――In the middle of the classroom, a white-haired girl is tilting her head.

　Receiving her gaze, Subaru quickly checks that there are no other figures in the room. He leans out of the classroom into the hallway, rechecking to both sides until—having accepted that there is absolutely no one around—he scratches his head and lets out a sigh.

“First, there’s something I want to say.”

“Sure, go ahead. I am very interested in what you’re thinking, what you’re considering, and what you’re going to say.”

“You know, that uniform suits you really well.”

　Pointing at the curious-looking witch, Subaru offers his thought. Hearing this, the witch tilts her head in surprise for just a moment before she can’t hold back her laughter and bursts out.

“Haha, thank you. If you think so, it makes the effort I put into recreating it from your memories worthwhile. It’s the outfit from your recollections that stands out the most vividly—your favorite, perhaps?”

　Standing up, the girl—Echidna—plays with the hem of her gray skirt and performs a little spin. Her white hair sways with her movement, and the sight of her frolicking looks no older than her actual age.

　With a gray skirt, a deep blue blazer, and a red ribbon adorning her collar to show that she is in the same grade as Subaru, the contrast with the white shirt underneath is bright and dazzling.

　However, if I had any complaints at all, it would be that—

“I prefer longer skirts to shorter ones. The longer the time it takes to lift them, the more it stirs my imagination.”

“I see. Then, perhaps next time I should wear a longer skirt to meet your expectations if you end up lifting it.”

“That’s not gonna happen! Also, just because I love it doesn’t mean everyone wears the uniform. It’s just the rule here. Even the royal knights dress like this.”

　Echidna giggles, holding her hand over her mouth. Her demeanor shows that she is taking his excuses with half a mind, and it doesn’t seem like he’ll get any further answers from her.

　Shrugging, Subaru pulls out the chair at the back of the classroom, the second back from the window, a rather awkward position, and plops down.

　The solid wooden chair’s feel, the letters carved by previous users at the edge of the desk, the creaking of the legs if he leans back as if to sleep, the rusty drawer within—it all amounts to fragments of a daily life he had drifted far away from.

“I thought you’d be more surprised.”

“If you intended to hide, you should have put more effort into the background. There’s no way the route to get here or the school road would be completely devoid of people.”

　Even considering it was a weekday afternoon, there were far too few signs of life on the path Subaru had taken. It felt as if the world had cut out everything unnecessary for Subaru.

“It’s a world that conveniently aligns too well with my needs. As for you not seeing the form you wished for, I can only say you deserved it.”

“No, no, that’s also part of the excitement. Trying something out and obtaining a result is what brings me happiness. The outcome itself is not particularly important at this stage. Of course, if we consider whether it leads to something afterwards, the conversation changes a little.”

　Echidna, who should have been unsatisfied by her lost expectations, swings her raised hands from side to side, stating this without any apparent negative feelings. Noticing that there was no hint of genuine negative emotion, Subaru fought the urge to click his tongue internally and said,

“So, what’s this world about? I entered your grave that was supposedly in the middle of the ‘Trial’ and then…”

“The qualifications you possess allowed you entry. Naturally, the ‘Trial’ has now started for you as well. Didn’t you hear? First, you must confront your past,”

Echidna throws these affirming words at Subaru, stepping closer with her hands behind her back. The beautiful girl’s hair sways with the wind, and in the pleasantly cool breeze blowing through the classroom, her uniform blends seamlessly into the scenery.

Each of her casual gestures seemed to carry traps to entangle Subaru’s heart, making it necessary for him to consciously avert his gaze from her. Suddenly,

“Everyone holds regrets from their past. While living day by day, how can anyone exist that doesn’t gain regrets? Today regrets yesterday, yesterday regrets the time before that, and come tomorrow, surely today will be regretted. —Humans have the functionality to regret.”

“Don’t be such a pessimist. Transform those regrets into reflection, somehow manage today with yesterday’s reflection, and use today’s reflection as a breakthrough for tomorrow—this is also part of the human function, isn’t it?”

“—Exactly!”

　With a dry clap, Subaru instinctively recoils as Echidna leans in closer. Nevertheless, she doesn’t mind, leaning forward to close the distance between their faces, plunging her black eyes right into him.

“Just mere wordplay, a mere difference of perspective. However, whether one views the past with pessimism or optimism can greatly affect how answers are articulated. Most people lean towards regret, reflect only on their bad memories, and deny the path they’ve walked. Thereby, they dislike seeing what they denied, and they seal it away as if it never existed.”

