19: The Witch of Greed
Upon hearing the voice, Subaru instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Immediately after, a strong sense of dizziness hit him.
By the time he managed to steady his body, the dark and narrow corridor had completely vanished.
In its place was an expansive grassland, stretching out beyond what his eyes could see.
Subaru raised his head slightly—it was a sky so vividly blue, it almost lifted one's spirits.
"Spatial magic? No... more like an illusion or something."
A gentle breeze stirred his bangs as he cautiously observed his surroundings.
Then, he noticed something odd.
The world around him was completely devoid of life.
Though the sky was blue, it had no sun, no clouds.
Everything about it screamed unreality.
This wasn't the real world.
"Don't just stand there like a statue. Why not come over here?"
The voice from earlier rang out again, this time behind him.
Subaru quickly turned around, tense and alert.
He saw a somewhat abrupt-looking hill, upon which stood a large sunshade umbrella.
Underneath it was a white table and chairs—and seated in one of those chairs was a girl.
She had long white hair that reached down to her back.
The bits of skin showing from her clothing were pale beyond belief.
She wore a jet-black dress, like mourning attire, which wrapped around her slender limbs.
Her pitch-black pupils radiated a sense of immense intelligence.
A dreamlike, illusory girl—clearly not normal—was sitting there, gazing at Subaru.
But Subaru was not charmed by her beauty.
His instincts screamed that she was dangerous—triggering a fear unlike anything he had ever felt.
Her presence couldn't rival Reinhild, but she was clearly far stronger than Petelgeuse.
"Oh my, did I scare you?"
"You did. Who are you? And where is this?"
Hearing Subaru's sharp questions, the girl showed a faint expression of surprise.
Then she narrowed her eyes and nodded lightly.
"Oh, that's right. I haven't even introduced myself yet. How shameful. It's been so long since I talked to someone that I got a bit overexcited."
Despite her bashful words, Subaru noticed her expression hadn't changed at all.
"My name is Echidna."
After saying that, she parted her lips slightly and gave a gentle smile. Then she added:
"You've probably heard of me more by my title—'Witch of Greed.'"
Subaru's hand tensed on the hilt of his sword.
"It's normal to be wary. But there's nothing you can do about me. At the very least, how about you take a seat before your tea gets cold?"
Echidna pointed toward the empty chair across from her.
Between them was a white table—and on Subaru's side, a steaming cup of tea had been prepared.
After a moment of hesitation—considering the difference in power, and the uncertainty of his situation—Subaru finally relaxed his grip on the sword and stepped toward her.
Sit down, drink tea, have a conversation.
That was what Echidna wanted.
Subaru was long past fearing death, but rejecting this invitation wouldn't help him escape his despair. If he could gain some valuable information, it would be worth the risk.
"Alright... But I want answers."
Subaru sat opposite Echidna and picked up the teacup.
He examined the contents—it wasn't water, but it didn't look like tea either.
It gave off a faint fragrance, but not one he recognized.
The mysterious smell made him waver slightly.
"I drank it."
Noticing Echidna eyeing him curiously, Subaru closed his eyes and gulped it down in one go.
The flavor was strange, but not unpleasant—not the kind of bitter brew that would make you gag.
"You actually drank it all in one go? From a witch? You're quite bold."
Echidna looked at Subaru with genuine surprise.
"If you were going to kill me, I'd be charcoal already. It's just tea. No reason to overthink it.
I was just worried it'd taste like traditional medicine or something gross. If you're gonna drink it anyway, better to get it over with."
Subaru set the teacup down and looked at her.
Echidna also looked back at him curiously.
"By the way, no refill?"
"Huh?"
"That guide you sent me after had me parched. This drink only made me thirstier. Is this some kind of rare luxury, so you only serve one cup?"
As Subaru said this, he grabbed a cookie from the table and took a bite.
"It's not really a luxury... Just the first time I've met someone so relaxed in front of me."
Echidna's surprise faded, and she snapped her fingers.
Instantly, both their cups refilled with steaming tea.
"Might as well go out on a full stomach. Besides, one or two cups doesn't make a difference, right?"
"Exactly. Oh, by the way—since this was brewed in my castle, technically it's made of my bodily fluids."
Subaru froze for a moment, then spit out the tea instinctively.
"Seriously? I didn't think I looked that disgusting..."
"No, you're a beautiful girl and all, but who the hell drinks something called 'bodily fluid'! I've got normal tastes, thank you very much!"
Seeing Subaru's dramatic reaction, Echidna burst into laughter.
"Witch's fluids aren't harmful, you know?"
Subaru put down the cup and asked cautiously:
"Are you saying it's safe?"
"Don't worry. It's just... extremely absorbable by the body. It's body fluid, after all."
Echidna said this with an air of pride.
Thanks to that ridiculous exchange, the tense atmosphere had completely dissolved.
"You really are something else. Most people throw up just being near me. Isn't it funny?"
"No! What part of that is funny!?"
Subaru slumped back in his chair, exhausted.
Then he looked again at the witch in front of him.
"Alright... This little chat might be entertaining for you, but I've got questions. You know that, right?"
Seeing the serious expression on Echidna's face, Subaru sat upright again.
After a brief pause, he finally asked:
"How did I get here? And how do I leave?"
"This is my tomb—where my soul is sealed after death. This is my dream world. The one invited here isn't your body—it's your spirit. A spirit driven by powerful curiosity and thirst for knowledge."
Her calm answer reminded Subaru of how he felt just before entering the ruin.
That majestic, solemn atmosphere—it had felt like a temple or tomb.
He had been right.
This ruin was indeed a tomb—the Witch's Tomb.
"Waking from the dream is easy. If you strongly desire to wake up, or someone calls you from the outside, that should do it. But this is no ordinary dream. If I don't want you to wake up... you might not wake up at all."
Echidna's emotionless tone sent a shiver through Subaru.
His gaze grew sharper.
"So... can I leave?"
"If you want to go, I can let you.
After all, I didn't summon you—you came wandering in on your own.
But isn't it a bit of a waste to leave so soon? A rare chance to talk to me? Your eyes are full of curiosity and desire for answers.
I recognize your greed. So—what do you want to ask me?"
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