Early the next morning, as the dew still clung to the leaves, Natsuki Subaru gazed up at the entrance of the old ruins, the graveyard, where he had visited yesterday.

Since he was pressed for time yesterday, he hadn’t had the chance to properly admire the exterior, but looking at it now, it was surprisingly well-maintained.

The overgrown vines ran along the entrance and walls, but the surrounding flora was neatly arranged, and signs of repairs could be seen on the graveyard itself, suggesting efforts to mend any deterioration over the years.

“I just can’t quite figure out the stance these folks have towards the graveyard,” Subaru muttered, as he touched the weathered wall with a slightly sunburned hand.

He reflected on the conversation he’d had last night with Garfiel and Ryuzu, while Roswaal was confined to his room. They wanted Emilia to undertake the trial, hoping that their release would follow her being trapped in this “Sanctuary” as a result.

“From that line of thinking, the witches would be nothing but nuisances to Garfiel and the others, yet they treat this graveyard with such care…”

“More like the other way around, don’t you think? The people here probably feel bound to this place because of the graveyard. Until someone conquers that ‘trial,’ they can’t let this graveyard fall to ruin. If it meant tearing it down for freedom, I reckon that Garfiel would have done so ages ago,” Otto added, who had been examining the graveyard behind Subaru.

Early in the morning, he had been awakened suddenly from his sleep in the dragon carriage and had been dragged into what was essentially a graveyard tour. Though at first Otto had complained,

“Still, I can’t believe I’d get a chance to see the rare graveyard of the ‘Witch of Greed’ like this… Definitely worth coming along for. I wonder if there’s anything ‘Witch of Greed’-esque here that I could sell for money?”

“If you try to peddle any witch-related items, those Witch Cult folks will be on your tail, won’t they? If this place becomes a sea of flames because of that, I’d appreciate a little grace, since I don’t want to wake up in a bad mood either,” Subaru warned, keeping a watchful eye on the business-minded Otto.

As the two marveled at their surroundings, an eerie silence fell, broken only by the sounds of insects chiming through the trees and the wind rustling the leaves.

The clear air drifted around the morning “Sanctuary,” providing a fruitful morning stroll.

“That said, it’s not like we’re here just to enjoy the fresh air and then call it a day, right? If I really wanted to enjoy a morning stroll, I would have called for Emilia instead.”

“Surprisingly, Emilia-chan isn’t much of a morning person. The sleepy version of Emilia-chan looks dangerously cute when she’s drowsy… But, we can let her sleep a bit longer. There was an odd tension from last night’s discussion, after all.”

“So while the princess snoozes, we’re here plotting mischief, huh? You’re a bit evil, aren’t you?”

Subaru shrugged as Otto, perceptive as ever, grinned widely. But he was absolutely correct; Subaru had indeed come to the graveyard for something he’d rather not let Emilia or the others see.

“So what will we do? I’m not exactly confident in my magical skills, but I could dampen footsteps with wind and water magic or briefly conceal my presence with light… Oh, or I can even create sound in a completely different location.”

“From what I gather, those magical uses sound like they’d be handy for a thief sneaking around. Am I mistaken?”

“Geez, don’t be such a downer. I’m not stealing anything! Well, at least not eavesdropping,” Subaru shot back with a narrowed gaze.

After a chuckle, he pointed his finger at the graveyard and declared, “I’m going in there now. If all goes as I hope, the lights inside will turn on, blessing my path ahead. If things don’t pan out, I might just pass out, so you’d better know how to pull me out safely.”

“Is there any guy who’d nod along immediately after that explanation? Passing out isn’t something you should joke about. How scary!”

Subaru dropped that vital piece of information, leading to Otto’s pleading protest. Subaru regarded him with the kind of pity you reserve for a child who refused to learn his lesson.

“Listen, this is the graveyard of the ‘Witch of Greed.’ The moment anyone enters without the witch’s permission, their consciousness might be claimed at once. I experienced this firsthand yesterday. It’s a place with that kind of danger.”

“If you couldn’t get in yesterday, Natsuki couldn’t either. Why would you want to enter knowing you might collapse? Let’s just skip that; how do you plan to rescue me in that case?”

