――Faced with an unexpected scene, Subaru could only stare in astonishment.

　It was a night filled with bizarre occurrences.

　It all began with an unintended nap, followed by a frantic search for Anastasia Elidona, who had vanished from the green room. Then he spotted a bird that should not have been inside the tower and chased after it. After losing sight of the bird in a dead end, he searched the nearby floor and walls, discovering a hidden passage――

“――When I emerged from the tunnel, I found myself in a snowy country.”

　The flippant remark contributed nothing to explaining this strange sight.

　What Subaru crawled through was a wall, not a tunnel, and what spread out before him was not a snowy country but a cold night in a sea of sand.

　Twinkling stars floated in the black sky, and from the balcony of the watchtower, one could overlook the scene of dunes resembling a dark sea.

　Everything felt unworthy of Subaru’s words. Instead――

“――Natsuki-kun?”

　Hearing Subaru’s hoarse murmur, a figure with hair blowing in the wind turned to look at him.

　It was a girl with softly held light purple, wavy hair―― possessing delicate features with azure eyes and skin so fair it almost glowed in the dark.

　It was the Anastasia he had been searching for. Subaru hesitated for just a moment before saying,

“……This is quite the stunning spot for a midnight stroll.”

　Concealing his initial surprise beneath his tongue, Subaru shrugged at Anastasia. With a small smile, she replied, “You’re right.”

“It truly does offer a great view. But it’s a shame that the crucial scenery is pitch black. It would’ve been different if I could see the city in the distance.”

“Well, it has its charm, like looking at a night sea. And besides…”

As he spoke, Subaru pointed not at the scenic view but up above. Following his gesture, Anastasia looked up―― where a sky full of stars awaited.

“The air is cold and clear, so the stars are super visible. Isn’t it romantic?”

“It’s true that the stars are beautiful, and I agree that the air is clear… but isn’t there something more concerning than just how the stars look?”

“Something more concerning, you say?”

“The very fact that we can see the stars. Has there ever been a night in this sea of sand where stars could actually be seen?”

Given Anastasia’s incredulous tone, Subaru clapped his hands, realizing her point.

As she pointed out, being able to see stars from the balcony was strange, considering the expanse they had traversed in the sea of sand. Surrounding the Pleiades Watchtower, one wouldn’t find a glimmer of starlight in the sky.

That’s because――

“It was supposed to be thick with miasma, clouding the sky.”

“Since it isn’t, does that mean this tower is either unaffected by the miasma… or perhaps it’s located higher than the miasma that enveloped it?”

“At this height, I wouldn’t completely dismiss that idea.”

Looking from the balcony at the view outside, Subaru realized their current altitude―― the level corresponding to the fourth floor of the watchtower was not merely dozens of meters above ground but rather over a hundred meters high. He hadn’t fully grasped that the stairs ascending from the fifth to the fourth floor had such a height.

“……Even so, I wonder if we’ve truly reached the middle of the tower.”

Not looking outside the balcony anymore but instead gazing up along the tower wall, Subaru sighed.

If his speculation was correct, despite climbing up to a position higher than the miasma, the tower’s peak—piercing the clouds—was still completely out of sight. Irrespective of the darkness, there was still much more to ascend.

The stairs to the second level alone had well over four hundred steps. That fact alone confirmed that the tower had an impressive surplus of height remaining.

Nevertheless――

“――――”

Having contemplated the starlit sky and the height of the tower somewhat, Subaru turned his eyes to Anastasia. With a gentle smile and her hands clasped behind her waist, she showed no unusual behavior.

There was neither a hint of wariness nor any sign of plotting.

At the very least, he only needed to confirm that she wouldn’t suddenly show any hostility――

“So, what’s your excuse for this situation?”

“Excuse?”

“Sneaking out of your bedroom in the middle of the night, slipping through a secret passage unknown to anyone, and playing with birds in a place like this… that’s awfully suspicious.”

With a puzzled expression, Anastasia stared at Subaru, her chin jutting out in inquiry.

The birds―― yes, the birds.

Although it was only Subaru and Anastasia facing each other here, the balcony was filled with many spectators.

And those were the motionless, eerily silent birds watching the situation unfold.

“――――”

It wasn’t just one or two birds; that number was nowhere near calm.

Resting their wings on the balcony’s outer edge, the birds numbered no less than fifty. While it looked like a flock, the reluctance to label them a flock stemmed from the inconsistency in their types.

