I, the Rock King Emperor with 21 billion in power, have joined the chat group.

[Under judgment....]

[Detection successful...]

The current chat group member is an "undetectable life form"... unable to be captured during spacetime transfer.

【...】

[Repair begins.]

[Apologies, Your Excellency, the future is bright. This is an explanation from chat group AI system number 332561.]

[Your main body has reached the limit of what the chat group's intelligent system can capture. If you wish to use the chat group teleportation system, please send a clone, or a clone's clone, to do so.]

Please understand—chat group systems also need to be mindful of energy conservation.

"Um???"

Fourteen pairs of pale golden pupils blinked simultaneously.

"Um??????"

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Fulfilling the Contract

"Ok??"

Looking at the messages in the chat group, Zhongli blinked his fourteen pale golden dragon eyes twice, sensing that things were getting a bit complicated.

He was absolutely certain that Satira, the witch of jealousy and love in the witch world, was a powerful figure who manipulated time and changed the world.

Or perhaps her total power is not as great as Zhongli's, but at least in the witch world, she is someone that Zhongli's clones cannot contend with, as she can freely rewind time.

If the original body were to go, it could potentially wrest control of time from her.

However, a mere clone would certainly not be enough to fight against it.

The seven-headed dragons paused for a moment in the void.

Ultimately, the decision was made to fulfill the terms of the contract.

---After all, this trip to the witch world might not necessarily involve a direct confrontation with the witch, so using a clone should be feasible.

However, compared to the decision to create a clone, what concerned Zhong Li more was the message revealed by the chat group system notification.

First of all, the system ID for the chat group is 332653, which means that there is not just one chat group in the multiverse. In fact, if we take "system" as the subject, it means that there is more than one type of system.

Perhaps there are also similar things like the [Nightmare Space System] and the [God Space System].

----Thinking about it further, since it has a number, it means that this may be something artificially created by intelligent life, which means that behind the system, there is some more powerful, at least more powerful and magnificent existence than the current one.

Zhongli pondered these things as he went.

He gouged out one of his own eyeballs and placed the bloodless, pale golden pupil in the palm of his claw.

Then, His mind clicked the button to accept the quest.

A moment later, under the watchful gaze of the seven-headed dragon's fourteen perfectly intact pupils, the eye in His hand vanished without a trace.

Then, in His perception, He obtained the coordinates of a distant world.

[Target confirmed.]

【Countdown: 100:00:00】

The journey is somewhat long, but it's still within an acceptable range.

The seven-headed dragon swayed its tails, stirring up waves in the void, and steered its body toward the witch's world.

.......

Let's go back in time a little.

Witch world

"Ah~~~!"

The cry of resurrection rang out.

Natsuki Subaru opened his eyes in the dark cave.

He shook his head, his mind a little foggy.

In the dim light, he couldn't see his surroundings, but intense pain continued to erode his nerves.

----I was eaten??

I was eaten by a rabbit....

-----A rabbit? ? Why a rabbit...?

----Ouch~~~!

----It hurts so much, it hurts so much, it hurts so much!!!

So this is what it feels like to be eaten piece by piece by a wild beast! But why does it still hurt so much now?! Why?! Why?!

"Huff~~~! Huff~~~~!"

Natsuki Subaru slowly exhaled a long breath and closed his eyes in deep thought.

In his mind, pale golden pupils appeared and disappeared.

The emotional pain gradually subsided with each deep breath.

It was as if the pain had been expelled from my body.

In this chat group system, the [Soul Contemplation Method] that I bought for 300 points is actually quite useful. Although it doesn't have much practical effect, it is quite effective in relieving the mental tension and pain after death.

Moreover, and most importantly, Master Zhongli's body is powerful enough that simply visualizing his eyes is enough to force me to calm down.

After calming down a bit, Natsuki Subaru remembered where he was.

This is... the cave where Emilia first underwent her Sanctuary Trial.

It was also the place where he first encountered the witch of lust, Echidna.

So far, he has died three times.

The first time, without knowing anything, he returned to the mansion and was killed by the Bowel Hunter.

