――Looking back on it, Flügel was a person full of mysteries as well.
The first time Subaru heard that name was when he got information on 『Flugel's Great Tree』. Apart from planting that enormous tree, he was said to be a great figure who had left no particular achievements behind; Subaru’s impression was only that even so, leaving your name in history was admirable. Later, since they had the tree in question cut down to defeat the White Whale, he felt apologetic and, at the same time, could call him a benefactor for having planted it.
However, the next time he heard the name Flügel, the whiff of suspicion suddenly grew stronger—when it came from the mouth of the Star Guardian of the Pleiades Watchtower—Shaula, who said that was her master. Originally one of the Three Heroes of Lugunica and lauded as the 『Sage』, Shaula was told that those accomplishments were in fact things Flügel had thrust upon her, and for some reason she kept insisting that Subaru was that master. In the end, the truth of it remains unknown, and Subaru’s impression of Flügel is complicated.
You could call him a benefactor who gave them the final push in the White Whale subjugation, and also call him a terribly heartless man who locked Shaula away in the Watchtower for ages. If he’s being utterly self-serving, if Flügel is like that, he’d like to insist that the title of Shaula’s master belongs to him.
"I’m embarrassingly whiny even by my own standards. ...But once you hear 『Kugelschreiber Castle』 and then 『Flügel』 on top of that, it starts to feel like that’s a German homage too..."
If Kugelschreiber means “ballpoint pen” in German, then Flügel likewise should mean “wing” in German. There was a time when Subaru, in pursuit of insanely cool-sounding words, also arrived at German. You could call it a classic adolescent thing.
"Like Staubsauger (vacuum cleaner) and Zitronensaft (lemon juice). For what it’s worth, the 『Schwartz』 in Natsumi Schwartz also means ‘black’ in German."
"Even if you say it like that, Betty hasn’t the faintest idea. ...So that means Betty’s family home and Subaru’s hometown are using the same words?"
"Pretty much. Well, I’m guessing Hoshin of the Wasteland comes from the same hometown as me too, so it’s not all that strange for that kind of vocabulary to be scattered around."
"Even Betty doesn’t know the story of how the castle got its name. But if it’s Mother, I don’t think it would be strange no matter who she knew."
At the words of Beatrice, who was being carried in his arms, Subaru adjusted his hold on her, made a troubled face, and let out a deep sigh with a "Yeah." At the tea party in the Sanctuary, Echidna—Young Dona, that is—had said something like people from all over the world sought knowledge and gathered because they wanted to meet her. At the time he didn’t have anything in particular he wanted to ask Echidna, so he let it slide, but now he felt like he’d missed a good opportunity.
"Well, it’s questionable how far we can trust what Young Dona says, but she seemed to have her pride when it came to flaunting her knowledge. Maybe I should have asked her about the truth of the world?"
"What would Subaru even do, knowing the truth of the world? I don’t think the world is telling lies in the first place."
"Yeah, fair enough."
He’d said it offhandedly, but indeed, even if he learned the truth of the world, he’d likely have no use for it. What he wanted now was a way to ensure his companions’ safety and to contact them, a means to save the Kingdom, and a way to drive their enemies away forever—things like that. There was certainly no spotlight for the world’s truth. At any rate—,
――"To think a trip to 『Flugel's Great Tree』 would be approved so easily."
As Subaru murmured that, what he saw in his field of vision, a lone speck in the distance, was the much-talked-about Flugel's Great Tree—its enormous, enormous stump. The part of the trunk that had been felled for the White Whale’s subjugation was afterward carried away and, since they’d gone to the trouble, was apparently used as hallowed lumber, a resource for the Kingdom. Most likely, buildings made from Flugel's Great Tree are now active in various places. The remaining stump has become a valuable tourist resource and seems to be fairly lively; for the moment, Subaru and the others are in the position of waiting until the area is cleared of people.
