"Witch of Greed?" Ayanokouji was lost in thought.
He had previously heard about the witches of sin in this world, but primarily the witch everyone mentioned was Satella, the Witch of Envy.
"That's right." Beatrice nodded. "Mother loved to hoard and gather knowledge. She said both the Forbidden Library and the Sanctuary were created by her... Before she left, she told Betty one thing. One day, 'that person' would appear in the library... And Betty's task was to wait until that moment. Betty has been waiting... Always waiting..."
As Beatrice spoke, her face slowly darkened, and a mist of loneliness and despair, accumulated over hundreds of years, clouded her expression.
"...Betty has been waiting, but that person hasn't come. Who is that person... the Gospel didn't say..." As Betty spoke, her voice trembled slightly, and she lifted her head, tears reflected in her petal-like eyes. "The last page has been rewritten. Betty has dreamed of it many times... But..."
"I feel like I might be that person." Ayanokouji looked at Betty, whose tears seemed ready to burst forth.
Beatrice had been waiting for 'that person', but with no information or clues about them – this meant anyone could be that person.
If he became that person, Ayanokouji could make Beatrice one of his most powerful allies.
However, he was also pondering at this moment. Judging by Beatrice's words, the Gospel she held was also created by the Witch of Greed, which meant the Witch of Greed had the ability to foresee the future. But why not give Beatrice any clues about that person?
Could it be... There was no such person at all?
And since Beatrice's Gospel was created by the Witch of Greed, what was the relationship between the Witch Cult and the Witch of Greed? Did other witches have strange powers as well?
This made Ayanokouji curious about all the witches.
"A-Are you that person?"
Beatrice lifted her head and focused her eyes on his expressionless face. She couldn't tell if Ayanokouji was serious. "But, there's nothing written in the book... Nothing at all..."
"Your book hasn't shown anything for a long time." Ayanokouji said slowly. "It doesn't say that I'm not that person. Maybe who 'that person' is isn't up to the book, but up to you?"
"I..." Beatrice clenched her fists tightly. "Then can you make Betty first? Make Betty first, consider Betty first, choose Betty first, rewrite the contract, cover the contract, nullify the contract, take Betty away, bring Betty closer, hold Betty tightly..."
Beatrice's tone grew more excited, and the tears in her eyes finally flowed uncontrollably.
She had previously considered him 'that person' in her heart, not just because Ayanokouji could accurately find her hidden doors every time, but because she felt that every time Ayanokouji was different from everyone who had come to her Forbidden Library before.
But she had grown accustomed to disappointment, so she had no expectations for this.
Ayanokouji stepped forward, extended his hand, and embraced Beatrice: "I can do that."
He clearly understood that when Beatrice's emotions truly erupted, she needed a suitable shoulder or embrace. If he followed her current wishes and held her tightly, he would undoubtedly break through her psychological barriers completely.
However, this reasoning only accounted for 90%. The remaining 10% was unclear even to Ayanokouji himself. Was it because Beatrice was similar to him in some ways?
He held the petite girl in his arms. He could feel the suddenly quickened heartbeat in Beatrice's small chest, as well as the tension in her body.
Beatrice was stunned for a moment and stood there with a blank expression. Then her face flushed, and her entire body trembled: "You, you..."
Finally, she opened her arms and hugged Ayanokouji, crying like a child. Although she had been living in the Forbidden Library, she could only feel endless loneliness.
Beatrice threw herself into his embrace and poured out all her emotions from over a hundred years.
Ayanokouji didn't speak, but quietly listened to her words.
'As long as Beatrice is with me, my camp's combat effectiveness will increase significantly. I can freely enter and exit the Forbidden Library and gather a lot of information. Moreover, if I encounter someone like Petelgeuse in the future, an enemy who relies on his ability can also avoid the risk of my body being taken over.'
But aside from this interest, Ayanokouji himself didn't know if he wanted Beatrice out of the Forbidden Library.
Perhaps, by staying with Beatrice, he could understand a little about the meaning of what is called feelings.
"Ayanokouji, are you really willing to be 'that person' for me?"
Beatrice finally stood from his embrace, not caring at all that the clothes on Ayanokouji's chest had just been stained with her tears.
"Yes." Ayanokouji immediately replied without hesitation.
"Then extend your hand and make a contract!"
Beatrice lifted her head. Although her eyes were still slightly red, the earlier mist seemed to have disappeared. The prison created by the contract for hundreds of years had finally shattered.
"What I just told you must not be revealed! If anyone else finds out, I want you to look good!"
She once again returned to her previous appearance as a little girl.
"Yes." Ayanokouji nodded.
❀❀❀
"Finally... I found that person?"