“All these rapid-fire questions… You think everything’s on the table because you’re cut from a lazy mentality.”

“Please stop trying to cover up that you got lazy explaining things!”

With a click of his tongue at being so thoroughly read by Otto, Subaru shook his head, conceding.

“Here, I borrowed some rope from the dragon carriage. I’ll tie it around my waist; if I do faint, gently, quietly, with love, pull me out.”

“No matter how lovably, quietly, or tenderly you do that, I’m thinking you’ll be covered in dirt, dust, and scrapes.”

“Considering the circumstances, that should be fine.”

“I’m definitely the one lending this, right?!”

Subaru tied the loose end of the rope around his waist, handing Otto the other side with a sigh. Otto accepted it begrudgingly, checking the knot and finding it secure.

“I swear, with how easily he falls for things, I’m not so sure he’ll make it through this, huh?”

“This idiot genuinely thinks he’s the one holding onto my lifeline,” Subaru mused, looking at Otto with a mix of amusement and concern.

Otto raised the rope in hand slightly as if to idly test it before saying, “You really have to match your approach to each person, huh?”

With a wry smile aimed at Otto’s light-hearted nature, Subaru bent slightly, then turned briskly to face the graveyard entrance.

The graveyard, exuding a dusty and stale odor, let out a palpable sense. Morning sunlight reached merely several meters into the entrance, leaving the passage beyond cloaked in complete darkness.

“Well, it’s not like it’s going to crumble on me. If I do collapse, it’ll likely happen right from the first step, so at least I can feel more at ease.”

“Natsuki, whenever you’re ready, just signal me when to go.”

“Okay then, let’s do this!”

Subaru had no hesitations with this decision.

Worst case, entering will just get him invited back to the witch’s tea party. Having limbs ripped off, beaten, and ingested bodily fluids weren’t very pleasant experiences—

“Compared to the life-or-death scenarios I’ve faced before, this seems much better!”

With that resolved, Subaru stepped forward, crossing the graveyard’s threshold.

And when his foot crossed that unsettling boundary, he cautiously opened his tightly shut eyes.

Yesterday, stepping through had thrust him into a state of floating despair, but—

“I can feel the ground; it’s not collapsing under me.”

At the very least, no collapse occurred with that first step.

He mulled over whether or not this demonstrated progress since yesterday, all the while sighing with relief at that change before drawing a deep breath and taking the next step.

With the second step firmly planted in the graveyard, Subaru’s body became fully consumed by the shadows of the ruins.

From Otto outside, Subaru might have become a blur or just vanished entirely.

“Natsuki? You there? If you start collapsing, go down the same way you entered and give me a shout.”

“That’s a bit difficult—okay, if I feel like I might pass out, I’ll yell that I don’t want to.”

“Man, what a complicated way to do this while puffing up your pride!”

As they routinely bantered, they found comfort in the confirmation of their positions through exchanged voices. Pushed by that comforting feeling, Subaru took a third step, then a fourth—

“—whoa!”

“Ah…”

In the next moment, the view before Subaru burst open.

No, the shadows in the ruins flickered and revealed the interior to intruders.

The walls on either side of the passage, risen to about Subaru’s shoulder height, were adorned with evenly spaced flames that danced gently, lighting the path of the ruin.

The stone passageway, built from the same materials as the outer wall, felt just tight enough for two to stand shoulder-to-shoulder. If one were to jump, they might hit their head. A giant, bald old man would have to hunch over to avoid inflaming his scalp through friction.

“Looks like the lights are on, huh? What does that mean under the conditions?”

“Anyone who can withstand the ‘Trial’ at night gets a warm welcome like this. I considered the worst case being me having some hallucination or something, but…”

Confirming the newfound light source with a keen look around, Subaru carefully observed his palm. Then he touched his forehead, recalling the sensation of the fingertips that had rested there in the dream.

“I believe I received quite the gift from that tea party. The price seems to be taken without my consent, but I have no intentions of discussing that with anyone.”

“I can see inside as well, but what happens if I wander in too? Can we go grave robbing from the ‘Witch of Greed’?”

“The evil sorceress I know nearly bursts just trying to step inside. I can’t say what happens to you; I have no idea!”

“Sounds like a petrifying place!”