"Until then, it was just a big ol’ tree and nobody even glanced at it, but seriously, eeeveryone’s quick to change their tune, y’know?"
The one who called out like that, likewise at loose ends, was Ferris. Leaning his back against the Dragon Carriage, he lined up beside Subaru and the others as they gazed at the Great Tree’s remains, narrowed his yellow eyes, and grumbled his impressions about the situation around the Great Tree. Subaru agreed with him; even though evening had already passed and night was arriving from the far side of the sky, the flow of people didn’t stop. The stump business could be called an unexpected by-product of the White Whale subjugation.
「Even so, I’m honestly surprised I’d end up coming back to Flugel's Great Tree with you again, Subaru-kun.」
「Me neither—I didn’t think this place would have another role for us. If I’d known it used to be treated as a landmark for the 『Witch』 way back when, I would’ve proposed a different plan back during the White Whale, too.」
「Huh? A different plan—like what?」
「Well, we’d squeeze out, with everyone’s wisdom and courage, a force that could rival chopping down the Great Tree.」
「Ahaha, amaaazing. Subaru-kun, you’re such a geeeenius.」
Said in a way that made it obvious he didn’t mean a word of it, Subaru gave a wry smile and glanced sideways at him. Ferris had already been acting together with them for two months, yet Subaru still wasn’t used to that male getup. Which was funny, considering he’d spent far longer hours with him than when he was cross-dressed. He didn’t think it was just because it looked that good on him, either. —As for why the lingering knot wouldn’t go away, even Subaru couldn’t quite put it into words.
「Ferris, are you really coming along as well, I wonder?」
「Mmm—do you not want me around, Beatrice-chan?」
「It’s not about wanting or not wanting. Your power is precious, you know. If something were to happen to you…」
「You’re worried about me? How kind, ne. But no need to worry.」
Cradled in Subaru’s arms, Beatrice had the tip of her nose poked by Ferris’s fingertip. When Beatrice’s eyes went round at that, Ferris softened the corners of his eyes just a touch,
「It’s precisely when we’re heading somewhere we don’t know what might happen that it’s better to have me there. If it’s me, even if your head flies off, I can save you as long as it’s within a second.」
「…Betty is a spirit, so ordinary healing magic doesn’t work well on me, you know.」
「Yeah, I know. That’s why over these past two months I went and properly updated things.」
「—Seriously, I wonder.」
「Totally seriously. —While I’m around, I won’t let even someone who wants to die die, ne.」
Whether that was something truly outrageous or not, upon hearing Ferris’s reply, Beatrice gave a small, parched swallow. To Subaru, though, it was incredibly reassuring. Ever since they began their fight with the 『Loved One』, it had felt like blades were watching them around the clock, a prickling tension hanging in the air.
「Also, I’ve been meaning to say this for a while, but…」
「Hm? What is it, getting all formal like that?」
「――――」
「Ferris?」
Having brought it up himself only to fall silent, Ferris left Subaru tilting his head. For a while after that, Ferris kept opening and closing his lips, and then—
「—You don’t have to keep worrying about every little thing concerning me and Lady Crusch.」
「Ugh, you noticed, huh.」
「Well of course it was obvious. …I do feel bad for making you tiptoe around it, though.」
「But?」
「If it were you and Lady Emilia, and some unrelated rando started saying this and that, you’d go like, “Waaah!” right? I figure it’s the same thing.」
At that example, Subaru felt that Ferris wasn’t an unrelated rando at all, but that wasn’t the point, so he swallowed his rebuttal. Even so, if there was anything he could say, he wanted to—but—
「…Looks like there’s movement at the stump. I’ll go get ready.」
But mercilessly, just as he’d said his piece, Ferris noticed movement on the stump’s side and turned his back. He then hurried back to the Dragon Carriage, and the reason became clear at once: from the direction of the stump, Crusch was coming their way.
