With Transformer Subaru death, the Witch of Jealousy's power sealed within him burst forth in a violent surge.
The shadow—dark and endless.
That was the power of the dark shadow.
If left unchecked, it could very well devour half the world again.
Nanashi turned to Pandora.
"Pandora, I'll give you a chance to resist me. Take in the power of the Witch of Jealousy—digest it. Use the strength of two witches."
He grinned with amused interest.
"Wage a glorious rebellion against your beloved."
"I refuse."
Pandora didn't hesitate. She clung to Nanashi's arm, charming and affectionate.
"My love, the witch's power should belong to you. But your love—your love should belong to me."
"…"
Hiss. Nanashi was stunned.
He wasn't sure how much of what she said was genuine…
But damn, she was good at flirting.
"Tsk."
He admitted defeat—this round, at least.
He extended a hand toward the roiling darkness.
Instantly, the spreading shadow condensed, shrinking into a smooth, black orb the size of a marble. It floated gently into his palm.
But he didn't consume it with hunger.
This level of power wasn't even close to satisfying.
So, he casually slipped it into his pocket.
"This isn't all of Stella's power," Pandora said, volunteering the information. "She's not fully dead. I can still sense fragments of her energy."
Nanashi gave her a sidelong glance. "Since when did you become a tattletale?"
Pandora blinked her large, innocent eyes.
"Do you know where the Sanctuary is?"
At his question, her expression brightened. "So, you really are after the other witches!"
Nanashi smacked her rear lightly. "Less talk. Lead the way."
…
A green meadow.
Under lilac parasol-shaped flowers stood simple tea tables and chairs.
A woman with flowing white hair, dressed in elegant black, radiated a calm and intellectual grace. She sipped her tea with closed eyes.
Suddenly, her lids lifted. Surprise flashed in her grey-black irises.
"The Sanctuary's trials… have vanished."
"And the Dream Citadel… forcibly breached. Just what are you two doing here, my strange little guests?"
She turned around and smiled brightly.
Nanashi pressed Pandora's head gently. "That's the Witch of Greed, Echidna, right?"
Pandora responded sweetly, "Yes."
"Perfect."
Nanashi's starless eye fixed on Echidna.
"You're mine, too."
"Ahh!"
A gasp of astonishment slipped from her lips.
She was under someone else's control—she could feel it clearly.
Yet instead of fear, she felt overwhelming curiosity.
"How did you do that?"
The Witch of Greed—who possessed the world's greatest thirst for knowledge—leaned forward with interest.
Nanashi strolled up to the tea table without pause. "Bring me a chair."
"Of course."
Echidna opened her mouth, and a chair materialized instantly.
Nanashi sat down casually.
Pandora remained standing.
He patted his leg. "Sweetheart, want to sit on my lap?"
"Gladly."
Pandora grinned, settling onto his lap without hesitation.
Nanashi took a sip of Echidna's tea. "This tea… is it your bodily fluid?"
"In a way," Echidna replied with a smile.
"Not bad. Tastes like citrus. Your scent carries that too."
Nanashi didn't seem fazed in the slightest, giving a sincere evaluation.
While absentmindedly stroking Pandora's smooth thigh, he turned his attention to Echidna. "You look like you've got questions."
Echidna's head bobbed enthusiastically. "Tons."
"Go ahead."
"What's your name? Who are you? Why am I under your control? How did you know about my bodily-fluid tea? Why do you smell like the Witch of Jealousy? Why are you controlling Pandora? Are you lovers? And why are you here to see me?"
"…"
Nanashi raised an eyebrow. "That's way too many questions at once."
"I'm the Witch of Greed. Curiosity is my nature," she said proudly.
Desire, in her case, meant an unrelenting hunger for knowledge.
With a smirk, Nanashi tilted Pandora's chin up and examined her neck thoughtfully. Then he replied:
"I'm not telling you."
"…!"
Echidna's eyes dimmed. Her tone grew teasing. "You're truly wicked, my Master."
Hah. She really knew how to say that word.
Was she willing to throw away her pride just to chase knowledge?
Did she not notice Pandora right there, playing the role of a quiet bystander?
It didn't matter. Echidna had already accepted her new reality.
She'd tried to resist, but the control was absolute.
Everything was now a foregone conclusion.
And given Echidna's nature…
If you can't resist—
Then enjoy it.
But then Nanashi changed the subject.
"It's not like I won't tell you at all. You just have to do something for me."
Echidna's eyes sparkled. "Then tell me your condition, my Master."
"Call the other witches. I don't feel like chasing them down."
"Oh, that's easy. Master, you'd better keep your promise."
In the next instant, five figures of various sizes and appearances materialized.
All of them spoke at once.
"What do you want from us?"
The speaker was a purple-haired woman in dark attire—the Witch of Sloth, Sekhmet.
