"The Gospel, also known as the Book of Wisdom, is a prophetic tome that records every timeline. Through it, Roswaal can see prophecies of the past and even the future—including that boy's Return by Death."
As soon as Echidna finished speaking, the once cloudless sky began to be swallowed by sudden rolling clouds. The emerald-green hills were cast into shadow.
Seeing this, Echidna lifted her hand and gave a light wave, dispersing the clouds. The scenery returned to its original brightness.
"Why?"
"Hm?"
Hearing the Shogun's sudden question, she looked slightly puzzled.
"A book that records the past and future—why would such a rare treasure fall into Roswaal's hands? If it belongs to you, why do copies of it exist?"
She voiced her confusion.
"...Well, that is a rather long story."
Echidna took another sip of tea.
"Then—"
"Alright, alright~ I'll keep it short~ I know~ Haa..."
Echidna rolled her eyes at her in mild exasperation. The Shogun stopped herself mid-sentence, embarrassed at having her thoughts seen through, and lightly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Pfft... If we're going to talk about why he has the Gospel, we need to start with the origins of the Witch Cult."
Echidna smiled indulgently at the small gesture before beginning her tale—telling her about her own past, though only in broad strokes. If she went into detail, it would take quite some time.
"..."
She did not interrupt. She simply sat across from her, listening quietly, her violet eyes fixed steadily on Echidna's.
"Before I continue, I'd like to hear your opinion of the Witch Cult."
Echidna suddenly shifted the topic with a casual question.
"...A bunch of lunatics."
She answered bluntly.
"Pfft~ Hahaha~! As expected of you~!"
Echidna covered her mouth and laughed.
"Why are you laughing? Was I wrong? Or have I slandered them unfairly?"
She looked at her in confusion, a faint trace of doubt flickering in her clear eyes.
"No, no. I was simply admiring how you struck at the heart of the matter in a single sentence."
Echidna exhaled and composed herself.
"Haa..."
The Shogun let out a helpless sigh. She instinctively reached for her teacup, intending to drink, but hesitated when she remembered it had once been the other's bodily fluid. Awkwardly, she set it back down.
"...Go on. That's real tea I poured for you."
Echidna spoke as though coaxing a child.
"...?"
She blinked, then suspiciously sniffed the cup. It really was just ordinary tea. She took a cautious sip before finally relaxing and drinking properly.
"Pfft~ You really are like a child."
Echidna teased with a playful smile.
"Hurry up and continue. Stop dawdling...///"
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she urged her on.
"Alright, alright~ Haa... In truth, the Witch Cult was not always as extreme as it is now. It began as a fairly normal religious organization."
Echidna stopped teasing and spoke seriously.
"How rare."
She took another sip of tea, her tone dry.
"Just as I said, the Witch Cult was originally founded by believers willing to worship and revere the Witches, forming a doctrine centered around them. There was almost no killing or conflict."
"However... as the organization grew, it was inevitable that some within it began advocating more radical methods of upholding their faith."
Echidna set down her teacup, her expression gradually turning sorrowful.
"As time passed, the number of such people increased. There's a saying that humans tend to follow the crowd—that saying is entirely true. Some were misled by the radicals' rhetoric and abandoned their former beliefs."
"Eventually, the Witch Cult was forced to split into two factions: the radical faction led by the Witch of Vainglory, and the moderate faction led by the Witch of Greed."
After saying this, Echidna subconsciously glanced at the Shogun.
"Haa... I think I can guess what happened next."
Her expression grew complicated.
"Mm... Just as you suspect. Over the following years, tensions between the two factions escalated until they finally erupted at a certain point in time."
"I took Roswaal as my disciple roughly a year before that eruption. That child was quite talented—gifted, quick to grasp magic. He could be considered one of my finest students. But when the conflict broke out, everything changed."
"Long before the final eruption, we were already attacked by her subordinates. That was when I erected the Sanctuary barrier and managed to eliminate them completely. From that point onward, I never appeared before outsiders again. The moderate faction immediately fell into disadvantage. Even centuries later, that remains the case. As for what the Witch of Vainglory did afterward... I assume she already showed you?"
Echidna slowly rose to her feet, stepping out from beneath the parasol. She moved to stand close beside the Shogun, leaning her hips lightly against the edge of the tea table directly in front of her, facing her at close range.
"..."
The Shogun lifted her gaze briefly to look at Echidna leaning there, but said nothing.
"What happened to Roswaal back then?"
She asked.
"He fought alone to repel the invaders, but was gravely injured and fell unconscious."
Echidna glanced at the top of her head and, as she spoke, gently plucked a stray flower petal from her hair.
"You never went to see him afterward?"
The Shogun glanced at the petal in Echidna's fingers and continued questioning.
"Mm... There was no need."
Echidna shook her head.
"Did he believe you were killed by the radicals?"
"Probably..."
She shrugged.
