Witch – Chapter 63 – The Two Witches (43)

Ŕｅ​ａđ​ оṅ Каｔ​Ṛ​ҽαԁｉ​ṅǵ​Ḉаｆ​ė

Thank goodness. I’m not too late.

It’s fortunate that I arrived just before Beryl could do something as outrageous as devouring Nicks.

“Lady Estelle!”

Nicks, shrunken down and covered in sticky saliva, called out with a hopeful voice.

“Hello, Nicks. I’m glad I’m not too late.”

I quickly wiped Nicks down with a blanket and placed him on my shoulder.

Even if I were to bring Beryl back to her senses, realizing that she had tried to eat Nicks… her fragile mind wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“Estelle, are you here to interfere?”

Beryl, who had been screaming and embedded in the wall, got up and steadied herself.

The jewel-like eyes in her reverse pupils, resembling her name, glared menacingly, but it’s important to remain calm in situations like this.

“Having a good time? I thought my friend couldn’t tell the difference between food and people, so I came to teach her.”

“So, you came here to die on purpose? I even showed restraint out of consideration for our friendship. I guess I wasn’t considerate enough.”

Restraint?

Even though I’ve been recovering mana faster than usual by drinking mana recovery potions, ever since entering this dreamlike world under Beryl’s influence, even that has been slow.

“How did you get in?”

“Through the front door. I knocked, and it opened.”

“It’s because of that broom, isn’t it? You’ve always been so annoyingly composed since the first time we met….”

This is why I dislike perceptive witches.

Beryl, knowing that Triceratops isn’t an ordinary broom, gritted her teeth and reached out.

She must be trying to activate her Demon Eye. Her pupils are glowing brightly.

“Nicks, hold on tight!”

“Wha, what’s happening… AAAHHHH!”

I infused my feet with mana, broke through the roof, and leaped into the sky to escape the range of her Demon Eye.

Using teleportation would allow her to trace the mana flow and catch up immediately, so this is the best option for now.

Nicks’ screams from my shoulder were loud enough to hurt my ears, but this isn’t the time to worry about that.

The Dream Demon Eye, which Beryl obtained by helping a fallen angel in her dreams before becoming a witch, is deadly if you let your guard down for even a moment.

[Dream Demon Eye]

When Beryl activates the Dream Demon Eye, the entire field enters a dreamlike world.

In this world, Beryl gains control over the world’s laws and obtains god-like abilities.

The dreamlike world disappears after 2 turns, and any damage dealt within it receives an additional 20% damage.

If Beryl is incapacitated before the dreamlike world ends, all damage dealt becomes null.

In the game, Beryl’s [Ulti], which deals 20% additional damage to the entire field, made her a highly sought-after support character. But the Beryl I met in reality… is a true monster.

‘Gains control over the world’s laws and obtains god-like abilities.’

In the game, this was just a fancy description, but when I first fought Beryl 60 years ago, I had no idea how to even handle her.

In the green world dominated by her Demon Eye, Beryl was literally a deity.

To restore Venetia, which is on the verge of destruction, I either have to incapacitate Beryl or bring her back to her senses so she can undo the damage herself.

The only witch to leave the Witch’s Tea Party, led by the Witch of the South.

One of the most feared witches, said to bring destruction if you meet her gaze.

That’s the true identity of Beryl with her eyes open.

She appeared as a hidden boss in Aria Chronicle Part 2, captivating players with her overwhelming performance, and even became a playable character in Part 3.

And her personality was so outrageous… even characters opposed to the protagonist avoided fighting her.

“Why are you interfering? Give Nicks back.”

“Interfering? I’m actually helping. Did you get Nicks’ consent?”

Beryl appeared in the sky in an instant and reached out her hand.

Even if Beryl has god-like powers, she has weaknesses.

The first is that if you escape her line of sight, you can flee her range.

I teleported backward, and the spot where I had been moments ago crumpled like paper.

“That won’t work twice!”

“I know that!”

Beryl activated her Demon Eye by tracing the mana from my teleportation, but I didn’t expect her to fall for the same trick twice.

“You’re fast…!”

“You’re just slow!”

Using the teleportation magic circle as a foothold, I flew faster than Beryl could activate her Demon Eye.

Triceratops, infused with mana, pierced Beryl’s stomach with its crimson glow. The follow-up attack, fueled by mana, sent Beryl crashing to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

“Did you defeat Beryl?!”

