Whether it is a Witch or a Sin Archbishop, they are both existences that pursue "Love".
Perhaps different people have vastly different understandings of "Love," but in essence, they have actually been birds of a feather from the very beginning.
"It truly is unbelievable, Vainglory. I never expected that a day would come when we would stand on the same front."
Mathers domain, inside the Roswaal Mansion.
The [Witch of Greed] Echidna, who had obtained a youthful body and resurrected, accepted the black tea handed to her by the maid, Ram. While taking a satisfied sip, she looked at Pandora seated on the sofa before her.
"I remember that the Sanctuary was originally built to guard against you, as was the Forbidden Library located within this mansion."
"And yet, here you are, grandly arriving at this place. Is this not a form of irony?"
Faced with Echidna's words—which could have been self-mockery or sarcasm—Pandora simply maintained her face as calm as an ancient well. She quietly gazed at the empty teacup placed before her, the corners of her mouth forever holding a smile that concealed her thoughts.
"Roswaal, this is a bit too discourteous."
"Not even providing tea to a guest? If news of this spreads, where will you put your face as a Margrave?"
Echidna opened one eye to glance at the space in front of Pandora, speaking with a faint smile to Roswaal and the others standing in attendance.
"Please forgive my rudeness, my respected Teacher."
"Although this lady and I are enemies, I have not forgotten basic etiquette."
"It is just that Ram and the others refused to serve this lady. You know that although we are nominally in a master-servant relationship, it is difficult for me to force them."
Roswaal, having shed his clown makeup for a proper tailcoat, bowed deeply toward Echidna and responded with a smile.
Having always acted according to the Gospel, he had finally achieved his obsession. After delivering the small object he had inadvertently picked up to the Sanctuary, he witnessed his teacher's resurrection. Although he was cooperating with the [Witch of Vainglory], his guarded gaze had not lessened in the slightest.
His eyes occasionally swept over Pandora, the [Witch of Vainglory]. Even after hundreds of years, the disgust and hatred hidden in the depths of his eyes would not change just because of a cooperation or two directed by his teacher.
"Yes, Lady Echidna. Both Ram and Rem refuse to provide service to this woman who is filled with a foul stench."
Rem and Ram were the same; the two Oni maids lifted the hems of their skirts and curtsied, saying:
"Or perhaps it should be said that Ram and Rem restraining themselves from immediately attacking her is already the utmost limit of our endurance."
"If Lady Echidna falls out with this woman, please let Ram and Rem know immediately. We will definitely help Lady Echidna kill this woman."
"Betty feels the same, in fact."
Even the blonde loli spirit, Beatrice, who had walked out of the Forbidden Library and was currently sitting on a booster chair, spoke the same words.
Almost everyone present looked at Pandora with eyes full of disgust or hatred, though this was indeed what she deserved.
"What is going on? This suffocating atmosphere!"
Standing to the side in his butler uniform, Natsuki Subaru expressed the anxiety carved into his bones as a Japanese person.
Although he had also witnessed how terrifying the Witch named Pandora was as an enemy, shouldn't it be a good thing if she was an ally?
"Emilia-tan, what exactly is..."
"Shh."
Emilia made a hushing gesture. Clearly, her impression of this woman named Pandora who appeared in the mansion was not very good either. It was hard to imagine that someone as naturally kind as her would generate feelings of "loathing" toward a person she had never met. Even though she didn't have a shred of memory regarding Pandora.
Frowning deeply, Emilia stared tightly at the face of the [Witch of Vainglory], who cared not a whit for the gazes of those around her. Like Rem, Ram, and the others, she was restraining herself—restraining herself from attacking her.
"Truly a woman of heavy sins, Vainglory."
"Why don't you just commit suicide here? Perhaps everyone's mood would improve slightly if you died?"
"You may kill me at any time."
"If that will calm your moods."
Pandora raised her gaze. Her answer exceeded the expectations of everyone except Echidna. But before her voice could even fall, a blade of wind flew out from Ram's hand!
