Ch.357The Reunion with the Witch

“Welcome. You’re earlier than I expected. I thought it would take at least two more days.”

“I’m a busy person. I prefer to handle minor matters as quickly as possible.”

Since meeting with Ophelia would essentially wrap up my business in the capital, I planned to finish everything today and head east tomorrow.

After all, Lord Ludwig had asked me to come as soon as possible.

“Minor matters? Something that would make mages from the Magic Tower rush over with fire in their eyes?”

“Something that would make priests from the Church want to set you on fire.”

I walked into Ophelia’s hideout with her as she chuckled.

The corridor of the hideout smelled of fruit beginning to rot.

A distinctive scent mixing sweetness with something pungent.

If the smell reached all the way to the corridor, it was obvious what had happened between her and my sister.

They must have been going at it like wildfire.

Her laboratory was filled with empty tanks and carcasses of various creatures, while in the corner greenhouse, a cluster of plants spread their sharp leaves like spear tips.

…Is that cannabis?

“You’re into cannabis too…?”

“Oh, that? It’s not for me, it’s for my sister. She likes it when she’s feeling down.”

“……”

If this place were discovered, wouldn’t Ophelia be burned at the stake without even a trial?

It was amazing how she did everything that would get her called a witch, yet somehow avoided actually becoming one.

“So, where is this completed test subject you mentioned?”

“It should be right here… but it’s gone.”

Ophelia sighed as she looked down at the empty table.

Wait a minute. This isn’t something that should end with just a sigh, is it?

“Isabella escaped?! We need to find and capture her immediately…!”

“She can’t escape. If she goes beyond the hideout, her head will explode. I have an idea where she might be, so don’t worry.”

After finishing her words, Ophelia left the laboratory and headed toward a room deeper inside.

Since she didn’t specifically tell me to wait, I immediately followed her.

—-

The place Ophelia went to was in front of a small room from which strange laughter and low moans were leaking out.

What is this place? It sounds like a mad scientist conducting human experiments.

“Claire!”

Ophelia flung the door open.

A strong fruity scent wafted through the wide-open door, strong enough to make one’s nose wrinkle.

“Did you take Isabella again? How many times have I told you to let me know first when you want to play with my toys?”

Ophelia shook her head and sighed. Her tone was like that of a mother scolding a childish offspring.

It was an incredibly bizarre tone.

– Ahaha.

A laughing voice responded from inside the room.

A bright and innocent laugh like a child’s. A voice that even seemed somewhat coquettish.

…Was Claire’s laugh always like this?

Eventually, something walked—no, crawled—out from inside the room.

A naked woman with abundant bright red hair. Without a doubt, it was Ophelia’s older sister, Claire van Sigmillus.

“Oh, right. That’s true. I’m sorry, Sister Lia. I forgot.”

Claire smiled broadly as her eyes met Ophelia’s.

“Really now…”

Ophelia chuckled at Claire’s behavior, but I was in no mood to laugh.

It was an expression I couldn’t have imagined, with a manner of speaking I couldn’t comprehend.

Sister?

That’s you, isn’t it? Seriously, what is this?

I glanced at Ophelia with trembling eyes.

What kind of maniacal play are you…?

“Sister Lia, who is that sister?”

“A friend of mine. Claire, haven’t you met her before?”

I couldn’t follow the conversation.

What’s with this voice full of aegyo?

Maybe for a five or six-year-old child, but you’re over twenty, you know?

And why are you looking at me like we’re meeting for the first time?

“Hmm… I’m not sure. She’s a bit scary… is she a bad sister?”

“She just looks that way, but she’s a good friend.”

Ophelia stroked Claire’s head. With a gentle smile on her lips, kindly, like petting a dog.

Claire giggled with a silly grin.

“Hey, what is this?”

“I’ll explain later.”

Ophelia answered briefly and entered the room, leaving behind me, unable to hide my confusion, and Claire, who tilted her head while looking at me.

“Sister, sister. What’s your name? I’m Claire.”

I know that.

No, now I’m not sure. Is this woman really Claire van Sigmillus?

“Hmm? What’s your name? Tell me.”

“…Haschal Median Aishan-Gioro.”

“Hasella…? That’s a strange name.”

Your state is stranger. You crazy woman.

What is this, have you finally gone mad?

======[ Knut ]======

Twenty-one days before the collapse of the northern wall.

Upon arriving in the Kingdom of Dane after crossing the border, Knut was immediately guided to the head of the intelligence department.

“Welcome. I heard reports that you were severely injured while attempting to assassinate the cursed Aishan-Gioro… but your condition looks worse than I expected.”

