episode_0277

As soon as Lala finished talking with the elders, the three elders nodded without any opposition.

“Our Lala is already at the age to take the witch trial. Then we should also prepare.”

“Going out alone to find someone to help outside the forest, she really tried hard.”

“….Stay strong.”

“T-thank you!”

The three elders, who agreed so coolly to a fellow witch from the same forest taking the trial, went out to prepare for the ritual.

Seeing them conversing more comfortably and approvingly than with Liji, who had been groveling and begging, I couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

“Even though the bond between witches is said to be stronger compared to other races….”

Seeing that, it seemed like even Liji would feel disheartened. She had persuaded the elders with all sorts of gifts to allow her to take the witch trial, but they didn’t agree and only took care of Lala, a fellow forest witch.

There was a possibility that she might feel disillusioned with the ecology of witches itself and might even destroy all the trade and medicine in the witch forest….

“Elders~. Then, could you let me take the witch trial along with Lala? Since we’ll have to prepare for the trial the same way anyway, I’m fine being just a bonus for Lala~.”

…It seems like I underestimated Liji’s social skills and mental strength. I never thought she would lower herself to ask to take the witch trial in such a situation.

Whether to consider it fortunate or not, the elders seemed unable to refuse Liji’s proposal at this point and eventually gave a positive response.

“W-well…? Since Lala is doing it….”

“If it’s Lala’s bonus…. it might be fine….”

“….”

-Nod.

“Yes! I’ll do my best, elders!”

Liji, smiling happily without knowing the content of the upcoming witch trial, was already vividly pictured in my mind, descending from the altar in defeat just three days later.

***

Three days later, in the morning of the day of the witch trial.

Our group and the August siblings walked to the northern altar of the witch forest, timed for the witch trial.

It unintentionally turned into quite a large procession. It felt like there were quite a few people helping with Lala’s witch trial.

“Climb the altar, Lala.”

“…Liji too.”

“Yes!”

“…Y-yes.”

Liji climbed the altar confidently, followed cautiously by Lala. Perhaps, if there are no major obstacles, Lala will pass the trial, but the problem lies with Liji. The witch trial held in the witch forest is not something that can be passed simply with patience and endurance.

Witches born and raised in the witch forest have not only communication skills but also ‘one thing’ that is inherently absent from birth.

However, for Liji, an aristocratic heiress from the prestigious August family who was not born and raised in the witch forest, ‘this emotion’ had to exist.

As I silently watched whether she could even start the witch trial, it was Lala who began to act first.

-Swish.

“….”

“….?”

-Swish, swish.

“….”

“…U-um, excuse me? Lala?”

“Yes, yes?! W-why, why, why, why…?”

“W-why are you suddenly taking off your clothes? And in front of so many people on the altar….”

“….Yes? B-but t-to take the trial, you have to imbue the most orderly energy of the forest throughout your body….”

“….Ah.”

Liji’s expression, now showing signs of understanding what the ‘witch trial’ truly was after hearing Lala’s words, was filled with confusion.

It was an emotion that had to be discarded to take this ‘witch trial’ in the world of the Luminoir Academy, an emotion that only outsiders possess and not the witches.

It was the feeling of ‘shame’ that one experiences by exposing their naked body.

“C-Cough….”

“I-I’m not looking, Agnes.”

“What’s the big deal.”

At the moment when Lala started to undress, Ethan and Prince Antonio quickly averted their eyes, each carefully watching for any reaction from me and Agnes.

Of course, amidst the chaos, Lala’s actions of casually removing her clothes seemed to be without any sense of shame.

– Rustle.

“W-Wait, Lala?! Is that really a condition of the test?! You’re not joking, right?!”

“Yes…. Receiving the forest’s energy with your bare body and enduring it is…. natural….”

– Rustle.

“You really are going to undress completely?! Not leaving a single piece?!”

“Why do you keep asking if it’s obvious? It’s not that difficult…. It’s just returning to nature to accept the energy of nature….”

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Riji quickly rolled her eyes.

I couldn’t possibly do that…. Absolutely not….

Exposing my naked body to a foreign man for a month. I couldn’t bring myself to do such a thing.

In the original work, a trick could have been used by making all party members female so that only the protagonist sees Lala’s naked body. From my perspective, showing my naked body to only one man was within my limits as someone who used to be a unicorn in a past life.

However, with Ethan, Prince Antonio, and even Karam present, it was impossible to go through with such a test.

If it were just Ethan, maybe, but in three weeks, even that arrogant brat would arrive.

Even Riji, who felt embarrassed to be naked in this place, seemed still flustered and unsure of what to do.

“This kind of test…. I-I didn’t expect it….”

Well, of course you wouldn’t expect it. The rules of the witch test were hardly known outside.

