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{3rd Pov}
As Subaru turned to depart from the Castle of Dreams, a familiar voice echoed behind him, halting his steps.
"Wait a moment," Echidna called out, stepping forward with a composed expression, her white hair shimmering like moonlight beneath the dreamscape's glow.
"I have an offer for you," she said, her tone calm yet laced with undeniable intrigue. "Your abilities—your potential—fascinate me. Let's form a contract. I'll lend you everything I have—my knowledge, my magic, my intellect—and in return, you will allow me to study your powers. In depth. Without limits."
She paused, watching his reaction carefully before adding, "And before you reject this, understand what I offer. I possess all the magical knowledge this world holds. I am the creator of Metia, the very essence of magical classification and understanding. I know countless secrets about this world—though," she frowned slightly, "I admit, I cannot say how many of those truths remain valid after all this time."
Despite the humble note in her voice, her smile soon returned, gentle yet brimming with unquenchable curiosity.
Subaru stood still, her words weighing heavily on his mind.
'Should I really form a contract with her?' he pondered. Compared to the Envy Subaru's timeline's proposal she had made to him, this one was far more generous—tempting, even. There was much he didn't know, despite his experiences. Her knowledge could help him survive.
Then came a dry voice, one that sliced through the atmosphere like a blade of sarcasm.
"Echidna, you're seriously proposing a soul-bound contract in front of the Witch of Envy?" Sekhmet drawled lazily, lounging to the side with half-lidded eyes. "You've got some nerve."
Yet despite the incredulity in her voice, there was no real surprise. After all, greed had driven Echidna to places where one wouldn't go even with a Great Sword of Power.
"I refuse," Subaru said, finally breaking the silence.
Echidna's smile faltered.
"You're embarrassing yourself now," Minerva muttered, crossing her arms as she glared at the Witch of Greed.
But then Subaru did something none of the Witches had anticipated.
"Instead, I present you a deal," he said, a sudden glint of ambition flickering in his eyes.
Gasps echoed throughout the dreamscape.
"I want everything you are—your soul, your knowledge, your body, your mind—your very existence," Subaru said, his voice laced with boldness and unmistakable desire. "In return, I will grant you knowledge of my abilities, Knowledge from another world. Together, we will create things that have never existed before. We will revolutionize this world—and maybe, discover how to travel through other words."
He stepped forward, now standing before her with a fervent gaze. "Imagine it, Echidna. Endless worlds. Infinite knowledge. A multiverse waiting to be explored."
The Witch of Greed was already trembling with excitement, her breath shallow, her eyes wide.
"T-That's… that's unbelievably greedy," she stammered, flushed and panting, overwhelmed by the sheer scope of what he proposed.
"You're sounding more like the Witch of Greed than the actual one right now!" Minerva cried in outrage, pointing an accusatory finger at Subaru.
"And don't you already have Satella? And that Sword Saint? And my Emilia?! Why are you adding Echidna to the list now?!" she fumed.
"So… Baru's a scumbag?" Typhon asked innocently, tilting her head, her tiny hands clasped behind her back.
Subaru smiled, looking at each of them in turn.
"If I were weak… if I were helpless like before, I might have accepted a deal where I was at a disadvantage. One where I was the one being used, broken, and tormented" he said, voice calm yet firm. "But I'm not that man anymore."
He stepped even closer to Echidna.
"Now that I've become strong, you start complaining? Greed, Pride, Sloth, Lust, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony—I embody them all and I ain't being a saint," Subaru said, a confident smile forming on his lips.
His hand extended toward her, open and confident.
"So what do you say, Echidna? Trade yourself—your very being—for the knowledge you've always craved and a life outside this dull prison of Castle of dreams. A fair exchange, isn't it? We both get to satisfy our greed."
Satella, who had remained eerily quiet throughout, tightened her embrace around Subaru's arm. His limbs rested between her soft chest as she watched everything unfold without uttering a word.
"Yes, indeed! I accept the proposal," Echidna said with a smile. Truthfully, she was on the losing end of the deal.
But she didn't care.
The Witch of Greed was never bound by human emotions or measured by human standards. To satisfy her insatiable hunger for knowledge, she was willing to do anything—even if it meant selling herself, even if it meant reducing herself to a slave.
Natsuki Subaru had offered her a deal she simply could not refuse. If she turned it down, she would no longer be worthy of the title Witch of Greed.
