Is this witch qualified to appear in my game?

... I know this is quite a thing for me to be saying, but, Gretel, are you qualified to appear on my game board? Strictly speaking, everyone who appears that day in Rokkenjima should be either a fantasy creature or someone who was actually there.

The question seemed to tick Gretel off. "I'm a fantasy creature, obviously. A magic witch holding a book of spells. I can even summon some cute familiars, if I have to prove it to you. If a made-up character like Beatrice can appear in your story, I'm sure I'm more than qualified."

I told Gretel she really seemed to hate Beatrice. Why should we trust that she really wanted to help Beatrice regain her title?

"Do you have another choice?" The red-headed witch tilted her head and gave me another cold glare. "It's not like I'm happy about it, either, but from what Bern has told me, you screwed everything up so horribly that now somebody has to salvage it. You're supposed to be a human, not a made-up fantasy creature, right? If you hadn't gotten so tied up playing the adult-rated version of 'Witches and Sorcerers,' I wouldn't be cleaning up your mess right now. So, sorry if I'm not wearing a big smile while I teach the witch I hate more than anyone how to shake her ass. Get a clue."

... This witch was pretty icy. I didn't really feel like asking any more questions, but I had to ask one. Could she really know how to do a sexy dance?

"I already said that, didn't I?"

And you can really teach Beatrice how to dance?

"I'd be wasting our time otherwise, wouldn't I?"

And you'll really help Beatrice use that sexy dance to convince Battler to-

"Enough, just shut up!" Gretel's patience finally ran out, her coldness breaking into a suddenly bubbling hot yell. "I said I'm doing it, aren't I?! If I said I'm doing it, I'm doing it!"

"Player..." Beatrice finally spoke to calm things down. "We don't need an audience, so why don't you go start getting things ready on the game board? I am certain that with Gretel's aid, I will be dancing with the stars in no time at all."

Beatrice and Gretel both seemed pretty confident they could pull this off. I suppose Gretel's determination in the face of her continuous poor demeanor definitely made you think there had to be something behind it... But, for some reason, it all felt too wrong to me.

... Bernkastel hadn't spoken for a while. I noticed her giving me a strange, barely-there smile. Something was twinkling in her eyes that definitely wasn't romantic. "Shouldn't you be going, Player? We wouldn't want to spoil you for the show you're getting later, after all... Hm hm hm..."

I was sure this black cat crossing our paths was bad luck. I was sure, but... I had **** but to roll with it. After all, even if we didn't win, I'd just die. Like usual. There's nothing to be afraid of in this situation.

I glanced back at Bernkastel again, but she was back to looking like a doll, sipping a cup of tea that had appeared with only her eyes acknowledging me. Those unreadable, purple eyes, that seemed to see into my thoughts...

Feeling a shiver, I happily left those witches to return to the game board, hanging my head over the pieces. I had preparations to make for Beatrice's game. The idea that Beatrice and Gretel, a witch who loved to kill and a witch who hated my guts, would greet me there alone later... was somehow refreshing...