Chapter 41 - "The One"
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ーThe Washuu King
Thoughts and Anxiety start to conquer his mind. He's left speechless. Breathing starts to become more hard. He only looked at her, everything else surrounding him was nothing but darkness. The fact that the Witch of Greed, Echidna knew about the Washuu King, Furuta Washuu, truly was troublesome.
Jens : "T-The Washuu King… Did you just say that?"
He repeats her answer, just to be sure. His voice is somewhat scared and curious, and Echidna notices it. As a response, she puts on a wicked smile.
He didn't trust this woman, but he had no choice but to try. He needed information, and needed to take the trials to keep everyone safe.
Echidna : "Do not be mistaken. Like I already told you, I am a creature of Greed. There is a limited amount of things that I don't know of. You are partly one of them."
She raised her voice on the "You" of her last sentence.
He started thinking. What did this woman mean with that? Have the two of them already met before? In addition to that, what did she mean with partly? But something more interesting would be, how did she know of Furuta? However, perhaps that was something that could wait as well.
Jens : "Echidna."
With a firm, prideful voice, he calls out her name. She looks at him in a curious way and smiles at him. His eyes glister in the abyss.
Jens : "I… I want to take the Trials."
Hearing this, Echidna narrows her eyes and smirks at him, disturbingly.
She opens her arms up, and then widens her eyes.
Echidna : "Amazing. Fascinating! You really are a mysterious creature Jens! However…"
She lowers her arms, and stands up.
Her hair starts to wave because of a non-existing wind that he didn't feel. There was nothing around them that could be the source of a breeze. However, as he looked at her beautiful snow white hair, he feels somewhat charmed by her black Aura.
Echidna : "I personally don't care if you'll face defeat or victory during the Trials. But I can already tell you… Victory is the last thing you would meet after the first trial."
She turns around, and looks into the black sky. There's nothing but a single, shining star. Somewhat disturbed by what she said, he questions what she meant with it.
Jens : "What do you mean? Am I not strong enough to succeed the Trials?"
The Witch of Greed chuckled.
Echidna : "You foolish little boy. Don't you understand the basic concept of success? A tale of Victory for one, is the epilogue of the other's defeat."
Still somewhat concerned with what she meant with it, he raises one eyebrow out of confusion. Noticing this, Echidna shrugs.
Echidna : "Knowledge is the only factor which defines one's strength. Same story about the trials. If you enter without knowing what you'll face, you will end up outside of my Castle. Though, perhaps you could get some flowers then?"
Jens : "From where would I gain that kind of Knowledge?"
That single question trembles within Echidna's head. After confirming what he asked, she walks towards him, and grabs his hand.
Echidna : "Follow me, and I'll show you whatever you want, and need to know!"
She pulls his hand into the shadows. Jens doesn't want to follow her, but his body does not respond to his will. He isn't able to refuse her, because his mouth isn't able to scream. He's completely calm, despite being extremely scared deep within his own body.
Entering the shadows, he sees nothing, feels nothing, and does nothing. He simply exists in a shadow. He tries to move, but his body doesn't act. Until…
Echidna : "Are you there?"
He then opens up his eyes, and finds himself again, in the eternal grass field, a starry sky, and a Tea table. However, this time, the table was way bigger than the previous time.
There were in total, eight chairs. One for Echidna, one for her guest, and the other six remained a mystery.
Echidna : "Good, you finally woke up. Now, lets start our first Question and Answer session. Perhaps this one will be truly amazing."
He looks around, just to be sure that he's alive.
His fingers move. His mouth makes noises again. His eyes can see things. Everything is back to normal again.
Jens : "Echidna… I have a question."
Echidna : "Yes?"
He's somewhat troubled to ask it, but still does it.
Jens : "How… Do you know who I am?"
Echidna : "Well well. You introduced yourself a few minutes ago, no?"
Such a clever response, but it was nothing but a lie.
Jens : "Echidna, you knew me before this meeting, didn't you?"
Echidna : "Yes. But what's the fun in revealing that in the beginning? Now you truly understand who I am, and what I know."
Despite it sounding a tad rude and cruel, she was right. It would be more weird to reveal that this was a reunion, instead of a meeting.
Jens : "I see… So, you're willing to answer whatever question I have?"
Echidna : "Despite being something greater, I still have capabilities. I'll answer to whatever question you have, if my superior self knows the answer to it, yes."