「Honestly, that guy…」
「—? Our arrangements are complete. Did something happen, 『Gray Star』?」
「Nah, it’s nothing, Crusch-san…—whoops. 『Jade Beauty』, 『Jade Beauty』.」
He hastily clapped a hand over his mouth and reflected on it when the code name slipped out the moment he relaxed. Crusch’s lips softened slightly, and she added that it was fine, then continued,
「If there are no eavesdroppers about, I’ll answer to either name. I quite like the ring of the epithet 『Jade Beauty』 that you bestowed upon me.」
「Well, if the person themself likes it, then it wasn’t overstepping and that’s what matters. If I’d slapped you with something that’s basically an insult like 『Long Tongue』, that’d be way off the mark.」
「A mismatch in interpretation…」
「It’s one of Subaru’s mysterious hang-ups. It’s an occasional affliction, so you don’t need to pay it any mind, I suppose. More importantly, I take it the clearing-out is once again thanks to 『White Sheep』.」
「Ah, yes. As ever, the negotiations of 『White Sheep』 are splendid. I wouldn’t say slick-tongued… I don’t sense that kind of cunning, yet one naturally finds oneself listening to them.」
「It’s that virtue permitted only to a fragile-looking beautiful maiden.」
Thinking it over, even just around Subaru there were quite a number of beauties, but starting with Emilia, almost none of them fit what you’d call ‘fragile-looking’.
「It kind of feels like they’re all vibrant, energetic beauties. Could it be that the most mopey and fragile-looking one is… me?」
“Hm. I don’t know the reason for your unease, but if anything happens, feel free to rely on me at any time. If it’s within the reach of my power, I will swing this sword without hesitation.”
“And right as she says that, a powerful beauty...! If I were the heroine, I’d be in danger here... ow, ow.”
“Honestly, there you go fooling around again.”
As Subaru’s heart pounded at Crusch’s dependability, Beatrice pinched his cheek as punishment. Smiling at the sight of Subaru and the others, Crusch then turned toward the stump. And—
“—To think I’d be visiting Flugel’s Great Tree with you again.”
“Ah.”
“—? What’s wrong? Did I say something odd?”
At Subaru and Beatrice, who had voiced their surprise together, Crusch cast an anxious glance. At that, Subaru and Beatrice both shook their heads, going, “No, no,”
“No, it’s just that it was literally a moment ago, you know.”
“Ferris just now was saying the same thing as you.”
“He said the same thing as I did... I see. That makes sense.”
Her raised-brow reaction lasted only a moment before Crusch nodded in quick understanding. Naturally, when Subaru, Crusch, and Ferris come to this place, what they all think of is the White Whale subjugation battle. —Wilhelm, the leading actor in that fight, has also vanished from the royal capital and is among those whose whereabouts are unknown.
“We’ve heard Wilhelm is with our people. I’m worried, sure, but...”
“No—if it’s Wilhelm, he’ll overcome a fair share of hardship. If I am to worry, my father concerns me far more. Being the worrywart he is, he’s surely taking on considerable strain.”
“——”
“But before he ceded the house to me, my father himself was a duke. In a crisis of the Kingdom, he must hold fast in body and mind. What we can do is bring the situation to a conclusion as quickly as possible.”
“Agreed. That’s what today’s plan is for, I suppose.”
Trusting in the core strength of the retainers and family now separated from her, Crusch dipped her chin deeply at Beatrice’s words. Subaru, too, nodded back, once more steeling himself.
“Hey, no need to worry. This place is our lucky spot, after all. We’ve never once failed with a plan we carried out at Flugel’s Great Tree.”
“That is... heh, of course.”
At Subaru’s flippant quip and shrug, Crusch relaxed her shoulders and smiled. Winking at that smile, Subaru swore he wouldn’t let that quip remain just a quip. They were just as anxious about their comrades; if the way to resolve that was to save the Kingdom, then they had to put it in check as quickly as possible. For that—
“—Off we go, to visit Beako’s family home!”
“Said like that, it somehow gives me this indescribable itchiness!”