Hearing Otto’s terrified reaction pushed Subaru to realize his objective here. He might press on to explore further, but considering Otto’s presence, he rescinded that thought.

Regardless, what Subaru desired was confirmation of qualification to interject into the ‘Trial,’ alongside verifying the reliability of Echidna’s statements from his dream.

Now that he had stepped foot into the graveyard, any information Echidna had laid before him regarding conditions or costs could be considered factual. That also went for the personalities of the witches he’d encountered in that daydream.

“But then again, it means that four hundred years ago, those rowdy witches were going wild all over the place. What a dystopia… I’m pretty darn glad I got shifted into this era instead!”

Thinking about the time when the witches of sin, including the Witch of Envy, were causing such a ruckus made the current era feel soothing. Just as that thought formed, the malice of the Archbishop interceded, dampening his sentiments to a degree.

Both witches and those associated with crowns seemed to have little that separated them from one another.

“That settles it then; my preparations are done. Now, I just need to wait for nightfall and see what kind of trial Emilia-chan faces. I’ll be flexible and deal with whatever comes.”

Proclaiming such a charming level of unpreparedness, Subaru turned around to return to the entrance of the graveyard.

As he approached, Otto waited for him with a worried expression. Subaru untied the rope around his waist and tossed it beside the graveyard entrance,

“It might come in handy, or I might need it on a whim tonight, so I’ll hide it here. Sorry for dragging you along, Otto.”

“No worries, I’d be glad as long as you’re back in one piece, but… Why does it look like you came back empty-handed? What exactly did you go in for?”

“You know, it’s hard to tell just which bits of your chatter I should take seriously. I’m not cut out for grave raiding, especially since I’m an irreligious person with a healthy respect for spirits,” Subaru grumbled.

It’s a perplexing aspect of a non-religious country like Japan, truly a mixture of beliefs. They seem like a panicky bunch overly worried about unwanted ghosts and curses.

“This is clearly a joke considering what you said! More importantly, didn’t I mention I didn’t really need to do it?”

“The risk of whether or not I could even enter was a gamble, and whether I collapsed or found enlightenment, I figured you would be the best ‘victim’—”

“What kind of choice is that!? That feels a lot like being chosen through the process of elimination!”

“Ugh, you come to mind the first time I think of who would be an inconvenience. Don’t make me say it; it’s embarrassing.”

“At least feel embarrassed for making such judgments as a human being, for crying out loud!”

The usual banter reverberated in the forest, their exchanges growing louder as they filled the morning air with their ridiculous conversation. And with the exception of each other, the only audience for their antics were the insects and animals lurking within the woods.

“Geez, loud early in the morning! Yorohoroi’s gonna wake up and complain if you keep that up!”

“Such a bothersome fellow. I’ll be sure to say that when I meet Yorohoroi next time.”

With that, Subaru cast his gaze slightly away from the graveyard entrance, spotting Garfiel, who sported a golden mane and a keen grin.

He swiped the sweat that had begun to gather on his brow and spoke roughly,

“Just so you know, if we happen to cross paths like this, don’t freak out. I’m just taking my morning jog around the ‘Sanctuary,’ so don’t get too jumpy.”

“There’s no need to be so defensive. Also, it’s not like we were discussing anything that would get us into trouble. Right, Otto? Not like we were discussing anything shady!”

Subaru shrugged off Garfiel’s words, then roughly smacked Otto on the shoulder who seemed perplexed, struggling to process the situation.

“Uh, w-well, that’s true! We weren’t saying anything that’d raise any eyebrows, just some light practice for grave raiding and sneaking around, that’s all!”

“Impressive, Otto. I’ve never seen someone dig a grave right in front of a grave before.”

With Subaru’s follow-up teasing, he discreetly studied Garfiel’s reaction. The look on Garfiel’s face indicated that he had either completely ignored Otto’s guilt-ridden admissions or was simply unfazed at the revelation.

“Whatever, I’m not gonna be a tattler. So long as you don’t break or ruin anything in the ‘Sanctuary,’ I’m not gonna get involved.”

“Yeah? That’s a blessing! Unfortunately, I don’t even think I’d stand a chance against you in a fight!”