"After that, in order to resurrect me, he obtained another copy of the Gospel—an inferior imitation created by enchanting a replica based on my Book of Wisdom. It can also glimpse the past and future, but it is flawed. He has always acted according to the answers written in that book, treating it as a 'guide.' Because it was imbued with the magic of my original book, he believes that by following its instructions, he will one day see my true self again."
Echidna folded her arms and looked out across the vast green oasis, her eyes filled with complicated emotion.
"Do you know why he is so obsessed with you?"
"I don't know. Perhaps admiration? Or... love? I treated him quite well back then. It wouldn't be strange if he developed such feelings. And I know he's a stubborn man."
Echidna shrugged nonchalantly.
"..."
The Shogun stared at her, utterly speechless.
"W-What is it?///"
Under that stare, Echidna flushed and puffed her cheeks in protest.
"What you just said makes you sound like a scumbag."
She replied bluntly.
"Hah?! Of course not! What's wrong with a teacher being gentle toward her student? Nothing at all~!"
Echidna's face reddened instantly as she leaned closer, arguing with righteous indignation.
"He's done countless inhuman things for your sake."
The Shogun mocked lightly.
"That is indeed partly my fault... I had more important matters to attend to at the time and couldn't spare attention for anything else. Haa..."
Echidna rubbed her cheek awkwardly.
"Haa... In any case, you should at least speak to him. Don't let him continue spiraling like this. Who knows what he might do next."
With that, the Shogun prepared to rise.
"The tea was good. Much better than someone's bodily fluids."
She tossed out the teasing remark as she turned to leave.
"Wait—are you leaving already?"
Seeing her stand, Echidna asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"What else would I do? There's nothing particularly interesting here."
The Shogun paused and turned back with a dry expression.
"Ugh~ Do you know how much that hurts? And after I've told you so much! Aren't you going to tell me about yourself? This is a deal! A contract! Did you forget?"
Echidna feigned heartbreak, then suddenly rapped her knuckles against the table like a class monitor demanding homework.
"You're right... I almost forgot. Haa..."
She sighed and sat back down.
But the moment she settled into her seat—
Hum...
Crack!
A familiar sensation of spatial stagnation spread around her. The once-bright plains faded into dull gray, beginning to fracture.
This feeling... Don't tell me...
Weariness filled her.
That kid Natsuki Subaru didn't die again, did he?
Just as she expected, fragments of the mansion began flickering into existence around her like shards of memory—bloodstains, ruin, and... the long-absent Bowel Hunter. She wasn't dead after all?
"Haa... It seems you have something more urgent to deal with. My matter can wait."
Echidna showed no surprise and conceded easily.
"Sorry... I—"
"I know. But the next time you regress and see me again, you must tell me, alright~? I want you to say it to me first~"
Echidna lifted a finger and gently pressed it against her lips at intimate proximity, whispering softly.
"How do I know that version of you will believe me—"
"'I' will believe you. Definitely. Just tell me that I've already invited you to four tea parties. That 'I' will understand."
Crack!
In the next instant, space twisted once more—
"Then I'll see you in the next cycle, my dear~"
Hum...
A burst of white light rushed toward her, swallowing Echidna and the entire space. Her consciousness drifted away.
...
"Emilia..."
"...Shogun? What's wrong?"
That day, just as Emilia was about to head out with Ram to fetch water, she saw the Shogun already waiting outside. Upon noticing Emilia and Ram stepping out together, the Shogun walked over to stand before them.
"Lady Shogun?"
Seeing the look on the Shogun's face, Ram instinctively frowned. A bad premonition rose within her.
"...It's a long story. The two of you, come with me first."
After saying that, she turned and headed toward the back corner of the house.
"...?" ×2
The two exchanged glances, set down their buckets, and followed.
The three now stood on a small path in the backyard. No one else was around. It was quiet.
"Shogun, did something happen?"
Emilia asked first.
"Haa... Tomorrow morning, I'll be returning to the mansion."
She leaned against the wall as she spoke.
"Eh?" ×2
Both of them froze in surprise.
"Why?"
Ram asked.
"..."
Emilia, however, seemed to understand something, but with Ram present, she did not say it aloud.
"Something seems to have happened at the mansion. I'll go back and take a look. Don't worry. It's nothing major."
The Shogun offered a simplified explanation to gloss it over.
"...Was it a letter from Frederica?"
Ram thought for a moment before asking.
"...Yes. She said the mansion needs me there."
She went along with the suggestion.
"I see. Then it can't be helped... Please rest assured, Ram will take care of the Sanctuary in your absence."
Ram did not press further and instead reassured her.
"Thank you. Emilia will be in your care as well."
She glanced at the silver-haired girl beside her and entrusted her to Ram.
"Yes, please rest assured."
"Ram? Where are you?"
At that moment, Rem's voice came from the front of the house. She was clearly looking for her sister, calling out softly.
"...!"
Ram instinctively turned toward the sound, then bowed apologetically to the two of them.
"My apologies, Lady Shogun, Lady Emilia. Ram will take her leave for a moment."
