Volume 4, 75 [That Person]

Volume 4, Chapter 75 [That Person]

Stumbling back from the impact as if he had a rug pulled from under him, Subaru widened his eyes at the blonde-haired girl glaring back at him.

Her blue eyes teeming with exorbitant rage and her beautiful face colored with a crimson hue, it was the Witch―― Minerva.

Taking her sharp gaze off the petrified Subaru, she turned to the entirely unfazed Echidona, standing opposite him.

[Minerva: I’ll say it again, this stops now. I will not allow this kind of contract]

[Echidona: ......Hm. Now isn’t this... quite an unexpected development]

It was a sentiment too familiar to be hostility, and too violent to be called rage. Standing in the crater she had made, single-mindedly directing this at Echidona, Minerva folded her arms, hoisting up her ample breasts while biting her lip.

[Echidona: Surely―― you should understand the significance of a contract with a Witch. The fact that you chose to interfere anyway...... could it be, that you also wish to seal a contract with him yourself? This wouldn’t be a case of sour grapes, now would it?]

[Minerva: Can’t you tell from my fury that it’s nothing so placid? I’m furious. I’m incensed. I’m so upset I’m ready to explode]

In front of Echidona’s dodging jests, Minerva shot back with the shade of red deepening on her cheeks. Tears pooled in her eyes from the intensity of her emotions while her face pouted like a sulking child.

Her childish face entirely at odds with her voluptuous figure―― Subaru couldn’t help but be intrigued to see such a character in the flesh.

After all,

[Subaru: What... are you doing here?]

[Minerva: What. Am I not allowed to be here?]

[Subaru: Well, no. That’s not... but...... I mean, Echidona’s right here]

Saying this, Subaru pointed at Echidona as Minerva puffed up her cheeks in displeasure. Not seeing his point, Minerva tilted her head, while Echidona, apparently catching on, lightly clasped her hands together and nodded,

[Echidona: Ah, I think I know why you’re confused. ――You’re surprised to see another Witch manifesting while I am still here, correct?]

[Subaru: Y-yeah. I mean, since I’ve always met the Witches one-on-one...... I thought they kinda had to take your place when they appear. But......]

[Minerva: And she never said we can’t appear at the same time, I bet. That just sounds like the kind of prank this mean-spirited Witch would pull]

Huffing in rage, Minerva easily smacked down Subaru’s protests. Muttering [Seriously...?] under his breath, Subaru looked at Echidona. But, in front of Subaru’s gaze and Minerva’s address, Echidona made no effort to deny it.

[Echidona: I wouldn’t want you to misunderstand. Calling the other Witches here is quite a taxing and risky thing to do. There’s a chance they might even wrest away my control over this place, or, even if they don’t, it is still incredibly exhausting to manifest beings as powerful as them]

[Subaru: That’s...why? ......No, but, you......]

[Echidona: I’ve never once lied about this. I can assure you that much]

With that single incisive statement, Echidona sliced through Subaru’s faltering words.

It was true. Searching through his memories, Echidona had never said anything about this present situation that would constitute a lie.

It was only Subaru’s imagination going off on its own when he was presented with this phenomenon.

So, in the end, technically Echidona hadn’t actually deceived him, but,

[Echidona: I just didn’t want you to know that other Witches can manifest as they wish, and have them take you from me]

[Subaru: H, uh?]

[Echidona: To me, you are the first guest I’ve had in a very long time. Conversing with you had thrilled me in ways I’ve rarely ever been thrilled, whether it be before or after my death. If I told you I simply wanted to have you here, all to myself, would you berate me for my shallowness?]

[Subaru: ――――]

[Echidona: I know I keep on saying this, but I am rather fond of you. And so, I didn’t want your interest to shift onto other Witches more charming and more helpful than myself. ――Go on, you can laugh at me if you wish]

So this extreme, hideous desire to possess―― was her reason for hiding it from him.