“How pitiful that you’d come to that conclusion without even trying… But I’ll pass this time. I can’t be bothered fighting someone I already know can’t take me!”

Garfiel began to shine with confidence, declaring his strength as he lit up, speaking in high spirits.

In fact, having witnessed his true strength firsthand, trying to argue against that was merely leading oneself to embarrassment. Knowing Reinhardt existed felt like a feat as well.

With all that unsaid, Subaru simply waved off Garfiel’s boastful attitude and said, “Well then, as Emilia-chan should be waking up soon, I was thinking it may be time for me to head back and join her with her morning routine. You’ve got your running to do, right?”

“You’re going back to the Cathedral. Then I’ll escort you there.”

As Subaru was about to depart, Garfiel unexpectedly offered, blocking his way. He’d intended to decline but—

“Just listen to me, will ya? You lot should quit wandering around the ‘Sanctuary’ all alone. You never know what’s lurking about.”

“What are you talking about? You’re making it sound as if danger’s crawling out of the walls of this place.”

“Exactly what I’m saying,” he continued, his voice lowering in seriousness.

Garfiel stepped closer, closing the space between them, and speaking in hushed tones, “Let’s put it like this: not everyone living in this ‘Sanctuary’ is aligned in thought. ”

“What do you mean by that?”

“By the village elder’s orders, Roswaal holds humans as hostages, intending for Emilia-sama to undertake the ‘Trial’ to break the witch’s contract. Not everyone here follows that line of thought, even if most do.”

Garfiel’s voice dropped, ushering in an urgent tone.

“For folks wishing to stay hidden away in this ‘Sanctuary,’ your presence is a real nuisance. I wouldn’t put it past them to do something to interfere with Emilia-sama’s ‘Trial.'”

“You mean… there’s a chance they could make a move against me or Otto?”

“There’s even a chance they might end up attacking Emilia herself. But frankly, it’s typically said that the loudest growl is the least threatening. As long as I’m around, they won’t get the chance to stir up trouble.”

His easygoing statement made it sound like it was nothing serious, yet Subaru found himself wrestling with unease for having left Emilia behind.

He couldn’t shake the feeling of regret for not realizing that the situation could oscillate with him and Otto around.

Acknowledging the division among the ‘Sanctuary’s’ residents and the people of Araham Village, a sense of concern over whether a faction might remain unyielding should have been glaringly obvious.

Nobody would dare blindly follow whatever was deemed the will of the ‘Sanctuary.’ There had to be those that sought no change in the circumstances, and Subaru felt strongly that he could understand that motive.

“I need to get back…!”

“Oh, did I freak you out too much? Chill out, they’re not the type to raise ruckus until the sun goes down, and right now, Emilia’s at the Cathedral with other folks too. No one’s going to do anything in a place crowded with others. If anything goes down, it’ll be the ones roaming alone, like you and that noisy brother of yours.”

“Well… I guess you’re right. Given that they’re prime suspects for ruffling the feathers of the standings, they’d likely tread more carefully.”

As the tension noticeably slackened, Subaru inhaled deeply, working to calm his racing heart.

He then suddenly realized, lifting an eyebrow, “Wait a minute, are you worried about me and Otto wandering alone, and so you came here to save us?”

“…Eh?”

Subaru cocked his head slightly, getting a slow response from Garfiel, who promptly turned his face away, masking his expression.

“That can’t be it. It’s completely coincidence! Just coincidence, alright?”

“Look, Otto. This right here is true tsundere behavior; considering how vehemently hostile he was during our initial meeting, it’s kind of sweet to see this softer side now, isn’t it?”

“Huh, as someone who just got headbutted by that feeling of tsundere, it’s not easy to accept. But I can’t deny there’s a part of me that finds it amusing to think he’s actually an okay guy,” Otto pondered.

“Wow, this guy really is easy to fool.”

“I’ve been played for laughs!!”

Otto shouted in frustration, the sound echoing throughout the morning forest, causing startled birds to flutter into the air.

Amidst Otto’s ruckus and Garfiel’s strangely likable personality, Subaru felt he’d finally gained some properly equal-sounding bad friends in this world.

“I guess I find myself a little easy too,”

He smiled warmly as he chuckled softly.

