The Sanctuary, the Trial Grounds, the Tomb of the Witch of Greed Echidna.
Let's go.
Higashino Makoto stepped into the crevice.
Reisen lifted her skirt and followed.
The rift closed quietly after the two people passed through.
The Sanctuary was even more desolate than Higashino Makoto had anticipated.
Without pausing, Higashino Makoto used the ninth- Tier Magic "Three-Legged Bird's Guide".
A three-legged raven appears and guides you through the maze, aiming for the heart area with the shortest distance.
Following the three-legged crow, they soon arrived at a place that resembled an abandoned church or a cave.
"Owner."
Reisen's voice rang in my ears.
"This is the core of the Sanctuary; it looks so dilapidated."
"Um."
Higashino Makoto strode forward.
Reisen followed behind him, her crimson eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, the two arrived at a huge stone tablet.
The stone tablet is about ten meters high and five meters wide, and its surface is covered with densely packed characters.
Higashino Makoto couldn't understand it, and he was too lazy to take out any special tools for translating text.
It's nothing serious anyway.
"This must be the so-called Trial Grounds."
Reisen's brows furrowed slightly.
"Master, shall we participate in the trial?"
"Unnecessary."
Higashino Makoto raised his hand, and a golden light appeared in his palm.
Why should I follow other people's rules?
A beam of light flew from his palm and landed on the stone tablet.
The runes began to glow, and light poured out from the stone tablet, spreading in all directions and enveloping the entire trial grounds.
"Instead of deciphering codes and undergoing trials, simply breaking down the door is the easiest way."
Higashino Makoto withdrew his hand.
Let's go.
He stepped forward, passing through the golden curtain of light.
Reisen followed behind him.
The light curtain vanished quietly after the two passed through it.
He reached out and pushed the door open.
Inside the gate was a grassy plain, and not far away, there was a long table.
A white tablecloth was laid out on the long table, along with silver cutlery and refreshments.
A person sat around the long table.
The soul of Echidna, the Witch of Greed, though it appears no different from that of the living.
Echidna has long, snow-white hair and fair skin, and a black dress accentuates her slender figure.
Her eyes were deep black, her face exquisite and mysterious, presenting an ultimate beauty of black and white contrast.
At first glance, she looks like a refined and elegant noblewoman.
She looked at Higashino Makoto, a hint of curiosity flashing in her blue eyes.
"Oops--"
Her voice was soft and sweet, with an elusive rhythm.
"We have guests."
Higashino Makoto walked to the round table and sat down opposite her.
Reisen stood behind him, her crimson eyes watching Echidna.
"You're Echidna, aren't you?"
"It's me."
Echidna tilted her head.
"And you?"
Higashino Makoto.
"Higashino Makoto... I've never heard of that name before."
Echidna repeated it softly, then closed her eyes.
According to the prophecy in the Tome of Wisdom, this man should not be the one to come here.
"Let me check."
Her fingers lightly traced the cover of the Tome of Wisdom, and the pages began to turn automatically, making a soft rustling sound.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, a hint of confusion flashing in her blue eyes.
"No, there isn't."
"There is nothing?"
"Your intelligence is not recorded in the Tome of Wisdom."
Higashino Makoto looked at her.
Because I am not from this world.
Echidna's fingers paused for a moment.
"Not from this world?"
"Yes, I just came from another world."
Echidna looked at him for a long time.
Then she smiled, like a child seeing a new toy.
"Another world, interesting."
She placed her hands on the table, leaned forward, and stared directly into Higashino Makoto's eyes with her blue eyes.
Tell me, what is the other world like?
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"It's big and messy, but still quite interesting."
"Interesting?"
"Yes, interesting."
Echidna's eyes shone even brighter as she stared intently at the other person, her smile growing ever gentler.
He leaned back in his chair, his golden eyes fixed on her.
"At least, it has things that your world doesn't have."
"What?"
"There are worlds where magic doesn't exist, and there are worlds similar to this one, but with completely different species, magic, and culture."
"Really? That sounds very interesting."
"Yes, there are even more interesting things, like Resurrection Magic. Are you interested?"
Echidna's pupils contracted slightly.
"Resurrection?"
"Yes, resurrection."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
"Yes, to bring the dead back to life. Even those who have been dead for decades or centuries can stand in the sunlight once more."
Echidna remained silent for a long time.
She looked down at her hands—those pale, cold hands.
"Can you do that?"
"Able."
"What's the price?"
"The cost is that it requires a large amount of magic power, and those whose lifespan has run out cannot be resurrected. Also, the person being resurrected cannot refuse; if their soul has already been reincarnated, or gone to some place I cannot reach, then they cannot be resurrected."
Echidna raised her head, her blue eyes flashing with a complex light.
"That's a condition, not a price. That's truly an exaggerated kind of magic, Higashino Makoto."
"Um."
"What do you want from me?"
Higashino Makoto looked at her.
"First, I want to know how to collect Witch Factor after killing the Sin Archbishops."
Echidna held up one finger.
"Yes, I can give you this knowledge."
"Secondly, I want to know if your Tome of Wisdom can be traced back to the Sin Archbishops, or to the copies of your Tome of Wisdom that they possess."
Echidna raised her second finger.
"That's fine too."
She paused.
But you'll have to pay a price.
What price?
"You yourself."
The room fell silent.
Reisen's rabbit ears stood straight up, and a dangerous glint flashed in her crimson eyes.
Higashino Makoto looked at Echidna and refused without hesitation.
"No, firstly, I'm not for sale. Even if I were, your price wouldn't be enough. Besides, neither the method to collect Witch Factor nor finding the Sin Archbishops is something I can't do; it's just a waste of time."
"Hey, don't refuse so readily. We can discuss the price if it's not right."
Her voice was soft, but every word was as clear as if it were carved in stone.
"Hey~ Your magic system, the world you live in, your very existence—these things aren't in the Tome of Wisdom. I want to know. I want to understand. I want to record it all."
She stretched out her hand, fingers spread, palm facing up.
"In exchange, I'll give you everything you want. Knowledge, intelligence, even my body—I can give it all to you!"