“Hey, your face is… too close…”

“It’s only natural. The self from yesterday is absolutely more ignorant than today’s self. Today’s self undoubtedly possesses less knowledge compared to tomorrow’s self. Even in terms of overall knowledge or the amount of memories, the past is inferior to the present and future. That is a fact!”

　Unaware of how much Subaru felt overwhelmed, Echidna’s passionate discourse continued. After a moment, she suddenly steps back, slamming her hands down into the desk with all her might.

“Thus, when one confronts their past, or encounters a past they must confront, humanity strays, wavers, laments, suffers, mourns, and despairs, and then arrives at an answer. As long as the answer is reached, I will affirm it no matter what it might be. Whether it’s an answer reached by turning one’s back or one obtained by reaching forward, both are undeniable proof of overcoming the past.”

“That’s the purpose of this ‘Trial’?”

“Exactly. To face one’s own past and provide some sort of answer regarding that past. If you’re merely fearful of producing an answer, clinging to your head in despair, you can never surpass this ‘Trial.’ However, if you can affirm or completely deny the past, I will watch over you with admiration. That’s the first ‘Trial.’”

　Nodding in understanding, Subaru was somehow pulled back to reality by Echidna’s sudden restraint as she lightly coughed, her cheeks turning slightly red.

“I, uh, got a bit too excited there. Sorry for showing you an unsightly side of me.”

“I don’t really mind. If your breath stinks, that’d be different, but fortunately, it smelled citrusy. More importantly…”

　While feeling a rare sense of enjoyment from seeing Echidna embarrassed, Subaru stood up straight in his chair.

“If what you said is the condition for overcoming the ‘Trial’, does that mean I’ve cleared the ‘Trial’?”

“I witnessed everything from start to finish… and I think you achieved sufficient results.”

　With her hand on her heart, Echidna took a deep breath as if savoring the rich aroma of a fine tea, wearing a thoroughly satisfied expression.

“You confronted the symbol of your past trauma and the vessel of your past guilt, giving answers for both. For this, I want to send you off with admiration.”

“That’s not all… You saw me crying snot while I was a mess, didn’t you?!”

“Forgive me, but I too couldn’t help but feel my eyes welling up.”

“Shut up!! Don’t tell anyone, it’s embarrassing!”

　If he was exposed like this regarding his farewell with his father, it would truly be embarrassing. More than anything, it was an insult to the feelings of Subaru and Kenichi in that moment.

Whether or not she realized Subaru’s feelings, Echidna continued to giggle cheerfully.

“Though, I do regret that I couldn’t savor your turmoil from confronting the past more deeply.”

“Huh?”

“I like seeing answers reached, but I also believe that knowledge should be honored in the labor leading up to finding that answer. I was looking forward to seeing you struggle and wriggle your way to finding that answer, but…”

　With a glance towards Subaru, she narrowed her eyes as if peering into the depths of his black pupils.

“Unfortunately, it seems that you advanced through this ‘Trial’ a bit too quickly. You delivered an answer for the negative feelings you harbored about your past.”

“Ahh… I see. If that’s the case, I genuinely feel sorry for you.”

　Understanding the reason for Echidna’s regret, Subaru let out a deep sigh.

　What she desired in facing the ‘Trial’ was for Subaru to reunite with his parents, who were the sources of his past trauma, and, within those days or moments spent with them, realize his weaknesses, tussle with them, and provide an answer on whether to confront or escape, only then coming here to settle things.

　However, Subaru already—

“There was a girl who called me a hero even when I felt utterly useless. I’d already accepted my own shortcomings without even needing to face my past.”

“In a different form of resignation, huh? I would expect nothing less than frustration from having your expectations undermined. If you do meet that girl outside, please tell her that the witch was bitter about it.”

　That was a chilling warning, and as he attempted to joke, Subaru suddenly became aware of Echidna’s statement, which lacked coherence.

“You claimed you faithfully reconstructed from my memories, but… if you peered into my head, you should know who that girl is, right?”

　It may have been more so a feeling of clinging than realization. Even if it were because she peeked into Subaru’s head, there might be someone who knows about the lost Rem from that world, her likeness, that adorable girl’s existence. But,

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’ve drawn a line for what even a greedy witch like me can and can’t do. Sure, I sucked up all the information necessary for this ‘Trial,’ but I’ve left everything else untouched. What’s even fun about stealing knowledge? I wouldn’t want to throw away the joy of hearing stories.”

