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The Witch…
“As I thought”
—had an expression like that.
[What about Eidim and Paqui?]
Eve’s answer delayed a beat behind in response to the Witch’s question.
[My father and mother are dead.]
[…I’m sorry that I’ve asked something painful.]
[No, it’s a fact after all.]
Eve raises her arm as if to show it to her.
[This map you gave to my family. I followed it and came here. “If you ever need the power of the Witch of Taboos, use this map and rely on the Witch.”… My father Eidim instructed me that.]
[It’s because I’ve been in the care of the Speed family before. But, I see… so Eidim and Paqui died huh…]
It’s nothing but a tinge, but I could see some sadness on the Witch’s face.
…Her expression just now.
It seems like she had a good relationship with Eve’s parents.
[That means… you’re that young girl at that time huh.]
[Did I already meet you back then?]
Eve said she didn’t know of her though.
[So, you don’t remember huh. Well, I would have guessed so. I’ve only met you back when you’re still an infant.]
[…So that’s what you mean.]
[I haven’t heard of the Speed family since that time huh…]
Eve clenches her fist.
[One day, our tribe was suddenly raided and annihilated… I’m the only one left behind.]
Immediately after…
[By whose hands?]
I could feel a gloomy, quiet violet flame imbued in the Witch’s voice.
There’s a sudden change in the tone of her voice.
On the other hand though, Eve’s voice sounds dejected.
[I remembered that the marauders were still young children but…]
[Name.]
The tone of her voice sounds more of a command now.
“Say the name of those children.”
The Witch urged her to do so.
[No, I don’t know their names. I only vividly remembered that they were unusually strong for their age but…]
Eve heaves out a sigh.
[That’s all the things I know, so I couldn’t exact my revenge even if I wanted to… Their faces would have completely changed by now.]
The Witch softly clicked her tongue.
She seems to be a more compassionate type than I thought.
If you could get angry for someone that you’ve been close to, you could say that you’re compassionate.
[After that, I, the only survivor, was wandering around this continent. And then I met Liz, who was just like me and was wandering alone.]
Eve placed her hand on Liz’s small shoulder.
[We began our journey together in search for a place to rest in… But one day, we were discovered by a group of slave traders. There was no way for us to run away from them when they outnumber us. Thereupon… Trying to hang unto the final thread of hope, we tried to take refuge in the Demon Zone. However…]
Eve weakly shook her head.
[The monsters in the Demon Zone are far more terrifying opponents than the group of slave traders. We don’t have any choice other than to return back outside, but the slave traders who were waiting in ambush attacked us… and we got caught.]
Eve told the Witch what happened since then.
Being sold as a slave in Monroy and then, becoming a Blood Champion.
That he desperately fought so that she could buy Liz’s and her own freedom back.
After being betrayed by the Duke who runs the Blood Colosseum, they were then saved by us…
The Witch listened in silence.
When she finished listening to Eve’s story, the Witch shifted her gaze to Liz.
[You, what’s your surname?]
[I’m sorry… I’ve only known my first name, Lizbeth.]
[Then, what about your par—-]
The Witch stops her mouth before she could finish speaking.
She probably thought that it was a terrible topic to ask.
[I… Before I met Big Sister, I lived in a Dark Elven village hidden in the middle of a forest.]
Pausing for a bit, Liz continued speaking.
[I was still just a child back then, so I didn’t know who my real parents were. I don’t have any memories of them at all… I learned later that the name Lizbeth was the name of the deceased daughter of the one who took custody and raised me.]
Then, a streak of fear ran across Liz’s face.
[One day, that village… It was annihilated by Humans claiming to be Alion’s cavalry… I didn’t know the reason why they attacked though…]
Alion.
The country where that f*cking goddess lives in.
It’s a country with a really bad image…
Peeking at her with irritation, the Witch speaks.
[But you managed to survive, and after that… You wandered off on your own. Then, you met Eve while you’re wandering about.]
[Yes. And then…]
Liz looked towards me.
[I was in a dangerous situation but Touka-sama saved me. As for how he saved me, it was exactly as Big Sister said.]
The Witch finally has blatant irritation on her face.
[I wouldn’t say that all Humans were this vulgar… but the way they look and treat the Elves and the Demi-Humans were something I could only frown upon. No matter how many years have passed, it seems that their stupidity still remains. In that sense, I was correct to distance myself from their vulgarness. However, well…]
The Witch looks down.
[No, I would have normally turned you away but… this is quite troubling. One of them is Eidim’s daughter while the other’s a girl of the same race who lost her home…]
Weakly shaking her head, the Witch began to ask herself.
