Lillian looked at the witch's face so close to his own and leaned back slightly, putting some distance between them.
"Do I need to remind you that you still haven't answered my question?"
"…That's true."
Echidna straightened up and turned away, strolling forward at a leisurely pace.
"Whether it's extending lifespan or removing curses, I know many such methods. However, what you want is a certain answer, isn't it? Something that will definitely work even in another world."
She had pointed out the heart of the matter, and Lillian nodded.
"Exactly."
"In that case, you must cooperate with me first." Echidna turned sideways and looked at him, her face tilted at a slight angle as she made her proposal. "I need to understand the situation of that world beforehand. Verbal explanations alone won't be enough. So… why not open up your future memories to me? Once I understand that world, I can make a far more accurate judgment."
"…"
The witch's longing was entirely genuine, yet Lillian had no intention of allowing access to his memories. Even if he were willing, it would be impossible. What sealed his memories was a fragment of the goddess's will—something he could neither control nor command.
"Please."
"No." Lillian said, "Don't look at me so pitifully. My memories are in a special state—it isn't something I can choose to open."
"How disappointing." Echidna sighed. "You really are completely different from Subaru Natsuki."
The sudden mention of the protagonist caught Lillian's attention. Then he recalled that Subaru had also challenged the first trial—meaning Echidna must have examined his memories as well.
As if sensing what Lillian was thinking, Echidna smiled.
"That Subaru Natsuki's memories are far more interesting. And they include everything from this world as well—I've seen them all clearly." She blinked playfully, her tone becoming somewhat teasing. "From my perspective, the intersection between him and you… is a bit too coincidental."
"Is that so."
Echidna knew he was a visitor from another world, but Subaru did not. If she had thoroughly reviewed Subaru's memories, the fragments involving Lillian would surely have drawn her attention. With careful observation, she would realize that many of those events had been deliberately arranged by the latter.
"Aren't you going to thank me?"
"Thank you for what?"
"You already knew he was an otherworlder, didn't you? And you… are not affected by his authority. Am I right?"
With that secret exposed, Lillian was somewhat surprised, though upon reflection it made sense.
"As for what you should thank me for—of course, it's because I didn't tell him any of this. Otherwise, all the disguises and deceptions you worked so hard on would have been in vain."
"…There's no need for that anymore," Lillian said calmly.
To be honest, he no longer cared whether Subaru knew his identity. That was why he had shown no emotional reaction when Echidna revealed the truth.
His initial disguise had been to ensure he could accomplish his goals without interference from the power of Return by Death. But now, such measures were no longer necessary. What he intended to do had nothing to do with any so-called "main storyline."
Under these circumstances, even if Subaru learned the truth about him, it would make no difference—under normal conditions, the two of them would likely have no further connection in the future.
Once the trials of the Sanctuary here were finished, Lillian planned to take action. After all, the dragon's blood was not something that would simply fall into his hands by waiting—he needed to begin preparations and make plans. When the time came, he might not only leave this place but even leave this country. If that happened, he might never see Subaru again until he departed this world entirely, so there would be no point worrying about whether his identity was exposed.
Of course, there was one exception—if Subaru ever became trapped in a death loop.
In that regard, Lillian's patience had its limits. After dying once in this world, his way of thinking had inevitably begun to change.
Previously, he had always been wary of this world's power—whether it was the witches, powerful mages, spellcasters, great spirits, or even seemingly invincible beings like the Sword Saint Reinhard. All of them had the ability to kill him, so he had constantly acted with extreme caution, avoiding danger whenever possible.
This approach changed after he was killed by the Archbishop of Greed, Regulus. Especially after Lillian obtained the Sloth Factor and gained an Authority, his thoughts shifted. Rather than considering how to avoid the powerful beings of this world, he began thinking more about how to grow stronger and eliminate those who opposed him. The aggression within him deepened further.
"I never expected you to be able to resist that Authority," Echidna said. "That one… even the other witches cannot reverse."
The Witch of Envy, Satella.
Lillian knew she stood at the pinnacle of this world, and he had once feared her. But after experiencing death once, he had begun to think about how to deal with her. Even Reinhard, the Sword Saint, and the other powerhouses of this world had all been placed on Lillian's list of targets.
