run.
Her bare feet slapped against the ground, making pa-pa sounds.
"Ah… W-wait! Where are you going? Wait for me… You… You have something to do with the 'Sanctuary'…" Subaru chased after her.
Then, his field of vision opened up as he ran out of the forest.
And before him…
"I ran out… of the forest… But, where is this place? It feels like a graveyard. For a second, I thought it was a pyramid." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"This is… the ruins where Echidna's tomb is located. Is she luring Barusu here?"
Ram was puzzled as she looked toward Garfield.
"Don't look at my great self; my great self doesn't know. It probably wasn't the old hag's doing either."
Garfield said.
"Then… who?"
Ram pondered.
—
[ "This sucks… Not only was I teleported away, but I also let the 'clue' get away." Subaru had lost track of the Ryuzu puppet.
"But can I expect to find something in the ruins? This temple-like atmosphere feels somewhat similar to the impression the word 'Sanctuary' gives… There is an entrance, though." Subaru said as he walked inside. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Strange… Subaru shouldn't have that kind of bloodline…"
Beatrice thought from outside the screen.
Logically speaking, he should have been repelled.
"However… there is only that one possibility, right?"
Roswaal narrowed his eyes and said to Beatrice.
"C-Could it be?!"
Beatrice's eyes widened.
—
[ In the screen, Subaru advanced while touching the stone wall with his right hand.
Step by step, bit by bit…
Then—
"I see. So this is the foundation of your desire. Truly intriguing." A voice rang out.
In the next moment, the dim world dispersed, becoming bright.
Underfoot was green vegetation; overhead was a cloudless blue sky.
Looking out, it was a grassland. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
This voice resonated within the hearts of Roswaal and Beatrice, striking the bell of their souls.
It also made Al raise his eyebrow slightly.
"Tea… Teacher."
Roswaal's voice trembled, his heart pounding so violently that he couldn't help but clutch his chest. In his voice, there was longing, attachment, and deep reverence.
"Roswaal-Sama…"
Ram pressed her lips together tightly, remaining silent.
Would they be able to see that woman in a moment… maybe?
Ram wanted to see just what kind of person could fascinate Lord Roswaal to the point of obsession.
"Mother… dearest."
On the other side, Beatrice's expression was complex, tears welling up and wetting her eyes.
No matter what, Mother was always Mother, even if… even if she had made Betty wait for four hundred years…
Roswaal and Beatrice were correct in their thoughts.
The rule required a mixed-blood demi-human, but the person who set the rule was Echidna.
Naturally, she could allow someone who didn't meet the conditions to enter.
"Hey, hey, isn't this the Teacher?"
On the other side, Al's reaction wasn't as dramatic, but he was indeed slightly surprised.
"Echidna… So this is… my mother."
Puck said in a low voice.
—
[ "Ah…"
"Stop playing around over there; how about coming over here?"
It was that voice again… The Witch of Greed, Echidna, was calling out to Subaru.
Subaru looked back to see a parasol standing there. Beneath the parasol was a white table and chair, and sitting in the chair was the person known as the Witch of Greed, Echidna.
Aside from her black dress, Echidna was almost entirely white.
Her hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes were all white.
"Uh…"
Beautiful, but a terrifying beauty that left Subaru speechless.
Then Echidna narrowed her eyes, nodded, and said: "Ah, that's right. I really haven't introduced myself yet; how shameful. I haven't spoken to anyone in a long time, so I couldn't help but get impatient."
She pressed her hand to her chest, raised the corners of her mouth, and revealed a faint smile—
"My name is Echidna… or the 'Witch of Greed.' That name should be easier for you to understand, right?" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Oh, Echidna, just like the name of your scarf fox."
Anastasia showed a surprised expression, quietly stroking her scarf.
"Just like back then…"
Looking at this appearance, Roswaal was once again moved deep within.
—
[ "Being guarded against like this hurts my feelings. Despite appearances, I am still a lovable young maiden, you know."
"Sorry, but facing someone who calls themselves the 'Witch of Greed' right upon meeting, I really can't help but be on guard."
"I see, indeed, that is true. That was another blunder of mine. You have too many things you want to ask, but you don't know what to ask to avoid angering the other party, so you choose to wait and see, waiting for the other party to make a move… That attitude is just like a fledgling bird wanting food."
Subaru fell silent, seemingly choked by her words.
"Ignoring me. Really, I'm truly hurt. I am exactly as I appear, nothing more than a frail young girl. Being looked at with such eyes by a boy, it's impossible for me not to have thoughts about it. However, your wariness is only natural. But I am powerless to change your cowardice. I really hope you can at least come over before the tea gets cold."
Looking down, there was a cup of unknown tea on the table.
"I'll ask just one question… I should have been in a pitch-black ruin just now, so where is this place, and exactly when did you transfer me here?"
"Transfer… ah, that Yin magic. Regrettably, that is a misunderstanding on your part. You did not experience a physical spatial transfer. You, you see, were simply invited to my castle to attend a tea party."
"Ah, damn it! I get it, I get it! I'll sit! I'll drink the tea too!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"But, why was Big Bro invited over?"
Felt asked curiously from outside the screen.
"I don't know. A Witch's personality is likely different from that of ordinary people, difficult to understand."
Otto said.
"…You are very curious about this, you have a thirst for knowledge, right? It is because of that reason, I suppose."
Beatrice explained.
Of course, this was also Beatrice's guess, but she felt it wasn't far off.
Whether it was Subaru's other world or the different possibilities visible through Return by Death, both could greatly satisfy Mother's thirst for knowledge.
—
[ Subaru spoke as he sat down, picked up the tea, and drank it all in one gulp.
"To actually drink something handed out by a Witch in one go, you really are brave."
"Huh? At this point, what do I have to be afraid of? Besides, if you wanted to kill me, I guess I would have turned into charcoal in the next second. So what's the point of being wary of a mere cup of tea? By the way, thanks for the treat. It's neither tasty nor drinkable; what kind of tea is this?"
"This is a fluid generated by my castle. In other words, it is my body fluid."
"Pfft!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"B-Body fluid?!"
Emilia and the others were astonished.
—