Chapter 16: Re: Zero

~Zack POV~

I gave it some thought for a while and decided to bring the two with me to the new world.

Dangerous I know but if I left them here it would be a matter of time before Salem would come here or someone else.

Best to go when we have the chance.

I explained the situation to Neo and Penny a few days back and what my plans were as they were surprised by the info more so for Neo since I can't leave my player two behind.

Obviously, player three was Penny.

As I explained the situation to them Neo eventually agreed with me to join to learn magic when I brought back stuff from my old world that is different from Remnant.

Certainly got her attention and the idea of no Lightning Dust to power it only summed it up to agree along with a few games.

Glancing at the screen in front of me I look at the screen in front of me I hold onto Penny and Neo the talk about what's going to happen for the next few months will be in constant danger against real monsters.

But we get to learn from the best of the best magic users in Re: Zero World.

Echidna the Witch of Greed.

At least the past version of her four centuries ago since she can be more reasonable for us and offer some trade deals to her with our technology.

Also, I have to be careful of her personality as well since her future self turned out… full on psycho better to be cautious around her.

Echidna's curiosity toward the unknown and thirst for knowledge were the two things that defined her behavior.

She referred to it as love and directed those feelings toward Subaru's Return by Death, which she was interested to the point that she longed to become his advisor to record the many possibilities created with Subaru's Authority.

At first glance, she was polite, soft-spoken, understanding, and even a bit childish. She was stated by the other Witches to be quite clumsy like the time when she accidentally set the forest on fire, nearly burning to death, as she was trying to warm herself.

She was also somewhat forgetful in regard to daily tasks, almost forgetting her pyroxene crystal necklace that contained the souls of the other Witches and would've left it had it not been for Colette and Palmyra bringing it to her.

The other Witches also mentioned that she once forgot to change from her nightgown, and accidentally went out in public without properly dressing.

Described as being black hearted, she could not understand the feelings of others, and could be seen as a sociopath by normal standards. If it was to get a hold of more knowledge, she had no problems with employing sophistry, lying, and deceiving others.

She was reasonably polite and even jovial to Subaru, whenever the two interacted. Even after the reveal that she was black hearted and after Subaru called her a monster, she kept acting like an affable individual.

Though Echidna ultimately respected Subaru's decision to press on in his struggles without her help, she revoked his qualifications for entering her Castle of Dreams, as payback for not taking her hand.

However, she interacted with extremely hostile will only toward three people in the world: Emilia, Satella, and one other unnamed individual.

While Echidna does have some trouble with certain emotions, she isn't actually as emotionless as she made herself out to be to Subaru. It also is notable that she does maintain elements of the personality she showed Subaru even when she isn't around him.

As Echidna from four centuries ago and Echidna from the Castle of Dreams were stated to be two separate entities, the two also differ somewhat in personality as the original Echidna is much more considerate, empathetic and helpful than the Castle of Dreams Echidna.

Holding their shoulders I gave them a brief nod to them with a smile, "Ok you two. Time to head to a new world. Will have about few months to learn. You ready for a fresh new hell?"

Penny smiles and raises her fist in the air along with a few PENNY units nearby as she responds to me, "Aye! Aye Captain Zack! I'll be sure to learn as much as I can about Echidna as well as be helpful!"

Neo was next to nod as she pecked my check as she spoke while I blush at the ice cream girl as she spoke through the voice module, "Uh-huh. I can't wait to learn boyfriend. After all, I have a big strong man by my side right?"

I swear this girl really just wants to get into my pants.

Not that I would deny it but…

COugH!

Onto serious manners first as I take a glance at the screen as I tapped it beginning with the coordinates.

[Travel: [Re: Zero]

Destination: Right near the entrance of Echidna's home.

Time: Four Centuries ago...]

*Vroom*

Like that we are gone from there…

…

…

~Third POV~

Next Penny, Neo, Zack, and the PENNY units next appeared at a wooden building in the distance as they are surrounded by a deep green forest in the morning.

As they arrived they saw an open table with an umbrella with a beautiful woman glancing at the group with her eyes shining in interest.

Along with her is another girl but small floating with twin tails drill hairs with odd eyes seeing the group appearing out of nowhere.

Before things could escalate Zack began to bow to the person in front of them requesting some help from the Witch of Greed, "Sorry for bothering you Echidna the Witch of Greed… but I would like to request a deal with you! I wish to exchange knowledge and items for you teaching lessons in magic as well as other knowledge!"

The twin-tailed girl pouts at this shaking her arms about to launch magic till…

"Now, now Beatrice that isn't how you treat guests?"

Beatrice stops as she heard her mother's voice named Echidna as she began to set up from her seat going toward Zack's group.

Glancing at them but most of all at Penny her eyes shined happily at this commenting about her with curiosity in her voice, "What a marvelous design! Is this perhaps Metors used to create this Golem and her Gate – Hmm?"

Echidna listened to Zack request and thought as she examined Penny with fascination in her eyes as she glances at Penny with a bemused expression, "How…. You my orange-haired friend are very interesting…. Spirit?"

She glances at the answer towards Zack and Neo's expressions and shook their heads at the answer.

Getting the answer she immediately grew more interested in the group as she glances over to more of the PENNY units nearby them as she finally began to talk, "Very, a very peculiar group of… I would say artificial spirits but… Well. Ahem! I think you said something of an exchange of sorts?"

Zack grins happily at this seeing that Echidna is being considerate after seeing the eyes of Penny getting her attention as she leads the group into her home for an explanation to speak about their info exchange.

Beatrice follows them as well curiously as well as be sure to defend her mother from the group that appeared out of nowhere.

It was already beginning to turn dark as Echidna provided them a stay for the night being the courteous host to have a better understanding with the members as she examines the PENNY units that follow Zack's group.