At this moment, in front of the mansion's bed, Beatrice's tears continued to fall onto the open Gospel in front of her, wetting the blank white paper.
Although she knew Ayanokouji's motives were impure and his words were only to use her as a tool, Beatrice didn't feel any anger or sadness at this moment.
Even if it was just a trick, at least she had 'that person' and could be free from long-standing loneliness.
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka..."
Beatrice lifted her head and turned her gaze to the sky again. Now she only hoped that the real Ayanokouji could come to this world sooner and save her in the real world.
Even if it was just a lie, it didn't matter.
❀❀❀
"He actually made a contract with Betty. He tricked her into thinking he was 'that person' and used Betty as his tool."
In the courtyard, Roswaal watched all this with a bright smile on his face.
Through the previous scenes, he realized that Ayanokouji was someone who treated everyone as a tool.
This was more impressive than Roswaal imagined. Initially, he wanted to use any means to make the prophesied visitor from another world a person who could support Emilia in ascending the throne by any means.
After Emilia succeeded, Roswaal would have the opportunity to obtain the dragon's blood and resurrect his master, the Witch of Greed Echidna. To achieve this goal, he would even use forbidden soul transfer techniques to take over the bodies of his descendants.
Ayanokouji currently was indeed an immoral person, but he considered Emilia as his tool.
"I have to find a way to make Ayanokouji support Emilia exclusively."
Roswaal whispered to himself.
But now he was somewhat unsure if he could fully control him. The abilities Ayanokouji had shown were truly beyond his imagination.
Such a person was not someone he could easily control.
"What should I do, teacher... no... whatever happens, I will surely resurrect you."
Roswaal lowered his head and looked at his hands, which also held a black Gospel.
❰❱SKY SCREEN❰❱
"The contract has been signed and completed, let me recognize you for now!" Beatrice clapped her hands and raised her chin and said, but with a smile on her face, "But the side effects of the previous contract, I already told you about it last time!"
"I know." Ayanokouji replied.
He remembered that if he signed a contract with Beatrice, the other party would absorb magic power from him, and he would not be able to sign a contract with other spirits.
However, this was not a problem for him, because if Beatrice was by his side, he wouldn't need to use magic, and he didn't need to sign a contract with other spirits for now.
According to the contract between the two, Beatrice would become Ayanokouji's contract spirit, loyal only to him, and not to anyone in Emilia's camp. Even if he chose another camp, Beatrice would still follow him.
Ayanokouji turned slightly and looked at Beatrice, who was also looking at him, with a smile on her face that seemed full of happiness.
Beatrice held his hand and walked out of the Forbidden Library, just in time to see Emilia and Puck walking towards them.
"Puck!" Beatrice greeted Puck with a bright smile on her face, like a child who had received a gift.
"Betty?" Puck's eyes widened slightly.
He noticed that Beatrice was holding Ayanokouji's hand at this moment. With Beatrice's usual tsundere character, she would never let anyone touch her.
"Ayanokouji, have you become that person?"
"Yes." Ayanokouji nodded.
"It's just that Betty reluctantly acknowledges it! I reluctantly regard him as that person!" Beatrice immediately raised her head and said, but at the same time, she held Ayanokouji's hand tighter.
"That's great!" Puck immediately said with a smile and nodded at Ayanokou
He was also very distressed because he couldn't save Beatrice from such loneliness and despair, but Ayanokouji did, and in his heart, he felt grateful to him.
"Then let's celebrate tonight!" A sincere smile appeared on Emilia's face. "To celebrate that we have thwarted the Witch Cult's conspiracy today, and we also know that Betty has found 'that person'!"
The scene changed, and time had unconsciously reached the evening. After dinner, Beatrice took Ayanokouji to the Forbidden Library to study. Now Ayanokouji could also read most of the texts in the Forbidden Library.
After studying the chapters designated by Beatrice, Ayanokouji read some ancient books in the Forbidden Library. Most of them recorded various ancient magic, but it wasn't something he could use. Moreover, he focused on some history books to better understand the information about the world.
"By the way, Betty." Ayanokouji returned a book to the shelf and turned towards Beatrice, "Do you know about the Sanctuary in Roswaal's territory?"
He asked about the map of the unmarked sanctuary, and Roswaal shouldn't be back for a long time.
"Sanctuary..." After hearing this term, Beatrice's expression gradually became serious, with a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Sanctuary was created by Mother... At the same time, it is also the place where my mother died."
"Sanctuary is the creation and tomb of the Witch of Greed?" Ayanokouji frowned slightly.
A place like that in Roswaal's territory represents a connection between the Mathers family and the Witch of Greed.
'It seems I need to investigate the Witch of Greed,' Ayanokouji thought to himself.