Witch – Chapter 65 – The Two Witches (45)

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“Nicks, wake up.”

“Ugh… Where…?”

I shook Nicks awake, who had been sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world.

It was the first time I had used my ultimate ability with someone else, and I was worried it might fail… but true to the reputation of an ultimate that’s said to create miracles, we arrived safely.

I used to feel dizzy just entering someone’s subconscious, so I was prepared for the worst.

If Nicks hadn’t woken up, I would’ve had to handle things my way, but thankfully, he opened his eyes.

“Where are we?”

“In Beryl’s subconscious.”

“Beryl’s subconscious…?”

“To put it simply… think of it as being inside Beryl’s mind.”

The forest landscape, filled with emerald-green crystals, must be Beryl’s subconscious.

Beryl had a nasty habit of trapping her enemies in these crystals, treating them like trophies.

Looking at the nearby crystals, I could see the faint outlines of human figures.

The forest where the green deity resides.

The hidden stage from Aria Chronicle Part 2.

It was also the place where I first met Beryl and where she established her base after leaving the Witch’s Tea Party.

Why her subconscious had to be this place… I had a bad feeling about it.

“So… it’s not over yet?”

Nicks asked, still confused.

“What are you talking about? It’s just starting.”

My ultimate ability is non-combat.

If this were a game, I’d be considered a trash-tier character, never making it into any party lineup.

But even so, I’ve never regretted obtaining this ability when I became a witch.

There are other ways to gain power besides an ultimate… and this ability has proven surprisingly useful.

Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve a draw in my past battle with Beryl. I wouldn’t have been able to see into Leo’s heart either.

“How’s your body? Can you move?”

“No problem.”

Nicks, now free from the influence of the Demon Eye and back to his original form, checked his body.

“Then let’s go. We need to move.”

There are two reasons I used my ultimate to enter Beryl’s subconscious.

First, to remove the cursed gem.

When I forcibly removed the gem from the orc chieftain last time, it drained the host’s life force, turning them into a mummy. To remove the gem from Beryl without harming her, I needed to first suppress the emotions tied to it.

Second, to block the curse.

Since the witch’s curse has consumed Beryl, it must be roaming freely somewhere in her subconscious.

I wanted to avoid the troublesome scenario of encountering the curse before meeting Beryl.

With the cursed gem amplifying Beryl’s emotions to the point of consuming her… dealing with the Dream Demon Eye might be easier than this.

That’s why I needed to find Beryl first. The curse is influenced by desires and wishes.

If Nicks meets Beryl and they convey their feelings to each other, the curse’s power will weaken, and I can suppress it in the meantime.

In the end, both tasks boil down to Nicks meeting Beryl.

Once everything is resolved, Beryl can simply undo the calamity she has brought with the Dream Demon Eye.

The plan is flawless.

“Where are we going?”

“To where Beryl is.”

The starry night sky has laid out a path leading to Beryl.

If we follow the starlight, we’ll find Beryl waiting at the end.

“Lady Estelle, shouldn’t we hurry? Maybe even run…?”

“No. Walking is enough.”

This is a subconscious realm that transcends time and space.

Running won’t shorten our distance to Beryl’s consciousness.

“Nicks, when did you start liking Beryl? Was it… after she took off her hood?”

I started a conversation to help Nicks relax, who was clearly tense.

Nothing beats a love story to lighten the mood!

Though 99% of my question was out of curiosity, seeing Nicks blush and struggle to answer was enough to lighten the atmosphere.

“I thought it was after that… but now that I think about it, I think I’ve liked Beryl since the first time we met.”

“Oh, come on. That’s a lie. You didn’t even know what Beryl looked like back then. What if she was really ugly or flat-chested like a man? Would you still have liked her?”

A seven-year-old kid liking a suspicious shopkeeper whose identity he didn’t even know?

Even a novel written like that would get criticized.

“Even if Beryl had been an old lady, my feelings wouldn’t have changed. Because… it’s thanks to Beryl that I became an adventurer and that I’m still alive today.”

“Then what do you like about her?”

I didn’t press further when Beryl said it was a secret, but hearing what her potential boyfriend likes about her seemed like a good idea.

“By the way, vague answers like ‘she has a good personality’ are off the table. I like specific answers.”

“Can’t I keep it a secret?”

“No, Beryl had said that first. I only allow one quitter per couple.”

I needed to hear this much to keep things interesting.

It doesn’t matter to me why he likes Beryl, but there’s nothing more entertaining than a love story. I think I now understand why girls in my past life would gather and gossip about their crushes.

Even though it’s not my love life, the sweet atmosphere made me feel like I was falling in love too.

“I like Beryl when she’s shy and doesn’t want to show her face. I like Beryl who gave me potions when I had no money. I like Beryl who listened to my boring adventure stories with interest. I like Beryl who struggles to be honest with her feelings… I like Beryl who took off her hood for the first time and blushed… I like Beryl who held my hand for the first time and laughed with me during our night walks… Do I need to say more?”