　What returned was a prideful remark of a kind that Subaru could not understand as a witch.

　It could be said to be her belief or a terribly brazen set of principles. But now that Subaru had been told that, he couldn’t retort. All he could do was,

“Even if you extracted only what was necessary for this ‘Trial’… then what’s the point of the uniform?”

“Well, that was certainly necessary information to recreate this school building. I’ve learned about unknown vistas of another world, about the outfits girls living there wear, wondering what would suit me. That was never a point of extraction I’d hoped for.”

“So you’re telling me you’re a bright idiot?”

　With a sigh directed at Echidna as she dug her own grave, Subaru shook his head.

　Clearly, it seemed unlikely that he would hear any expected answers from her. And he had also gained the conviction that,

“I don’t even need to ask you. This world…”

“Ah, yes. This is a fictional world that closely mirrors reality, relying on your memories. Therefore, naturally—your real parents do not know where you are or what you are doing; they are surely worrying about their missing son.”

“――――”

“You may have received some information you did not know, but… did you truly not know? Can you definitively say you never saw the letter sent from your father’s mutual acquaintance? Have you never met an old man who knew your father from his youth? Did you really never picture a version of your father different from what you had always thought?”

　Echidna’s words continued like a relentless barrage. At the end, she added,

“Or, did you think it impossible to really hide the emotions you believed were unknown? Did you genuinely believe you could firmly seal away your true feelings—the desire to be understood, the longing—without leaking that in fragments from daily life? Can you insist you haven’t wanted that selfish emotion from those fictional parents?”

　As she leaned closer to Subaru, Echidna softly whispered, each word teasingly stirring his heart. With her breath brushing against him, she said,

“Isn’t it a bit too idealistic and convenient—don’t you think?”

“――――”

　With gentle fingertips, Echidna delicately dug into Subaru’s heart, smiling with an eerie charm.

　That smile, which moments ago had seemed innocently charming, now bore the semblance of something ominous, seemingly representative of what a “witch” truly is.

　With her alluring voice violating his brain, Subaru tightly shut his eyes. Behind his closed eyelids, the dark world revealed the last images of his father and mother—

“Don’t insult my parents with your failed revenge, witch.”

“…What?”

“I conveyed everything in my answer. Both my father and mother received it. I said everything I couldn’t express, and they told me to keep pushing forward. ‘Good luck,’ they said, just like that.”

　Standing up, he leaned over the desk, bringing his forehead up against Echidna’s. As he watched the witch’s black eyes widen in surprise, Subaru declared,

“The voice from that time, the smiles, everything shattered beyond my imagination. —My parents are not something I can confine to my imagination. Don’t underestimate them.”

“――――”

“I was able to tell my parents everything. I wrapped things up and came back. —I won’t be swayed by your words.”

　Pushing back with the forehead he pressed against her, Subaru shoves the witch away before returning to his seat. Crossed arms, feet up on the desk, looking up at Echidna in a cocky manner.

　Echidna’s expression was one of disbelief at Subaru’s attitude.

“My, my… Not even showing the slightest sign of worrying over whether your answer is right or wrong; what a human who makes witches weep. Truly, it’s impressive.”

“Blushing from being complimented, huh? Also, I flourish more when complimented, so I might actually grow more from this.”

“You’re quite the cheeky one… Ah, but this is sufficient. It’s more than enough. Having arrived at a firm answer that doesn’t even allow for a shakeup is truly something to be joyous about.”

　Echidna smiles, shaking her head as if in resignation, shifting the chair in front of Subaru to face her, taking a seat.

“The ‘Trial’ in the true sense is now over. You have narrowly escaped the witch’s grasp. I want to praise that… but before you go back, if you have any questions, I’ll answer.”

“Alright then, for now, one thing.”

“Yeah, go ahead and ask.”

　Nodding in agreement, Echidna watched as Subaru pointed straight at her with a finger.

“You said you’re unrelated to the ‘Trial’… What gives with that? You’re neck-deep involved with it, aren’t you? You’re the mastermind behind it all. How can you put on such a facade and spread lies like that?!”

“Receiving a witch’s words at face value is astoundingly unguarded. I told you at our parting, didn’t I? I’m a bad witch.”

“Ah, I see. Then I have no reason to trust even a single word from a bad witch. …So, will breaking this ‘Sanctuary’ seal happen?”