Quietly listening to Echidona’s excuse without saying a word, Subaru wondered why she would have this obsession towards him―― just what about him warranted this kind of fixation?

It was the same with the Witch of Envy, and now Echidona, too. Just why would they――

[Minerva: You’re way too easy to dupe, you know that!?]

[Subaru: ――Ddgah!?]

Just as his mind was sinking into thought, Subaru’s head was bumped by a soft fist from behind.

He turned around holding his head, and found Minerva right behind him. She took the hand he was holding against his head, and, in one fluid motion, she twisted his arm and flipped him onto the ground.

[Subaru: Oa, aah! Wai-, hurts hurts hurts...... or... not?]

[Minerva: When I directly touch anything living, no matter what action I take, it would be transformed into healing. I could punch with all my strength and it would close wounds, I could wrest you to the ground and it would cure you of your diseases, I could place you in a lock and it would fix of your shoulder-pains...!]

[Subaru: That...... explains why my body’s not aching all over, but]

While his body was savoring the full power of the Witch of Wrath, Subaru frantically twisted his neck to look at Minerva as she locked him in a hold.

Despite the creaking of his bones and the horribly-unnatural-looking directions his joints were being twisted in, instead of pain, all he felt was an incongruous warmth spreading throughout his body. This Witch, with the strange Authority to instill every action with restorative powers―― come to think of it, Subaru hadn’t had a single bad impression about her up to now, but,

[Subaru: What the hell’re you trying to do......?]

[Minerva: If I didn’t do this, you would’ve been happily cajoled into getting all ready to sign a contract with Echidona. This careless, braindead attitude of yours is really pissing me off!]

[Echidona: Cajole, makes it sound bad. I only remember explaining the benefits of sealing a contract with me and working to reach a mutual understanding......]

[Minerva: It’s the way you make it sound like you’ve fulfilled your responsibility to explain that’s getting to me. You explained the benefits alright. You did...... then when it’s about the inconvenient details that come with the contract you didn’t say a thing!]

In a fit of rage, Minerva angrily stomped down her foot. The place where her heel landed was exactly on Subaru’s butt, as he felt the inexplicable sensation of a heel driving into his rear while its force passed through him, crushing an indentation into the ground.

While feeling his bowel functions being somehow improved by this strike to his behind, to Subaru shock, he began to realize the meaning of Minerva’s words.

――It was true, that his conversation with Echidona hadn’t touched on the detriments of the contract at all. Just how was it that it took him so long notice it?

[Subaru: No, but...... calling them detriments...... it’s not actually that serious, is it?]

[Minerva: “It won’t be that bad”, is that what you’re thinking? You are taking contracts way too lightly. Especially when the other person is a Witch―― the one who, out of the seven Witches bearing the names of Sins, has forged the most contracts, interacted the most with humans, and meddled the most with the course of history: the Witch of Greed]

[Echidona: All those were my laurels in life...... though it’s true not every one of them would be what you’d call honorable. And, it is also true that sealing a contract with me did not necessarily save all of them]

What Minerva put forth was something Subaru never knew about. Following on Minerva’s words, Echidona insisted on her lack of any ill-will towards Subaru.

Stuck between the two as they asserted their stances, Subaru’s head was at the peak of disarray.UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

He didn’t know whose words to believe.

Ever since Subaru got involved in the Trials inside the Tomb, his multiple meetings with Echidona and all the time they spent together deliberating over his worries had led him to consider her a sort of comrade in arms.

And so, when she proposed to forge a contract to formally seal their cooperation, a part of Subaru even felt relieved.

On the other hand, compared to the time he had spent with Echidona, he had had very few opportunities to speak with Minerva. Yet each time, it was when he was on the brink of collapse that she mercifully saved him with her mighty arms before exiting like a hurricane without demanding even a “Thank you” in return.

Minerva had no reason to deceive Subaru, so if it was a matter important enough for her to manifest herself to intercede, then there might be reason for him to carefully reconsider.