△▼△▼△▼△
“—For our part, the first priority is to verify the authenticity of the information obtained. Getting in touch with Roswaal can wait. However...”
“However?”
“If, when we wish to rely on that knowledge, another alternative means presents itself, then there arises room to debate whether there’s any point in maintaining a friendly relationship with Roswaal.”
“Well, you know, they say friendship doesn’t ask for anything in return...”
At Subaru’s unpersuasive follow-up, Russell made a distinctly sour face. One would like to think human relationships aren’t constructed purely by tallying merits and demerits, but it’s also hard to measure the values of the “Six Tongues” chief by ordinary common sense.
“All the more since the other party is Roswaal... over there, I can’t even tell by what standard he looks at people, so I feel like we can’t complain no matter how others see us.”
For all that, he did think Roswaal had a surprisingly human side—but the issue was how he brazenly stepped right over that humanity in pursuit of a solid sense of purpose. With thoughts of the Roswaal–Russell friendship question tucked away in the corner of his mind,
“But is this really okay? We’ve been avoiding any conspicuous moves so the enemy wouldn’t find us, and now we’ve gone and cleared people out of a sightseeing spot.”
“Of course, it’s not a very desirable situation. No matter how many measures you take, rumors seep out like raindrops. So I expect this will be a one-night-only gamble.”
“One night, huh.”
Looking up at the night sky, Subaru clenched his fist at the unreliability of the limited time. Right now, Beatrice was circling the stump of the Great Tree, searching for the Port—the kind of hole in space that, through the effect of “Door Crossing,” would connect to the castle. But according to her, it’s been hundreds of years since she last left the castle, and the environment around the Port should have changed drastically.
“Even if Beako’s the only one who can look for the key, it’s frustrating that all we can do is leave it to her. I’m begging you, don’t rush it. But hurry as much as you can without panicking...”
“Hey! What are you spacing out for! They say they found it!”
“Seriously!?”
Just as he was in a praying frame of mind, Rachins let out a cheer, and Subaru exchanged a look with Russell before hurrying over to where Beatrice had been battling the stump. Even from afar the stump had looked like a small hill, and the closer they came, the more its out-of-spec size stood out, making it easy to understand why it could be turned into a tourist spot.
「And with a little Beako standing beside a stump like that, it looks like a scene out of a fairy tale.」
「Nice of you to say. Well, it is true that Betty is a mischievous little demon, like the Tinker Bell from the fairy tale Subaru told me about.」
「Little demon? I've only ever thought of you as a smart and cute Super-competent Great Spirit. So? So? So?」
「Honestly, you're getting way too excited! Come on, you lot, gather round.」
Even though she must be relieved to have found what they were looking for, Beatrice—wearing a smug, adorable look that gave nothing away—beckoned them over, and everyone trotted up to her. 「As expected」「Amazing!」「So it wasn’t just talk and attitude」「……Amaziiing」 they each praised her, and in high spirits, Beatrice cleared her throat with an 「ahem」,
「Honestly, there was a chance the Port was keyed to the Great Tree as its base, so I figured it was fifty-fifty whether this would work. But it's here safe and sound. It's just asleep, I suppose.」
「Asleep, you say. In that case, it should be possible to wake it?」
「Naturally.――Betty is Mother's greatest masterpiece, after all.」
Beatrice flashed a grin and reached her small hand out to Subaru. Taking that as only natural, Subaru took her hand, scooped up her light body in one motion, and stood together where Beatrice had been. And then――
「Subaru, I need to borrow your strength to do 『Door Crossing』.」
「Don't be ridiculous. Ever since I dragged you out of there, I've been the one borrowing your strength nonstop!」
「――Here we go.」
Through their joined hands and touching bodies, Subaru's mana flowed into Beatrice.――Apparently, it was quite a formidable heavy sleeper, and he could tell the stored mana was being drained all at once. Hopefully, it would wake up before Subaru withered and ran dry――
「...I can't help you with mana depletion, so please don't die, okay?」
「Don't jinx it……!」
He snapped back at Ferris, who had muttered under his breath, perhaps anxious at how Subaru's mana was dwindling by the second.――It was right after that. Suddenly, the stump throbbed.――No, there was a reaction in the space just in front of it.
