Surprise! I've Transmigrated Again

Despite trying to maintain his usual calm tone, panic and fear were clearly audible in his voice.

With a dry voice, he called out her name bitterly.

"Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory!"

Her translucent silver hair gleamed like a bright waterfall in the sunlight. Her deep blue eyes sparkled like jewels, framed by long eyelashes that enhanced her exceptional beauty.

Though her smile was gentle and peaceful, it carried an air of looking down upon everything.

Her delicate frame seemed so fragile that a strong wind might carry her away. The thin cloth draped around her body gave an impression of untouchability — as if only this garment was permitted to touch her skin.

Floating in mid-air, the witch radiated an otherworldly serenity and beauty.

Beautiful! Transcendently beautiful! No words could fully capture her magnificence!

Without exaggeration, she was the most beautiful woman Adam had ever seen!

His heart raced uncontrollably at the sight of her.

But make no mistake — this wasn't love, but fear!

Though this seemingly fragile girl before him matched his preferences perfectly, she was the last person in this world he wished to encounter!

—The Witch of Vainglory, Pandora!

Even if Satella, the Witch of Envy, were to appear, he would have ways to escape and pacify her. But against the Witch of Vainglory, he was truly powerless!

What were her motives? Her desires? What role did she play in the flow of history?

Nobody knew!

Moreover, as the mastermind controlling the Witch Cult, her appearance here surely meant she was plotting something.

"First time meeting you, Lady Pandora, Witch of Vainglory." This wasn't mere formality — his respect was genuine.

Before one of the few witches who stood above the world, maintaining proper decorum was essential.

Setting aside his usual pride as a transmigrator, he bowed his head low. While pressing down on Subaru's head, he bent like rusty machinery, his stiff body creaking as he bowed deeply.

The kid appeared even more shocked than Adam!

"Oh my, you know of my existence." Pandora's serene expression showed a hint of surprise before a slight smile graced her face.

Beautiful! Her breathtaking beauty made one lose themselves in her magnificent countenance.

Adam quickly bowed and averted his gaze, saying softly, "Yes. Your reputation precedes you, and I have had the fortune to learn of you."

"Not bad. As expected of the one I've chosen."

"The one you've chosen...?" He frowned, not understanding her words, "May I ask, what is your purpose for coming here?"

"I came to see my beloved child."

"Beloved child... beloved?" Adam turned his head to look at Subaru behind him.

Was she talking about this kid?

No, that's wrong! Subaru was the one targeted by Satella — how could the Witch of Vainglory possibly love him?

Could it be... Looking at Pandora with an expression of disbelief, he refused to accept what he suspected!

But the more you don't want something, the more likely it becomes!

That's just how cruel reality can be!

"It seems you've figured it out. As expected of my beloved child. Yes, it's you."

"!!!!!!!!!!!!"

No amount of exclamation marks could express Adam's shock.

What was she saying? What exactly was she saying?

Me? It's me...? The beloved child she speaks of... is me?

The Sin Archbishop was actually myself?!

No wonder the Archbishop of Sloth said there was a Witch's scent on me, that I was a beloved one. Adam had thought it was Subaru's influence rubbing off on him, but he had been targeted by the Witch all along!

But why couldn't Rem and Ram smell it at first? Could it be because Subaru's numerous deaths left such a strong scent that it masked his own?!

Very possible!

After all, afraid of loading saves, he had been moving together with the kid the whole time. And Subaru, who had died and reloaded ten times in the capital, had died twice more than usual!

"...May I ask a few questions?"

"Of course. I'm always lenient with my beloved child." Pandora wore a serene smile and loving expression as she let him voice his doubts.

"Since entering the Count's mansion, my emotions have been unstable — was that your doing?"

"Yes, that was to make you draw closer to me. But I didn't expect you to regain clarity at the last moment. My beloved child, can you tell me why?"

"Well... who knows why?" He avoided her question with vague words, not revealing the reason.

Hearing her answer, Adam finally understood.

The Witch of Vainglory must have wanted to control him like the Archbishop of Sloth did, by altering his memories and changing his personality when his emotions were extremely unstable!

But she didn't know that he had Aqua's blessing, which pulled him back at the last moment, allowing him to regain his composure.

"Then... why me? Why choose me?" This was something Adam couldn't comprehend.

Had Greed become useless? Or had she tired of Sloth and sought someone new? What made him a target?

The Witch of Vainglory matched his earlier vagueness with her own response.

"Because you are the most suitable person. And unfortunately, the Archbishop of Greed, Regulus Corneas... he died."

"Died?" Adam's voice carried a note of surprise.

It had to be Elsa's doing! Only she, knowing the Archbishop of Greed's weakness, could have managed such a feat!

Trust the Bowel Hunter to deliver!

After a moment's reflection, he asked, "Since you call me your beloved child, what is my Authority?"

〚Authority〛

Like Subaru, he should possess his own〚Authority〛. Yet he'd found none within himself. Unless — like the boy — it was an〚Authority〛that only manifested after death.

But no, that couldn't be right.

"Authority? I gave it to you long ago." Pandora said with a gentle smile, "From the moment you entered this world, you received my Love."

"Impossible! I don't have... no, I do!" Adam's forehead beaded with sweat, his lips blanching.

Skills! Of course — his skills!

〚World Traveling〛,〚Analyze and Copy〛! Perhaps even〘Resurrection〙, which bent the world's very rules!

He'd simply assumed his skills would function in this world. Analyzing Divine Protection, studying Magic — it had all seemed so natural. Never had he suspected these abilities were gifts from the Witch of Vainglory!

{T/N: Not the abilities themselves, but the capacity to execute them correctly. It's like running a Windows program on Linux - you know it might go wrong, but if it doesn't, something strange is going on.}

Now I understand! Everything makes sense!

His self-acknowledgment had warped reality itself, enabling his skills!

Even encountering Subaru must have been orchestrated. By following the boy, analyzing and copying powerful Divine Protections and Magic, his strength had multiplied rapidly.

Once he'd reached the pinnacle of power, the Witch of Vainglory appeared. She intended to control him, to make him her puppet.

How fitting for the world's most vicious woman! Such calculation! Such cunning!

"Last question... my hatred for Subaru — was that your doing too?"

Indeed, Adam despised that boy. This was undeniable!

Initially, he'd attributed his contempt to Subaru's carelessness causing his death four times. Hence his critical, lecturing tone, and those occasional barbed remarks meant to humble the boy.

But now the truth appeared far more complex.

"Eh? Adam still hates me? I thought you were just trying to motivate me — was I being too presumptuous?" Subaru, having recovered from his shock, wore a hurt expression upon hearing these words.

This isn't the time for jokes, brat!

"Humans are like this." Pandora said, her serene smile unchanging, "Always trying to deflect their faults onto others. When they're clearly in the wrong, they search for excuses, seeking escape — don't you think that's going too far?"

However, her next words cut like ice.

"...It seems no matter how I distort your cognition, it won't succeed anymore. Yes, I did it."

"Why?"

"Witches compare themselves to each other, so naturally the children beloved by witches must also be enemies."

She had admitted it. She had admitted to tampering with him!

She had deliberately faded his peripheral memories, planted seeds of hatred for Subaru from the beginning, and even caused him to lose control when Rem died.

Even his unleashing of full power against the Archbishop of Sloth — that too must have been her manipulation, another move in her scheme.

Damn it! Damn witch!

Absolutely! I will definitely defeat you!

✧✧✧

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