“Hey! Don’t say that!”

Nicks has set up a flag.

Beryl wouldn’t die from that, but I had hoped she’d at least be knocked out. Unsuprisingly, Beryl emerged from the dust cloud, sighing.

The sensation of Triceratops piercing her was vivid, but Beryl’s body was unscathed.

If I can’t deal damage even after going all out… I guess I have no choice but to use my ultimate.

Even if I use my ultimate to bring Beryl back, there’s still important work to be done.

First, I hid to avoid Beryl.

“Nicks, did you do something to Beryl?”

“Well….”

There was still time before Beryl would be consumed by the curse.

Moreover, I couldn’t believe that Beryl, who would still be active 200 years later, was destined to perish here.

If she were to be with Nicks, perhaps the power of love could transcend the curse.

If Beryl had been consumed by the curse, there was only one reason.

‘If I had known it would hurt this much… I wouldn’t have fallen in love….’

Just from the words Beryl said to me, tears streaming down her face, before being consumed by the curse… it was clear that Nicks either rejected her advances or ended their relationship.

“I… couldn’t answer Beryl…. She asked me to dance with her.”

I thought Nicks was interested in Beryl, but was I wrong?

If all his behavior until now was just toying with her… it’s unforgivable.

Did I interfere for nothing? Maybe I should’ve just let her eat him.

“Nicks, were you… toying with Beryl?”

“Th-that’s not it! There’s a rumor in Venetia that if a woman asks a man to dance first… their love won’t come true… so….”

I glared at Nicks with narrowed eyes, and he panicked, continuing his explanation.

There’s a rumor like that?

I can’t believe such a rumor even has additional lore….

“Rumors are just rumors. I ended up hurting Beryl’s feelings….”

“So, that’s why Beryl became like this?”

There is a way to pull Beryl out of the curse.

Though I’m not sure if it will work on others.

And one more thing.

The purple gemstone clinging to Beryl’s right thigh, emitting a violet glow, is also fueling her rampage.

I have no idea where the gemstone came from or how it consumed Beryl.

“What’s Beryl’s current state?”

“She’s consumed by the curse and the gemstone. Remember the purple gemstone on Beryl’s thigh?”

“The purple gemstone…?”

The ominous purple gemstone that devoured Beryl’s emotions and flaunted its presence.

Given that monsters attacking near Venetia recently also had gemstones, it’s impossible for me not to know.

“Don’t tell me… the one I gifted her….”

I sighed as I looked at Nicks, who was shocked as if something had clicked.

Nicks… you’re quite the sinner. You dared to gift Beryl a gemstone that came from a monster?

“Nicks, why don’t I just let Beryl eat you?”

You rejected her confession. You even gifted her that gemstone.

You’ve crossed the line beyond what can be defended.

Leo is like this, and now Nicks….

Are there no decent men around?

I even started to think it might be better to let Beryl eat him.

“Did I make Beryl like this?”

“Half right, half wrong. So, what do you want to do?”

“Well, of course….”

Nicks hesitated.

If Venetia is destroyed, the city I worked so hard on will collapse, and I can’t just stand by and watch my friend head toward ruin.

No matter what Nicks says, I’ll save Beryl, but right now, his opinion is more important than ever.

“Beryl has erased everyone in Venetia except you. And she tried to eat you.”

Nicks has experienced things no ordinary person should.

Even if he’s terrified of Beryl, it wouldn’t be strange for him to ask me to kill her.

No one would wish for a death where they’re slowly digested alive in someone’s stomach.

“I’m sorry to deceive you, but I’m not a mage. I’m a witch. My friend Beryl is also a witch. Do you know what witches are? Do you know the fate of those associated with witches? The Heresy Inquisitors will chase you to your death.”

“…….”

Witches are unwelcome guests anywhere outside the north.

The weight of a witch’s name is heavy, and merely being near one invites scorn from others.

One reason why witches in love with humans rarely get happy endings.

And yet.

“And yet. Do you want to save Beryl? Even if you save Beryl, you might not be able to restore the rest of Venetia. But if you kill Beryl… you can definitely save those that are still left.”

“…….”

Beryl’s presence is getting closer, and time is running out, but I didn’t let it show, giving Nicks enough time to think.

Go on, think and think.

Nicks, depending on your answer, you might die by my hand.

But if you truly love Beryl… show me a miracle.

“I….”

Nicks slowly opened his mouth, having made his decision.