Ch. 99 The Witch and the Black Knight (10)
by Afuhfuihgs
Witch – Chapter 99 – The Witch and the Black Knight (10)
After the morning blanket incident and the… chest incident, Edel worked tirelessly to earn more praise sigils.
He volunteered to help with dishes that didn’t need washing—only to shatter plates.
He offered to restore the ruined garden—only to break the tools instead…
In the end, he just created more work for me, earning himself a scolding. But his effort was commendable enough that I gave him one praise sigil anyway.
“Fufufu…”
Edel smirked darkly as he examined the glowing sigil now etched on the back of his hand. Watching him shield it from me—as if I might snatch it back—made me sigh.
“You like it that much?”
“Wait and see, Strong One. Your name will soon be mine.”
His dull crimson eyes gleamed with determination. As if collecting one sigil meant he could conquer the world. His ridiculous boasting didn’t even merit a laugh.
What did worry me was what kind of disaster he’d cause next in his quest for more praise sigils…
Should I just tell him?
For a moment, I considered giving in—his obsession with earning my name was getting excessive. But then, I grew curious. What kind of face would he make when he finally earned it?
Evening came, and with it, storytime.
As usual, I prepared to read from the fairy tale book. We’d already finished it three times, but Edel rarely paid attention unless it was the second volume.
I’d considered switching to other love stories to broaden his horizons, but something about Sion and Aria had captivated him. Maybe the illustrations of Aria had something to do with it.
“I’ll read it myself.”
Edel snatched the book from my hands, stubbornly insisting.
“You can read on your own?”
“I’ve studied the letters. I’m not a fool. But if I finish alone, you’ll give me another praise sigil.”
Oh? Bargaining now?
I had been teaching him letters, but comprehension was another matter. Still, I’d planned to test him eventually, so I agreed.
“Fine. But if you give up halfway, that’s it.”
“I don’t know the meaning of ‘give up.’ Prepare the sigil.”
“I like that confidence. Ask if you get stuck.”
His red eyes darted left and right, tracing each character. It took him ages to turn a single page, but his gaze never wavered.
He wasn’t just skimming—he mumbled the words under his breath, actually reading.
He’s really doing it.
I’d expected him to quit before finishing the first page…
Watching a monster read was surreal. My eyes wandered from his focused expression to the way his white hair occasionally fell into his face. He’d brush it aside impatiently.
The scars that once made him look savage now suited him. Even his broken horns added a rugged charm.
Just days ago, he’d been a stinking, unkempt beast. Now?
Well… he’s not bad-looking. Maybe even slightly more handsome than Leo?
Dressed in noble clothes, he could pass as aristocracy. In armor, a knight. That face would make anything look good.
“Fashion is completed by the face.” The saying might as well have been about him.
Dia, the Witch of Beauty, would’ve adored him. She had a thing for pretty faces.
Who knew such a treasure had been hidden beneath that grimy armor? Not even the Demon King, apparently.
I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice—
“Huh?!”
—until something rough and warm closed around my left hand.
Edel held my hand like a curious child, examining it with neither gentleness nor force. He shook it like a greeting, interlaced our fingers like lovers, even pressed our palms together to compare sizes.
What is happening?!
Before I could process it, I yanked my hand back with a shriek.
“Wh-wh-what are you doing?!”
I hid my hands behind my back, glaring.
My first handhold with a man…! My purity—stolen like this?!
“Why the fuss? I merely held your hand.”
He didn’t even realize what he’d done.
“Before I hit you—why?!”
“I asked if I could. You didn’t answer, so I proceeded.”
I had been distracted, but I refused to believe I’d missed that.
“When?! I didn’t hear anything! And since when do you just grab someone without consent?! You—you pervert!”
Trembling, I pointed an accusatory finger, mana gathering at the tip.
First my chest, now my hand… At this rate, he’d be groping my ass by tomorrow!
“Calm yourself. Is handholding truly so scandalous? I saw Sion and Aria do it in the story. Isn’t this part of learning pure love?”
“Using that as an excuse—!”
“Look.”
He flipped the book open to an illustration—Sion and Aria’s first handhold.
Aria, half-lost to a curse, finds Sion bloodied after fighting alone. When their hands meet, she feels warmth for the first time.
Edel’s eyes, peeking over the book, shone with childish wonder—not perversion.
He was genuinely trying to understand love.
I overreacted.
Handholding wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t like hands wore out from being held. I exhaled, dispersing the mana.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize it upset you. Handholding is quite… dangerous.”
“No, it’s just—you shouldn’t grab so roughly. A woman’s body is delicate.”
Hearing “sorry” from him—for the first time in 20 days—made me feel guilty.
“Seeing this… made me want to hold someone’s hand. Forgive me.”
He smiled wryly, tracing the illustration.
“Edel, you…”
The same Edel who’d once scoffed at love now felt it?
They say even a three-year-old mastiff can learn tricks, but had Edel truly begun to see the light after just twenty days?
Annoyance forgotten, I scooted closer, eyes sparkling.
“So? How was it? Did you feel something? Like—boom—a spark?”
Had he experienced what Aria did? If he described it, I might forgive the handholding!
“Only that your hand was small and fragile compared to mine.”
He avoided my gaze, tone clipped.
“That’s it?”
He’d touched my soft, delicate hand and that was all he noticed?!
“What else should I have felt?”
“Like… your chest tingling? Your heart racing? Warmth?”
“Uncertain. Though I was shocked such a small hand could be so strong.”
That’s really all…?
Most men would at least get flustered holding a woman’s hand! Was he… gay?
The thought horrified me. If he was, my 20 days of effort were wasted. I might as well bury him and hunt the other Heavenly Kings.
“Do it again.”
I thrust out both hands. He blinked.
“Unnecessary. My curiosity is satisfied.”
“Tch—just grab them!”
I lunged, but he dodged effortlessly. Off-balance, I toppled onto him.
Pinning him with mana, I seized his hands.
His much larger fingers twitched in protest before finally surrendering.
Calloused palms, rough knuckles—yet strangely warm.
Holding a man’s hand was unfamiliar, but I refused to show it.
“Try again. Really feel it this time! The heartbeat, the warmth!”
“……”
One second. Two. Three.
Finally, Edel met my gaze.
“Indeed… it’s warm. My heart does race slightly.”
“See?! I almost thought you were gay! I was ready to bury you again!”
Thank goodness. My efforts weren’t in vain.
“More importantly, Strong One… Are you alright?”
“Huh? With the handholding?”
What did he mean? I’d initiated it—it was fine.
But then, things I’d overlooked came into focus.
First—I was straddling him.
Second—our bodies were very close.
And third—
Squirm.
…Squirm?
Between my thighs…
Something thick, massive—like a demon sword—was stirring beneath me.
“D-Demon sword…? Hic—!”
I hiccuped.
A man’s most loyal partner.
Known by many names.
No amount of skirts, pants, or underwear could contain its presence as it pressed insistently against my—
The heat pressing against me made my face burn.
“Y-YOU PSYCHO…!”
I tried to scramble up but collapsed—I’d forgotten I was still holding his hands.
The second impact made the “sword” even more vivid.
“Eeek—?!”
Thud.
My rationality shattered.
And just like that—
I fainted.
Lucent
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