Memory 20 (trivial neutral), Skill 5

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Setup for the 6th game: waiting for payback; meeting chick-Beatrice. [EP6] Form of a small vial of water with a Jasper ribbon wrapped around it. Not shareable.

The curtain was rising on the sixth tale......
At one time, only Beato and her fellow witches had gathered in this smoking room to chat.

Now, however, an unusually large number of people were present.
"Ehheheheheh. I wonder what kind of game Battler's going to show us."
"......I don't care what...as long as it's fun enough to relieve my boredom as I crush it."
"Leave everything to me, my master! I will perform to my fullest and give you the results you desire!"
"Yeah, you'd better. ......I kept making strange faces all the time last game thanks to you......Thought I might start getting wrinkles."
"Th, there's no need to worry. The beauty of my master's face is without peer, no matter how wrinkly it may get."
"...............!!!"
"Eheheheh! It's rare to see Bern in such high spirits. Beato's game board really is something else."
"......How sad it is that the master of this game board is no longer with US."
"A tiger dies and leaves behind its hide. Looks like Beato has died and left behind her game."
"Even though chess still exists, no one knows the name of the person who invented it."
"Oh, you're right! Kyahahaha, poor game inventors!"
"Come to think of it, Battler-san has really kept us waiting, hasn't he? Is he still setting up the sixth game?"
"......Gertrude. How have Lord BATTLER's preparations PROGRESSED?"
"Please, allow me to speak. ......Know that he will be finished very soon."
"If he's kept us waiting this long, he must be pretty confident in his plan. ......He really humiliated me in front of my master last time. I'll defeat him no matter what it takes...! And you in particular! Make sure you don't screw up again...!"
"......I will meet the challenge with all of my strength."
The previous Game Master, Lambdadelta, had confirmed that Battler understood everything about Beato's game.

However, in order to prove it, Battler would have to run this game by himself and carry it through to completion.
In other words, if Erika could crush this game of Battler's, she would, in effect, wipe away the dishonor of that last game.

Though Erika was chomping at the bit to get started, it was taking Battler quite some time to show himself.
At that time, a swarm of gold butterflies popped into existence and formed a human shape.

From the shape of that familiar dress, everyone immediately realized who it was.
"Ah, look, it's Beatrice-san. And I thought you'd died and disappeared last time."
"......Beatrice the player is the one who died last time. This is probably just a piece...Battler's piece."
"Even if she is a piece, it does not change the fact that it is HER."
Beatrice gave an elegant curtsy as she appeared.

This humble entrance was so vastly different from her usual high-pitched laugh that it made the long-awaited start of the 6th game feel even more ominous than it otherwise would have...
"Father will be here very soon. I ask that you wait for just a short while longer......"
"...............Aha. Father? What's that? Is this some new scheme?"

Not only had Beato started talking in an unusually polite manner, she had also used the word 'Father'...probably referring to Battler.
For an instant, everyone was stunned into silence, but they quickly realized that this was setting up some kind of scheme, and they grinned.
Beato wasn't the type who could keep up this kind of act for long.
It would probably fall apart in a few seconds, leaving her laughing and cackling rudely at everyone.
Erika, who was itching for a fight, went for Beato almost at once.
"I can't believe that incompetent Battler-san reached the truth of your game."
"......I'm sure Father understands it quite deeply. He really is good at that sort of thing."
"............You're pretty lucky, aren't you? If Battler hadn't become the Game Master, you wouldn't have revived again. Or maybe I should say you're really unlucky."
"......Unlucky?"
"Well, after all, I'm going to pay you back in full for last time. You're just one of Battler's delusions, so I'll erase every part of you and knock you down into the depths of oblivion."
"I too cannot allow you such an easy victory. ......I, uh, look forward to having a good, clean fight."
"............???"
By this point, everyone realized that something weird was going on.

There was no doubt that the face, the dress, and the hair were all Beatrice's.
......However, ......her expression was different.

Even though she had Beato's face, Beato would never show anyone an expression like that.
"............"
"...Just who...are you?"
There was a heavy silence.

......Lambdadelta spoke for everyone there.
At first, Beato had worn a smiling yet blank expression. ......However, when she realized that the mood had gone suddenly stiff, her expression finally darkened, and she hung her head.
"Who......are you?"
"......You appear to be Lady Beatrice......but is that TRUE...?"
Even Dlanor was forced to ask despite the rudeness of the question.

That was how much...this woman...who appeared to be Beato...was not.
"......Am I somehow different......from the Beatrice everyone was expecting?"
"What......are you talking about?"
"Wait a second, don't tell me you have amnesia or something...?"
"I, ...I was only born recently, so I have no memories at all. ......H, however, I will study hard...in order to become the Beatrice you all expect-"

"Beato. ......I thought I told you to stay in your room."
Battler's voice came out of nowhere.

......His tone was very slightly cold.
Beato's expression looked like that of a young girl being scolded.
With a swirl of gold butterflies, ......Battler appeared.

His dignified bearing and appearance were fitting for the ruler of this game.
......However, his expression was gloomy...and his gaze was directed at Beato.
"......Go back to your room. You aren't supposed to be here."
"I, ...I just wanted to help you however I could, Father......"
"Go. To your room."
He spoke both softly and forcefully.
Battler didn't leave her any room for debate.

Beato hung her head and curtsied as she prepared to leave the room...
"Also."
"Y, yes, what is it, Father?"
"......My name is Battler. ...Never call me by another name again."
"...Y, .........yes."
Beato melted into a swarm of butterflies and disappeared.
This was the first part of the tale with Battler as the Game Master.
The witches had all expected him to come forward with some flashy, big developments, ...so they were all fairly confused.

......Their mouths were still hanging open.
"......This is a pretty weird plan."
"Pardon me. ......Please forget what you saw just now."
"Hmph, so, are you trying to trick us with this? You're scheming to give us the wrong impression, like another North Wind and the Sun strategy, aren't you?"
"......Is there something WRONG?"
"Don't worry about it. It has nothing to do with you people."
"I see. Then it's of no importance. Alright, Battler! Please start up the new game right away! You've kept us waiting so long, it's gotten totally boring!"
"......Sure. Let's start the 6th game. ......Erika, and you too, Bernkastel. This will be my tale, proof that I've reached the truth about Beatrice. ...Lambdadelta. Please oversee this game, as a former Game Master."
"Sure, looking forward to it. What's the title?"
"......'Dawn'. ...As in, the Dawn of the Golden Witch."
"Of course, the winter sun is quick to sink back below the horizon."
"Of course, my master. I'll drag it back down for you right away. At least your title is <good>, Battler-san. I'll give you that much."
"I'm glad you like it. ...Then let's get started. The 6th game will now begin."
Battler solemnly announced the start of the game.

......Compared to his fired-up attitude at the end of the last game, where he and Erika had sworn to settle everything next time, he was extremely quiet now......

Notes:
- She actually rememebered the parts Beato was there for from her perspective in the kissing game. But any perspective that's not hers is unreliable!!
- Anyway obviously at some point between her apparent victory and Battler being dead Battler became not-dead and solved the mystery and became the Game Master :|a she kind of knew that already but it still sucks. She totally won the sixth game though!!
- Chick-Beato is still super weird but ha ha ha Battler is her father she needs to remember to mock Beatrice about that more.

Skill 5: Chopsticks!!! Form of a big, juicy, perfectly ripe blackberry.

Chopsticks are the best utensil and Erika is the best at them.