He starts thinking. He starts brainstorming, but there are way too many mysteries to ask. Everything just starts crossing his mind. The Wardens, The Warriors, The Washuu King, The Leo King, The Lost King, Vincent, There is just so much to ask. Her saying that she doesn't know something wouldn't be too surprising, as those subjects do sound somewhat Not from four hundred years ago.
Jens : "What are the Sanctuary Trials, and what are the necessities to succeed in them?"
The woman known as the Witch of Greed chuckles again. She hides her laughing mouth with her right hand and closes her eyes in the process. After that, she grabs a cup of tea and starts drinking again.
Echidna : "Despite your appearance expressing the atmosphere of stupidity, you're truly intelligent to ask such a question to the Examiner of the Trials."
He starts asking himself, why are the most beautiful woman always the deadliest? She lowers her head, and takes a sip of her Tea.
Echidna : "The Trials are three different events that take place at my Grave."
She raises one finger, and looks at Jens like a smug.
Echidna : "The first Trial is the "Face Your Past" trial. Who ever enters the Trial Grounds is shown a fragment of their past. The only way to succeed is to get rid of any regret by either accepting or rejecting their past."
Those words, especially the word "Past", left him breathless. He gulps out of anxiety, as he doesn't know if he's capable of witnessing his past, as he has no idea what happened, and why everything happened. Before he can clear his mind, Echidna already continues with raising a second finger.
Echidna : "The Second Trial is "Seeing the Unimaginable Present". The trial taker experiences themselves living a different life. A life which could have been yours, but only if you weren't embraced by the sins you burden."
That was even more for Jens to let sink in. Seeing the unimaginable present is something that was on his mind for a while. How would everything be if he hadn't have an amnesia, or if he never met Emilia? What if he never met Furuta, would things be better, or perhaps worse?
She raises another finger, and blinks a few times her finger before she lowers her hand slowly.
Echidna : "The Third Trial is "Face the Impending Disaster". The trial taker is shown probable futures they might, or might not experience. Only when the trial taker accepts the tragic future. Once you succeeded those three trials, only thenーー Will the Sanctuary Barrier rise."
It was indescribable how much it was for Jens to sink in. Him seeing his past which he's burdened with, a present which he might have desired, and a tragic future which might end him.
He just didn't know what to say, what to think, or what to expect. Entirely filled with possible things to witness, his head starts to ache and malfunction. His mind isn't thinking despite being completely filled with thoughts.
All that remained in his brain was anxiety and stress of what kind of things were coming next.
Echidna : "Did you swallow your tongue, or are you just admiring the beauty of a Witch?"
He heard what she said, but the nerves from his brain, to his spine, to his muscles did not work. Nothing was processing other than his brain starting to hurt even more, and more, and even more.
Echidna : "You're looking pale. I know I give others a white impression, but I didn't think that was to be taken in a literal matter."
Making fun of what was going on that moment, Echidna simply chuckled and hid her teeth with her hand.
He looks at her, but can't see her.
He hears her, but doesn't understand her.
He knows she's there, but can't accept it.
He starts to cough, and his vision starts to become all blurry. Before he knows what just happened, he fell off the chair and landed on the green grass under the sky filled with stars.
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Desperation had eroded away the heart of Jens.
Jens : "————"
He couldn't move. He was not worthy enough to move. Nothing good would happen, even if he moved. He had proven it. Jens was naturally incompetent— no, if he was incompetent, there would still be some hope for him. Rather, he proved that he was nothing more than a plague, an odious person, a pest to God.
Jens : "————"
If you cage up all your despair in your chest, it will kill your heart, and would erode away your soul before your life. If that happens, you would not be able to stand up. You would not be able to oppose anyone. That would be a natural consequence if you realize that you have genuinely, irrecoverably harmed yourself.
I want to disappear. I want to end up disappearing and becoming non-existent. I should have had made my decisions earlier. Before coming to this different world. Before coming to this other world, I am supposed to have had known all that, no?
Why, just by existing, must I bother others' hearts? Am I not worthy enough to occupy even a small corner in others' hearts? I am merely a dirty stain on the wall. The dust that has accumulated in the corner of the room, a wasteful maggot that deserves to be in the bin. A scar that never disappears, a leftover scratch that can always be seen.
Jens, the boy who caused all Calamities, why won't he just die off.
Even if he dies, all that awaits him, is another restart? Who decided that? Who made sure that it will stay that way forever? If once was not enough, he can die ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times.