Chi-la—!
With only the sound of flesh tearing, Pandora's head flew into the air, right before Natsuki Subaru's shocked, gaping face!
"Wha—?!"
But before Natsuki Subaru could cry out in alarm, in just the blink of an eye, the headless corpse of the decapitated Pandora vanished. The platinum-blonde-haired Witch reappeared in her original spot on the sofa. Aside from some bloodstains on the backrest, it was as if that horrifying scene just now had never happened.
"Tch, a woman with a tough life."
"Wait, Ram!"
Seeing this, Ram wanted to launch another attack but was stopped by Natsuki Subaru.
"What exactly is the situation? Although this guy called the [Witch of Vainglory] was indeed an enemy of everyone in the Kingdom before, isn't it a good thing that she's willing to join us now?"
"She's so powerful. If she's willing to support Emilia-tan, isn't the possibility of Emilia-tan becoming the ruler even higher?"
Natsuki Subaru asked his questions. Not understanding the deep-seated love and hate among the group, he tried to analyze the problem from an absolutely rational perspective.
"You don't understand, Barusu."
"This woman has a blood feud with everyone present."
"...Blood feud?"
"If Rem remembers correctly, when the village where Rem and Sister lived was destroyed by the Witch Cult, this woman was observing not far away."
"So, Subaru, this is none of your business. Rem will take you away."
"Hey, wait, I haven't...!"
Natsuki Subaru seemed to want to say more, but he was grabbed by the arm and dragged away by Rem, whose attitude was tougher than ever before.
"Is the mood a bit better now, everyone?"
Thus, only those relevant to the situation remained on the scene, including Emilia, who had lost her childhood memories.
"You may kill me at any time. I also do not mind letting you kill me a few more times. I will not regret my actions, because all of that was worth it."
"I am merely practicing my 'Love'. Greed, you should also understand what sorrowful existences we Witches are."
"Mm-hm~"
Echidna took a sip of tea, seemingly unwilling to comment.
"Oh, right..."
Pandora looked toward Emilia.
"Silver-haired half-elf. Once, I envied you greatly, because you held the key that could practice my Love."
"But now, I do not need you anymore, so I shall release the 'Vainglory' upon you."
"Uh—?!"
As Pandora's gentle words fell, Emilia's pupils suddenly contracted. The memories that had been sealed by "Vainglory" abruptly exploded within her mind!
"Father, Mother..."
"Geuse... Fortuna...!"
When the dust-laden memories were awakened once more, the look in Emilia's eyes as she gazed at Pandora changed abruptly. Countless ice spikes instantly emerged around her, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply!
"Die—!"
"Die! Die! Die!!!"
Pu-chi! Pu-chi! Pu-chi!
The ice spikes continuously pierced Pandora's head, heart, stomach, and intestines. But every time Pandora's life was taken, the Authority of Vainglory would cause her to appear unharmed in her original spot the very next moment.
"Die... Ugh..."
"Why... So it was..."
As if venting her emotions, Emilia killed this [Witch of Vainglory] an unknown number of times. It wasn't until her magic power was exhausted that she collapsed to the ground like a helpless little girl, sobbing aloud.
"No... Lady Echidna, Mr. Roswaal, I absolutely will not accept cooperation with her!"
Whether she had cried her tears dry, or finally achieved growth through the experiences of these years, Emilia supported herself up with Ram's help and spoke decisively to Echidna.
Pandora, this Witch who had committed countless heinous crimes—what meaning would there be in becoming the ruler if it meant cooperating with her! With her evil, it would only accelerate the destruction of the Kingdom and even the world!
"Alright, little half-elf. Why don't we listen to her conditions?"
Echidna finally spoke. She looked at Pandora, waiting for her to state the true price.
"'Love' is truly wonderful. The hate born after losing it is as intense as the Love was. Even that Gentleman and Lady Great Witch cannot be exempt from vulgarity."