White birds, blue birds, black birds, spotted birds, big birds, small birds, skinny birds, fat birds—all kinds of mixed birds gathered in unison.

While the sheer number of birds itself was odd, what gave Subaru a deeper sense of unease was the behavior of these birds forming this scene.

――There were so many birds, yet there was no sound of chirping, not even the rustle of feathers.

Whether these birds shared wisdom to communicate was unclear.

But at the very least, these diverse birds possessed a shared intent.

“Natsuki-kun, it’s understandable you’d feel uneasy about this…”

In response to Subaru’s doubts, Anastasia placed a hand on her cheek.

“Calling it a secret passage seems a bit exaggerated, doesn’t it? After all, Natsuki-kun is right here too.”

“That’s because… the birds guided me, or rather, you know…”

“In that case, I’m the same. I was wandering around inside the tower at night. Then I saw the birds flying. When I wondered what it could be, I chased after them and ended up here.”

“――――”

“Do I look like someone who would believe that?”

Waving her hands like a bird, Anastasia squinted her eyes.

Naturally, that explanation wasn’t convincing. There were no grounds to refute it, but how could there be such a conveniently convenient story happening? Subaru concluded as he set aside his skepticism.

“These birds are…”

“What are these kids, I wonder?”

“――That’s what I want to ask!”

Subaru found Anastasia’s nonchalant demeanor unsettling, but he was equally uncomfortable under the watchful gaze of the birds that simply observed yet remained silent.

It was difficult to gauge emotions from those bird eyes; they almost seemed to lack emotions entirely, making him feel a palpable distance as if they were truly mere wooden puppets.

What were these birds, this balcony, and Anastasia thinking?

“I don’t know anything, just like you… but to ask me to swallow that without question is excessive, right?”

“I also have something to say about you not knowing anything, but… honestly, I’ve been troubled ever since I got here. Everything has felt off.”

With a sigh, Anastasia placed her hand on her forehead, feigning despair. Watching her keenly, Subaru suddenly recalled something about the birds.

――He remembered hearing that a bird flies towards the Pleiades Watchtower over the Augria Sand Dunes.

He’d heard that tale in a tavern in a town they stopped by to prepare for crossing the sea of sand. The tavern keeper had said that if they got lost in the sands, they should look for the birds.

Fortunately, Subaru and the others hadn’t faced any disastrous failures in the sea of sand, so it was a piece of advice he’d nearly forgotten――

“Seeing this makes it seem like that wasn’t merely a rumor…”

Even after Subaru’s murmured thoughts, there was no reaction from the birds.

They merely kept their wings folded, refusing to fly in the evening air, huddling together yet sharing no warmth. Those doll-like gazes fixated steadfastly on Subaru and Anastasia.

“They always act like this; I’ve been losing hope.”

“Trusting that is a bit beyond my instincts.”

“What do you mean, instincts?”

“My experience tells me that stumbling into scenes like this usually means there’s a good chance I’m in danger.”

Subaru had accumulated quite a few near-death experiences from recklessly wandering around.

It all started back when he had been killed by Rem during a nighttime stroll through the mansion.

Skipping past the various events that followed, Subaru had concluded through his experiences that running into a spontaneous situation = death.

Judging by that experience, the current situation felt exceedingly dangerous——

“In that case, it’s time to learn a new pattern based on that experience. This time it won’t be like that.”

“――――”

“For a cowardly Natsuki-kun, the worst possibility would be that I’m plotting against you. Luring you to this tower like this to hatch a terrible scheme against you and Emilia-san… right?”

Hit with the mark, Subaru’s cheeks tightened just a bit.

Seeing his reaction, Anastasia chuckled, “That’s easy to read.”

“Rest assured. I’m not the kind to scheme like that, nor do I harbor any ill will towards Natsuki-kun. Not towards anyone in this tower… ah, but the proctors are a different case.”

“Shaula and Reid, huh?”

“――――”

As soon as she spoke their names, Anastasia fell silent with an uneasy expression.

Seeing that reaction, Subaru let out an “ah.”

“You weren’t listening because you were sleeping, right? The new guy from the second-floor ‘test’… that’s Reid Astraea. The first ‘Sword Saint.’ Apparently, he was summoned from the past.”

“That design is quite something for this tower. What was the creator thinking?”