Or, actually, rather than pondering like this, he should first be asking this question.

That is――

[Subaru: Echidona. If we seal this contract... you’ll have to get something in return, right?]

[Echidona: ......Mn, that’s correct. Contracts require compensation. Just as I will offer you the knowledge you seek, you will present me with the compensation I desire]

[Subaru: Of course. Right. ――So, what do you want from me? If I contract with you, what will I need to give you?]

From here on, whenever he gets stuck in a hopeless deadlock and needs Echidona’s help, what will he need to pay?

To his question, Echidona’s cheeks softened into a smile.

[Echidona: Nothing you need to be so wary about. What I want from you is not so hard to give. In fact, since the compensation I seek is neither material, nor immaterially precious, you could say that mine is more than a fair offer]

[Subaru: ――And what is it... that you want?]

[Echidona: It’s simple. ――What you feel, what you think, what lingers within your heart, what you know, what you do, what you create, and all of the fruits called “The Unknown” born from your very existence, I want to savour... always]

Echidona’s face blushed, like that of a young maiden with a crush.

The fruits called “The Unknown”―― that poetic phrasing made Subaru furrow his brows.

[Subaru: The hell’s... that? You want me to hand over my feelings, my memories, my recollections, is that what you mean? In that case......]

[Echidona: Didn’t I tell you? It’s nothing so troubling. I just want to witness the sights you see, the melodies you hear, the stories you weave, all from a special box seat. All I want is to experience it. To be in a position to know the “The Unknowns” you create. With that, and that alone, I will be satisfied]

To dispel Subaru’s concerns, Echidona clearly stated her demands.

It was simply to watch Subaru walk his path. To see the same sights he sees. To know feel he feels, know he knows, and witness the results of his actions.

The Incarnation of the Thirst for Knowledge, the Witch bearing the crown of Greed, wanted only that.

[Subaru: You aren’t, lying to me, are you?]

[Echidona: Lying about the terms of a contract would be absurd. As for myself, I pledge that I will never do anything to betray those words. I swear this on my life]

Placing her hand on her chest, [Though, I am already dead], Echidona concluded with a quip.

Subaru could sense no deception in her words or behavior. Or perhaps, it was because he wanted to believe her.

[Subaru: Minerva. Since Echidona’s already said that... I think I’ll......]

[???: I-it’s all...... true, but...... she hasn’t, told you every, thing, has she?]

Just as Subaru asked Minerva to release him from her hold, this time, he heard another person’s voice addressing him. It was a voice he had heard only ten-odd minutes ago―― a voice for which Subaru had absolutely no positive feelings for.

[Subaru: Camilla...... Witch of Lust!]

[Camilla: Do.. n’t...... look at me... with those scary eyes. I, I’m...... not even, doing any, thing...... aw, awful......]

[Subaru: The scary eyes are inborn. I’m not trying to make an especially intense expression or anything]

With Subaru still held against the ground, in front of him stood Echidona and behind him was Minerva, the three of them forming a straight line, while, sitting on the grass a short distance away, was a pink-haired girl―― Camilla.

She timidly hid her face from Subaru’s gaze, and only now and then peeked over. Her attitude was irritating as always, but by consciously keeping his attention off of her, he managed to avoid being “Captivated to a life-threatening degree”.

Then, he asked again,

[Subaru: But anyway, what were you talking about? I won’t complain about more Witches showing up at this point, but if there’s anyth......]

[Camilla: E-Echidona-chan is...... hiding lots and lots of things, you know......? She, isn’t lying, but...... she’s hiding lots, and lots......]

And, even when showered by these unsparing words, Echidona’s face remained unchanged from the sulking expression from before: As if she didn’t know any way to express any greater discomfort.

[Subaru: This is where you’re supposed to be angry, you know]

[Echidona: ......Is that so. So here is where I should raise my voice, and shower you with insults? I see, now I learned something. I’ll make sure I do so the next time I get the opportunity]

With the fall of Subaru’s words, Echidona’s expression vanished.