It was like how Batman had cataloged the weaknesses of the other members of the Justice League and prepared countermeasures for them—something to hold in reserve, even if never used, just in case. Even if such preparations, once discovered, would lead to misunderstanding or hostility, it was unavoidable.
"I think we should return to the main topic," Lillian said. "You still haven't given me a direct answer to my question."
"That's because I cannot be completely certain," Echidna replied. "Everything in this world exists based on the standards of this world. However… there is one method."
"What is it?"
"That would be to form a contract with—"
She did not finish her sentence. Echidna frowned slightly and suddenly said, "You must leave now."
"Wha—"
Before Lillian could respond, his consciousness was expelled from the dream world. The next moment, as he came to his senses, he heard approaching footsteps behind him.
"What are you doing here, you bastard?!"
Was the tea party interrupted because his body in the real world had been affected?
Lillian turned around. The one speaking was Garfiel—the "younger brother" of the blonde maid from the mansion, Frederica.
"This is not a place where outsiders may act recklessly."
Another voice followed. Garfiel's large frame shifted aside, revealing the speaker: Ryuzu, holding a staff taller than herself, her robe dragging along the ground.
Their attitudes were far from friendly. Lillian could clearly sense the hostility directed toward him.
"What do you intend to do?"
"We merely ask that you come back to the village with me and stop lingering here," Ryuzu said calmly. "It would be best if you cooperated willingly."
"…."
Behind his mask, Lillian's expression darkened. He was not the kind of person who would calmly "cooperate" after someone interfered with something important.
Perhaps sensing the rising tension, Garfiel bared his sharp fangs—identical to Frederica's—and grinned fiercely.
"If you try anything funny, I'll tear you to pieces."
"Is that so?" Several invisible hands emerged from Lillian's body. "I wonder if you'll still be able to 'tear' anything without your teeth."
"You—!"
Before Garfiel could finish speaking, an invisible fist slammed into him and sent him flying. Ryuzu's expression changed slightly; she had not expected Lillian to strike so decisively. With a wave of her staff, she raised a protective barrier in front of herself.
Lillian cast her a cold glance before continuing his assault on Garfiel. If she did not interfere, he would not attack her. But if she did, that would be another matter entirely.
"You bastard!!"
Garfiel's head was battered bloody by a barrage of invisible blows. Enraged, his body rapidly transformed—just like his sister's beast transformation.
A ferocious tiger-like beast, four or five meters long, appeared before them. Its emerald eyes locked onto Lillian as it let out deep, threatening growls.
At the moment, they were still inside the corridor, and Garfiel's enormous beast form was too much for the passage to withstand. Cracks began to spread along the walls. Ryuzu was the first to notice.
"Retreat outside, quickly!"
Like Frederica, transforming into a beast did not mean losing rationality—Garfiel could still think and speak. Realizing that fighting here would destroy the tomb, he had no choice but to withdraw first, no matter how much he hated Lillian. Lillian did not retreat either and followed him out of the tomb.
Outside, beneath the open sky, Garfiel leapt forward like a tiger, pouncing from midair.
Since gaining his Authority, Lillian had never fought with his full strength. Whether it was Ryuzu and Garfiel interrupting his important conversation with Echidna or trying to forcibly drive him away without explanation—they had completely provoked his anger.
"How about becoming a dead tiger?"
In an instant, hundreds of unseen hands surged from behind Lillian. If Ryuzu and Garfiel had been able to see them, who knew what they would have thought?
Roar!!
As Garfiel lunged closer, more than a dozen massive hands seized his four limbs at once, suspending him in midair. He struggled fiercely, his immense strength even managing to tear apart several of the unseen hands. But compared to their overwhelming number, it was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Aside from the hands restraining Garfiel, the rest clenched into fists and struck his body from every direction in the air. Even with his hardened physique, he could not withstand such dense and relentless attacks.
Puh!
He opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood. The moment his breath faltered, the damage from the barrage of blows intensified further.
"Stop!"
Seeing that Garfiel was about to be beaten to death, Ryuzu finally intervened. She swung her staff, creating a halo of light in an attempt to protect him.
But Lillian spoke coldly:
"Stop."
It had been nothing more than a casual command, yet the instant the word left his mouth, both Lillian and Ryuzu felt a strange sensation arise within their hearts.
The next second, Ryuzu's staff lowered. She stared at Lillian in disbelief.
"You… are you an Apostle?"