Thus with unwavering resolve, she reached out and grasped Subaru's hand.
"I, Echidna, Witch of Greed, hereby form a contract. My soul shall be bound to Natsuki Subaru. He shall have claim to my entire knowledge, my body, my soul, my mind, and every fiber of my being. In return, he shall provide me with knowledge from his world. Should he fail to deliver, the contract is void. But if he fulfills it—then my servitude is eternal."
Her voice rang out like the toll of a sacred bell.
"Do you accept this contract, Natsuki Subaru?" she asked.
"This is madness!" Minerva yelled, clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Indeed, the terms were devastatingly one-sided. So long as Subaru delivered even a sufficient amount of valuable knowledge, the contract would be fulfilled—and Echidna would be his forever. Should she break it, her soul would be irrevocably destroyed. No second chances. No rebirth. Just annihilation.
"I've already envisioned this outcome," Sekhmet said with a sigh. "She's Echidna, after all."
"What if he doesn't give you more than you want?" Minerva asked, horrified.
Echidna turned to her, her expression serene. "Forgive me, Minerva… but I suppose I'm just too greedy to care."
"Besides, I believe in him," Echidna said, her voice laced with subtle confidence. "After all, I'm no worse than a certain half-elf who can't even take care of herself, yet somehow keeps getting endless chances." As she spoke, she subtly accentuated her curves with a knowing smirk.
However, Minerva stomped her foot on the ground and shouted, "Do whatever you want, you bitch! But leave my Emilia out of it!"
"Let's keep it PG-13," Subaru said with a chuckle, glancing at the three loli witches nearby. "We've got kids in the room."
Then Subaru shifted his gaze to Satella, thoughts swirling in his mind.
'Damn… her embrace is so soft, and she smells incredible.Damn it, Satella is like Emilia—but a thousand times better. She's the ultimate waifu material.' , he thought.
"My love, I wish you the best in whatever lies ahead," Satella said softly as she gently released him from her embrace.
"To be honest, I still have so many questions," Subaru replied, lifting her chin with a tender hand, "but I promise you this—"
He leaned in and kissed her.
Gasps echoed from the Witches, while tears welled in the corners of Satella's eyes.
'It still feels the same', she thought, melting into the kiss as their tongues met, creating a brief, intimate symphony of connection and desire.
When they finally parted, Subaru was breathless.
"I'll be waiting then… my love," Satella whispered with a blush before vanishing from her place.
(A/N: She is—just extremely, incredibly shy.)
"Now that you've finished your romantic moment," Echidna said dryly, clearly relieved by Satella's departure, "shall I open the barrier for you?"
Subaru, still emotionally stirred, felt a tinge of conflict.'She's dangerously addictive,; he admitted to himself.
'It feels like… she was made for me.' he thought.
Shaking off the lingering emotions, he asked, "Which trial is Emilia currently facing?"
"The Second Trial," Echidna replied, a visible frown on her face. "And let's just say—I'm not exactly happy with how smoothly she's handling it."
Subaru chuckled lightly. "No need to open the barrier the. I think it's time for me to take my leave."
"Our souls are bound by contract now," Echidna reminded him with a mischievous glint in her eye. "I can appear at your side whenever I wish… though only you will be able to see me."
A wicked thought surfaced in Subaru's mind. 'I wonder how Roswaal will feel knowing his beloved 'Sensei' now belongs to me…'
Now, it was Subaru's turn to do the cooking.
Roswaal—get ready to be served.
And with that, Subaru departed from the Castle of Dreams.
...
Meanwhile, back in the real world…
Roswaal stepped out of his residence, the cold wind brushing against his face.
'I wonder,' he mused, 'will you be able to save everyone this time, Natsuki Subaru?'
The Sanctuary was on the brink of calamity. The Great Rabbit was preparing to strike, and this time, a new Sin Archbishop was coming with it.
Meanwhile, the mansion was facing its own crisis—Elsa the Bowel Hunter.
This time, there would be no mercy.
Roswaal had Garfield on his side, a powerful and unpredictable ally.
He was cooking.
But so was Subaru.
Now, it was only a matter of time before they tasted each other's "dishes."
May the better cook win.
To be continued…
(A/N: This is your last chance, to get another bonus chap give me everything you have. You have five hours remaining
Also read Subaru's status chap)