Witch – Chapter 30 – The Two Witches (10)

Ｒｅａｄ ｏｎ ＫａｔＲｅａｄｉｎｇ​Ｃａｆｅ

The sunset painted the plains of Venetia in a beautiful hue. The time passed quicker than expected as we leisurely chatted and made our way. Long line of merchants and adventurers waiting to enter Venetia stretched out before us.

Waiting in line would mean it would be late by the time we got in, and finding an inn to rest would be difficult. Some people tried to bypass the line by approaching the guards directly, but unless they were injured, they were turned away without exception. It seemed we had no choice but to wait in line. As Nicks had mentioned, there were surprisingly many adventurers returning with injuries.

Nicks had left earlier to report a quest at the adventurers’ guild, so we couldn’t rely on the privileges of a Stella-ranked adventurer.

Josie and Leo sighed as they looked at the seemingly endless line, unsure when their turn would come. Even if we waited, there was no guarantee we’d be allowed in without proper identification.

I considered using teleportation but decided against it, thinking it would be better to play along with the Marquis’s hospitality. The Marquis’s son might not be as friendly, and I wasn’t sure how well he followed his father’s instructions.

But… that didn’t mean I was going to wait in line.

“We’re going straight in. Follow me.”

I walked past the line and headed straight for the guards, with Josie and Leo trailing behind, glancing around nervously.

“If it’s not urgent, please wait in line. If it is urgent, show us your sincerity.”

The guard, clearly experienced, calmly demanded a bribe while blocking our path, spouting lines straight out of a generic fantasy novel.

“I have business with Marquis Laplace. As for sincerity… how about this crest?”

I showed the Laplace family crest as a token of my “sincerity.”

“Please wait a moment!”

The Laplace family crest proved more useful in Venetia than I had expected. Just like with Nicks, the guard immediately ran off to the checkpoint, realizing this was beyond his pay grade. It was amusing, like a scene straight out of a cliché fantasy novel, and being the protagonist of such a scene felt oddly satisfying.

Soon, a soldier returned with someone who appeared to be the captain of the guard.

The captain was an older man with deep wrinkles, white hair, and muscles that his armor couldn’t fully contain. He was slightly larger than Leo.

“I heard you’re a guest of the Marquis. You have the Laplace family crest?”

“That’s right. It’s quite an important business. I’d like to get in before sunset. It’d be a nuisance for the Marquis to visit too late, wouldn’t it?”

The captain hummed, stroking his rough beard as he examined the crest.

“I can see this crest is genuine… but we haven’t received any word from the Marquis about guests. Are you truly a guest? Depending on your answer, you could be detained.”

Maybe I should’ve just bribed him earlier.

I sighed, looking at the meticulous captain.

Fifty years ago, the Marquis himself would have rushed out to greet me.

Reluctantly, I decided to use the nickname the Marquis had given me.

“Tell the Marquis… the Demon of Laplace¹ has returned.”

“The Demon of… Laplace? P-please wait a moment!”

As the captain hurried off, Josie couldn’t contain her curiosity.

“Sister, what’s the Demon of Laplace?”

The Demon of Laplace.

About sixty years ago, when Venetia was still establishing itself as a city, I had helped Marquis Laplace by sharing knowledge from the original story. That’s how I earned the nickname.

Back then, I had supported him ruthlessly, using violence, money, and whatever else was necessary to build Venetia. In return, I received my payment, and the Marquis often compared me to a demon.

At the time, it was a mix of awe and fear, and I didn’t mind it… but now, it was just embarrassing.

“I helped Marquis Laplace a long time ago. It’s kind of like a secret code we used back then.”

It was fortunate the captain knew about the Demon of Laplace. If he hadn’t, I might’ve been arrested on the spot for claiming to be a demon. The Demon of Laplace… as if I knew everything about the past, present, and future. If the Marquis was still alive, I vowed to make him pay for giving me such a cringy nickname.

“Open the gates!”

As the evening glow fully set in, the captain came running back, urgently ordering the guards.

The gates, which had only been opened enough for carriages, were now fully opened, with half the guard force mobilized. The sound of heavy chains echoed loudly through the night air.

As the gates fully opened, a grand spectacle unfolded, with soldiers lining up from the gate to the distant silhouette of a carriage.

“Welcome to Venetia!”

“Thank you.”

I waved to the captain, who saluted respectfully as we passed.

“Uh, Sister… is it okay for us to receive this kind of treatment?”

“It’s fine. Just trust me.”

I had expected some hospitality, but not to this extent.

Still, I was grateful to the Marquis for letting me save face in front of Josie.

When I mentioned going to Venetia, Josie’s face had been filled more with worry than excitement about going outside.

Leo, being royalty, seemed unfazed by the grand reception, but he looked at me with newfound respect.

Ahem. I guess I’m kind of a big deal~

I couldn’t help but feel a little proud.

As we followed the line of soldiers, an elderly man and a butler-like figure awaited us.

The man had an unfitting mustache, sharp eyes, and red eyes that glowed under the moonlight.

“Derrick?”

Derrick de Laplace, the Marquis. If he was in his twenties sixty years ago, he’d be in his eighties now. Given that the average lifespan was under sixty, I hadn’t expected him to still be alive… but this man looked eerily similar to how I imagined an aged Derrick.

“I am Eric de Laplace, his son. It’s an honor that you still remember my father.”

“Nice to meet you. It feels like just yesterday I saw you as a baby. Look at you now, all grown up. How’s Derrick?”

“Father is fortunately still in good health. It’s all thanks to Lady Estelle’s grace. Please allow me to escort you to the Marquis’s residence by carriage.”

So he’s still alive. Well, if Derrick had died, I doubt we’d be receiving this kind of welcome.

“The carriage is so soft and cozy!”

Josie, riding a carriage for the first time, looked around excitedly, her eyes sparkling.

“Since I was a child, my father often told me stories about Lady Estelle. He said that without your help, the Laplace family could never have built Venetia into a city rivaling the capital.”

All I did was give a few pieces of advice and leave him with a potion before I left…

Venetia would have flourished under the Laplace family regardless. That’s how it was in the original story. I just helped smooth the process.

“I only helped a little. It was the Laplace family’s strength that built Venetia into a great city.”

Derrick had been ruthless in pursuing his goals.

He even considered using a witch’s power. It was as if he had no fear of death, kneeling before me and begging for my help. The memory of him came flooding back.

“May I ask the reason for your visit to Venetia this time?”

Eric asked cautiously, gauging my reaction.

“Don’t be so tense. I’m just here for a simple visit.”

“Ah, I see. I must have been too nervous. Having the family’s benefactor here makes me overly cautious. My apologies.”

Eric couldn’t help but be nervous around me.

Even though I had helped his family, I was still a witch.

The rumors about witches weren’t exactly flattering, even from my perspective.

Some witches were said to eat people, slaughter livestock, or blight crops, while others were known for casting nasty curses.

From Eric’s perspective, my sudden appearance must have been worrisome.

“I have no intention of causing trouble for the Laplace family. I’m not the type to suddenly curse those who’ve helped me. But that depends on how I’m treated, of course.”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about. The Laplace family welcomes you, Lady Estelle. We’ll do our best to ensure your visit is comfortable.”

As long as they didn’t provoke me, Eric had nothing to fear. He seemed to understand my meaning, visibly relaxing as he wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.

The carriage came to a stop, and the doors opened as we arrived at the Marquis’s residence.

“Welcome to Venetia. Once again, the Laplace family welcomes your visit, Lady Estelle. Please enjoy your stay.”

Eric stepped out of the carriage and bowed respectfully, guiding us into the residence.

Lucent