Witch – Chapter 117 – The Witch and the Black Knight (28)

Ｒｅａｄ ｏｎ Ｋａｔ​ＲｅａｄｉｎｇＣａｆｅ

The day after stuffing Edel full of Cornelia berry pies to his heart’s content, I dragged him through the bustling streets of Venetia’s marketplace—lecturing him all the while. After yesterday’s incident, I’d been so worked up I could barely sleep.

Beryl and Nicks…

Since their misunderstanding stemmed from Edel’s behavior, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.

“Got it, Edel? Don’t act like that in front of others anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Because… people will misunderstand! What if your future ideal woman sees it and gets the wrong idea? She’ll think, ‘Oh, he’s already taken’, and keep her distance. Is that what you want?”

“I don’t particularly care.”

This guy… Does he even want to experience pure love?

Annoyed by his indifference, I jabbed his side with my elbow, making him yelp.

“Agh—! That hurt.”

“Good. It was supposed to.”

I’d barely poked him, and yet he was already exaggerating, clutching his waist like he’d been stabbed. Seeing him like that, I couldn’t help but soften a little.

Wait… Is he actually in pain?

No way. He’s totally faking it to guilt-trip me.

Ugh… I barely touched him.

After a moment, even Edel seemed to realize how ridiculous he was being and straightened up, only to be met with my icy glare.

Tch. Of course.

Where did he even learn to act like this?

I never taught him that. That leaves only the books in his possession… Did Sion ever pull something like this on Aria?

Sion wasn’t the mischievous type, though…

Maybe this is just Edel’s natural personality shining through.

“Anyway, if you don’t want to actually get hurt, listen to me— …Edel?”

The moment I looked away, Edel vanished from my side. Scanning the area, I spotted him not far off.

“Hand over the food.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

He stood in front of a food stall, casually pointing his cursed sword at the vendor while demanding a meal.

He doesn’t even have money— Wait. Hold on.

A terrible realization struck me.

Before meeting me, Edel had known nothing but strength. Manners? Common sense? Money? Unthinkable.

The scene before me wasn’t a purchase—it was an armed robbery in progress.

“Uh, Edel… Do you even have money?”

“Money? What’s that? Something edible?”

I trudged over, my footsteps heavy with exasperation, and sighed deeply at his response.

Of course.

We’d spent the past month cooped up in the hideout—I’d never even thought to teach him about currency. And how could I blame him? In the demon realm, where survival of the fittest ruled, strength was the only law he’d ever known.

“Wait here. I’ll get you food.”

Edel smiled like I’d just promised him the world.

Maybe coming to Venetia was the right call… It’d be awkward explaining this stuff when he’s actually courting someone.

“You need money to buy food. This isn’t the demon realm—taking things by force is a crime here.”

“A crime? Isn’t weakness the only crime?”

“That’s the demon realm. This is the human world. You have to follow the rules. Nobody likes criminals.”

“…Estelle, do you hate criminals too?”

He asked with an oddly serious expression, as if the answer wasn’t already obvious.

“Of course I do. Especially the kind who think ‘might makes right’.”

Even in Aria Chronicle, that type of villain always made me grimace. In a way, Edel was the epitome of that mindset—but after a moment of contemplation, he sheathed his sword.

“I see. Then how does one obtain money?”

“Usually by working for it.”

For someone like Edel, taking on quests at the adventurer’s guild would be the easiest way.

But we weren’t here to earn cash. While understanding the value of money through labor was important, ordinary currency meant little to one of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings.

 

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“Here, Edel. This is for you.”

I pulled out a copper, silver, and gold coin from my inventory and placed them in his palm.

“Listen carefully—I’ll explain.”

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for him to grasp their relative values. Comparing them to tangible things—“Five potatoes for one copper coin”—helped it click.

“Fascinating. That such small things hold this much worth… So even the weak can eat.”

The demon realm did have currency, but Edel wouldn’t know that, so I didn’t bother mentioning it.

For a while, he turned the coins over in his hands, eyes gleaming like a child given his first allowance.

“Just because you have money doesn’t mean you should spend it recklessly. Use it wisely, on things you need.”

