Battler rejects Gretel's offer and moves on after round two.

"I'm sorry." Battler looked into Gretel's eyes, trying to give his answer the gravity he thought she wanted. "I know it's not the right move, but I can't give you this last card."

"... No... Big Brother!" Gretel shouted in his face, trying to physically snatch the last card from his briefcase only to have it snatched away by Beatrice. "Why not?! What's wrong with you?!"

"... I guess this is my conceitedness I told you before, huh? This whole thing smells like a mystery, and my sense of danger tells me going any farther with you is a trap."

Gretel complained a couple more times as Beatrice hooked her arms beneath the other witch's to physically drag her off of Battler. Finally, she shook herself free, even though that meant freeing herself from her white shirt and leaving Beatrice holding it while she stood in her teensy green bikini. She stood facing away from him with her fists shaking at her sides, then spoke in a quiet, frustrated voice. "Battler... I get it. And I get why you're staying here, too. You don't need to say anything else. I guess someone like me... couldn't compete with the blonde witch from your fantasy, huh? The two of you can just keep screwing around on this island for as long as you like. Do it without me. <See you again never>, Big Brother..."

Before any of them could stop her, she marched for the door, threw it open, and stormed past whoever was outside.

"Wait! A witch should really disappear in a more... dignified..." Beatrice trailed off, looking dissatisfied in spite of ostensibly getting what she wanted. "Ho... That Gretel truly is a lousy witch. She lacks the nobility necessary to elevate oneself to that level, I'd say."

"How was she supposed to leave?" Battler asked, crossing his arms and looking unhappy, himself. "I could tell she was pissed with me."

"I mean... you know..." Beatrice tried to lighten the mood again with an energetic, if awkward, smile. "Turn into some butterflies! Disappear into thin air! All of these things are possible for a witch!"

Battler raised an eyebrow, as if to tell her to stop kidding around. "Tch. Get real. I haven't seen one thing I'd call magic since I got in here."

When he gave an answer like that, it was easy to think all what had happened until now had been for nothing. I was sure Beatrice would be furious...

... Instead, an even wider grin split her face, now too wide to be anything but vulgar. "Ho? Is that so? You still refuse to believe in magic...? How do you explain our entrances through the window, then? Do you think there's some elaborate pulley system and some invisible harnesses?"

I couldn't believe it. Battler's grin said... he actually did think that. Once she started challenging him about the mystery of magic, his mood seemed to instantly improve. Gretel would probably be sad... "If I start believing in sexy young ladies that can appear from thin air, people are gonna call me nuts. If you want to show me real magic, you'll have to do better than that!"

That wasn't just tough talk. He actually believed it! Was I the crazy one, so used to seeing witches appear before me that I no longer found it strange?!

"Very well, Battler. If my fellow witch is not enough to convince you... I will take a more hands-on approach." Beatrice licked her lips in excitement. Was she hungry for a challenge? Hungry for the chance to earn her power? Or just hungry for a handsome man who looked about the same age as her? Hard to say, but the second game would be starting immediately. We'd learn her true intentions...