Held once every ten years, and with only witches knowing the test date, it was difficult for outsiders to even know about such a test. And even if someone like Riji somehow learned about the test’s existence, it was unlikely that any outsider would have a clear understanding of its contents.

And the very nature of the test itself was too provocative to be circulated outside.

Who would seriously believe that sitting naked in the forest for a month was a witch test, no matter how much it was talked about? It would be fortunate if strange delusions didn’t come back.

Seeing Riji struggling on the altar, the elders began to gesture for her to come down.

“R-Riji…! I-If it’s too hard, you can come down…!”

“…Riji is an outsider after all…. I-I had some hope….”

“……”

– Tremble.

The forest elders calling out to Riji, thinking she had given up on the test. Honestly, even to me, she looked like she was struggling.

To expose her naked body, which should have only been seen by her maids, in front of so many people, especially with men present, was undoubtedly embarrassing.

Even if Karam was her younger brother, Ethan and Prince Antonio were unquestionably ‘foreign men.’

And already, Lala had been in the midst of the exam for a while, so delaying any longer would only harm Lala.

“Th-then, could you at least have the men look away…?”

“That’s not possible, Rizi.”

“R-Rilis?”

“Starting tomorrow, various monsters will approach this altar following the flow of the forest’s energy and magic. Naturally, everyone here will make efforts to fend off the monsters, including myself.”

“Th-then, yes.”

“We have gathered here to assist in the Witch Exam of Lady Meichiling, but that doesn’t mean we will only protect Meichiling.

Of course, we will help if Rizi is in danger. If Rizi is in danger, it means Meichiling is in danger as well.”

“Yes….”

“But if Rizi is embarrassed to show her naked body to others and if Ed…Edan or Prince Antonio cannot protect her in time, then the danger won’t just be Rizi’s alone. Even Meichiling, with such a timid personality, enrolled in the academy to ask for our help.”

“T-that’s right….”

“Once the exam starts, it won’t be hidden forever. If you’re going to show your body anyway, show it confidently in front of the other men.

And I apologize for saying this, but if you’re not prepared to show the men, then please give up now, Rizi.”

“….”

“And gentlemen!”

“Ah, yes….”

“…What’s going on?”

“Rilis?”

“If you truly intend to help with Lady Meichiling’s Witch Exam, please do not avert your gaze from the altar. Right now, Lady Meichiling is undertaking an important exam that only happens once every ten years.

If you avert your gaze out of embarrassment for not being the one being seen when it’s important, and she fails the exam, can you take responsibility?”

“Got it, Rilis.”

“Understood.”

“Sister….”

As if unable to help it, the three of them turned their gaze towards where Lala and Rizi were standing.

Ultimately, the decision was not mine but Rizi’s. She had to either give up everything and become a witch or stop hindering Lala now.

I didn’t have any ill feelings towards Rizi, but with such a delicate issue, I had to address it firmly. If Rizi were to be conscious of the men’s gaze and make a mistake in defense, it would lead to the failure of the Lala event.

This event was entrusted to me by Lord August, so I needed to conclusively finish this ‘Lala’s Secret’ episode. And if Rizi acted as a negative variable in this process, I had no choice but to exclude her.

For the sake of Lord August, I knew Rizi’s desire to become a witch, but I had to force her to give up, even if it meant being a bit harsh….

“R-Rizi…. W-we should start soon….”

“G-giving up on the exam as an outsider…. It’s not…not really embarrassing….”

“Ugh! I-I get it! I-I know I can’t do it if everyone keeps saying that?!”

-Swish.

“….Huh?”

“W-wait, Sister?! A-are you really going to do it?! In front of Edan and Prince Antonio…?”

“Quiet, Karahm! If I’m going to do it, I’ll do it! August never backs down from any challenge! Whether others watch or not! Do as you please!!”

-Swish, swish.

Despite the elders and younger brother’s objections, Rizi confidently removed one piece of clothing after another.

Even I, who found it hard to believe she was a noble lady, was a bit surprised by her unbelievable boldness. Even if she looked like that, she must be from the North.

When she came to her senses, Lizzy, like Lala, had stripped off all the clothes she was wearing and sat on the altar, breathing heavily.

…With a bright red face, she was breathing a little heavily, showing that she hadn’t completely shaken off her embarrassment.

‘…Well, if she’s going to make that much effort.’

As the final ritual of the three elders ended, a circular barrier appeared around the two, and the witch test of one prospective witch and one uninvited guest began.

Since it’s come to this, I have to cheer Lizzy on so she doesn’t give up in the middle due to embarrassment.

After showing everything she has, if she gives up in the middle and can’t become a witch, there will be nothing more unfair than that.