episode_0057

“…She fell asleep.”

With a dazed expression, Beatrice, who kept bringing up unanswered questions, eventually pouted when I didn’t respond and fell asleep with her face buried in my chest.

“Sleep-talking about ‘pillows,’ ‘walls,’ or ‘gays.’”

Her softly murmured words wrapped in sleep almost made me lose my composure, but the sudden rustling of breath that followed made me burst into a disappointed chuckle.

“Ha.”

Damn witch-like behavior.

She makes me feel this way and then just falls asleep like nothing happened?

Truly a selfish woman.

Well, maybe she’s always been like this.

Today, seeing her cluelessly asleep without a care in the world made her seem so annoying.

“If I hear things like that, it drives me crazy, you know, men.”

When asked who she prefers between the Northern Duke and herself.

Beatrice, with a stubborn expression, looked so lovely that I almost kissed her right there.

…I wanted to kiss her and tell her.

Do I look like I’m interested in the Northern Duke?

Do you still not have room in your heart for my love?

But I endured.

If I had yelled recklessly, the slightly open door of her heart might have closed shut now.

Even though I received a kiss on the cheek, returning to that awkward relationship from before was something I absolutely refused.

“The cheek kiss… was nice…”

I was thinking of it as a reward for holding hands or linking arms on our next date.

When she told me to close my eyes and suddenly kissed my cheek, it felt like the world stood still.

Even though it’s just a faint memory now, I will never forget it.

Raising her head shyly to kiss my lips.

Then blushing and avoiding eye contact in embarrassment.

The image of her kept swirling in my mind, making my throat dry.

“Just devour her whole?”

Giving a wicked look, but all that returned was her cute sleep-talk.

Watching her nuzzle her face against my chest, any vile desires melted away like snow.

“Fine, I’ll let it slide this time. Next time, there won’t even be soup left.”

“Hehe…”

“You, you’re not listening right now, are you?”

“…”

“Ugh.”

As her seemingly defenseless demeanor tempted my patience, I shook my head, dispelling futile thoughts.

“Just wait until later, you’ll see.”

Once she completely surrenders and confesses, I’ll even pay back the interest.

By then, it’ll be too late to ask for mercy. Only a beast driven by lust will exist.

“When will our witch come over to me~”

It won’t take long.

Honestly, judging by her actions alone, she’s practically there already.

Right now, she’s trying to find excuses to hold back, but once she runs out of excuses and is honest about her feelings, it’s only a matter of time before she crosses over.

Thinking of her, the one who will whisper love into my ear, I kissed her forehead.

“I love you, my witch.”

Next time, I hope you’ll say those words to me.

With a satisfied smile,

I began to walk back towards my quarters.

——

Meanwhile, in another dimension at that moment.

In a space filled with malice, a woman sobbed as she gazed at a shattered mirror.

[Sob… Sniff… Aaah…]

A crying sound that anyone would recognize as ‘heartbreaking.’

Shadows around her tried to console her, patting her back, but unfortunately, her sadness and anger only grew stronger.

“You said you’d kill her…! You said you’d give her a cruel end…! What will you do if she faces that fate…!”

With tear-stained cheeks, Poneria wiped her face with her sleeve and began to reminisce about the recent events that had unfolded.

It was a witch who had pushed Ark Lich, empowered by the followers of that bastard, to face her with some hidden agenda.

When the enemy-like figure appeared before her, Ark Lich lost her composure, unleashing her magic and dragging that woman inside.

…Yes, she thought she had won until then. The real problem started after that.

The time considered short even by human standards, deemed ‘fleeting’ even by herself.

Just a short amount of time passed, yet Ark Lich’s magic barrier was easily shattered.

And what emerged from within was not Ark Lich, triumphant with an easy victory, but a yellow liquid-drenched figure screaming in agony, a greyish skull turned inside out.

The follower of that damn bastard wore an endlessly shameful expression.

Evil, Poneria thought.

It was undoubtedly that bastard, once called sister, who summoned such a being referred to as a ‘demon’ in this realm.

Otherwise, how could one resort to such inhumane methods?

Turning comrades into urine-soaked cowards, tarnishing their honor, using the Eternal Snow Mountain as a weapon named ‘nuclear bomb’ to turn it into a land of death.