I couldn’t resist slipping in some obligatory scolding.

“Understood. I’ve grasped it perfectly. You there—give me all the food this gold coin can buy.”

…Did he really understand?

Edel slammed the gold coin onto the stall counter and demanded his meal.

Ugh. Of course.

So much for ‘wise spending’.

I had just explained not to waste money—yet here he was, dumping a gold coin on the vendor and demanding enough food to fill his arms—plus change.

Maybe what looks like impulse-buying to me was ‘planned spending’ in his mind.

“Estelle, have some.”

“No thanks. Try not to spill it on yourself. And eat slowly.”

“…Pity.”

We’d left the marketplace and settled on a bench near the central fountain, where I waited for Edel to finish his feast. He offered me bites a few times, but I refused outright.

Does he even realize it hasn’t even been an hour since breakfast?

The greasy, pungent meat skewers weren’t helping either

I didn’t say it out loud—since Edel seemed to enjoy it—but the quality of street stall meat was… questionable. Is he going to get food poisoning later?

Then again, he once said he happily ate rotten potatoes as a kid… So maybe he’ll be fine?

“Edel, you should find yourself a rich partner who can feed you good food. I doubt you’ll ever earn money yourself. Might as well add ‘wealthy’ to your ideal woman criteria.”

Not like adding one more absurd condition to his already impossible standards would change much.

“Hmm… Money. Estelle, are you rich?”

“I’m not broke. I guess you could say I’m… fairly well-off?”

The treasures I’d looted from dungeons and stored away were nothing to scoff at. Maybe not dragon’s hoard levels, but enough to buy a small country if I felt like it.

…Why is he asking about my finances?

“I see. That’s good.”

“Why? Planning to mooch off me? I’m not giving you any more money.”

I’m not his personal allowance dispenser.

And I definitely didn’t want to watch him gorge himself on more questionable street food.

The meals I cook are way healthier and tastier. What’s so great about that greasy junk?

I shot him a flat look, but he remained oblivious as ever.

“…You eat well.”

I muttered under my breath, too quiet for him to hear.

Unlike when he’d devoured the cornelia berries, Edel now ate with deliberate care—almost like a noble slumming it among commoners.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Passersby kept glancing his way, especially women, whose lingering gazes clung to him from every direction.

Yeah, yeah, he’s handsome.

I quickly scanned the area, wondering if any of them fit his ‘ideal woman’ criteria.

Visually, the only requirement was… ample chest size. Venetia was a prosperous city—it wouldn’t be strange if a few women here met that standard.

But Edel’s standards were ridiculously high. While I spotted several well-endowed candidates, none were quite large enough to satisfy him.

By Edel’s own words… most of these women would starve a baby.

Undeterred, a few brave—or foolish—souls began circling closer.

Oh-ho. Look at this.

Two women—likely adventurers—were inching toward us.

I’m sitting right here, and they still don’t care?

They kept crossing the invisible boundary like it meant nothing.

If any of them had matched Edel’s ideal, I might’ve stepped aside politely. But as his self-appointed romance instructor, I couldn’t in good conscience let him settle for less.

No matter how they lived their lives, to me, they’re no different from the greasy meat skewers in Edel’s hands.

As they closed in, I boldly scooted closer—reducing the gap between Edel and me to a mere hand’s width.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Don’t mind me.”

I made sure to flash the adventurers a sweet smile, our shoulders and thighs now pressed together.

This man is out of your league.

My silent warning was clear: If you want him, you’d better have something I don’t.

And my chest, in this moment, became a magnificent defensive barrier against any would-be intruders.

The sheer, insurmountable difference in size was enough to crush their hopes before they could even take root.

I might’ve even accidentally loosened the enchantment on my dress—just enough to emphasize the bounce without Edel noticing.

Sure, maintaining the illusion put a strain on my shoulders, but it was better than letting some random woman interrupt his meal.

Know your place.

Street food is more than enough for him right now.

I’d already been considering whether to link arms or lean on his shoulder if they got any closer… But when the adventurers finally backed off, red-faced, I let out a relieved sigh.

“Edel, you should be really grateful to me.”

“For what…?”

“Never mind. Forget it.”