Having traversed countless realms, can you possibly be as clever as me?

But when he took out the Book of Wisdom, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"So that's how it was..."

The book of wisdom that once guided him was now blank.

Even his teacher could no longer guide the direction of his future.

He had no choice; the demon had already set his sights on the future of the world—if it wasn't the world he wanted, it would surely be destroyed.

Thinking about this, Roswaal felt much more relaxed, since he now only had one path left to take.

Then let's trust Subaru Natsuki. Believe that he, who can start over countless times, will lead them to a correct ending.

Having resolved the biggest source of instability, Subaru Natsuki continued to advance his strategy.

Before stepping into the story of choosing the king, he started another 'story' under Tsugumi's guidance, and then after choosing the king, according to Tsugumi's words - he directly completed the story line in one life!

Although Subaru Natsuki didn't understand a thing about the whole story and plot that Tsugumi was talking about, he had complete faith in his devil.

Together with Emilia, they embarked on their journey to the Sanctuary.

Sanctuary arc, fast forward!

919

638. Dream City: The Witch of Greed

The rumbling carriage slowly made its way toward the road leading to the village.

"It's alright, Emilia-tan, it doesn't matter even if you don't pass that trial."

Natsuki Subaru was comforting the fairy girl in the carriage, who was anxious about the upcoming 'exam', but he himself was actually very unsure of himself.

Despite dying a hundred times, Subaru Natsuki's plans after returning here certainly did not include the option of undertaking such a bizarre trial.

We're stuck on the main storyline, where would we find the time to do side quests?

But this was Tsuruge's request. According to him, it was a necessary strategy to gather information about how to clear the game. Besides, it would be a great sin to play an RPG without doing side quests and only running the main story!

He really did treat all of this as a game... Natsuki Subaru thought with a hint of bitterness, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing for him.

Even for players, this boss who beats them up at the drop of a hat is a hundred times better than that witch who talks about love all the time!

"It feels like we've entered a forest."

Suddenly, Emilia's words pulled Subaru back to reality from his reverie. She looked out the window, seemingly judging from the changing scenery that they weren't far from their destination—

Located deep within a dark green forest, this "sacred domain" is protected by a special barrier.

"Are you nervous, Emilia? Is it because there might be a half-elf in the same situation as you?"

"I've never seen a half-elf other than myself before. I rarely think about such things, but I might be able to find one in the 'Sanctuary'."

Emilia's voice trembled with nervousness. However, whether her nervousness stemmed from anticipation or unease remained unknown. Perhaps even Emilia herself didn't know.

But now that even Parker is finding it difficult to comfort her, Emilia's helplessness is overflowing.

Natsuki Subaru was somewhat silent, with a hint of guilt. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes he had ever made was treating Emilia as an adult girl.

After all, if we're talking about age, Emilia should only be around twelve or thirteen years old...

Ah, ah ...

"What's wrong, Subaru?" Emilia looked at Natsuki Subaru with concern as he suddenly began to convulse. He exhaled a puff of black smoke and chuckled.

"It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered something happy."

—You little rascal, next time you'll use the State Grid!

Tsugumi jokingly stopped discharging electricity, while also marveling at how Natsuki Subaru could remain unfazed even after being subjected to such a powerful electric shock.

All of this is thanks to his education; in terms of using pain to inflict pain, he is far ahead of the competition.

Just then, he slightly raised an eyebrow, and the next second—

Outside, the stone on Emilia's chest lit up, and Subaru Natsuki, thinking it was about to explode, immediately snatched it away, and then—

Where is this place?

Subaru stood frozen in place. He was no longer in the dragon carriage, but standing alone in an unfamiliar forest.

All around Subaru, to his left and right, were trees that made him feel as if he were deep in a forest. Under his feet grew rampant weeds and moss, showing no signs of being tended by human hands.

Teleportation? No, Betty's 'door' can only teleport her to Alam Village at most, but this place is clearly not like any area of ​​the border territory.

Awooo!!!

Before Ang could finish his thought, a flying kick from behind sent him flying through the air. He landed on the ground with a howl, turning around angrily.

"What are you doing—"

Standing there was a handsome, dark-haired young man, a complete stranger, with a somewhat gloomy air about him, but Natsuki Subaru definitely didn't recognize him.

Although he didn't recognize his face, Natsuki Subaru definitely recognized his nonchalant demeanor.

"Laborer?! Is that you, Laborer?!"

"Man! What can I set?" Tsugumi spread her hands, smiling maliciously.

"If you want to verify this further, I don't mind skinning you alive."

"No, no, no, no, this is good, I recognize you!" Having confirmed with absolute certainty that the person standing before him was indeed the devilish boss who had both tormented and helped him, Natsuki Subaru waved his hands repeatedly.

Where exactly are we now?

"Subspace—the world of souls, the realm of thought, that's probably it." Tsugumi grabbed Natsuki Subaru, and the next moment they disappeared from the forest and appeared above a burning sea of ​​fire.

"Whoa, where am I?!"