「――――」
There wasn't actually any sound. But everyone there felt, likely through the gate, a great surge of mana. Before long, a pale violet line of light streaked through the responsive space, slowly tracing the air, and a picture in light began to be drawn there.
「This is……」
「――I see. A door.」
Crusch voiced the conclusion that lay beyond astonishment, and just as she said, the violet light that began at Beatrice's raised hand traced the air and created there a single door of light――a Port. It was an unmistakably perfect entrance to a hidden dungeon.
「How is its condition?」
「It's stable. It only gave us trouble waking up; once awakened, it should hold for a while. Even if Betty lets go... as you can see.」
As Beatrice withdrew her hand, Subaru also took a step back. Even so, the Port that had formed before them did not change, nor did it vanish from under their feet. Seeing that, Russell dipped his chin with a 「Very well」,
「――『Black Dog』」
「Yeah, yeah, I get it, I get it. Best to have the dangerous, deadly jobs done by the guy whose death won’t make anyone’s heart ache or break, riiight!」
「It's merely a matter of the right person in the right place. You, too, are still a piece whose loss would hurt.」
「Kuhaha! I'm so happy and so miserable I'm gonna cry!」
Waggling his hand and tossing out snide remarks, 『Black Dog』 stepped forward. He reached his hand toward the Port and, without hesitation, went to throw it open. At his back, 「『Black Dog』」, came a high-pitched call from 『White Sheep』,
「P-please be careful.」
「Good grief, every last one of you…… This is that little squirt's first trip home in years, decades, centuries, right? Don't badmouth her family home that much!」
Though it was still a retort, unlike what he'd thrown at Russell, his words to 『White Sheep』 seemed to carry a shade of concern for her. Their relationship was hard to grasp, but strangely enough, for all their back-and-forth, they felt like they trusted each other. Anyway――
「――――」
Before everyone’s eyes, 『Black Dog』 touched the Port—and, slickly, his figure was swallowed by the far side of space. There really was an entrance to an invisible space hanging in midair. 『Black Dog』’s body did not pass through to the far side of the Port, but reached somewhere connected across a partition of space. Then, as Subaru and the others held their breath and waited, some time passed—and slowly, only his hand returned to this side, and he gave a firm thumbs-up.
"This is..."
"Ah, that’s like a sign that says it’s okay. It’s a gesture from back home."
"Lately, 『Gray Star』 has been getting along with 『Black Dog』, right?"
"Getting along... are we really getting along? Well, figuring out who he won’t bite is progress, at least."
I hadn’t meant anything by it, but sending a sign with my fingers made me realize, only now, that we were treating him like a dog, just like his code name, 『Black Dog』. A big dog that won’t warm up to people like that—way too dangerous to ever keep near Beatrice. In any case—
"If there’s no problem, then it’s fine. —『White Sheep』, you’re next."
"Y-yes! Um... here I go!"
Urged on by Russell, 『White Sheep』, hesitating a little, timidly took the hand of 『Black Dog』, which was still sticking out on this side. At once, her hand was yanked in, and with a shriek of "Eek!", her figure vanished beyond the Port as well.
"Tch, why the hell do I have to go to some castle connected to the 『Witch』...?"
"Stop grumbling, 『Long Tongue』. Your quick wits are dependable. Felt has found herself a good retainer."
"Shut it! I ain’t no damn retainer! I’m just along for the ride, that’s all!"
With that, Rachins—who, apparently, had wound up sticking around up to the Royal Selection—and the seemingly fearless Crusch boarded the Port. Just before following after them, Ferris glanced over here, perhaps worried about Subaru’s earlier exhaustion.