[Even I… Even I should have used Gyeong-ryul… Huuah…]

As an evil spirit engaging in wicked deeds to the extent of appearing good, witnessing the witch who roamed around with extreme malice, Poneria felt a profound sense of defeat.

If only she hadn’t lent her support to that cursed Ark Lich.

If she hadn’t trusted and empowered that damned Ark Lich.

If she had employed a method like Agathon, inserting a new character into fate.

At least then, she could have made a name for herself on the continent as ‘Poneria.’

[So annoying…]

She pondered on how to efficiently utilize the remaining Gyeong-ryul, reversing the shattered mirror with her own power, contemplating ways to use the limited Gyeong-ryul effectively.

[Who would be better suited… Is there any disaster left now?]

Did she search everywhere?

Soon enough, she found a being to pour all her Gyeong-ryul into.

With this being, at least she could recover her initial investment.

Having made up her mind, Poneria faced the mirror and addressed the being.

“Dragon King, could you spare a moment for me?”

“Your voice reeks of a decrepit henhouse. Rejection.”

She was bluntly rebuffed before she could even speak.

—–

“Ugh…”

As the sun set, casting a dim light over the ruins, Alain struggled to open her heavy eyes.

“I’m… alive…”

Though her body and mind were far from normal.

Recalling the fierce battle, Alain let out a long sigh.

“…My reputation is completely ruined now.”

To disgrace herself on the battlefield like this.

If the Church were to find out, they would strip her of her candidacy as a saint.

…Well, it seems like that happened a long time ago, but if the Church were to spread rumors to further tarnish my reputation.

“Just the thought makes me dizzy.”

Fortunately, most people believed that she had resolved the crisis with holy water she had secretly kept rather than bodily fluids.

Of course, a few seemed to know the truth behind the incident.

“Well, that part can be hidden through negotiations.”

Most could be dealt with at the negotiation table, perhaps with a mace, although there was one person who might not budge…

How on earth should the witch persuade them? They might come up with strange conditions like during the Great Forest.

“Sigh…”

Sighing once again, Alain slowly got up.

The first thing she checked upon standing was her soaked priestly robes, a result of her indiscretion.

Still, a considerable amount of time had passed, and her clothes were all dry, allowing her to feel a bit less embarrassed.

However, there was one thing she had overlooked.

“My, the smell is quite strong. I should hurry and wash up.”

While it might have been somewhat bearable if she had frozen on a bitterly cold day, the current Archduchess was welcoming spring.

With no way to hide the smell, she began running towards her lodging, utilizing even the slightest remnants of her divine power.

But as they say, trouble comes all at once, doesn’t it?

“Mi… My Lady Saint?!”

“It’s the Lady Saint!!! She’s alive! Lady Saint!!!”

“Why are you rushing off like that? Could it be… there are still remnants left uncleared?”

“Quickly, let’s follow her! There might still be remnants of winter lingering!”

Seeing the woman known for her noble deeds running fervently somewhere, those who had participated in battles jumped to a strange misunderstanding.

Thus, a breathless chase through the city streets began.

“Heh… Heh…”

Why, why are they following me?

What remnants, what leftovers of winter?! I’m just going to wash up!

Misunderstandings tend to snowball as time goes by.

Knowing this fact better than anyone else, Alaine hastily shouted to the pursuers.

“Don’t follow me! I’m just going about my business!”

“To think she’s trying to deal with the remnants alone… Truly, you are the Lady Saint. Indeed weakening the Winter Lord…”

“T-That’s not it?!”

No, I told you the truth, so why misunderstand!

I’m not the noble saint you’re talking about!

Just a mere rejected saint candidate, a lowly temple servant!

Why are you jumping to such conclusions!

Feeling like speaking further would only make things worse, Alaine gave up explaining and dashed back towards her lodging.

Was her judgment correct after all?

Upon finally reaching the inn and hurrying inside, those who had been chasing her realized their mistake, left an apologetic message, and withdrew.

Alaine, now in her room, gazed happily at the culprits of all her troubles in Dreamland.

“I will definitely, definitely get my revenge, Witch.”

Vowing to bring a greater shame upon them than she had experienced herself.

Alaine entered the bathroom and began to enjoy a blissful time.