Re:zero to Echidna

The contract was sealed with sugar and spite.

Beatrice hovered cross-legged above the library's central table, her pink eyes narrowed as Subaru scrawled terms onto a napkin pilfered from the kitchens.

"Clause one," he recited, licking jam from his thumb. "No teleporting me into walls."

"Absurd," she sniffed. "Betty's aim is *flawless*."

"Clause two: when I say 'emergency exit,' you zap us to safety. No questions."

"*Hmph*. As if Betty would lower herself to be your *ferry*."

He slid the napkin toward her, grinning. "Clause three: today, you don't call me 'insufferable' once."

She snatched the napkin, incinerating it with a flicker of mana. "The contract is *verbal*. And temporary. And Betty *loathes* you."

"Sure, sure." He stood, offering his hand. "C'mon, partner. Adventure awaits."

She stared at his palm like it was a dead fish. "Adventure. *Please*. Betty has seen empires rise and—"

"—fall, yeah. But have you ever tasted deep-fried lizard skewers?"

Her nose twitched. "...Lizard?"

***

The capital stank of humanity—sweat, ale, dung, and the cloying perfume nobles doused themselves in to pretend otherwise. Beatrice floated half a step behind Subaru, her frilly dress drawing stares she vaporized with glares.

"Keep gawking," she muttered, "and Betty will *unmake* your ancestors."

Subaru chuckled, steering her toward a stall where a hunchbacked vendor sold candied scarab legs. "Relax, Beako. They're just admiring your… *radiance*."

"*Radiance*?" She eyed the scarabs dubiously. "Are these… *insects*?"

"Delicacies." He tossed the vendor a silver coin from a purse he'd swiped moments prior. "Two sticks. Extra crispy."

The vendor bowed, grease dripping from his smile. "A-As the young master wishes!"

Beatrice nibbled a scarab leg, froze, then devoured the entire skewer. "*Acceptable*," she mumbled, licking caramelized chitin from her fingers.

Subaru hid a grin. *Loop 419: The caramel vendor's cart gets trampled by a runaway griffin at 3:17 PM. Loop 420: Nobleman in green doublet drops purse near fountain at 2:43 PM. Loop 421: Pickpocket syndicate ambush behind the blacksmith's—*

"Subaru." Beatrice tugged his sleeve, her voice uncharacteristically small. "What is… *that*?"

He followed her gaze to a street performer swallowing fire. The crowd oohed as flames licked his beard, harmless as kitten tongues.

"Oh, that's just—"

"*Magic*," Beatrice breathed, drifting closer. "But… *how*? His mana pathways are *clogged*. He shouldn't be able to—"

"It's a trick." Subaru tossed a copper into the performer's hat. "No magic. Just practice."

She hovered inches from the man's face, scrutinizing him. "*Fascinating*."

***

They raided the city like locusts.

Subaru pilfered purses with the precision of a man who'd mapped every noble's gait, every guard's patrol route. A duke's son 'donated' gold near the silk market. A countess 'misplaced' her coin pouch by the flower carts.

"*Thief*," Beatrice accused, even as she devoured her third honey-drenched pastry.

"*Redistributor*," he corrected, pocketing a stray emerald. "Besides, they'll wake up tomorrow none the wiser when this resets."

She paused, jam smeared on her cheek. "...Tomorrow resets?"

"Yes… So none of this matters." His words cryptic.

He watched a street urchin swipe a loaf of bread, the baker too distracted by Beatrice's glittering dress to notice. "Nope."

"Then why…?"

He shrugged. "Why not?"

***

The sun dipped low, painting the canals molten gold. Subaru led Beatrice to a crumbling bridge where stray cats gathered to fish for glowing eels. She perched on the railing, legs dangling, as he unpacked their haul: spiced wine, cheese that smelled like feet, and a paper bag of still-warm sugar-dusted dumplings.

"Betty could *smell* this from the astral plane," she said, reaching for a dumpling.

"Local specialty." He leaned back, counting coins. "Old lady near the slums makes 'em. Secret recipe."

"Hmph. Needs more cardamom." She ate three in succession.

A cat slunk over, purring like a broken engine. Beatrice stiffened as it rubbed against her leg. "Shoo! Filthy creature!"

Subaru scratched the cat's mangy ears. "C'mon, Beako. Make a friend."

"Betty doesn't *do* friends." But when the cat leapt into her lap, she didn't vaporize it. Just sighed. "...*Fine*. But don't *look* at Betty."

They sat in silence, the city's clamor softening to a lullaby. Subaru watched Beatrice feed the cat dumpling scraps, her smile small and secret.

*"How domestic,"* Echidna murmured, her reflection rippling in the canal. *"Careful, darling. You're starting to resemble a *person*."*

He flicked a coin into the water, scattering her image.

***

The moon rose as they drifted through the night market. Lanterns hung like captured stars, painting Beatrice's hair in hues of crimson and gold. She paused at a stall selling cursed amulets, her fingers brushing a pendant that promised 'eternal vigor.'

"*Scam*," she declared. "The runes are backwards."

The vendor paled. "M-My lady, I assure you—"

"Betty *assures* you'll be selling teeth by dawn if this *dross* remains."

Subaru hauled her away, laughing. "Easy, tiger. You'll put him out of business."

"*Good*."

He bought her a paper lantern instead—crimson, shaped like a dragon. She pretended to hate it.

***

By midnight, even Beatrice's boundless energy waned. They sat on a rooftop overlooking the palace, her head nodding onto his shoulder.

"Today was… *adequate*," she mumbled.

"High praise."

"Don't let it swell your head."

Below, the city slept—unaware it would reset, unmarred by tomorrow's tragedies. Subaru stared at the stars, their patterns memorized through countless loops.

"Beako."

"Hm?"

"If I die tomorrow… you'll remember this, right?"

She stiffened, confused. "Obviously. Betty's memory is *flawless*."

"Good."

The lantern guttered out. Somewhere, a clock tower chimed.

However, he noticed how weak she had became. Despite the contract being a temporary one where she could go outside, her seal had weakened her to the point of having dark circles beneath her eyes.

But she tried to hid this. But how could you hide something from a perfectionist being.

***

At dawn, Subaru woke alone in his room. Beatrice's dragon lantern sat on his windowsill, its paper wings singed.

He reached for it—and froze.

The Witch's stench clung to his hands, thicker than ever.

*"Oops,"* Echidna whispered.

Outside, screams began.