After hearing Subaru’s explanation, Anastasia capped her disbelief with a low remark. Noticing the hint of Kararagi dialect in her voice, Subaru held his breath.

So far, he had intended to treat her almost solely as Anastasia, but facing her here, he felt her essence revealed itself――

“――Right now, it’s just you and me here. Shall we talk straightforwardly?”

“Mm…”

“Honestly, it’s pointless to converse with you clad in someone else’s skin. No matter what you say, it’s impossible for me to trust you from the roots. So…”

“――You wish to talk not as someone acting as Ana but as ‘me.’”

In that moment, as if responding to Subaru’s suggestion, the aura surrounding Anastasia shifted.

The atmosphere encircling her transformed completely, and though her appearance did not change, the presence she exuded had definitively morphed. The emotions residing within her pupils, the expressions spun from thought, had switched.

“――――”

Thus, before Subaru, who was caught off guard by the change, Anastasia―― no, the artificial spirit Echidna who was performing as Anastasia slowly approached the balcony’s edge.

There was no guard rail for fall prevention, just a modestly low wall. She gently perched herself upon that wall and tenderly stroked the head of a small white bird standing close by.

And then――

“――This is indeed the first time we exchange words alone like this.”

She accepted Subaru’s proposal and smiled faintly.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“Are you not coming?”

“No, because there’s no railing, and the safety precautions are far too inadequate for my liking.”

“I wouldn’t toss you off even if you casually came up close, you know?”

“That way of saying it is inherently untrustworthy. It’s just like the original you.”

Sitting dangerously on the perch and inviting Subaru with an innocent expression, Echidna had him curl his lips in retort. However, displeased with his rejection, she noticeably frowned.

Then, raising a finger as if to lecture him, she said,

“I’ve said it several times already, but could you please cease equating me with that original witch? To be frank, it’s fundamentally irksome to be compared against someone I’ve never even met. And that includes my own creator.”

“That way of putting it is something… Well, fine. My bad. I’ll do better.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

Despite her outward appearance and voice resembling Anastasia, Echidna implored Subaru.

To be honest, that remark sounded far too much like the nasty witch he knew, but her appeal harbored reasonable circumstances where he should respond honestly. After all, Subaru would strongly assert his indignation if someone said he was a mere imitation of Echidna.

“Still, your concerns are valid. When seen like this, coming to a place no one noticed at night on your own would understandably raise suspicions. However, acknowledging that suspicion, I’ll firmly deny your doubts.”

“You certainly touch that bird nonchalantly.”

“……Were you even listening to my rant now?”

“I was listening, but…”

Almost immediately, their statements started clashing.

However, beyond Echidna’s side of things, Subaru found it oddly unsettling that she could casually stroke the small bird―― the eerily lifelike bird’s head.

In a sunny park during the afternoon, with lesser birds showing biological reactions, it might’ve been different.

“A bunch of them swarming around, all pecking at me, sounds kind of scary, doesn’t it?”

“Your imagination is far worse than that. You wouldn’t hint that it’s based on any experiences, would you?”

“I’ve had a close call with an adorably cute rabbit leaping toward me…”

Since then, Subaru had felt unsteady around multiple animals congregating in one place.

Through countless instances of “returning by death,” he could firmly declare that there hadn’t been a single comfortable death, yet among them, that remembrance stood out above the rest.

“……The way you’re paling in fear suggests you’re not going to force it on me. I wouldn’t feel right imposing on this body to that extent. If you could squeeze the bird, that would simplify things…”

“Of course, if it’s absolutely necessary, I’ll do it…”

Having been summoned to this other world for just over a year, Subaru did possess the experience of hunting birds or hares. Naturally, the mindset between killing for food and killing for experimentation was entirely different, but――

“After I kill them, we could simply eat them…”

“Oh, the matter of leftover rations, right. Then I’d like about twenty birds.”

“Are you out of your mind?! Do you not know The Legend of Zelda!?”

Being asked to commit a mass slaughter of birds so nonchalantly, Subaru yelled with disbelief. Echidna, who obviously had no way of knowing, stared wide-eyed.

Setting that aside, urging to kill, especially twenty, weighed heavily on his conscience.

“Besides, if I do kill them, there might be some reaction from the countless birds around, right?”

“……That is a fear I can’t dismiss.”

In response to Subaru’s uneasiness, Echidna also placed a hand to her mouth.