The second time, despite being well-prepared, he was dismayed to discover that the Bowel Hunter had a younger sister, a Beast Tamer, who was then torn apart and killed by a beast.

The third time, after confirming that the number of people allowed in and out of the Sanctuary was insufficient to deal with the Bowel Hunter and her sister, he decided to free everyone from the Sanctuary before attacking the mansion. However, the lingering scent of the witch on his body was too conspicuous, leading Garfield to imprison him. He was ultimately killed by a rabbit in the snow.

So, the clues we have at the moment...

Natsuki Subaru frowned and randomly picked up a twig to scribble on the ground.

First, if they do not return to the Border Earl's mansion for a period of time, Betty, Petra, and Frederica will be killed by the Bowel Hunter and her sister, the Beastmaster.

Secondly, if he disappears for a period of time, a heavy snow will fall in the Holy Domain, attracting the rabbits that killed him and razing the entire Holy Domain to the ground.

Third: The lingering scent of the witch on him will cause Garfield to dislike him and become wary of him.

Fourth, is it possible that Emilia was unable to complete the trial because of her memory loss? --- This is questionable.

Swish swish swish~~~!

After writing this, Natsuki Subaru quickly crossed out the words with a twig.

He started thinking about it again.

---Currently, it seems these missions lack combat capabilities. Whether it's the Bowel Hunters, the Beast Tamers, or the monsters summoned by the Sanctuary's heavy snow, for me, I only need to purchase a chat group mission; I don't even need high-level missions. Just by enlisting Mr. Accelerator and Mr. Sexy Prisoner, I can simultaneously handle all the enemies in the mansion and the Sanctuary. Even if Garfield dislikes me, it doesn't matter. My combat strength is more than sufficient.

But is it really a good idea for me to directly invite combat power to solve the problem?

I still don't understand why Emilia couldn't pass the Sanctuary's trial. I don't know what taboos were hidden in her past memories, nor do I understand why Puck fell asleep in the forest. I also don't understand the sudden appearance of those rabbits, who hired the Bowel Hunter and her sister, the Beastmaster, and the mastermind behind it all.

Is it really the right approach to break the deadlock simply by using brute force?

Emilia is still unable to face her past. I really don't want to see her depressed and painful appearance again, even less than I want to see her dead.

"Whew~~~~!"

He exhaled another long breath, releasing all the pain from his chest.

Subaru Natsuki controlled his muscles with his breathing.

Just as his gaze shifted to Emilia lying on the ground, the world before him suddenly changed.

A sweet, silver-haired witch sat before him in an elegant tea chair, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Witch of Greed

A silver-haired witch.

A greedy, lustful witch, eager to know everything, was sitting before him.

The tranquil grassland swayed gently in the breeze.

At the witch's tea house, the witch of greasiness, with white hair, fair skin, black eyes, and black clothes, was smiling at him.

She is like a warm mother, a loving partner, or a lover in the throes of passion.

Her gentle smile held the promise of everything.

"Inviting the same person to two tea parties is quite rare; you have something to be proud of." The witch's voice was like a wind chime from a distant land, elegant and beautiful.

Natsuki Subaru touched his chest, his expression calm as ever: "I am very calm right now, so calm that it makes me a little uncomfortable."

This tranquility, unlike the meditation he used, was more like a sudden removal of pain, sadness, and sorrow from his heart.

Without a doubt, this is all thanks to the witch in front of us.

"What's going on?" Natsuki Subaru asked with a hint of wariness.

"You drank my tea before, which activated your lazy witch factor and helped stabilize your mind. Otherwise, your heart would have been corrupted long ago." The witch raised her forehead, her crystal-clear eyes beneath her pure white eyebrows fixed on Natsuki Subaru.

-----Hmm? Something's not right? I didn't fall into despair even though I used breathing techniques and visualization, so why did she say my heart would break down?

Is this some kind of sales pitch?

With appropriate doubt, Natsuki Subaru looked at her seriously.

This pitiful and lovely beauty is also a terrifying witch.