That miracle will not be granted. She has someone else in mind...

I had to bow my head even more deeply as I felt a reproachful silence. I knew Bernkastel's icy stare had hardly changed, but her judgment was thick in the room. "If I did know anything about it, do you think I'd submit to be a piece on your board? Do you have any idea who you're talking to? Do you even know what the Witch's Senate is?"

I felt like my back was going to snap from my deep acute-angled apology.

To make matters even worse, Beatrice whacked me lightly on the head with her pipe. "She is not speaking of herself, fool!" She rose her own head again, wringing her hands together beneath her long sleeves as her eyes lit up. "Could it be that Lady Bernkastel is speaking of a traveler she has met across the sea? I'm sure you get up to all kinds of adventures... Could it not be that you met a truly captivating stranger capable of commanding the lust of men?"

"Beato... you don't get it at all." Bernkastel shook her head, then turned away from us as she continued. I got the weird feeling she was hiding her face. "The important thing you need right now isn't someone completely skilled in the art of dance. It's someone with at least rudimentary skill, but the willingness and free time to help you. Luckily, I have just the piece for this game. Yes... A very friendly and helpful witch will, with my blessing, certainly grant you the miracle you're after, as long as you're willing to work for it yourself." She stopped talking to Beatrice and turned her eyes only towards me. "She's a shy kid, so she won't appear if a guy like you is watching. Close your eyes."

I did as I was told, uncertain who I was about to meet. Before I did, I saw Beatrice closing her own eyes, even though she hadn't been asked.

"She's here. Open them."

As Bernkastel commanded, I saw who she'd called upon. That person hadn't announced themselves because their face was twisted into a look of... shock? Confusion? Disgust?

Bernkastel seemed to find something a little funny about it. With a slight smile, she gestured to the red-headed young lady she'd summoned. "Gretel... This is my fellow witch, Beato, and the so-called Game Master, H. I. Player. There's no need for them to know exactly who you are, so give them only a short introduction, okay...?"

The unhappy-looking third witch looked like she wanted to give me us all a piece of her mind, rather than an introduction. Gretel wore red hair in pigtails, a black jacket and a short skirt... I had been really disappointed when I realized Bernkastel wouldn't be dancing for us herself, but looking at this cute witch's plump thighs and well-developed breasts, I couldn't be too upset. If only she wasn't scowling like she wanted to go throw up... "Instead of a greeting, let's skip to a goodbye. Didn't I tell you I'm only interested in rescuing Battler? A tea party with a bunch of your creepy friends is my last idea of a good time. What's your game?"

"Ah, I'm sorry," Bern apologized with a small smile. "Like I said, she's a shy kid... She gets nervous around people she doesn't know, and, of course, people she hates. You two already know each other, don't you? Beatrice...? Gretel...?"

"... Perhaps." Beatrice was still smiling politely, but I could tell she was vexed. "Lady Bernkastel, this is an interesting piece, but I cannot fathom why she would be inclined to help me."

"Yeah, same." Gretel placed a hand on her hip. I saw she was holding a leather-bound book in the other, clutching it with what I thought was apprehension. "I don't have any intention of helping the witch who imprisoned Battler in that hell of Rokkenjima. Thanks, but no thanks."

Bern's small smile grew slightly wider. "Poor kid... Well, you're new to the game of witches, so it's understandable. Don't you at least want to know how the horse-shaped piece is supposed to move before you pout and storm off in a huff to watch TV? Hm hm hm..."

"Go ahead, if it'll get you to give it a rest." Gretel took the seat Bern had left, crossing her arms with her persistent bad mood obvious on her face. "I get the feeling I'm not going anywhere until you say I am, anyway."

"... Well. You're my piece, so I'm going to explain my strategy to you, and only you. No listening in, Player..." Bernkastel leaned in towards Gretel to whisper a secret. Her cupped hand hid her mouth, but I could see her eyes curve slightly into a smile. "When I share this plan with you, you'll understand your motivation, and you'll want to help poor Beato for sure."

Her face said exactly what I was thinking: "No way in hell." Nonetheless, as Bernkastel whispered to her in silence, I saw her face change. It was about how it had been when she arrived, some ambiguous mixture of shock, disgust, and confusion... But as it continued, I saw more emotions join them. Anger, first. Then, a red flush. The red-headed witch seemed to be aware we were all watching her with nothing else to do, so she tried to keep her face even as the secret chat continued. Finally... I saw all of those complicated emotions leave her until only determination remained. She locked her steely blue eyes onto Beatrice's. "I'm convinced. I'll help you until the end. Don't think this makes us friends, witch. Once this is over, I'm taking Battler out of here with me."

"Excellent! That's the spirit!" Beatrice seemed more comfortable speaking with her challenging grin now that she clearly understood where she and her new guest stood with each other. "Well, personally, I don't think you have a snowball's chance in hell of freeing that pitiful human, but you seem like the type of person who might know a thing or two about a sexy dance. At least, you have the nice body for it, kyehehe!! That is most reassuring!"

I saw Gretel's eyebrow twitch in anger. Honestly... something about her made me want to join Beatrice in bullying her. Maybe wanting to share in the favorite pass-time of your favorite character is only normal. Still, I acknowledged that driving her away right now was dangerous, if she really could help. Bernkastel wouldn't grant us another miracle. Instead of teasing her, I would take this chance to confirm it...