"I’m fine, fit as a fiddle. If anything, you look light enough that I could pick you up too."
"No thanks! ...If anything comes up, tell me right away, okay?"
With just that said, Ferris also went beyond the Port. As Subaru saw him off, Beatrice stirred in his arms,
"He said it, didn’t he."
"He sure did. —So, Russell, are you coming too?"
Seeing off the parade of people who had slipped through the Port, Subaru looked to the last one remaining—Russell. Russell was the head of 『Six Tongues』, holding an irreplaceable post. Assuming, of course, that he wouldn’t be going in person to the scene, Subaru asked him, but unexpectedly he shook his head.
"If possible, I would also prefer to devote myself to giving orders, but since we’re going to be looking into the 『Witch』’s research, there’s no reason not to make use of the value of these eyes."
"Ah, the Blessing of Appraisal."
"Indeed. When it comes to the 『Witch』’s research, we must be prepared for things beyond ordinary understanding. Still, even when I cannot understand something, these eyes can judge whether it has value, and how much."
"I see... put that way, it’s definitely a must-have skill for a dungeon attack."
In hack-and-slash games where you dive into dungeons, it’s common to bring back unidentified items and not know whether they’re worth anything until you check them on the surface, but Russell’s blessing can at least discern an item’s value. It’s a real boon not to have to grab things at random or wear yourself out for nothing.
"Therefore, I’ll leave securing this site to other personnel and go with you."
With that, Russell snapped his fingers and sent a complex set of hand signals toward the Dragon Carriage. They seemed to be code signs unique to 『Six Tongues』; Subaru saw them used now and then and was trying to learn them as needed, but it wasn’t going well.
"It would be a problem if they were easy to learn, so that’s correct. Though it’s also a problem when someone has no desire to learn them at all, like 『Black Dog』."
"『Black Dog』 seemed to like Subaru’s hand signs, so it might just be a matter of how you teach it. Or maybe the problem lies with the one doing the teaching, I suppose."
"Good grief. —Well then, I’ll go on ahead."
As if to plug his ears against an inconvenient topic, Russell ducked through the Port first and crossed over. That left only Subaru and Beatrice in front of the tree stump. They could have just cleanly chased after the ones who’d gone on ahead, but—
"—I can’t do four hundred years, but how about I wait three hundred or so until you’re ready?"
"...Honestly, you fuss too much. I’m only a little nervous, that’s all."
Cradled in his arms, Beatrice let the tension that had made her body a touch stiff drain away, and she smiled softly. Then she fixed her gaze on the front door of the home she hadn’t returned to in four hundred years, and—
"—Now!" "You got it!"
Making a show of it for no reason, Subaru, holding Beatrice, hopped into the Port. In that instant, he felt himself slip through a thin veil of light; the grassy air of the Lifaus Plain fell away behind them――and in its place, a cold, dry wind greeted the two.
「――――」
He felt the solidity of stone under the soles of his feet as he landed. Right behind him, the Port connected to the remains of the Great Tree stood open just like the entrance side, and the six who had gone in first were standing a little ways off, looking around. It was dark, a place with no light source. The only reason the figures of their companions who had gone ahead were visible was because the two of them, 『Black Dog』 and Rachins, had lit fire at their fingertips as a makeshift light. A castle, perhaps. Yet the air seemed to have a peculiar weight to it; whether that was because it was a 『Witch』’s house, or the weight of four hundred years of silence, he couldn’t say.
「So this is...」
「Kugelschreiber Castle, perhaps.」
Murmuring in trepidation, Subaru gently set Beatrice, who had been patting his shoulder, down onto the floor. Beatrice stepped forward on the castle’s floor on her own feet and walked. Her footsteps rang through the interior, and the walls and columns buried in shadow, the long corridors stretching off to either side, carried that echo far away. As if welcoming home a resident returning after four hundred years.