Die until he disappears.
Until everyone's memory of you disappears, and you no longer have any influence on others, until your name, your presence, your trace no longer remains.
—I love you.
Be quiet. Disappear. Let me disappear.
—I love you, I love you, I love you.
Shut up. Don't talk to me. Don't get in my way of disappearing. Disappear, I want to disappear.
—I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.
I want to die. I want to disappear. I want to be shattered completely. I don't want any traces of me left. I want to become something that doesn't exist. I want to erase my existence. I want to disappear from all history. I want to disappear from all memories. I want to disappear from all memorable moments. I want to disappear from the girl who said that she also won't forget. Nothing is worth it. Nothing has any meaning. I cannot take anything. Nothing can be taken. Anything, everything, disappear, stop existing, from this world.
—I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you.
Despair dominates his mind, as everything in the world becomes covered by a black shadow, as a confession dripping with hollow and endless love washed upon this disposable garbage shaped like a person.
If I get swallowed by that, will I disappear? Will I be immersed in void, far from death? Will I be thrown into a place so convenient, like a dark space that will never be reached by anyone's eyes?
If, I die there, I will—
I will—
Jens, as if perfectly fitting in all of it, within the despair—,
??? : "Jens… It's me."
—A voice chimed
Denying the end of the world, is a voice that was reminiscent of a chiming silver bell.
I heard a someone calling out to me, and I felt something fall into my own chest that right moment.
The boy is laying down in the depths of shadows. In the distance, there was a single light which was calling for him. A charming, beautiful light, but his body didn't respond to it.
There's nothing but a world that was about to be completely painted in darkness.
He's laying down without any strength, the silhouette stretched out in countless forms and versions towards the motionless Jens. Just like spirals, or a whirlpool, the pitch-blake figures were trying to wrap Jens along with his soul into its clutches.
The places where he was touched, like melting, like crumbling, like coming apart; he knew that his very being was going to go hollow.
But strangely enough, he couldn't feel anything unpleasant at all.
Jens : "…"
His body was going to crumble as far as he could see, his very being was going to be overwritten, his soul was going to be churned up. Whilst it was infringing perhaps the greatest blasphemy that could be done to a living thing, Jens' heart was quiet enough to say that he was at peace.
Though there too was the effects of having disappointed back then resting heavily in the depths of his heart. But, it wasn't just that. Since it was just this silhouette, its shadowy tendrils which were steadfast and unchanging.
It was only this silhouette that showed consideration for Jens' emotions, who wanted to vanish and disappear even now.
I want to die. I want to vanish. I want to fall apart, I want to be trampled, I want there to be nothing left of me, I want to turn to ashes. Even if I am to revive over and over again, come and erase even the ashes left from my body.
This black silhouette will grant such a desirable prayer, this black silhouette will grant what Jens had earnestly cried out for.
―I love you.
Just repeating these words ad nauseum was irritating. Even if he plugged up his ears and closed his heart, she put her fingers in the gaps of his closed heart, and slid them in from the opened gaps, directly whispering her love.
―I love you. I love you. I love you.
Jens : "Stop this, I am fed up. No matter how many times you repeat this, I know this. I… don't love you. I… don't even love myself. I know about being loved. I know it all too well."
―I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.
Jens : "Stop it, forgive me. Enough already. No matter how many times you repeat this, I can't take anything more from this. Already since a long time ago, I let this conclusion slip out from inside of me. I know it. And despite knowing, I just turned my eyes to it."
―I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.
??? : "The Jens I know… The one that saved me… The one that made me fall in love with him… The one that granted my wish… The one that protects me… The one that was there for me… The one that loved me… The one that fought for me… The one that died for me… The one I believed in… The one I wanted to become one with… The Jens that has always been there for me, would never… NEVER STOP!"
All the darkness that surrounded him, as if it had been purified by the voice of the girl's seeming confession of love.
－No, it wasn't a seeming confession of love. It was indeed a confession love.
The reason to fight for Emilia, the reason to learn about my own past, all the things that he needed to know, increased.
At the same time, that was not the only thing that increased deep inside of me.
Jens : "I will save you."
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My consciousness returned to it's original state after god knows how long has passed. I felt a stinging pain in my neck, as if something deep inside of me awakened. It was something that I haven't been able to feel nor reach since the beginning of my existence.
