As an all-knowing, all-seeing witch, Echidna craves knowledge—she wants to witness more possibilities.
Naturally, she also possesses her own "Gospel."
The "Gospels" held by the Witch Cult's Archbishops are, in fact, replicas modeled after Echidna's original—lower-grade terminals that tap into the world's memory.
A Gospel can, to a certain extent, display fragments of the future.
And the Witch Cult's Archbishops believe it completely, acting according to what's written on its pages.
Centuries ago, the "Warlock of Melancholy" led the Great Rabbit into the Sanctuary, seeking to seize Echidna's Witch Factor and her "world-memory book."
Echidna was defeated and died. To preserve her soul, she used Ryuzu Meyer as the core to create the Sanctuary barrier.
And so she lost her body—along with her Book of Memories.
Even without the book, Echidna still knows more about this world than anyone else.
Yet she cannot see through Hayashi Maki's past, nor can she glimpse his future.
And the unknown… is exactly what she longs for—what her Greed insists on understanding.
"Echidna-san," Hayashi Maki's voice cut in, breaking her thoughts. "Another cup. I'm not done yet."
Echidna didn't get angry. She simply smiled.
"No more tea. Even if you enjoy it, don't drink too much. And besides… it's time to begin the trial."
The "trial," in truth, was simply a process of exposing one's memories to her—bare, unguarded, with nothing to hide.
Well. He'd show her something—just a little.
"Then let's begin, Echidna-san."
Hayashi Maki smiled and reached out, taking the witch's pale, soft hand.
Light flared.
Fragments of what he understood about this world—broken scenes and glimpses—unfolded before Echidna like a film in scattered reels.
Echidna stared, shock flashing across her face.
"Natsuki Subaru… the bearer of Return by Death… the one blessed by the Witch of Envy… Sage Flugel…"
"So in your eyes… this world is an anime, a novel—a story?"
"We're all predefined existences… created by an author?"
"And you, Hayashi Maki… your position is that of an observer. No—of a traveler between worlds."
"How fascinating. Truly fascinating."
"Other worlds… the unknown… it's intoxicating."
Watching him sink into that recollection, Echidna tightened her grip on his hand. A faint smile curved her lips.
A man this unusual… she couldn't afford to miss him.
If so, she had to bind him—to make him hers.
After a long while, Hayashi Maki slowly opened his eyes.
"Echidna-san. Did I pass the first trial?"
"Yes. Of course."
Echidna raised an eyebrow as she noticed he still held her hand.
"The first trial is acknowledging your past. A shameless man like you passing isn't surprising."
Humans were complicated creatures.
Feelings gave rise to countless thoughts—and thoughts changed everything.
Many people sank into self-doubt because of their past, unable to move forward.
Looking back isn't meaningless—you might learn something—but drowning in the past means you'll never advance.
And Echidna had no interest in contractors who were trapped inside a life she could read at a glance.
Like Roswaal.
The moment she realized he was attempting the trial, she rejected him outright—and used the Sanctuary's power to teach him a lesson.
A man who had lived from four hundred years ago to the present by taking the bodies of his own descendants…
Echidna found him instinctively repulsive.
She was dead, and even she had never thought to erase her own bloodline's souls and "move in" to live again.
Roswaal did.
With the artificial spirit techniques she pioneered—and the method of stealing a descendant's body—one could, in theory, live forever.
Hayashi Maki rubbed his cheek at her words, then—half teasing, half sincere—released her hand.
"Thanks for the compliment. One of my best traits really is having a thick skin."
"Then the second trial—do we continue?"
"The first was my past… so the second is my future?" Hayashi Maki asked with an easy smile.
Echidna shook her head.
"I can't see your future. You're a strange one… or rather—something other than human."
Her ability couldn't model any future that involved him, as if every hypothesis collapsed the moment she tried to pin him down. His future shifted with his will, changing constantly.
And worse—
Even her memories of the Sage had begun to blur, as if she'd been struck by the Vainglory Witch's Authority—holes where there should have been certainty.
Absurd.
She was the witch who toyed with knowledge and memory… and yet her own recollections had been tampered with, and she couldn't even trace the hand that did it.
"Can't see my future? That's a shame."
Hayashi Maki shrugged, then leaned in with a grin.
"In that case, I'm not doing any more trials. As compensation for failing to continue—Witch-san whose 'ability' isn't enough—why don't you make a contract with me?"
Echidna covered her mouth, genuinely startled.
"Contract with you? We've barely interacted. Are you serious?"
"Completely."
Hayashi Maki's tone softened, but his gaze stayed steady.
"I promised Beatrice and Roswaal I'd bring you back."
"So… will you come with me? Will you witness this world's future—our road ahead—together?"
Echidna's smile returned, sharp and bright with curiosity.
"Now that you've said all that… as a witch starving for the unknown, I suppose I have no reason to refuse."
"Good." Hayashi Maki's smile deepened. "Then we do it properly—by consent."
Echidna's eyes widened. "Huh—wait—"
He leaned in, and she met him halfway.
The contact was brief—gentle, decisive.
And in that moment, a new link snapped into place between them.
Echidna's expression shifted—surprise, then realization.
"This… isn't the kind of contract I usually use."
Hayashi Maki exhaled, relieved.
"I'm not interested in letting my life be controlled by anyone—not even a witch."
"So this is my rule: a binding built on mutual agreement, but one that protects my freedom… and yours."
Even so, the result was undeniable:
Echidna was now connected to him—firmly, in a way that couldn't be undone lightly.
And once the "seed" of power took root, even death would no longer be an easy escape.
For better or worse—
Echidna had become part of his side.