Witch – Chapter 45- The Two Witches (25)

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Even after Nicks left, Beryl kept waving her hand and smiling dreamily for a while.

It seemed she had already forgotten about me, still hidden under the counter.

It was a harsh treatment for her only friend.

“Beryl?”

“Huh? Estelle!? S-sorry! Are you hurt anywhere?”

Only when I emerged from under the counter did she snap back to reality, flustered, and began checking me all over.

There were some unnecessary touches around my hips and chest, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

“I’m not hurt.”

“Phew… That’s a relief. You must’ve been really surprised, huh?”

I was surprised in many ways.

From giving away potions for free to her obsession with her regular customer…

There were so many things I wanted to ask.

“More importantly, why did you hide me? Were you embarrassed to have me around while dealing with customers?”

I asked as I slowly removed Beryl’s hood.

Fortunately, she didn’t resist, and her face was revealed once more.

“It’s not because I was embarrassed by you, Estelle. If anything, it’s the opposite. It’s, well…”

“Well?”

“Well… You won’t be disappointed if I tell you, right? And you won’t tease me?”

What could it be that she’s being so evasive?

I knew pushing her wouldn’t help, so I waited patiently for her to speak up.

“It’s because… you’re beautiful…”

“Huh?”

“You’re too dazzling and beautiful! Why are your boobs so big!! And what about your butt!!! Men all love women like you!!! Compared to you, I’m sooo… flat-chested and have no butt…. You walking bundle of lust!!!!! You bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“…….”

I thought it would be some trivial nonsense, but the torrent of insults from Beryl left me speechless.

Am I seducing Nicks?

What kind of witch does Beryl think I am in her head?

Does she think I’m some kind of pheromone-spewing creature that drives men wild just by walking around?

Even a succubus wouldn’t go that far.

I wasn’t disappointed, but I was certainly surprised.

What kind of nonsense is this coming from a virgin with no experience seducing men?

Beryl, having shouted herself hoarse, was breathing heavily.

One thing was clear: Beryl’s feelings for Nicks were anything but ordinary.

“Do you… have feelings for Nicks?”

If she didn’t have feelings for Nicks, her defensive behavior and obsession wouldn’t make sense.

At first, I thought it was just her attachment to a rare regular customer, but if it was a different kind of obsession, then the sincerity hidden in her outburst and her attitude started to make sense.

“Feelings!?!?!? W-well, he’s a regular, so it’s not like I don’t care…. But since when are you so close that you call him Nicks?”

Her face flushed, but her tone quickly turned icy. It was hard to keep up with her mood swings.

A yandere with a crush.

They say it’s a comedy from afar but a tragedy up close.

The murderous aura Beryl was emitting made me wonder if I’d be killed if I said the wrong thing.

If I were scared of yanderes, I wouldn’t have become friends with Beryl in the first place.

The way to deal with her was surprisingly simple.

Make her believe I’m not a threat, but an ally.

“I only got to know him since coming to Venetia this time. Short, skinny guys aren’t my type anyway. And he talks so much. I prefer quiet men.”

I don’t have a particular type, but I made it clear I had no intention of seducing Nicks.

“Really?”

“Do I look like a witch who lies to her friend? Look into my eyes. Do they look like they’re lying?”

“I… can’t see.”

“You can sense it with your mana, can’t you?”

She could see 360 degrees with her mana, but she was pretending not to.

“And not all men like big breasts. Some people prefer… the scenic beauty of plains.”

In my past life, I was a fan of larger breasts, so I couldn’t understand those who preferred smaller ones.

I respect preferences, but liking someone because they’re flat is a bit…

“If Estelle says so… then it must be true.”

Phew. Thankfully, she seemed to relax.

I praised myself for defending against her sudden attack.

I was worried my chest might get torn off.

“So?”

“Huh?”

“What do you like about Nicks? What made the great Beryl fall so hard for him?”

A friend’s love story is as important as a daughter’s, but in a different way.

Especially when it’s Beryl.

This was a behind-the-scenes story not revealed in the original.

If this isn’t a side story, what is?

I couldn’t help but find her flustered, blushing face adorable.