「――――」
Shutting her eyes, Beatrice took in the air of the castle with her whole small body. Perhaps out of consideration for her feelings, the others kept from speaking; grateful for that, Subaru, in place of the soundless castle, set his hand with a light pat on Beatrice’s head. And then――
「Welcome home, Beako.」
「――. I’m home, I suppose.」
As if in answer to that greeting, the castle’s walls suddenly began to emit a soft glow. Holding up a hand to restrain the others, who had instinctively held their breath, Subaru looked around and found the pale light familiar――he remembered the inside of the Tomb of the 『Sanctuary』 glowing the same way. As expected of a place that bears the name of the 『Witch of Greed』’s castle, there seemed to be an unusually large number of points in common.
A castle.――It was, unmistakably, a castle. However――
「Even so... it’s in pretty rough shape.」
As the light drove back the darkness, the castle’s interior was illuminated more clearly than by moonlight.――And what came into view was in no condition, even out of politeness, to receive guests. Walls were caved in as if crushed by a gigantic palm; some of the thick pillars had been forcibly bent partway through. The ceiling had been gouged out in great swaths, and shattered masonry had been compacted together, inexplicably rolled into spherical lumps and left to lie. The corridors leading deeper into the castle had one side collapsed halfway along, and the doors, the windows, even the floors could no longer maintain the forms they ought to have.
「This isn’t the kind of ruin you get from being left alone for ages. Unless someone was unbelievably bad at tidying up—could this be the reason you left the castle with your mother, Beako?」
「That’s about right, I suppose. It’s true Mother wasn’t very good at tidying up, but this is something different.――The work of the 『Warlock of Melancholy』, perhaps.」
「The Warlock... of Melancholy—that’s, if I remember...」
It was a name he had once heard from Ryuzu Shima, who had been the administrator of the 『Sanctuary』. The barrier that existed in the 『Sanctuary』――he had been the impetus for its creation, and also the reason for Beatrice’s parting from her first friend.――An extra deadly sin, hidden by history.
「Subaru, you heard it from Ryuzu as well, I believe.――Hector, the 『Warlock of Melancholy』, was a man who had long been an enemy to Betty and Mother, and, while we’re at it, to Roswaal too. He fixated on Mother and shadowed her endlessly.」
「Shadowing... a stalker of a 『Witch』—what a piece of work. Was he really that smitten with your mother?」
「In the sense of warped affection, perhaps. But it wasn’t love and romance. Because Hector was Mother’s father, you see.」
「――――」
Hearing that, Subaru sucked in a breath at the unexpected revelation. His hand flew to his chest; his fingers touched the black sphere hanging from his neck, and he unconsciously clenched it.
――Hector, the 『Warlock of Melancholy』—he was the father of Echidna, the 『Witch of Greed』.
「The more the info piles up, the more that Hector sounds like a bastard. ...Ah, but when I say Echidna, I mean Beako’s Echidna, so we’re good... right? No, crap, this is confusing. Damn you, Echidna...!」
「No need to dither. Don’t worry――Hector, Mother’s father, isn’t anywhere anymore. Not just her father; her mother as well.」
「From the way you say it, her mother sounds like she’s got a story too...」
「A 『Witch』, I suppose.――Pandora, the 『Witch of Vainglory』――that was Mother’s mother.」
As if it were nothing out of the ordinary, Beatrice set off with little pattering steps. To be honest, Subaru was quite taken aback by this brand-new information.
「A father of 『Melancholy』, and a mother of 『Vainglory』...」
Both were sins of humanity that, before The Seven Deadly Sins took their present form, were included among the Old Sins. I had heard there were those who bore those bygone great sins, but to think both of them were connected to Echidna――that she was the child of a 『Witch』 and a 『Warlock』――well, when you put it that way, it does make a certain kind of sense. Come to think of it, at the tea party Echidna seemed particularly fixated on the idea of the 『Witch』. Whether that had anything to do with such origins of hers, I can’t say, but――,
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