“To the point of flipping your opinion halfway through, how refreshing you are. Sorry, but this isn’t something that ends that easily. There are a total of three ‘Trials.’ If you’ve overcome this first ‘Trial,’ I doubt it will be too hard.”

　Echidna smoothly deflected Subaru’s wrath, holding out three fingers and answering casually. In response, Subaru muttered, “Three, huh…” to himself.

“In any case, the ‘Sanctuary’ seal absolutely must be broken. It’ll still be sealed even if I clear the ‘Trial,’ right? You can guarantee that, can’t you?”

“That was precisely why I gave you the qualification. Naturally. Whether it’s you or the others holding qualifications, if you overcome the ‘Trial,’ I will celebrate with the release of the ‘Sanctuary.’ In return, I look forward to how you deal with the remaining two ‘Trials.’”

　Seeing Echidna nod in affirmation, Subaru replied, “Alright then,” as he stood up.

　Now, he had no more questions left for her. There was nothing further to gain from lingering in this fictional world. Nostalgic feelings tugged at him, but he had already taken his leave from what had been most responsible for his staying.

　Even if that was merely a temporary setup, as the witch had described it.

“Hey, Echidna.”

“What is it? Are you asking for a last punch? Well, I do have a sense that I’ve done something deserving of it. If that’s what you wish for, I won’t refuse, but being a girl, I’d prefer you avoid hitting my face…”

“Thank you.”

“――――”

　A moment of silence. After a long, unnecessary explanation, Echidna was left speechless by Subaru’s words.

　Feeling a pleasant sensation from her unexpected reaction, Subaru continued,

“Even if it wasn’t real, even if it didn’t reach the actual two, I was able to say what I wanted to say thanks to you. Even if it’s the result of your crass curiosity, I got to meet those I thought I couldn’t see again and say my goodbyes.”

　To the two who could only look so small and pitiful, he could finally show something more dignified, something to hold his head high for.

“That alone, I’m grateful for. So, thank you.”

“…I can’t understand you as a person, and that’s quite intriguing. It’s frightening.”

　With eyes showing genuine astonishment, Echidna seemed to feel a threat even if he said it jokingly. In response, Subaru grinned, raising the corners of his mouth.

“Capturing a small fry like me, and here you are, a witch who’s acting rather timid. Well, that’s fine. So where’s the exit?”

“It’s not complicated. This world’s disappearance has already begun. Except for this building, nothing else has been truly constructed. —Once you step out of this building, you should find yourself back in the original Graveyard.”

“That’s very convenient. —Well then, I’ll catch you later after the next ‘Trial’.”

　Waving his hand, Subaru stood up and headed for the classroom’s exit. He felt Echidna’s gaze on his back but started walking without looking back.

　The world outside the window, the scenery that should have been filled with bright blue sky was starting to blur in the distance. The world of fiction had completed its role and was beginning to vanish wherever it may be.

　The father who pushed his back and the mother who saw him off would disappear along with this world. Nowhere to be found, gone forever.

“…I’ve learned everything that matters already.”

　Emotions swelled within him. Feeling warmth rise in his eyes, Subaru wiped them with his sleeve once, raising his face, the echoes of tears were nowhere to be found now.

　Just facing straight ahead, Subaru’s feet begin to tread the path toward the exit of a world coming to an end.

　As he heads to where the world gradually fades to white, further and further away, then—.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“—He has departed, huh? What a pain, I expected better from him.”

　——The classroom after Subaru had left.

　Within the emptiness of desks and chairs lined up neatly, Echidna inserted her fingers into her bangs, leaning cheerfully against the desk.

　Scattered sounds, heralding the world’s collapse began to make their appearance.

　The world, reconstructed by memories, was returning to the dust of fiction as it lost its point of reference. Nonetheless, Echidna’s consciousness is not focused on the crumbling ground or the atmosphere that seemed ever so near to her.

　Her focus remained on one point—directed at the front of the blackboard, where the teacher’s desk stood. There,

“Should I say, as expected of the one you are inclined towards?”

“—I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you…”

“Secluding yourself in your castle, and even if you occasionally meet, you end up scaring him away, thus forgetting him. Of such a pathetic situation, how can you assert yourself so boldly? I can’t comprehend it.”

“Enough with the unnecessary remarks, enough, enough, enough, enough. Stop interfering, stop talking, stop touching, stop, stop, stop! My, my, my, my, my, my, my, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you!”