[No no no, wait a second? In the first place, how much of what we’re talking about now were believable? However… she wouldn’t know about the story with Eidim if she’s not from the Speed family… Now that you mention it, I could see traces of Eidim on your face…]
It seems that she’s conflicted.
I think I can afford to use my skill now that she’s like that.
Not that I would though.
[………]
However, this plan could be considered a success.
“A Leopardkin with connections to the Witch”
“A girl of the same race with an unfortunate past”
If it was just me and Seras, it probably wouldn’t be like this.
I probably wouldn’t be able to draw away from conflict either.
For instance…
“I won’t teach about the Forbidden Curses. I’m sorry, but I don’t trust you, so leave.”
It’s possible that we would end up being kicked out like that.
She may seem sympathetic to others, but the realist side of her seems to be stronger.
Unless there’s a good reason, we wouldn’t be able to draw her emotions to our side.
So that we could draw her emotions to our side, you could say that Eve and Liz would be the necessary factor for that aspect.
[Fine.]
Looking like she finally made up her mind, the Witch looked up.
[For the time being, I guess I’ll compromise with that.]
However, she looks like she’s somehow unconvinced with something.
[But can I just say one thing? No, it’s not like I need your permission to say it anyway, right? Eve and Liz… You do understand that “Touka-sama” over there might have used the two of you just to bring me unto his side, right?]
It seems that she has already thought about it that far huh.
As I thought, the Witch is quite perceptive.
However…
[I don’t care.]
Eve emphatically said.
[Even if that were the case, I
don’t care if Touka was using me. This man has done more for me compared to what I think I could do for him. Most of all, this man has put himself in danger to safely bring us here. In that case, you could say that we were just using Touka ourselves.]
[I- I also…]
Liz continues.
[I- I wouldn’t mind if it’s Touka-sama that were using me! Umm… It would be a good thing if I could be of use to Touka-sama though…]
[…How long has it been since the two of you met Touka there?]
The Witch asked.
Eve honestly told her how long we’ve been travelling together.
[Fuuunnnnn… You’ve built quite a rapport with them with just those few days. In that case… It’s either that guy Touka over there is quite the softie… Or one hell of a swindler.]
I snorted.
[I think it’s more like the latter.]
[Don’t make me laugh.]
The Witch taps the floor once with her staff.
[It seems that you’re quite the shrewd man huh… Not bad.]
The Witch turned on her heels.
[Well, you also didn’t unreasonably destroy my golem… No, that could also be according to your calculations but… Yes, it’s so that you could acquire the trust of this mistress…]
Peering over her shoulder, the Witch turned towards us.
[However… that Human Touka over there, is quite an interesting person. It might not be a bad idea for me to interact with you for some time. I was getting a bit bored lately anyway.]
The Witch spun the staff in her hand once.
[Fine. I’ll invite all of you into Erika’s home.]
Alright.
This clears up one of our two objectives.
That’s not a bad start.
Or rather, you could say that this is actually quite good.
Well… It seems like the Witch has seen through our aim and dared to accept it though.
In any case, we succeeded in getting hold of a “path”.
All that’s left for me to do is make use of that path to gain the trust of the Witch and we’ll be able to achieve our goal here in the Golden Demon Zone.
That’s right…
It’s so that I could get closer to those incantations that that f*cking Goddess prohibited.
What’s more, the Witch has already revealed one important piece of information about the Forbidden Curses.
I don’t know if the person herself is aware of it but…
From what I could tell, “that” wasn’t confirmed yet.
It seems that Seras also doesn’t know about that.
It has always just been “probably” until now.
I conceal my mouth with the palm of my hand.
That’s right.
The Witch asked me before.
“You wanted the power of these Forbidden Curses to kill Alion’s Goddess?”
I almost involuntarily grinned again.
Those words could also mean that…
If it’s the Forbidden Curses…
I need to understand that so that I could defeat that f*cking goddess, right?
* * *
A door at the top of a wooden staircase opened and the Witch emerged from it.
[Come in.]
Holding Liz’s hand, Eve looked towards me.
Her eyes look like she’s asking for permission.
I nod back and the two of them start walking towards the stairs.
Thereupon, Slei followed behind them.
[…Let’s also go, Seras.]
[Yes.]
Seras replied. She then trotted off and leaned her body close towards me, hiding her voice as she whispered.
[It seems that we somehow managed to get into her pocket.]
[Yeah. For the time being, I think we’ve been able to get her to shelter Eve and Liz—- So, you could say that we’re off to a good start.]
Chapter 162
The Witch's Home
We ascended the stairs and went inside.
A spacious room.
I could see a candlestick lamp lighting up the room.
The way it glows…
I guess they’re using magic energy as an energy resource.
In the center of the room is a wooden low table.
The majority of the furniture and furnishings appear to be wood-based.