“Ah, no…! That’s enough…!”

Why am I the one feeling embarrassed?

If I’m feeling like this, imagine if Beryl heard it…

Nicks, who doesn’t know when to stop, was injecting sweetness at an overdose level, making me feel like I might get diabetes.

“What about you, Lady Estelle?”

“Huh?”

“Do you have someone you like? Or do you already have a partner? You’re so beautiful, it wouldn’t be strange if many men proposed to you. I’m sure they’re amazing people. What do you like about them?”

Nicks, now relaxed and chatty as usual, asked with a grin.

I’m sorry. I’m single.

I’ve never liked anyone, nor have I ever comforted myself with such fantasies.

In another sense, I was embarrassed by the awkward situation.

Strictly speaking, this is sexual harassment…!

How dare he pry into my personal life?

“It’s a secret…”

I avoided Nicks’ gaze and answered coyly.

“But I told you…”

“An adult’s secret only has value when it’s kept secret.”

“But at least tell me about your first love…”

“Ahhh…! Shut up!”

While bickering with Nicks, I sensed a presence. In a normal subconscious, I could roam freely without fear, but this is Beryl’s subconscious, consumed by the curse, so it’s better to be cautious.

“Wait.”

I stopped and carefully observed the direction of the presence.

It was getting closer.

I couldn’t sense the curse’s energy, but the ominous feeling remained.

“Beryl…?”

Bathed in moonlight, Beryl revealed herself.

Just like when I first met her 60 years ago, she was half-covered in her robe, her half-closed Demon Eye glowing faintly, as if she were exhausted.

“Cute, aren’t you?”

Cute…? Is she talking about Nicks?

“Beryl, are you okay? We came to save you.”

“Nicks, don’t get closer.”

I grabbed Nicks’ shoulder as he tried to approach and kept an eye on Beryl in front of us.

From the way she pinned her shoulders to her half-closed but sharper-than-usual eyes…

I had forgotten that while there’s only one Beryl in reality, here, we could meet both.

Perhaps… the thought that something more troublesome than the curse had appeared made me bite my lip in frustration.

“Hey, tits. Long time no see?”

That vulgar way of speaking and her carefree expression…

Even the way she was provoking me like a delinquent, saying she’d finally caught me in a bad mood…

I had been meeting only the Beryl with closed eyes lately, so I had forgotten about this Beryl.

At least she seemed fine… she didn’t look consumed by the curse.

If even the Beryl in her subconscious had been consumed by the curse, it would’ve reached a point where I couldn’t reverse it. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.

“Answer me.”

“Uh, yeah… Long time… no see? My name isn’t tits… it’s Estelle. Did you forget already?”

“What are you talking about, you big-titted woman? Want to get some education after so long?”

A bad memory resurfaced, and I instinctively covered my chest with both arms.

That seemed to provoke Beryl, as she licked her lips, and I unconsciously hid behind Nicks.

She’s going to tear me apart again…

I suffered so much treating the bruises on my chest from Beryl’s grip.

Even with potions, the recovery was slow, and I writhed in pain just from my chest touching the bed while sleeping.

“Nicks…! Can you calm Beryl down? Do something about this savage!”

“Ahaha… Beryl, could you maybe speak a little more politely?”

At Nicks’ request, Beryl blushed and scratched her cheek.

“If it’s a request from cutie… well, I can’t refuse.”

This works?

The Beryl who used to eat, fight, and sleep as she pleased, the embodiment of instinct, is actually listening to someone?

When I first met Beryl, I thought the mature version from the original story was gone, replaced by a savage, but seeing her obediently follow Nicks’ words now is even more shocking.

Whether her eyes are open or closed, Beryl is still Beryl.

I sighed in relief as I watched Beryl turn into a shy girl in front of Nicks.

“You’re late, tits… no, milk bags… no, mana pouch.”

“All of those are vulgar!”

“Anyway.”

Anyway, my foot.

She said everything she wanted to say.

“Late? You knew I was coming?”

“Yes, though I didn’t expect you to bring cutie along.”

Despite her earlier behavior, the cute nickname she gave Nicks made me laugh.

Cutie, huh? From where I’m standing, Beryl calling him that is even cuter.

Beryl walked over leisurely and began scrutinizing Nicks’ face.

“Oh ho… this kid, he’s really cute.”

She pinched his cheeks, stroked his face, and even hugged him… then, as if wanting to kiss him, she touched his lips with her fingers before blushing and stepping back.

Beryl? Held back…? Why?

Is this really Beryl, or is this the curse pretending to be her?

The Beryl I know is far from holding back.

The carnivorous Beryl was gone, replaced by a herbivorous version.

“Beryl, are you sure you’re not consumed by the curse?”

“Me? If I were consumed, I’d have been gone long ago. I’m just… what’s it called? What do you call it?”

“Weak?”

“Anyway.”

Nicks gave a bitter smile at this unfamiliar side of Beryl.

“If you’re looking for the stubborn, foolish woman cutie is searching for, she’s over there. She’s holed up in her house. Try to calm her down. She won’t listen to me.”