Expressionless―― it was something Subaru had never seen from the Echidona he knew: but the true face of the Witch of Greed.

In front of Subaru, who had fallen into silence, Echidona snapped her fingers. In an instant, the destroyed hillock was restored to its original shape, and the shattered table and scattered chairs were formed anew.

Echidona sat down in one of the chairs, and pointed to the one opposite her,

[Echidona: Would you like to sit? I’d like us to iron out the details of the contract]

[Subaru: ......With things as they are, do you still think I’ll readily consider a contract with you?]

[Echidona: Unless, you are really going to reject me over such a small disagreement? What would be the point of that? Driven by the impulse of a moment to abandon the correct choice can’t be considered wise. I suggest you take a good look at reality, and select the most rational course of action]

Faced with Echidona’s words that were frozen of emotion, Subaru closed his eyes and held his breath.

Echidona was right. Subaru was the one who was losing himself to impulse: there was no way around it. Her argument was sound. Nor was she lying.

All Echidona did was hide her true intentions from Subaru. She had merely kept silent about how she benefited from observing Subaru on his path.

If he sealed this contract, chances were, he would finally reach the correct solutions. And that he would obtain Echidona’s unreserved cooperation was also an indisputable fact.

[Subaru: There is one thing... I’ve been meaning to ask you the moment I got to see you again]

[Echidona: ――Hm, and what is that?]

[Subaru: Once I hear the answer, I think I’ll be ready to choose]

Echidona awaited Subaru’s question.

Subaru would put forth this question as his touchstone: the question he hadn’t been able to find even a fragment of an answer to since embarking on the loops starting in the Sanctuary. A question which she could not possibly have nothing to do with.

[Subaru: ――You know about Beatrice, don’t you, Echidona]

[Echidona: ......Yes, I do. I was rather deeply involved in her creation, in fact. Did something happen with her?]

Echidona returned this innocent reply, seemingly bearing no hidden meaning, yet rife with questions all the same.

Subaru closed his eyes once more, and saw the girl with drill-curls in his mind.

In her last moments, with her back pierced through, just before she vanished.

At the end of her long, long solitude, the shadow she had cast within him remained heavy in his heart.

Knocking Subaru aside, shielding him from that murderous blade, that final expression she showed him―― even now, was seared into the back of his eyes, refusing to fade. And so,

[Subaru: Because of her contract, Beatrice has been waiting for “That Person” to come. Are you the one who forged this contract with her? Are you the one who bound her to the Mansion?]

[Echidona: I don’t remember specifying a location...... but I was the one who received her promise to guard the Forbidden Library and to wait for someone to come]

[Subaru: Then... who is “That Person”? What’ll I have to do to free her?]

Through four hundred years of solitude, Beatrice had been waiting for “Someone”.

Yet not even Beatrice herself knew who that “Someone” was. Nor did Subaru have the slightest clue.

But if he asked Echidona herself, the one who had arranged this promise in the first place――

[Echidona: Now who would it be, I wonder?]

[Subaru ――H, uh?]

[Echidona: No no, I wasn’t joking, I really am wondering. Who do you think Beatrice’s awaited “Person” would be?]

Echidona asked, as if she had been presented with a question she did not know the answer to. Stunned by this reply, Subaru shook his head,

[Subaru: Even you... don’t know who Beatrice is waiting for?]

[Echidona: No, I don’t. I have no idea who Beatrice’s awaited “Person” would be]

[Subaru: But... how? Weren’t you the one who told her to wait in the Forbidden Library? If you don’t know, then...... unless...]

The one who instructed Beatrice to wait in the Forbidden Library was Echidona, but it could’ve been someone else who set the condition for her to wait for “That Person” to come.