　An utterly nonsensical stream of words, made Echidna furrow her brow in disgust.

　Before her, at the front of the teacher’s desk, a figure of a woman appeared. She was clad in a pitch-black dress, with long silver hair flowing behind her. However, a dreadful black shadow that could be described as a curse covered everything above her chest, making it impossible to see her face.

　It was impossible to imagine anything more dreadful than the insanity expressed in her words as it unfolded.

　The moment she manifested after Subaru left, Echidna accepted it as if it were the most natural occurrence, as if she had known that was going to happen.

“It seems only natural. As a matter of fact, I stomped into the heart of the one who’s so infatuated with you. I had intended not to touch your domain… but at the same time, it seems we cannot remain mutually inviolable?”

“Even the slightest touch, the thinnest skin, a single hair, a drop of sweat, a droplet of spit, a word, a breath, a fragment of emotion, it must not be interfered with! ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL, ALL…”

“Claiming to belong to you, huh? My, when I’m in your presence, I almost want to return the title of ‘Greed’ now. To think of one person in such a way is utterly unfathomable.”

“I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you…”

　Thus, ‘Jealousy’ cannot allow Echidna to violate a taboo.

　The shadow takes a step forward. Just that action easily swallows the space where she once stood. The front of the classroom, the wall where the blackboard was installed and the three rows of seats are all dragged into the witch’s shadow, and it’s all consumed.

　Echidna manages to leap back but finds herself followed by the shadow, which morphs into an arm aiming for her neck. Faced with the writhing black serpent’s fangs, Echidna lets out a single breath.

“Being erased here is too much regret. Thus, allow me to use a little bit of underhandedness—”

　The moment Echidna sinks down slightly, the shadow, which was meant to target her throat, is shocked and sent flying away.

　Realizing what was happening, the shadow becomes stuck, its arms drooping to its sides as, standing where Echidna once was…

“I’m being summoned this frequently; how dull… I can’t even take a proper nap, sigh.”

　With a lethargic breath, a lazily seated woman with reddish-purple hair appears—this is the manifestation of the ‘Witch of Sloth,’ Sekhmet.

　Seeing her, the shadow attempts to advance forward, but,

“Ugh, it’s pointless.”

　With that, the shadow’s upper body is forcefully pushed back as if repelled by a tremendous shock.

　The shadow, driven back by the impact, sinks partially into the darkness it created itself. The shadow, with a dazed posture, raises its right arm aimed at Sekhmet.

　Immediately, from the shadow that devoured half the classroom, countless black magical hands launch forth, covering every possible angle—yet even that is—

“I said it’s pointless, didn’t I?”

　All the swirling black hands are instantly obliterated, with continued repercussions smashing into the shadow’s entire body. As the shock vibrates the shadow from head to toe, Sekhmet, sitting cross-legged, was not fazed in the slightest.

　Yet, even so, Sekhmet’s onslaught continues, relentlessly pummeling the shadow’s body until it begins to shatter into fragments.

　Looking at the cacophony of sounds and the writhing shadow’s appearance, Sekhmet combs through her hair in annoyance.

“Having your power essentially sealed, sigh. On top of that, in a castle created by that wicked Echidna, with its inherent strength, there’s no way you can win against me, sigh.”

　Suppressing a yawn, Sekhmet halts her strikes. Just as the defeated shadow collapses to its knees, a sudden jolt from above promptly smashes it into the ground without mercy.

　As the black shadow sinks and disappears, ‘Jealousy’ gazes up at Sekhmet.

“Why, why, why, why, why, why, why do you interfere with me and my love, my love, my love, my love, him, him, him, him—?!”

“Ugh… Answering is such a troublesome task.”

　Striking back hard, Sekhmet gives a downward flick of her hand.

　In that moment, half of the school building collapses with a boom, the debris and earth crumbling to engulf the shadow of ‘Jealousy,’ dragging it into the depths of the earth.

　Having already begun to vanish, there is no way back once the world collapses beyond a certain point.

“Why must I deal with her even after her death, sigh. How tiresome.”

　In a world hastened to its collapse by her actions, the ‘Witch of Sloth’ slips away into a corner of the crumbling classroom.

　Leaning against the wall, feeling the sensation of her duty coming to an end along with the world, she finally looks up at the shattered sunlight outside.

“What a futile existence, sigh. Both witches—and those enthralled by witches, sigh.”

　Just as a wistful sigh escapes her lips, the world disappears in a blinding flash of light.