Beryl pointed in the direction the starry sky was leading.

“Is it okay to go there?”

“Yeah, our cutie can go. I’ll generously forgive you for hurting our feelings.”

So she was watching everything.

I felt a pang of guilt, like a thief with a guilty conscience.

I thought I had some responsibility for Beryl being consumed by the curse.

Maybe my subtle wariness of Beryl stemmed from a strange anxiety that she might blame me for my mistakes.

But since she forgave Nicks so easily, I wondered if she might forgive me too.

“Then… what about me?”

“Cerberus should stay.”

“Ce, Cerberus…!?”

“Those are bigger than your head, so you can’t be Cerberus. Anyway.”

To Beryl with open eyes, I’m just a lump of fat. I felt tears welling up at this messed-up friendship.

Jokes aside, I couldn’t accept sending Nicks alone.

If Nicks encountered the curse on the way… there’d be no point in bringing him here.

“What if Nicks runs into the curse alone? I should go too.”

“Ah, it’s fine, okay?”

“You might be fine, but Nicks is just a normal person.”

“Hey. Estelle. I told you. It’s fine.”

Beryl’s half-closed eyes opened sharply. She even called me by my name, which she rarely does, and her serious expression made me gulp.

It seemed she had no intention of letting me go quietly.

At this point, I had no choice but to rely on luck that Nicks wouldn’t encounter the curse.

“Nicks, follow the starry sky. You’ll find Beryl there.”

“What should I do?”

“Men need guts. Go and give her a scolding to snap her out of it. I’ll catch up soon.”

Just coming to Beryl’s subconscious was half the battle.

The other half was Nicks meeting Beryl with closed eyes.

“Thank you, Lady Estelle. Beryl.”

Nicks expressed his gratitude and ran off in the direction of the starry sky.

I told you running won’t help.

Forgetting that, Nicks quickly disappeared into the distance, leaving me to face Beryl, who was glowing with her Demon Eye.

Having to fight Beryl even in her subconscious… this was exhausting.

She forgives her lover’s mistakes but not her friend’s.

I had no choice but to subdue Beryl as quickly as possible and catch up to Nicks.

Beryl moved her left foot first.

Was she planning to leap forward with her left foot? A punch? A kick? Or was she aiming for my chest again…? No. The movement is a feint, and she might activate her Demon Eye. It might not be as effective in the subconscious, but she can still use it. In the subconscious, I might have a chance too.

As I ran through various scenarios in my head of how Beryl might attack, she suddenly collapsed with a weak thud.

“Huh?”

I let out a dumbfounded sound and tried to make sense of the situation.

Was she really trying to make me let my guard down like that…?

“Ah, damn… if you’re going to send him off, do it quickly.”

What…?

The eyes that seemed ready to activate the Demon Eye were now half-closed again.

“You weren’t planning to fight?”

“Tits… what’s there to fight? I feel like I’m about to die, so come here and give me a lap pillow.”

Once Nicks was gone, Beryl’s mouth became coarse again as she casually asked for a lap pillow.

Anyone could see we were about to fight…?!

“Hurry up. I’ll forgive you for meddling in my love life, even though you’re a virgin.”

“Uh, okay…”

So she was holding a grudge after all.

If a lap pillow could end this without a fight, that was fine by me.

As I approached the fallen Beryl and gave her a lap pillow, she let out a sigh like an old man soaking in a hot spring.

“Ugh… I can finally breathe. It’s a good thing I didn’t collapse in front of cutie and lose face. Tits, why do I have to suffer like this? I’m really tired. Because of who?”

Is your pride really important right now?

I don’t even know why you asked for a lap pillow… I felt completely swept up in Beryl’s pace.

“Did you fight the curse?”

If she hadn’t fought the curse, Beryl wouldn’t be this exhausted.

“Hey, do I even need to mention it. It’s really damn strong, y’know…”

“Of course. It was born solely to consume Beryl. You knew this when you became a witch, right?”

“If I hadn’t been so foolish, it wouldn’t have come to this. It’s all your fault.”

If Nicks hadn’t been swayed by rumors, this wouldn’t have happened…

I guess I’m partly to blame too, but even though she said she’d forgive me if I gave her a lap pillow, it seems she still holds a grudge.

“So, the curse? Did you win?”

If Beryl had weakened the curse, things would be much easier.

All that’s left is for Nicks to meet Beryl with closed eyes and for me to find and block the curse.

“It’s coming. I’m going to rest, so you handle it.”

Whoooosh… Whoooooosh… Whoooooosh…

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Seeing it thrashing around so vigorously, you… lost, huh? But you managed to escape without being consumed…

Should I call that impressive… or foolish…?

There was a reason she sent Nicks ahead. With the curse screaming and searching for Nicks like that, if it caught even a glimpse of him, it would devour him before we could stop it.

As the curse’s voice grew closer, I quickly got up.

“Eek!?”

Beryl, who now had her head buried in the ground, let out an undignified scream as a bonus.