"How about this, Greed. You should also know the reason Lady Great Witch chose to shelter and keep me."
"I can allow you all to regain the 'Love' you have lost. The family members, friends, and lovers you once lost—I can resurrect them all."
"Of course, the past me could not do this. But after receiving Lady Great Witch's support, this has also become possible for me."
"Resurrect everyone?"
Upon hearing the condition stated by Pandora, everyone except Echidna was stunned.
Including Roswaal. Having been an enemy of the [Witch of Vainglory], he naturally knew the power of the Authority of Vainglory, but he had never thought it could be used to resurrect people who had been dead for a long time.
This was indeed a price the group could not refuse. After hearing this price, even Emilia, who held the deepest hatred for Pandora, wavered.
"Can you really resurrect everyone?"
"Of course. Greed can testify to that."
"Lady Echidna, is what she said...?"
Everyone's eyes turned in unison to the [Witch of Greed] Echidna, causing her to helplessly put down her teacup.
"What she said is indeed not false. If she could not achieve at least this much, I would not have agreed to let her come here."
"An unprecedented upheaval is about to arrive."
"Perhaps these words should not be spoken personally by me, a Witch who likewise cannot empathize with you, but now is indeed the time to gather all usable power."
"Therefore, [Witch of Vainglory], Pandora."
"I, as the [Witch of Greed], agree to the alliance with you."
"That is naturally for the best."
The corners of Pandora's mouth still held a smile. No one knew if she had ever reflected on her actions. What exactly did she consider life to be?
With the ability to even resurrect those who passed away hundreds of years ago after gaining the Great Witch's support, what attitude would she take toward life in the future?
But Echidna, being a Witch herself, understood. This is what a "Witch" is.
A group of existences who try every means to understand the "Love" that should only exist between living beings, who chase after "Love," yet can never obtain "Love".
In this light, that Great Witch who served as their new leader was slightly of an anomaly—
Clearly, she was as indifferent to life as they were, yet she could obtain the "Love" that only exists between living beings.
—I really am curious about the expression on the face of the Witch of Envy, the only one absent from this "Tea Party". It is a pity she is not the Witch of Envy, otherwise, she would be weeping with jealousy by now.—
Echidna toyed with the necklace on her chest used to store the souls of the other five Witches of Sin, involuntarily thinking this.
Rumble, rumble...
And at this very moment, the sound of an engine resembling that of a public transit bus suddenly came from the garden outside the mansion. Echidna had never heard this sound before, causing her, the [Witch of Greed], to feel subconsciously curious as she cast her gaze out the mansion window.
Of course, there was also Natsuki Subaru, who was bored and cleaning after being dragged away by Rem. Currently situated on the balcony of the mansion's second floor, his eyes widened in disbelief at the bus that had appeared in the mansion's garden! He rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn't hallucinating!
"Is this the Other World?"
"What a huge house and garden. This must be a place where only especially wealthy people can live, desu wa!"
"Have we arrived at the stop? No, the doors haven't opened. It looks like we can't get off yet..."
The girls inside the bus were chattering noisily like a gathering of long-tailed tits.
From the front door of the bus, the figure of a girl draped in a pitch-black cloak stepped through the door and alighted. Her very existence, merely by appearing, caused the mana and spirits in the air to become uneasy and restless!
And if one possessed high spiritual perception, one could even see a bizarre red moon floating in the sky, outshining even the sun—
"That person... gives Betty a very scary feeling, just like a Death God..."
"She is..."
People inside the mansion couldn't help but feel nervous. Facing this white-haired girl they had never met, magicians of the level of Emilia and Roswaal couldn't even gather mana.
But the white-haired girl did not display hostility. Her footsteps stopped just outside the mansion's door. Although she wore an expressionless look, she urged the Witches inside the mansion as if impatient:
"Witches."
"It is time to depart."
"Tripoka still has to go back to see Your Holiness. I do not want to waste too much time on the road..."
"Do you understand?"
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