With my own eyes closed, I reached out with my hand to my neck to feel where the pain originates from. When I touched the exact middle of my neck, I felt something pulsate. It was one of the strongest pulses I ever felt. It was a pulse I felt from the deep depths of my despair.
Jens : "Ugh…"
－The light of the starry sky made me open up my eyes, and so I did. Hundreds, if not thousands of stars were in the dark sky. All beautiful and unique, all being themselves and remaining calm, no matter what will happen.
I remember someone telling me that "No matter how you look at things, we're so small in the end", and that really is true. Just now, after opening my eyes up here, I realized it.
With the energy left in my own body, I stood up. I used my hands to support my weak body and placed them in the clean and somewhat wet grass, and stood up.
－－In the corner of my eyes, I saw the woman looking at me.
Her expression was different from before. She didn't look like a smug, instead she looked like she finally found the reason of her own existence, as if she found a reason to live.
Now that I was thinking of it, everything felt different. All the pain, all the headaches, all the darkness from my body－－ It's all gone?
Jens : "I…."
I tried to talk and explain what I felt, but the words just didn't leave my body. I was somewhat concerned, and actually, quite interested what just happened. This was the first time I didn't feel like dying when getting an headache, nor did I see the Witch lady appearing.
I walked towards the chair, and sat down. I stared right into Echidna's eyes, so I was ready to confront her with questions, and hopefully get answers in exchange.
Echidna : "What is that look in your eyes?"
What was she talking about? Was I looking at her differently from before? Nothing really changed from before, if I remember everything correctly. Putting everything in order, I met the Witch of Greed, talked with her, drank her Tー
Jens : "Echidna… You lied to me, didn't you?"
A confused expression appears on her pretty face. Her gray eyes widen and her clean skin of her hands embrace a cup of tea.
Echidna : "Even someone like me, a creature who searches knowledge, doesn't have the slightest clue to what you're referring to."
This woman… She lied again; there was no way it was a normal cup of tea. After whatever I just witnessed, I feel different from before, my mind is clear.
It is as if my eyes are finally open wide, as if I finally realize that there is nothing that I won't do for Emilia.
Jens : "Your fucking Tea… What was in it?"
I sounded rude, because I was angry. I didn't want to sound rude, but there was no way I could pierce through her defensive wall of lies to make her listen to me. She didn't take me serious a few minutes ago, but now… She has to.
Echidna : "Hahaha… It seems the real Jens is finally back."
What is she talking about? I simply can't understand. I mean, I understand that I'm feeling different, but what happened to me exactly?
That wasn't even my biggest concern at that moment. I was more worried about what the hell I just saw.
—A crumbling world, a shadow that tried to devour me, a light that tried to save me… and that immense feeling of despair that nearly got the better of me.
But now, it was different. All that was before, but not anymore. It felt like I left all the darkness behind. It felt like I found the strength to grow so much more. From a whisper to a roar, I finally felt… like myself.
She was right… This was the real me. This is how I really am, but what did she——
Echidna : "Technically, I didn't lie. It was still my bodily fluid. However, that fluid made your Witch Genes blossom. The depths of the shadows that resided in you, changed to light."
Jens : "Witch Genes…? Are you referring to my Return by Death ability?"
She raised a brow, as if she had no clue what I was talking about. But how could that possibly be real? She made me drink Tea that awakened some "Witch Genes" that I don't know—— Unless… The Legacy of Leo is an authority.
Echidna : "Is that your Authority? [Return by Death], is what you called it, am I right? What power does it possess?"
I myself thought it was quite obvious from the name, but apparently… it wasn't. I was thinking of a way to describe it as simple as possible, until I realized what might happen when I talk about it.
—The Witch of Envy… She would grasp my heard and tear it apart. Despair, anxiety, fear, every negative feeling would get the better of me, and I didn't need that now.
Though… Now that I was thinking straight. This wasn't "reality", this world which is owned by Echidna is far from that. Perhaps talking about it here… Would actually allow me to say it?
—There was only one way to find out.
Jens : "Like the name says… I can… Return from Death! I can die over and over until I find the optimal future!"
I closed my eyes as soon as I was done talking. I waited for pain, despair, or a shadowy lady to appear and crush my heart—— But nothing happened to my own surprise.
When I opened my eyes, there was a beautiful woman sitting in front of me, who's eyes were filled curiosity, some confusion, but mostly— Excitement.
Echidna : "So that's the case… If I may share my theories here, would it be also correct to say that you're The King named Jens. The one who's apparently head over heels with Emilia? The one who created many things, but destroyed more things… Is that all true?"