“I am ashamed.”

Knut bowed his head.

Having sustained critical injuries after insisting on a mission everyone had warned against, he had no excuses to offer.

“Your apology is accepted. I know your desire for revenge well, and I didn’t actively stop you, so I share the blame. If you’re reflecting on it, your future dedication to Dane will be sufficient.”

“Even if you speak of dedication…”

Knut looked down at his body with self-deprecating lament.

The ominous gauntlet that had enveloped Haschal Median Aishan-Gioro’s left arm.

The curse contained within it was terribly fierce. Too much for Knut to endure, having depleted his life force.

A body that even a candidate for Elpinel’s sainthood couldn’t heal.

He had long since fallen to a state where he could no longer fight. Not without learning magic.

“That’s why I summoned you. It would be faster to show you directly. Do you know what this is?”

The head of intelligence took out a stone fragment the size of his palm and placed it on the table.

“Hmm…?”

Knut’s remaining eye filled with doubt.

It was a strange stone.

Clearly just an ordinary stone fragment, yet for some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off it.

A rock with only one side flattened, as if torn from a wall.

In the center was an engraving that looked like it had been carved with a chisel.

[ ᛋ ]

It was a character whose meaning Knut couldn’t understand.

‘It seems similar to ancient Dane language…’

“I’m not sure. Is it an important object?”

“Indeed. A very… very important object. Perhaps it could be the future of our Dane.”

The head of intelligence gave a meaningful smile.

Knut couldn’t understand the meaning of that smile. What was so special about this mere stone fragment?

“Place your hand on that engraving.”

Though still skeptical, Knut followed the instruction.

The fingertips of the declining crusader touched the engraving.

And then.

– Wooong!

A low resonating sound. The stone fragment vibrated, emitting a radiance like the sun.

Startled, Knut widened his eye.

‘A mana reaction…?’

Having never trained as a mage, he couldn’t be certain, but he couldn’t think of anything else.

The feeling was completely different from holy light or dark mana.

“What is this…?!”

“Didn’t Frigg tell you? That we’ve discovered a way for non-mages to use magic. The answer is right before your eyes.”

With a slight smile, the head of intelligence began to explain in detail.

—-

At the bottom of Jotun Gorge, an entrance to a dungeon that had never been discovered before was revealed by an earthquake.

Dane immediately dispatched an investigation team to explore the dungeon. The warriors who arrived cleared out the monsters inside and advanced until they discovered an ancient ruin deep within.

A style unlike any ruin discovered before.

The researchers who participated in the investigation team showed reactions close to frenzy.

In their view, this ruin was built at least fifteen hundred years ago.

However, the ruin, which had become a habitat for monsters, was damaged to the point of being almost a complete wreck, so there was little they could discover.

All they found were fragments of reliefs with strange engravings and a massive stone door that simply wouldn’t open.

Until then, no one knew.

The meaning of the engravings on the fragments, and their value.

Not until one warrior, full of curiosity but lacking caution, touched an engraving with his bare hand and froze.

It was undoubtedly a phenomenon caused by magic. Despite the frozen warrior having no magical talent whatsoever.

It was impossible according to current magical theory.

The ruin was immediately designated as a restricted area, and all mages who had participated in the investigation team were confined.

All archaeologists and magical scholars of Dane were summoned to the royal palace.

The conclusion they reached was enough to shock everyone.

The engravings on the ruins had the effect of drawing in mana and manifesting magic by themselves.

In other words, even those without mana could use magic if they possessed these engravings!

The king of Dane was not foolish enough to misunderstand the significance.

Engravings that could turn every warrior, every soldier into a mage. Indeed, it was something of value comparable to the dwarves’ gunpowder.

“What does that have to do with why you called me…?”

“In the depths of the ruin, on the door that wouldn’t open, there was a strange inscription. After thoroughly examining all existing literature, the researchers discovered that it was similar to ancient Dane language and succeeded in interpreting it. This is the translation.”

—-

Mimisbrunn.

Son of war. Sacrifice your eye to the bottom of the abyss and seek wisdom.

The storm of passion shall bless you.

—-

“Isn’t it interesting? Crusader of the warrior god who lost an eye.”

Knut couldn’t give any answer.

An incomprehensible chill and inexplicable excitement were causing fierce waves in his heart.

He felt something like fate watching over him.

The storm of passion.

That was another name for Volberg, the god of warriors whom he had served.

“Head to the ruins, Knut.”

Knut nodded solemnly.

It was an order he couldn’t refuse.