At least with his current state of mind, Subaru cannot forgive Javier. Of course, he is not an opponent that he wants to be actively hostile to. If possible, he should avoid antagonizing him.
It is impossible to win by force, and it is not that simple to win him over as a companion.
"Damn it, oops... my consciousness is really shaking."
While thinking, his consciousness wavered, and he had the illusion of falling into a deep sleep in the dream world. Seeing Subaru like this, Echidna also said:
"It seems that's it for now. This is a very meaningful experience for me, because you didn't ask any questions last time. This time you have seen the power of the "Greed Witch" a little bit, right?"
"Yes... Well, it really helped a lot, both in terms of policy and spiritual aspects."
Compared with last time, although I stayed longer this time, the time I spent talking to Echidna was still very short.
"——Echidna, what should I do if I want to come here again?"
"————"
"Death returns" will definitely return to the grave
However, to be invited into Echidna's realm, one must meet the qualifications. This time, it was the strong desire for knowledge and desperate struggle that gave rise to the key to the door of dreams.
"I know this is very willful, but there will be times in the future when I want to borrow your wisdom..."
"It's not bad to be trusted by others, but the living should not trust or rely too much on the dead, especially if the other party is a witch."
"You mean, it doesn't work?"
"I didn't say it couldn't be done, I just thought it might be difficult."
Facing Subaru, who had despair and expectation in his eyes, Echidna tightened her cheeks as she was smiling bitterly.
"The conditions for being invited to the tea party will become more and more stringent. The first time is to see me happy, but it cannot be like this from the second time. You have been invited for the second time, and the condition is that your inner curiosity for knowledge is so great that it spreads to
On my side, my thirst for knowledge is stronger the third time than the second time - do you think it can be done?"
"It's just that the sound is louder than this time. In other words, dying is more impactful than being eaten by a rabbit... Even if it's just a hypothesis, I still don't think about it."
Originally, at this time, I faced "death" that was enough to drive people crazy.
In the state of self-forgetfulness, there is an inexplicable roar that shakes the soul as if from the very foundation of existence - if we try to overcome it, what kind of pain and loss will we reach?
"If you refuse, this may be the last time you see me. However, if you challenge the "trial" as planned, this will not apply."
"——? Oh, that's it! And this trick!"
Subaru clapped his hands. He understood what Echidna wanted to say, which was an opportunity to talk other than tea parties.
Just like the first "trial", since the witch will be waiting in the second and third "trials", as long as Subaru challenges the "trial" on Emilia's behalf, he will be able to see the witch there.
"It's fine there, right? Even so, I wouldn't entertain people for tea there."
"If you want anything, I can make tea over there..."
"No, seeing the manufacturing process will only make me unable to drink anymore, so I'll forget it."
Subaru extended his palm to refuse, and Echidna showed her most disappointed expression yet.
I don’t know what prompted the witch to provide her body fluids to others. Could it be that becoming a part of herself and becoming a part of others would excite her? It’s really a serious crime.
No matter what, at least I have the opportunity to meet next time. Then, there is one more thing I should do before leaving.
"It's almost time to really wake up, Echidna, but before that there's trouble."
"——?"
"Oh, that's it! The price of the tea party! You said so yourself!"
"Ah, oh, the price, of course, is an accessory to the Witch's Tea Party. It would be troublesome if you forget it."
For a moment, she was worried about whether she had really forgotten, but after saying this, Echidna smiled seductively.
Normally, Subaru would have wanted to propose here to "wait until he becomes famous before paying the price" to make the other party forget about the price, but this time the price includes a "pledge", so he cannot take it lightly.
Renew the oath and return to the outside of the dream while retaining the memory of the tea party with Echidna.
If the worst happens and he forgets his conversation with Daphne, the only thing waiting for him in the future is to be eaten up by rabbits again.
"Last time, I asked you to keep the tea party a secret. This time, since you want to break that oath and accepted my warm hospitality, I have to demand a corresponding price from you."
"When I think about your help, I'm afraid of what I have to pay."
"It's like after you die, your soul will be collected here and have an eternal tea party with us..."
"I'm sorry, I won't die."
"Yes, I feel more and more that the persistence of "that" is annoying."
This is probably just a joke, but it’s still a terrifyingly high price for the ultimate option.
Staying here forever with the witch, I can't stop trembling just thinking about it
If the replacement proposal comes at a price of that level - Subaru still felt uneasy, but Echidna stretched out her hand towards him and said, "In that case, I've noticed it before, so let's choose this one."
After saying that, Echidna touched the white handkerchief tied to Subaru's wrist with her fingers.
It was given by Petra, and she followed her even to the Dream World, promising to return safely as a token——
"Why then choose this one...it's just a handkerchief? It's nothing special."
"Since it's nothing special, it doesn't matter if you give it to me, right? It's just a handkerchief?"
"No, that's right...but this is..."
Echidna's stubborn attitude made Subaru evasive while protecting his wrist.
The promise represented by the handkerchief cannot be completed until it is returned to Petra. Because it contains Petra's wish to pray for Subaru's safe journey, it cannot be given to others easily.
Returning the handkerchief to Petra after returning safely is also one of Subaru's goals.
"Besides, it's strange that the price is physical items, isn't it? This is the spiritual world, so even if you get things from the outside world, you can't use them, right?"
"My intuition is very keen. Indeed, even if you hand this handkerchief to me, the handkerchief on your wrist will not disappear when you go back outside. However, there is a wish inside the handkerchief."
"Is there a wish in the handkerchief?"
Unlike Subaru's metaphorical thoughts, Echidna looked serious and nodded affirmatively.
"The person who gave you the handkerchief is worried about you from the bottom of his heart, and praying that you are safe will become the power to protect you. There was this kind of spell in my time, so don't underestimate it."
"I'm not looking down on you...but, this is it."
Subaru held his wrist together with the handkerchief, feeling the care of that lovely girl, and a warm feeling filled his chest.
The girl must be saved from a tragic fate. Subaru told his heart again
"Although this is my domain, not everything can be done as I please. Just like I can't do whatever I want with you, I can't do anything with the wish in that handkerchief, so there's no need to worry."
"Your introduction deserves attention. Otherwise, what will you pay for this handkerchief?"
"Confirm the existence of that feeling and intervene a little bit..."
After responding to Subaru's question, Echidna touched Petra's handkerchief with her jade finger, and then the witch quietly closed her eyes and stood next to him with her head lowered.
This sense of distance and the scent of the witch are making people uncomfortable. It should be over soon. Although she prayed in her heart, it took the unknowing Echidna a full ten seconds to get out.
"Okay, in this way, I have indeed collected the price. This is my new vow with you, don't forget it."
"...That's it, "forgetting" is the vow between us."
Using sarcasm to overcome the embarrassment, Subaru took a step away from Echidna
Subaru's vision has been distorted. Except for Echidna, the world has long been deformed.
"Well, thank you very much. See you at the "Trial" next time."
"It would be great if you can successfully challenge the grave."
Things that were not progressing were pointed out clearly by her, and Subaru couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"It's finally over—"
Yuexing stretched and his figure began to become blurry
"Subaru needs more help from you, Echidna."
As the figure disappeared into the air, there was such a sentence left in the air
The feeling of leaving the dreamland, the sound of water cutting through the water, and then the vision turned into pure white in one breath