When waiting at the entrance to the graveyard that night, Subaru could clearly sense there was a different wind in the air compared to this morning.

“It’s definitely giving me strong graveyard vibes tonight. It looks even creepier than yesterday.”

Looking at the graveyard entrance, silver-haired Emilia played with the end of her braids, glancing momentarily at Subaru.

“Do you think it’s alright to enter now?”

“If they’d put ‘Open from 7 PM’ by the entrance, it would be clearer—but nothing’s written. Given that the ‘Trial’ starts at night is pretty vague, though the darkness around us does make it eligible to head in,” Subaru replied.

“Then I guess I should go in.”

She sighed softly and slid on the edge of uncertainty shaking herself, waiting for that moment of courage to strike.

Apart from Subaru, only four others waited to see Emilia tackle the “Trial.” Garfiel and Ryuzu joined, with Ram acting as Roswaal’s proxy. Then for some inexplicable reason, Otto was also present.

In terms of ‘Emilia’s faction,’ those gathered could be perceived as the biggest faction.

“Inverse, looking at the remaining people in the ‘Sanctuary’ makes them the smallest faction imaginable. It’s a tight situation from here onward.”

“What are you mumbling about? That’s super intriguing, you know.”

“This conversation is off to the side, preparing Emilia-chan to fully face what lies ahead. Honestly, since I couldn’t pin down any real details about the ‘Trial,’ I’m quite uneasy about it…”

“That uncertainty was common for those who faced the ‘Trial’ previously too. How can I go easy on myself while others aren’t? Under the same circumstances, I’ll still give it my all!”

Clenching her tiny fists, Emilia’s resolve shone brighter than ever, prompting Subaru to feel a luminescence at her side—he had tried to get a witch’s favor for a sneak peek on the test.

That said, the raw honesty of Emilia made him reflect upon the purity of her intentions.

“Seriously, E.M.K. (Emilia-chan, Mad, Knightly) vibes here.”

“Hey, I didn’t hear that one in quite a while!”

Emilia chuckled — her smile brightening at Subaru’s catchphrase. Subaru beamed at the sunshine of her affectionate grin, recognizing the value of his playful remarks.

“Just be ready for anything inside. If you sense even a hint of danger, yell my name, and I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

“And you’ll just plop down, keeling over inside?”

“Whoa, that term isn’t used often nowadays…”

Subaru coughed at the memory of how Emilia looked. After a moment, Emilia’s expression shifted to concern as she spoke again.

“Thank you for worrying about me… But honestly, I’m becoming anxious since Pack hasn’t shown his face at all, and I feel I’m heavily reliant on you, Subaru.”

“Feel free to lean on me anytime! After all, you’re as light as a feather; as long as I keep touching you, I get anxious if I can’t tell if you’re solid or not!”

“That wiggly finger of yours is strangely creepy!”

As Subaru wiggled his fingers, Emilia chuckled softly. Captured by her laughter, she took a moment to stretch before saying,

“I’m feeling slightly lighter now; since the first time we met, have you been intentionally aiming to lighten the mood?”

“If I had those top-tier therapeutic skills, I wouldn’t be a brooding boy, spending all my spare time on origami, creating ‘Rindanzukisha’ and whatnot. This lonely kid wouldn’t be so lonely, you know?”

“You mean you’ve created something like that all by yourself? How inspiring yet silly all at once.”

With Emilia tilting her head adorably, Subaru felt overjoyed by her response.

Even with some quirks, Emilia approached the graveyard steadfastly asserting, “I’m going in this time. Please pray for my safe return.”

“I’ll wish so hard that blood would gush forth from Buddha’s ears!”

He said, sending her off as Emilia stepped into the graveyard. The moment she entered, the lights buzzed into life, creating an identical atmosphere to that when Subaru first set foot there.

As Emilia’s footsteps reverberated through the passage and led inward, it was decided that the ‘Trial’ would commence further inside.

“Subaru, lost in thought with that gloomy face!”

A sudden soft voice ridiculed him, breaking Subaru from his musing. It was Ryuzu, with an appearance like a small child, but with the essence of a mature adult behind it. With a smile that contradicted her childish face, she sought to ease Subaru’s distant demeanor.