If so, then the one who would know the answer would again be someone else――

[Echidona: No, you’re mistaken]

[Subaru: ――――]

[Echidona: I was the one who instructed Beatrice to wait for “That Person”. You weren’t wrong about that. What you got wrong was something more fundamental]

[Subaru: Funda..mental?]

[Echidona: Just why in the world did I seal this contract with Beatrice? That is where you are misunderstanding. I made Beatrice guard the Forbidden Library so that she could give its contents to “That Person”, is that what you thought?]

He couldn’t understand what Echidona was saying.

It was just a natural assumption. When instructing someone to give something to someone else, naturally, the intention was for that thing to end up in the right person’s hands.

But, in front of Subaru’s instinctive interpretation, Echidona shook her head, and said,

[Echidona: That wasn’t the point of my instruction to Beatrice. I sealed the contract with her, having her wait for “That Person”...... but I was also waiting to see who she would choose “That Person” to be]

[Subaru: ――――]

――――

――――――

――――――――――――

――――――――――――――――――――what?

[Echidona: You see, that child was created for a specific purpose. But necessity arose for her to live in a way that differed from her original purpose...... for that, she had to go far away from here, and there, she needed to be given a new purpose. For that child, who now had nothing, it was necessary to give her a reason to live. It was for that, that I sealed this contract with her]

[Subaru: ――Tha..t’s]

[Echidona: Watching over the Forbidden Library, and eventually handing it over in its entirety to “That Person” who was destined to come. I placed no limitations, since, in the first place, there is no correct answer. She stays alive just as planned, and I have another result to look forward to. It’s quite logical, don’t you think?]

[Subaru: ――――]

[Echidona: Of course, going four hundred years without choosing anyone is a result in itself. So was the fact that she did not simply choose one of the people she had met in her days to be “That Person”. And potentially, her deliberations over whether to break the contract, desiring for her own death, is also a result in itself]

[Subaru: And how... do you feel about that?]

[Echidona: ――? It’s quite marvellous, I think?]

As if she had just been asked something incredibly obvious, Echidona innocently tilted her head.

That reply, that attitude, and the expression of the girl he saw in his mind, all led him to the answer.

It’s decided. Understood. Clearly understood.

――His misconception about who this person was that he was dealing with, has been rectified.

[Subaru: Echidona...... you really, are a Witch]

[Echidona: ――――]

[Subaru: An inexplicable, unfathomable, monster]

[Echidona: ――――]

He told her. The answer that was in his heart.

He withdrew the hand he had almost given her, and as for who it would now reach out to, he has already decided.

[Subaru: I...... I can’t take your hand. I’ve already decided whose hand I’ll be taking]

[Echidona: ――――]

[Subaru: With those callous, binding words, without the slightest malice, you stole four hundred years from that girl. ――I’ve already decided. I’ll be taking that girl’s hand. Not yours]

That was their farewell.

With it, he shook away the hand of the one he once thought would walk alongside him.

He lifted his face. And looked forward.

Beneath his eyelids, he saw that girl’s final expression.

――Disappearing, dying, afraid, twisted as if about to cry, but nonetheless relieved that she had protected Subaru.

He would take the hand of the girl who mourned his “Death”, that much was decided.

[Echidona: ――――]

Echidona’s eyes narrowed.

Flickers of thought flashed through her irises as if pondering on what words to say to Subaru.

Yet before she could, the change had arrived.

[Minerva: ――――she’s here]

[Camilla: Oh, no, I...... I don’t want, anything, to do with...... this, anymore]

[Sekhmet: At a troublesome time, a troublesome person, has come to cause more trouble, haa...]

The three onlooking Witches all gave their respective reactions.

He felt an overwhelming pressure on his back.

While in front, staring at what was behind him, Echidona’s eyes slightly widened. Following her astonished gaze, Subaru turned around, and saw it――

[???: ――――]

――With everything above her neck shrouded in pitch darkness, there stood the Witch of Envy.

-=Chapter 75 End=-