Subaru, terrified, quickly grabbed the demon beside him. Looking at the people struggling and wailing in the sea of ​​fire, his face turned deathly pale.

"This place reads a person's thoughts and creates a corresponding space, and that's what I'm letting them read," Tsurugi said, looking at the wailing people below.

"Be happy, this is a part of hell. Look closely, remember it well, and do good deeds in the future, otherwise you will suffer here forever after you die."

919 >>

"Oh, of course, you don't need to worry about that. After all, nine times out of ten, you'll be working for me illegally until the end of the world."

"And—are you coming out by yourself or should I help you out?" Tsugumi said, turning her head as she spoke to Natsuki Subaru with threats.

"Who are you—no, you are not human, the very foundation of your desires is..."

A voice suddenly rang out, and a girl who could be described as "snow-white" suddenly appeared, giving the impression that her whiteness had been completely removed.

Book lovers are buzzing: What exactly happened? Join the discussion on the book club forum.

The girl's long hair, which could reach down her back, and her almost completely covered skin were dazzlingly white. Her jet-black dress, which covered her slender body like a mourning garment, and her dark eyes that shone with profound wisdom, all proved that this ethereal, phantom-like girl was real.

The stark contrast between black and white is a fitting description of a young girl's beauty.

The girl looked at Tsugumi seriously, then opened her arms, and the surrounding hell of pain instantly transformed into a boundless plain.

"Where exactly do you come from? A great being of supreme power?"

"Gods, demons, call me whatever you want, Echidna, the Witch of Greed." Tsugumi bluntly called her by name, speaking frankly.

"You can arrange whatever trials this guy has to go through. I'm here to find spoilers. I'm too lazy to play through it all. I'm the kind of person who goes online to read plot analyses halfway through a game!"

Echidna suddenly smiled with delight, clapped her hands, and said:

Are you seeking truth and knowledge from me? What story do you want to know?

"Want to learn about Daphne, the 'Gluttony Witch,' who created a beast defying fate to save the world from hunger? Want to learn about Camilla, the 'Witch,' who imbued non-human beings with emotions to fill the world with love? Want to learn about Minerva, the 'Witch of Wrath,' who laments a world rife with conflict while simultaneously healing everyone through beatings? Want to learn about Sekhmet, the 'Witch of Sloth,' who drove dragons to the other side of the Great Falls simply to seek peace? Want to learn about Typhon, the 'Witch of Pride,' who, due to her youthful innocence, relentlessly judges sinners with a ruthless cruelty?"

Or perhaps you want to understand Echidna, the 'Witch of Greed,' an embodiment of insatiable thirst for knowledge, even clinging to the afterlife?

Echidna pressed her hand to her chest, uttered a self-deprecating remark, and then continued:

"And the 'Witch of Envy,' who destroyed and absorbed all the witches mentioned above, thus becoming an enemy of the world. Do you want to know about that detestable woman?"

The scene was very quiet, extremely quiet.

Echidna coughed awkwardly and complained.

"How could you make a lady so embarrassed? You're really malicious."

As she spoke, she looked at Subaru Natsuki and said in a seductive voice...

"Speaking of which, would you like to sign a contract with me?"

"If you combine your ability with mine, it will become invincible."

However, Subaru Natsuki remained unmoved and simply shrugged.

"It sounds alluring, but I've already made a lifelong pact with the gentleman next to me—it hurts!"

Tsugumi withdrew her elbow from his arm and looked at Echidna coldly.

"Don't even think about tempting him. His soul and everything else already belong to me. As for your pathetic contract—even if that fool signs it, it's useless, because I will definitely beat you to a pulp before you can do anything to him."

"Ara, do you hate me that much?"

"Because you're not the original human Echidna anymore, are you?" Tsugumi sneered.

"The Great Sin Factor, you can call it that if you want. Its essence is a power from outside the world. I don't know where it comes from, but unfortunately, I happen to have some understanding of these powers..."

Tsurugi doesn't need to know the origin of this thing; he only needs to know that it's a concept similar to the power of demons.

These things are like the materialized form of Hell's power. Tsugumi doesn't know who made them, but these materialized products are indeed creations of near genius.

It allows humans, who are not inherently qualified, to wield power similar to the original sin of hell. Although the power they can inherit is destined to be only a small part that their souls can bear, it is still a manifestation of power.

However, its limitations still exist—it can only grant authority to those who meet the characteristics, and conversely, those who meet the characteristics will inevitably be constantly rewritten and eroded by it.

The arrogant become more arrogant, the greedy become more greedy, and the wrathful become more wrathful—such changes are absolutely irreversible.

In a sense, it might not be a bad thing that these witches died young. If they had continued to live, their perceptions would have been gradually distorted and rewritten.

919>>>>

Just like Echidna in front of her, Tsugumi was 100% certain that she and the witch from four hundred years ago were completely different people.

Her insatiable thirst for the 'unknown' has turned into a vicious curse, like that of a demon.

Thinking about this, Tsugumi seemed to already see what would happen if Natsuki Subaru agreed to her request.

That would probably be an ending where someone chooses to commit suicide to rewind time just to see if the sky is clear.