While the birds remained impassive to the dangerous conversation between the two, their gazes remained firmly locked onto Subaru and Anastasia, mere outsiders in this scenario.

The term “bird funeral” crossed Subaru’s mind, causing him to steer Echidna’s quick decision.

“If we’re going to do this, better to prepare first. For now, let’s table it.”

“No signs of fleeing, huh? Alright, that’s fine. Honestly, it’s not likely we’ll find anything fruitful by examining these birds anyway.”

“Don’t give off the vibe you’re speaking from a standpoint of curiosity or thirst for knowledge.”

“――？”

Echidna, who seemingly had no real knowledge of the witch’s nature, nevertheless maintained an approach that resembled the original too closely to be comforting.

Thus, Subaru ignored that and threw out a question about her less witch-like, more spirit-oriented aspects.

“I haven’t truly checked, but what about Anastasia-san?”

“……No change, as always. Ana still sleeps deep within this body. It’s a lie to say I don’t feel restless, considering how long I’ve stayed in here.”

“Restlessness?”

Thinking it pertained to her not being able to return to her original body, Subaru implied through his tone, but Echidna shook her head in response.

“I should clarify, I have a contract relationship with Ana as a spirit and sorcerer. Both of us are incomplete spirits and incomplete sorcerers… it’s an imperfect relationship, to say the least. I told you about Ana’s physical condition.”

“Ah, about the defects in the gate.”

“That bears a striking resemblance to the relationship you have with Beatrice. What sets us apart is that Ana’s body completely lacks a vessel for mana. To maintain the contract with me, she has to expend her od.”

“Yeah, yeah?”

That explanation seemed to echo the one given to him previously. However, Echidna pressed her hand to her chest as if to emphasize that Subaru’s understanding was superficial.

“By me acting in her place, it’s as if I’m continually manifesting. That inevitably consumes Ana’s od at an accelerated rate. Even now, her od is being depleted steadily.”

“Od is basically her soul, right… so what does that mean?”

“Ana grasped the dangers in contracting with me and took my hand willingly. From that moment, the expectation of an ending was established, but… now it’s progressing even quicker.”

――Therefore, he must return Anastasia’s body without delay.

Echidna thus reframed the situation of herself and Anastasia, making Subaru realize he had been underestimating their circumstances.

“How can someone in such a state… how could she possibly want to become a king?”

“Are you saying you want Ana to relinquish that right for the sake of your own master?”

“――Hah! Don’t joke around! That’s not what I’m saying! I’m…”

“Ana never wavers. She won’t give up. I know that.”

As Subaru tried to raise his voice, Echidna delivered her words bluntly and firmly.

Feeling pressured by her momentum, Subaru blinked in surprise. He then hesitated, his lips trembling,

“……Is Anastasia-san so desperate to want her country? Even if she gets it, she might have to hand it over right away.”

“Though her time may be shorter than others, Ana knows how to make the most of that short time compared to anyone else. Furthermore, Ana has a reason to not give up the throne.”

The trust Echidna deposited in Anastasia resonated clearly in her powerless voice.

And as she carried on to illuminate the reason for Anastasia’s refusal to forsake the throne, it was――

“――Because she was desired.”

Suddenly standing up, Echidna stepped closer, confronting Subaru directly in the center of the balcony.

Looking straight into his black eyes, her azure ones pronounced words that rendered Subaru unable to move.

The weight of something separate from the “test” of the Pleiades Watchtower bore down on Subaru.

“――――”

Unable to move or speak, Echidna remained silent as well.

Thus, in the frozen standoff between the two, only the sound of wings sliced through the cold night air. The sound of wings echoed from behind, joining the flock of resting birds.

Another bird approached the balcony――

――From behind.

“――――”

Subaru stood firmly with his back against the watchtower’s exterior. If a bird were to take flight from behind him, it could only come from within the watchtower.

Echidna, Subaru, led here by the flap of the bird’s wings.

Then, naturally, the third bird taking flight would too.

“――What exactly was that talk from just now?”

A voice resounded on the balcony, somewhere between dazed and trembling, as if the very foundation of belief within him wobbled.

At the sound of the man standing frozen, the birds all simultaneously spread their wings. Then, like a torrential downpour, they took wing without a shred of hesitation.

Into the night sky, over the sea of dunes wrapped in twilight.

Subaru and Echidna, feeling as if they were cast adrift on a vast ocean,

――And they left Julius Euclius behind.