Ch. 111 The Witch and the Black Knight (22)
by Afuhfuihgs
Witch – Chapter 111 – The Witch and the Black Knight (22)
“Are we there yet?”
Buried in snow, I hadn’t realized how vast the fortress interior was. We’d already descended four floors along the corridor, yet Edel showed no sign of stopping.
The deeper we went, the larger the doll-transformed monsters grew—starting with yetis and frost wolves, then progressing to golems and drakes. High-level monsters roamed freely here.
Not that any dared approach Edel. They merely prowled nearby, clearly unwilling to engage.
Judging by Edel’s demeanor, he hadn’t issued any commands, but when someone of equal or higher rank suddenly appears… whether human or monster, hesitation was inevitable.
The dolls, recognizing me as an intruder but unable to approach due to Edel, creaked their joints in eerie protest.
If I had a cheat-like status window similar to when Aria Chronicle was just a game, using a Heavenly King as a shield would’ve unlocked some amusing achievement.
“This is the place.”
Edel stopped before a descending staircase. Even with magical light, the bottom remained unseen. From the depths, I sensed the same demonic energy I’d grown familiar with during our battles.
If Edel’s energy was a straightforward blaze, what lurked below felt gloomy and oppressive—utterly unpleasant.
“Wait here. If you’re bored, play with them.”
“Hmph. Weaklings don’t interest me.”
A shame, but Edel’s help ended here.
With light steps, I descended, as if meeting a Heavenly King required no urgency.
At the bottom loomed a massive door, demonic energy seeping through its cracks. No doubt a Heavenly King waits beyond.
I swung Triceratops at the stubbornly shut door.
If it could breach Beryl’s dream world, a mere barrier would shred like paper.
Might it even cleave through a holy sanctuary?
Past the splintered door, I walked slowly through thick miasma, surveying the scene. Shattered doll remnants, hardened bloodstains, frozen lumps of flesh—enough to make anyone grimace.
Only traces of the Cursed Doll remained. No sign of other Heavenly Kings.
Of course. With differing personalities and loyalties, they’d never stick together. Edel was proof enough.
Would’ve been nice to wipe them all out at once.
But with Edel’s senses, tracking them down would be easy.
“I know you’re here. Won’t you greet me properly?”
My taunt echoed through the silent chamber. To prove it wasn’t empty words, I scattered dark magic, dispelling the miasma. From the shadows came the grating sound of joints.
“Materials walking right in? How novel. Did you break through my children outside?”
A small jointed doll emerged, its voice childlike.
The size a seven-year-old might hug.
Clad in a frilly dress unbefitting the dungeon’s gloom, it stared with oversized eyes, golden hair swaying.
Straight out of a horror movie—yet instead of screaming, I smiled.
How did this thing become a Heavenly King?
No vampire’s immunity, no Succubus Queen’s demonic mastery, nor Edel’s brute strength.
Its sole ability: cursing victims into immobility, then transforming them into puppet minions.
Kinda underwhelming for a Heavenly King.
Sure, mass-producing minions had its merits, but so could the others. Hence the popular theory:
The Demon King just liked the doll.
Fanart often paired them together.
Arrogant tone aside, the doll was far cuter in person.
“Yep. Your children kindly stepped aside.”
I grinned, pointing to the entrance. The doll verified with its magic.
“True. None are broken. First time materials walk in unharmed… Odd. Why didn’t they attack?”
Why? Because Edel controls demon stones. Clearly, it knew of intruders but not that a fellow Heavenly King had arrived.
As the doll spun its head 360 degrees, baffled, I adjusted Triceratops’ output.
“If you came to fight, you’re no ally. The Demon King’s prophesied enemy, then?”
“Not an enemy. Just take a 100-year nap, okay? Not a request—I’m here to make it happen. You should’ve come later.”
Did you have to appear during Josie’s travels? A century later, I’d have enjoyed this invasion from afar, popcorn in hand.
How to handle such a weak Heavenly King?
Triceratops would shatter its core instantly. A magic cannon might collapse the fortress, letting it escape…
Sigh… Edel’s brute-force approach seems appealing. Precision’s never been my forte.
“You know what entering means. I’ll make you my friend—free you from filthy flesh to serve the Demon King.”
While I pondered, it spouted clichéd lines and vanished into darkness.
Skitter, skitter—
The unnerving sound came from all directions.
Spider-like dolls poured from cracks in the walls.
Explosive spider dolls.
The explosions weren’t the issue—their fragments could transform victims into dolls.
Ah, the “magic-or-gtfo” phase. Memories surfaced of forced mage-only battles in-game.
“Phase 2 right away? I’m still figuring out restraint!”
First Edel, now this. Why skip phases?!
Then again, it likely lacked time to prepare Phase 1 minions after just regaining power.
Fine. Better to capture it systematically than accidentally kill it.
The spider swarm, now covering half the chamber, surged like a tidal wave.
“No escape. I’ve cursed you immobile. Become my doll quietly.”
Dark magic coiled around me—binding me as the wave loomed.
Cursing a witch? I nearly burst out laughing.
“Oh? But my specialty is curses.”
Different nature, but still breakable.
“You… broke my curse?!”
“You’re weak. Your curses, your dolls—weak.”
“Grrr…! How rude! I hate you!!!”
Its tantrum was comical, all earlier composure gone.
Freed, I swung Triceratops. Spider puppets melted like wax. Clay-like residue clung but didn’t hinder me.
One. Two. Three.
As spider numbers dwindled, the sludge accumulated.
Arms, chest, face, legs—
By the last spider, I was encased like an insect in amber.
“Kekeke! Serves you right. Strong or not, you can’t move now.”
Its gloating voice neared.
“How strong will you be as my doll? Maybe even beat the Black Knight? Ugh, how he irritates me, ignoring me… And you—talking just like him! Disgusting.”
Edel, were you bullied? Or did you bully everyone? Also, who’s copying whom? I bit back corrections.
Closer… Just a bit more.
In-game, this doll fled constantly during fights. This trap was no accident.
“A special large demon stone—perfect for those obnoxiously big breasts. I’ll embed it right between them.”
“……”
These things really are sexual harassment incarnate.
Resigned, I awaited my fate—until ominous energy approached.
A demon stone.
Too big to see through the sludge—but gauging by aura alone, fist-sized.
Time to end this.
“What about my chest bothers you?”
“Kyaaa?!”
I unleashed mana, broke the restraint, and yanked the doll close. Its shriek was unbefitting a Heavenly King.
No wonder it’s the weakest—the Demon King’s pet doll.
I snatched the stone from its hand, infused it with mana, and crushed it to dust.
Lucent
0 Comments