Most of it sounded true to me, despite them hurting me deep inside. Both Furuta and Regulus already told me that I destroyed many things, so there was nothing to hide from Echidna.
I simply nodded.
Echidna : "And now, you're looking for a way to protect Emilia? By abusing the many benefits that your Authority grants you, you're trying to, for example, take the Trials?"
Jens : "That's right."
There were no words to describe how relieved I was I could finally share this information with someone. But the fact that Echidna looked at me with those, knowledge-hungry eyes, made me somewhat scared of what was coming next.
Echidna : "Excellent… There's one thing I want to ask from you Jens. If you cannot accept your sins, then leave it to me to deny them."
Why was this Witch so insisting on helping me? What did I do to her to deserve any kind of help from someone like Echidna?"
Jens : "Why… Are you.. Trying to help me? Did I help you before I lost my memories?"
Echidna : "Asking a girl to say this kind of things is just plain mean, you know. There's just one thing I seek…"
Echidna, who had not faltered once until now, was, for the first time, stuttering her words. Then, with a slight blush on her cheeks, Echidna cleared her throat and,
Echidna: "——Will you create a Contract with me, Jens?"
Her voice was quiet, yet suggestive of her strong volition.
I didn't understand why. I couldn't understand why. I simply tried to sink it in my brain, and repeated her words.
Jens : "Con…Tract? What would happen if we forged one?"
Echidna : "It's simple. ——From now on, when you meet an obstacle you cannot beat, I will face the wall and assist you in succeeding. Whenever you wish to hear someone's words, I will endeavor to give you the testimony you desire. Whenever you feel close to being crushed by the weight of the sins, by the weight of the world, I will clear those crushing sins together with you."
Saying this in a single breath, a bashful smile rose on Echidna's face,
Echidna : "Will you create that one contract with me?"
This was so sudden, I just had no clue what to say to her. Despite it sounded crazy, it somewhat made sense. I had to know… I needed to know if this was true. If something great like the Witch of Greed would be able to assist me… It would assist me and Emilia so much. But… I needed to know more.
Jens : "Aren't you… Dead?"
Echidna: "I believe my reach has already far exceeded that of the dead? I suppose it's a bit late for me to admit this, but better late than never. ...That is, if you can forgive me"
Holding her hand to her chest, inclining her head as she spoke, Echidna's words reverberated upon Jens's eardrums. The vibration passed into his body, bringing a gradual warmth that followed his coursing blood and pervaded throughout his body.
Sensation returned to his numbing fingers.
His parched tongue regained some of its moisture and mobility, and he could feel his thirsting eyes that had forgotten to blink being quenched by something wet and hot.
Her offered hand, her proposition, her proposal, her pledge of assistance left him at a loss as to how to answer.
Just when his oath to go on struggling seemed to have all but lost its meaning, the Witch pledged to be there to support him.
Echidna: "I don't mean to brag, but I am rather confident in the volume of my knowledge. I can prepare countermeasures for just about any problem you might encounter, and no matter how absurd a situation threatens to befall you, unlike your peers, there is no need to go to such pains to persuade me. And, most of all, I can comprehend your Return by Death"
Contrary to the former me, who would have never trusted Echidna or any witch, this actually sounded somewhat believable. This sounded like a plan. I was ready to create this contract with Echidna, the Witch of Greed.
Jens : "So… How does one create a contract?"
Echidna : "To seal a formal contract, you and I must be connected by a path between us. I will take care of the details, but for now… your palm."
Echidna held up her right hand with her white palm facing towards me.
My mind was filled great expectation of the future like clearing the trials, defeating the Witch Cult, the Endbringers, the Blood Cloud, the Slaughterhouse Nine and Furuta.. All those things hovered through my mind as I placed my palm onto her's, butーー
Clap
A crashing boom rang out as the two hands divided from each other. Immediately, I looked at from what happened.
??? : "I'm putting a stop to this contract!"
Striking her fist onto the table, proclaiming this in her magnificent voice, was a blonde-haired, blue eyed girl…
Echidna : "Right, I forgot to tell you that the other witches are here as well… Surprise. Minerva of Wrath, why are you here…"
Ignoring her question, the woman slams the table another table and stares into Jens' eyes. She does not lose sight, and keeps looking at him with her watery eyes.
Minerva : "Jens! Don't you dare to do this! Not after all you've done!"