"Is there anything tasty?"
That cheerful question came from a girl confined in a legged coffin. She wore an X-shaped eye mask and a temptation-laced restraint suit—the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne.
"Is now really the time for a tea party?"
The question came from a beautiful blonde with striking blue eyes—the Witch of Wrath, Minerva.
"Hoho! I'll be the judge of this tea party!"
The voice belonged to a dark-skinned girl with green hair and a translucent skirt—the Witch of Pride, Typhon.
"Oh… as long as no one hits me, I'm fine with anything."
The one who murmured that timidly, with long pink hair, a large green scarf, and an irresistibly cute demeanor, was the Witch of Lust, Carmilla.
Only after a moment of silence did they notice—there were two more people present.
"Pandora…" Sekhmet narrowed her eyes.
The others turned as well, one by one, their gazes landing on Pandora—the Witch of Vainglory.
"Tsk tsk tsk… no one's paying attention to me? That's just too sad. My love, what do you think I should do?" she purred.
Nanashi gently brushed aside her hair.
"My love," Pandora continued sweetly, "why not teach them a little lesson? Turn them all into your slaves. Wouldn't that be lovely?"
"That's... not a bad idea."
Nanashi slowly lifted his head, his voice cold and absolute.
"I hereby declare—all of you are now my slaves."
That statement ruffled a few feathers.
Sekhmet, in particular, seemed ready to lash out, her skirt and hair rustling with rising fury.
But before she—or any of them—could act, four of the witches dropped to their knees in unison. Daphne lowered her head.
"Master."
The word echoed clearly, all in perfect harmony.
"Well done," Nanashi said, clearly pleased. "You may stand."
Obediently, they rose to their feet.
"!!!?"
Sekhmet stared in disbelief.
What… was this?
"Why can't I use my powers on you?!"
The other witches mirrored her confusion and frustration.
"'Slaves' means just that," Nanashi said plainly. "Why would I let you lift a finger against your master?"
"Just stand there and be quiet."
He didn't have the patience for dramas. Not now. He was still missing one piece—the Witch of Envy.
"…"
The five witches fell silent.
"Can you summon the Witch of Jealousy?" he asked.
Echidna looked more and more bewildered.
Though the witches were long dead, their powers clearly still lingered here.
The ability to bend them to his will—so easily, so absolutely—was beyond comprehension.
"Satella… she sealed herself off," Echidna muttered. "But if we lower the Dream City's defenses, she should be able to enter. Still, how do we lure her in?"
Nanashi thought for a moment. Then he shrugged.
"Just tell her Natsuki Subaru is here."
"…Oh?"
Echidna did as instructed.
Almost instantly, black shadows oozed in.
The Witch of Jealousy appeared, cloaked in darkness.
She was the Witch of Jealousy—paranoia incarnate.
"Subaru Natsuki… Subaru Natsuki… Subaru Natsuki…"
Nanashi had expected some twisted variation of "I love you."
What came instead caught him completely off guard.
"Where? Where is he? I'll kill him! Kill him! KILL HIM!!!"
"???"
Nanashi blinked.
This wasn't in the script.
Pandora wrapped her arms around his neck and nestled against his chest, delighted.
"From love to hate… ahhh, what a tragic little drama. Subarashi~"
"Oh?"
So, the impersonator Natsuki Subaru had done some serious emotional damage.
Nanashi finally understood just how terrifying those transformers were.
To take on someone's form wasn't just physical—it was spiritual.
Their thoughts could be entirely different, yet no one in this world could tell the difference.
Not even the Witch of Jealousy.
Because to the world, he was Natsuki Subaru. In body and in soul.
"Where is Natsuki Subaru!?"
Satella turned sharply, eyes scanning the area in manic desperation.
"I'm sorry," Nanashi said calmly. "I killed him."
Her gaze snapped to him beneath her hood.
"You… killed him? He was mine to kill!"
Hatred boiled in her voice, thick and unrestrained.
Nanashi frowned.
He didn't particularly like the obsessive types.
Archon(*Ruler) activated.
"Come here."
"…"
The Witch of Jealousy obeyed, stepping forward slowly.
His Mystic Death Eyes glinted.
A slash—her palm was severed.
Death line broken.
The suffocating aura lifted.
"…Master, did you kill her?"
The voice came from her mouth again—but this time, there was clarity. Sanity.
"It was convenient. I don't like broken toys."
To him, the personality split into madness and obsession was a defect.
He didn't need defects.
Now that he'd taken control of the last witch, there were no more warnings. No "mission complete" screens. No dramatic flares marking the end of his journey.
Which meant there were likely still monsters and Witch Cult remnants to clean up.
Satella lowered her hood.
"Your face," Nanashi said, intrigued. "It really does look like Emilia's."
A perfect match.
Uncanny.