“Trust me when I say there’s nothing to worry about. Although it’s called a ‘Trial,’ I assure you it won’t threaten your life.”

“You know the details of the ‘Trial’?”

“Of course! I’ve been through it myself. If one’s a half-breed, it stands to reason they’ll be deemed qualified. I may not have completed it, but look, I’m still hopping around in fine form!”

Ryuzu lightly bounced to display her health, her gestures eliciting a wave of comfort toward Subaru.

“Then is your curse what left you with the roguish looks and the adult mindset? I don’t think I could love you any less, but I think I prefer Emilia the way she is.”

“Such responses make me seem a fool for giving you the benefit of silence! Are you like Garfiel too, dismissing the respect due to elders, Subaru?”

“I’ve got nothing against older folks. The sentiment’s lifted. Thank you for your concern.”

Subaru nodded as Ryuzu vocalized the truth he didn’t know he upheld—even if he bent to a bit of ribbing, he was still grateful.

“Why doesn’t that gaze of yours speak sooner, hmm?” Ryuzu admonished, shaking her head while slyly wiping tears with her long sleeves.

Glancing toward where the other members were holding court, Subaru noticed Garfiel had crossed his arms with a grim expression, silently observing the graveyard situation. Strangely, Otto and Ram appeared to be chit-chatting in a somewhat genial manner.

Considering their history, seeing Otto manage a friendly tête-à-tête with Ram showcased an unexpectedly shift in dynamic.

Subaru would need to prepare for that later; he made a quiet vow to learn some conversational skills to avoid a torrent of reprimands from Ram.

Then, turning himself back toward the graveyard, it occurred to Subaru that his hands had found themselves clasping before his abdomen, rubbing his thumbs together in prayer.

Being passive brought its challenges. Instead of stuck waiting for a result, perhaps the best course would be to confront the ‘Trial’ himself, thus finding comfort in making a choice.

As he ruminated on that thought, the change came all too swiftly.

“—!!”

Every member present gasped instinctively as the light vanished relegating them to darkness, their instinct causing a reflexive pause as their bodies adjusted to shadows.

“In the graveyard, the lights just went out!?”

“The lights should remain on while the ‘Trial’ is ongoing…”

“So we’ve got an irregular situation here, huh?”

Scanning those who should have known the situation, Ryuzu bore a look of confusion in her sharp, youthful eyes, communicating that this circumstance had taken an unexpected turn.

Garfiel uncrossed his arms, rushing forward, and Otto appeared panicked, his eyes darting around aimlessly.

With no other thought, Subaru rushed forward.

“Natsuki?! You weren’t supposed to be allowed in there just yet!”

“I took the course and qualified! Now, I’m going in to see what’s inside. Emilia or not, I’ll bring her back!”

There was no time to sit and wait.

The moment Subaru stepped through, the passageway lit up just as it had when Emilia penetrated the curtain of twilight.

With the absence of breath behind him, the silence swallowed him as he leaped deeper into the graveyard.

The air inside was still dusty, filling his lungs with a sensation that suggested he’d inhale decay with every breath.

With each echo of his footfalls ringing loud, Subaru propelled himself further inward—the depths of the graveyard awaited him.

“Damn, I messed up! Instead of acting like a wild card, I should’ve gone in alongside Emilia…!”

Subaru raced onward, pouring his regrets into each stride.

Abruptly, at the end of the passage, he spotted light emerging into a small chamber.

Skidding to a halt, he turned to examine his surroundings. While merely a square cut-out, it lacked ornamentation or furnishings apart from a door rimmed in ghostly blue light.

There, before that gate, lay the silver-haired girl, collapsed on the ground.

“—Emilia!!”

Shouting her name, Subaru dashed to her side.

He rushed to clasp her delicate frame, intent on escaping this place urgently—

“—First, face your own past.”

At that instant, a whispering sensation flared near his ear, rattling his consciousness.

He had no time to fathom what the voice represented;

His knees buckled, unable to brace itself, as Subaru felt himself tumble to the floor like a doll. The momentum rolled him across the ground, landing fortuitously at Emilia’s side.

And there, alongside the unconscious Emilia, Subaru too was pulled into unconsciousness—

**END**

 

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