Chapter 93
A week had passed since Severian left.
The barbarians were executed without any room for excuses. The priests of the Holy Temple combined their powers and destroyed all the black magic tools they carried.
During that time, Gremory tirelessly searched the Empire. By day, she turned into a cat. By night, she spread her wings and flew.
That morning, Gremory was wandering through the market of another territory in her cat form.
“The world is too quiet… It’s so calm that it’s making me anxious.”
Ever since the sandstorm incident in Count Sien’s territory, the witches had gone completely silent. Maybe the Demon God got scared after two of his soul fragments were destroyed? Could Etna and Wraith have been summoned back to the demon realm and were now laying low? It sure seemed like it, since they hadn’t shown up in a while.
“If only I could go to the demon realm and check things out myself…”
That would be nice, but if she went to the demon realm, she might not be able to return to the human world again—unless someone summoned her.
“Right now, I’m not linked to the human world through a summoning. Going to the demon realm would be too risky.”
As she was lost in thought, walking past a fish stall, the shopkeeper suddenly swatted at her with a flyswatter.
“Damn thieving cat! Get lost!”
Surprised, Gremory stared at the man, baffled.
“What are you looking at? I said scram!”
The shopkeeper huffed at the unmoving black cat. Then he ducked behind his stall and rummaged through a bucket.
“Damn it, that white cat must’ve spread rumors again! This is why I don’t feed stray cats!”
He then pulled out a small fish and tossed it in front of her.
“There, you’re the last one. Eat that and tell the others: even if they show up, I’m not giving out any more fish!”
“….”
Gremory shook her head and left proudly. Behind her, the shopkeeper muttered, “Ungrateful cat with no business manners!” Soon after, a gray cat appeared out of nowhere and snatched the dropped fish.
Gremory returned to the duchy around 3 p.m. The first to greet her was Isollen, walking down the hallway while roughly brushing her hair.
“Hey, Mori! You don’t know any magic that makes hair grow, do you?”
“Nope.”
“Ugh, short hair doesn’t suit me. I want it to grow back fast—no similar spell at all?”
“Told you, no.”
“Why not? You can stop sandstorms, defeat monsters, turn into a cat, but you can’t grow hair?”
Gremory dug in her ear and stared off into the distance.
“Even demons can’t do that. That’s why bald people can’t summon us. Sometimes they beg us for hair in exchange for their souls, but we just can’t help. It’s honestly kind of sad.”
“Haa… fine. I guess time will fix it. At least I’m not bald. Let’s go to the tea room—Anna prepared snacks.”
The two walked down the hallway toward the tea room. As they did, laughter echoed behind them—it was the maids. They’d been laughing for days at how the two girls now looked like twins from the back.
Isollen turned around and warned them.
“Hey! Stop laughing or I’ll shave your heads too!”
“Oh no, sorry! Please don’t!”
“Lady Isollen, short hair suits you so well~!”
The maids giggled as they ran off. Isollen grabbed both sides of her hair and grumbled.
“I hate short hair… and I really hate looking like you.”
“That’s a little rude. What’s so bad about looking a bit alike?”
“It’s annoying. People laugh wherever we go.”
“If it bothers you that much, just stay inside until your hair grows out.”
Gremory felt weirdly hurt. Was looking like her really that bad?
When she went cold, Isollen frowned.
“Why are you being so rude?”
“You started it.”
“It’s normal for friends to complain! Don’t be such a baby.”
“What’s with you? Is that curse not fully gone? Your mouth’s getting filthier.”
As the two bickered, Alice strolled by and burst into laughter. She was with Sehara.
“Hohoho! Are you two fighting? Did a memory-tampering curse make you hate each other or something?”
Gremory casually moved next to Alice.
“She started it.”
“What? She just twisted what I said. Right, Princess Sehara?”
Isollen stood beside Sehara. Now the two witches and two humans stood in an odd face-off.
Unfortunately, Alice and Sehara didn’t care about the maid drama. Sehara quickly walked up to Gremory.
“Mori, I want to help hunt witches too! Don’t forget I have a tracking ability!”
“Oh. I forgot.”
Gremory recalled the time Wraith attacked—when Chession was hurt and she went into the Forbidden Forest due to a strange hunger, it was Sehara who’d found her using her ability.
“Knew it! Anyway, Alice and I will help search from now on.”
“No need. You’re just a kid—just stay inside and grow up healthy. Don’t put yourself in danger.”
“But Alice can fight, and I can track. It’s a perfect team!”
“Did you get Chession’s permission?”
“Uh… not yet…”
Sehara looked awkward and giggled nervously. Gremory patted the top of her head.
“You’re brave, but give it up. You’re too young.”
“But I heard royals are considered adults at twelve!”
“Yeah, right. The way you’re whining, you’re still a baby. I’ll handle the tough stuff. You just stay here with Alice and keep the house safe.”
Sehara’s lips drooped sadly.
“But I really want to help. You always patrol alone… it must be tiring…”
“You’re sweet. If you really want to help, then guard the house. A witch might slip past the barrier and sneak in pretending to be human.”
“Oh, that’s possible…”
“Use your ability to watch for that. Alice and I can’t sense witches near the holy barrier—it blocks our power.”
“Got it!”
Sehara’s eyes sparkled, happy to finally have something to do.
“So Mori, how was it today? Still no trace of witches?”
“Yeah. I think they all went back to the demon realm. Either to regroup, or maybe something’s going on there.”
“I see…”
Sehara gave a bitter smile. The uncertainty of what the witches might do next left her uneasy.
Then, her gaze turned to the window.
“Someone’s coming toward the duchy right now.”
“Who? I don’t see anyone.”
“They’re in a spot only my ability can sense.”
“Is it a witch?”
“No, it’s a person… but feels like a witch.”
“Who is it?”
“Lady Catherine Ortega.”
The moment that name was said, Isollen snapped.
“What?! What the hell is she doing here?!”
“Maybe she’s here to apologize?”
“Ha! Like she’d ever do that. I heard she lost her voice after dealing with a demon. She’s probably here to beg for healing.”
“Yeah, that seems more likely.”
“She should be ashamed to show her face. Mori! Whatever she says, don’t heal her. Don’t give her any potions. In fact, don’t even meet her! Come on, let’s just go to the tea room!”
Isollen grabbed Gremory’s arm and marched off toward the tea room.
Catherine’s sudden visit left Chession just as speechless. On top of that, she’d shown up without notice—incredibly rude.
Finally, Catherine’s carriage arrived at the duchy’s main gate. Chession thought a hundred times whether to turn her away, but in the end, he decided to at least hear what she had to say.
He stepped outside and opened the gate. Usually, Catherine’s carriage would be flashy enough to hurt the eyes, but today it was strangely plain—barely fancier than a hired commoner’s cart.
Through the small window, Catherine gave a silent bow.
“Why did she come here?”
Chession asked.
Catherine handed him a note.
It read:
“I know you probably hate me. But I had to come. That talkative demon, Marbas, told me so many things… some of them were dark and deeply unsettling. I have to tell you.”