“It’s a secret…”

Ah, this is getting interesting.

Her refusal to tell made it even more intriguing.

If she spilled everything right away, it wouldn’t be fun.

Every little thing about Beryl felt endearing.

Enough to forgive her for calling me a walking bundle of lust and a bitch.

Who’s calling who a bitch?

Seeing Beryl in love was both amusing and baffling.

“Is it because he’s a Stella-ranked adventurer? It’s rare for someone so young to reach the highest rank. And he’s so strong. It’s hard to believe such strength comes from such a small body. His future looks so promising. And his looks aren’t bad either.”

“Ah, no. Can you stop? It’s embarrassing.”

Just praising Nicks made Beryl squirm in embarrassment.

“I’m jealous of Nicks. I wish Beryl would obsess over me like that. Does Nicks know how lovable you are? Ah, I resent the heavens.”

“I’m ugly, so I wouldn’t suit Nicks. I’ve never heard of a witch loving a human ending well. I’m satisfied with how things are now.”

A witch cursed with eternal life and a human with a limited lifespan are incompatible.

Even if love blossoms, the witch often goes mad from the curse after outliving their human lover. So, it’s no wonder Beryl is hesitant.

“Lately, I’ve been hearing voices. I think it’s the curse. That’s why I decided to live quietly. I sewed my eyes shut, and I’ve prepared myself for it, but… honestly, it’s scary.”

The witch’s curse.

In exchange for defying the laws of the world, witches hear the voices of gods singing their curses.

Each witch’s curse is different, depending on their deepest desire.

So, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of pain Beryl was enduring.

If her suffering was enough to bury her feelings of love… as her friend and fellow witch, I couldn’t just stand by.

“So, are you giving up?”

“Isn’t that the right thing to do?”

“If Nicks ends up with someone else, can you smile and wish him happiness?”

“…….”

Given how Nicks treats Emily, the chances of Beryl’s love succeeding were slim.

But giving up without trying was worse.

Love is pure, noble, and beautiful in itself.

A miracle that anyone in the world can perform, no matter what others say.

…Of course, as a mother, I’d meddle in my daughter’s love life no matter what.

But that’s beside the point.

“See? You can’t even answer.”

“B-but. Is that really the right thing? Nicks might already be with someone… or have someone he likes. It’s not good to interfere…. What if I confess and lose my only regular customer?”

“Is business the issue now?”

She was ready to give Nicks her heart and soul, handing over potions for free, and now she’s worried about business?

“Even if Nicks is already in love, the one who ends up with him is the winner. Does love only happen once in a lifetime? Where there’s a meeting, there’s a parting. The person you love can change anytime. Just grab Nicks tight so he doesn’t look elsewhere.”

The idea that love can change applies not just to Nicks, but to Beryl as well, but I didn’t mention that.

True love is ultimately about two people caring for each other.

No matter the process, as long as they end up sweetly in love, that’s all that matters.

Besides, without obstacles, love lacks urgency.

“B-but wouldn’t the person who loses out be pitiful?”

“Since when does love care about the losers?”

“W-well, that’s true, but… honestly, I’m not confident…”

What is she not confident about?

It’s hard to find someone as beautiful as Beryl in this world.

Her underestimation of her own looks was downright infuriating.

The only thing that might be an issue is her flat… front and back.

But so what?

The Witch of the West’s storeroom is filled with potions that could be called miracles, and I’m the one who successfully mass-produced one of them.

“Beryl, have you forgotten? What kind of witch I am.”

After becoming a witch, many titles followed me.

“The Boob… no, the Breast Witch?”

“The Witch of Love.”

I corrected her, enunciating each word clearly, as she kept emphasizing my chest.

Of course, I haven’t successfully matched anyone yet. But starting today, I’ll build my resume.

“Hehe. Beryl, I’ll help you with your love.”

I said it playfully, but I meant every word.

I couldn’t just watch her give up without even trying.

Of course, we wouldn’t start right away.

A woman’s transformation is her right, after all.

Beryl also needed time to prepare herself.

As Beryl nodded reluctantly, I began plotting in my mind how to become her love’s Cupid.