"It's fine. Go ahead."
Emilia smiled and gestured for her to go tend to her sister.
"Thank you."
Ram wasted no time and quickly headed toward Rem.
("What's wrong, Rem?")
("Um... about the cooking... I think I messed it up. I'm sorry... Ram.")
("It's alright. Come, big sister will teach you.")
("Mm~!")
The sisters' voices gradually faded into the distance. Once the door shut, the sound disappeared entirely.
"Shogun, what really happened? Did you... return again recently?"
Emilia stepped closer and lowered her voice in concern.
"..." She nodded silently.
"Why? At the mansion? Did Subaru—"
"It seems he was slaughtered by the Bowel Hunter from before."
She answered plainly.
"Eh? But... didn't we already—"
"She didn't seem like an ordinary person. She may possess some sort of regenerative ability. I don't know the details yet. Regardless, I need to go back and see for myself. I will not allow her to appear before me a third time."
Her eyes gradually turned cold.
"I understand. Then go tomorrow, Shogun... I'll be fine on my own."
Emilia straightened herself and looked at her firmly.
"Are you sure? You won't be afraid?"
She asked, still uneasy.
"It's alright. Ram is here, and everyone else too. I'll be fine."
Emilia smiled.
"Mm... Good."
...
Early the next morning, Ram had intended to prepare a carriage for her, but she refused. Since she was returning alone, there was no need for one. Flying would be faster and waste no time.
"Pandora."
She turned toward the translucent girl at her side.
"Yes, Shogun."
This return was different from the last. She had not brought up what happened that night. Even so, the girl's attitude toward her had not changed in the slightest. For certain reasons, she did not voice everything aloud. There would be time later. Whenever she wished to tell Pandora, she could.
"You... can stay here, right?"
She asked in a negotiating tone.
"Mm, of course. If anything happens, I will protect them."
Pandora agreed immediately, without a single objection, as obedient as ever.
"Mm... Thank you."
Seeing her compliant expression, she smiled gently. She almost reached out to pat the girl's head out of habit—but stopped herself midway. After all, Pandora was older than she was. It would feel as though she were acting like an older sister.
[If you want to pat her, just do it. She probably wouldn't mind.]
Ei suggested.
'There will be plenty of chances later. More important matters first.'
[Haa... True.]
Ei fell silent. She did not know what her daughter had done in the Sanctuary before, nor what had happened at the mansion to trigger another return. But regardless, she trusted her completely. She had no desire to involve herself in most matters of this world. This was the Shogun's journey. She was merely accompanying her. Besides, she did not care to understand it all. Wherever the Shogun went, she would follow.
Tap... tap...
Just as she was about to take to the sky, a major nuisance approached.
Garfiel.
Following the previous course of events, she had beaten him badly last time. He might still hold a grudge. Judging by his expression now, he was clearly in a foul mood as he strode over and blocked her path.
"What are you doing?"
She asked.
"Tch... I should be asking you that, you damn woman! Where do you think you're going, huh?!"
He roared violently.
"...I'm returning to the mansion. There's trouble there."
She answered bluntly.
"Returning to the mansion? Heh, stop lying! You think I'm stupid?! You're trying to pull something, aren't you?! Planning to sneak them out of the Sanctuary behind my back?! I told you—no way!!"
His body began to swell, muscles bulging like a beast as the ground trembled beneath him.
"..."
He's unbelievably stupid. And unbelievably loud. If he were not Frederica's brother, she would have already cut him down. That booming voice alone was enough to give her a headache.
"You damn witch's bitch! Don't pretend! The stench of the Witch on you makes me sick! Letting you leave would be my failure! Witch's follower—you're not taking a single step out of the Sanctuary today—"
"Pandora..."
She finally said, her patience exhausted.
"Of course~"
In the next instant—
Pandora drifted to Garfiel's side, shifting from transparency into solid form. Leaning close to his ear, her delicate voice echoed softly.
"Mr. Garfiel, you saw nothing today. You thought nothing. You said nothing. You remember nothing about today. You have not left your room. You are lying in your bed, having just woken up."
"I—"
The next second, his words were forcibly cut off.
The figure standing before her vanished, as though it had all been a dream.
"Haa... How noisy."
The Shogun sighed in mental exhaustion.
[Indeed.]
Ei sounded equally tired.
"Shogun, Mother... may you have a smooth journey."
Pandora did not even glance in the direction Garfiel had disappeared. She simply walked to stand before them and offered her gentle farewell.
"Mm... You as well. Be careful."
She replied.
"When you return, will you tell me about the 'previous loop' you kept from me?"
Pandora smiled serenely, her meaning clear.
"You noticed?"
She blinked.
"Mm. It was obvious."
Pandora nodded.
"...I will. I'll tell you when I return."
Crackle—
In the next moment, she transformed into a streak of lightning, shooting straight into the sky. Like a silver dragon, she streaked toward the distant Mathers mansion.