Their appearance feels like those stylish Nordic antiques.
As for the Witch, she sank deep on her sofa with her staff leaned against the side table beside her.
[Wait a little bit.]
Waiting for a while, a golem appeared from the back of the room.
It’s holding four chairs in both of his hands.
The golem quickly puts the chairs down at regular intervals.
[By all means. Please sit.]
She urged us to sit on the chairs.
The Witch held up a silver cup from the table beside her sofa.
[Do you all want something to drink?]
Seras asked with her gaze.
“What should we do?”
I…
[Then, I’ll gratefully accept it.]
—replied so.
Perhaps, what Seras was worried about was the Witch mixing in sleeping pills and the likes in our drinks.
However, I want to show to them that I trust the Witch.
Of course, if I feel like something’s fishy, I intend to deal with it myself.
The golem arrived again, carrying silver cups on a tray this time.
…These golems could also act as waiters huh.
They’re quite dexterous.
It appears that it served us herb water.
Bringing the cup close to my mouth, I unceremoniously smelled it.
It’s a scent that I know.
It’s the same scent of the herb water that I drank in Monroy.
They must have used the same type of herb huh.
Acting as if I’m gulping down the contents of the cup, I licked a little bit with the tip of my tongue.
At this angle, the Witch on the other side shouldn’t be able to see my mouth.
Therefore, she shouldn’t be able to think that I’m just testing for poison first.
[………]
There’s no difference in taste from that herb water in Monroy.
It seems that it’s alright.
[I didn’t put any poison in there, you know? Well, but it’s natural for anyone to be wary.]
Combing her glossy black hair with her hand, the Witch urges us.
[It’s not like I want to offend you, so feel free to drink it. Well, feel free to test that for poison until you’re satisfied.]
Her gaze was focused on Seras.
[Ah—- Umm… Excuse us for our rudeness…]
Seras shrunk on her chair as she wrapped the cup in between her hands.
It seems she’s also acting suspicious towards the Witch as she tested the cup if it’s poisoned.
On the other hand though, Eve and Liz just directly drank their cups without acting vigilant.
With her chin propped on her hand, the Witch’s gaze sharply shot through Seras.
[You… You’re Seras Ashrain, right?]
[You know me?]
From the information I’ve been able to gather so far…
The Witch must have been in a life of seclusion from the outside for at least a decade.
Even if she had started secluding herself ten years ago, Seras should be just around 9 years old at that time.
Even if she knew Seras at that time…
How could she look at her grown-up appearance and immediately know that they’re the same person?
[…………]
I thought of one theory why.
The way the Witch spoke…
It doesn’t feel like she has been isolated from the outside world for a long time.
In short…
[You have some
kind of means to know what’s going on outside the Demon Zone?]
I asked a question that sounds vague enough that you wouldn’t know if it’s really just a question or something that I’ve concluded.
The Witch turned her body and crossed her legs.
[That’s right.]
And she readily admitted it.
The Witch then turned her gaze towards Slei for some reason.
[Well, it’s an ancient power that has been lost for a long time ago—-]
[Like, a familiar?]
One of the Witch’s eyebrows twitched.
[I’m surprised that you know about familiars.]
[…I’m not entirely sure, but I have some hunch.]
Or rather, it’s actually just a guess.
It’s just some random thought that popped out of my mind when I thought about those literary works with the fantasy genre.
In the world where I’m from, there are lots of those literary works where those familiars were mentioned…
[…………]
If I were to add one additional factor, it would be that the Witch looked at Slei just now.
Looking at the monster Slei…
“That smart girl must have learned of an ability to make use of monsters.”
That’s what I read from her expression.
Snap!
Erika snapped her fingers.
[It’s just as you said, this mistress is making use of familiars to gather information from outside the Demon Zone. I don’t want to get involved with them, but there are some interesting things I could find out there too. Therefore, I’m getting my familiars to gather information on a regular basis. By the way—–]
The Witch’s gaze on my face fell down towards my robe.
[That monster under your robe must be your familiar?]
As I thought, she’s aware of him.
[…He’s my slime partner. I don’t exactly know about familiars, but I don’t know if I could even call him a familiar.]
[I see… So, you don’t know their exact definition nor how to use them huh.]
It seems that she was also trying to gauge how much knowledge I have.
She really is a shrewd Witch.
[Well, listen. I’ll specially teach you… Familiars are animals or monsters that were binded with a magical contract with its master. Not only do these familiars follow their master’s orders, their master could also borrow their eyes and see the things that the familiars see. It’s also possible to talk to someone in another place through the familiar but… That’s pretty exhausting for both this mistress and my familiar, to the point that I think that using that ability cuts away our life span.]
