Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: 17. Flu
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Indeed, Lady Kihased...
No, sooner or later, I need to distinguish between master and disciple.
Something came to mind after hearing what Lady Rin said.
A few days ago, the day I first experienced the Team Leader's magic.
Crossing over to the front door in an instant was amazing and great, but on the other hand, I couldn't help but wonder if it was okay to use magic so defenselessly like that.
Even I thought all witches lived gathered in the hidden world until just before starting this job.
That was common knowledge spread everywhere, and I'd never actually seen a witch in real life.
Why so certain? If I'd ever encountered one even once, that face would have stuck in my memory for life and become my ideal type.
Besides, the department supporting and helping witches wasn't something you could easily see; it was hidden like a secret hideout on the 14th floor of City Hall.
Given that witches were few in number, like an endangered species, it made sense they'd get a corner spot due to low workload... but there was no real need to hide it so thoroughly.
So I figured witches like Neria or the Team Leader living mixed in the modern world were either holed up like total hikikomori gamers or working civil servant jobs while hiding their identities well.
Lady Rin's explanation neatly resolved that doubt from that day.
"Now it's your turn to answer. Why are you here?"
With that short question, Lady Rin stared at me intently.
Her enchanting purple eyes, shimmering like a witch's, captivatingly drew in my gaze.
If it was the same as Lady Erzel's case, then apprentice witches definitely had eyes like that too.
But since I'd only seen one master-disciple pair so far, I couldn't be sure.
I made a mental note, so if I ever ran into one by chance, I'd recognize them right away.
"Just as you guessed earlier, I stopped by because of the Team Leader. For personal reasons."
"Ah, personal reasons?"
"Yes."
"Personal reasons... personal reasons, huh..."
"......"
"Even after I asked, your answer's that half-assed? Looks like Eve and Erzel have been spoiling you rotten all this time, huh?"
"...Pardon?"
Then, Lady Rin whispered.
With a smile that seemed utterly ridiculous.
"Ah, shit. Nothing even happened, but I'm suddenly pissed off..."
"......"
"Hey. Answer me."
"...Yes, Witch Lady."
"When I ask 'Why are you here?', shouldn't you naturally explain the reason?"
"I... think so."
"Hmm. Is this 'personal reason' some kind of contract that kills you if you say it out loud? If so, I'll apologize. Sorry, human."
"...No such contract. I'm sorry."
"Really? Then you must have guts coming out your ass for no reason?"
The Team Leader seduced me by saying she'd let me use her pussy as much as I want, so I followed.
I couldn't say that, so I tried to dodge, but no such luck.
Lady Rin twitched her left hand, and something like a deep blue fist appeared in midair, aiming at my head.
It seemed half-joking though; rather than smashing me, it was pulled back like it was about to flick my forehead.
From the flickering, burning flames, it looked like fire magic... maybe. But I couldn't be sure of the material.
If it were real flames, I'd feel the heat first.
Honestly, it felt kind of like a hologram.
"Think a little hit will make it less 'personal'?"
...Anyway, setting aside what kind of magic that was for now.
Lady Rin seemed to have a slightly prickly personality compared to the other witches I'd met.
That might explain why she kidnapped me directly on the subway last time to pry my number out of me.
As I backed away while jotting a few notes in my mental witch wiki, she dispersed the blue fist and spoke again.
"Anyway, that was a joke."
"......"
"If you make a fuss in the hallway, it could lead to annoying trouble, so just keep backing up. All the way. Until you see the last front door."
You're working overtime properly today.
Pushed by the sullen-faced Lady Rin, I was kidnapped without even a scream.
A house thick with the scent of coffee.
That was my first impression.
Lady Rin's home was cozily enveloped in a fragrance like she used coffee beans as air freshener.
I wasn't sure exactly, but she probably liked coffee.
Next came the visual info.
Right after passing the entryway, my eyes went to the bookshelves lining the walls.
Where titles should be, strange languages were scribbled in squiggles, and some were just pages roughly bound together without even that.
And not just that—farther away, her desk was a mess of all sorts of books and papers.
...Come to think of it, Lady Erzel had summed her up shortly as a 'research bug'.
I nodded, feeling like I understood why, when Lady Rin let out a light yawn and asked again.
"So, what did Eve want you for? Don't piss me off with some nothing reason—be honest."
In one hand, she held a steaming mug that I had no idea when she'd prepared.
The contents were, naturally, coffee.
And naturally, there was none for me.
Feeling awkward with empty hands, I stood at attention like in the military and answered.
"Um... I met her to help recharge the Team Leader's mana."
"Sex?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... yeah, that's the most obvious reason. Mana recharge."
"......"
"......"
That was the end of Rin's reaction.
After that, only the sound of her slurping coffee filled the silence.
The Team Leader recharged her mana. That was news big enough for the front page of Witch News, yet it ended so blandly.
If this had reached Lady Erzel's ears instead of Rin's, with that sickly smile of hers..., ...well, anyway.
"...Why? What are you staring at?"
"......"
Naturally, I couldn't help but put a question mark in my mind.
Lady Rin seemed like she didn't even know the Team Leader was a virgin...
Seems like Rin was less close to her than Erzel, so she got pushed back in line.
As I was already half-convinced, Lady Rin's purple gaze scanned me up and down.
I thought I'd gotten pretty used to witches' beauty by now, but I tensed up all over anyway.
"Don't tell me you're trying to have sex with me too? Sorry, but I have a regular battery supplier. Don't need two people's worth."
"Ah, no. I just don't know what to do now."
Yep, she definitely had no clue about the Team Leader's secret.
I updated my mental witch wiki once more and bowed my head.
Relationships.
Eve Lycaon and Erzel Heka are practically sworn brothers.
Eve Lycaon and Rin Kihased: Rin unilaterally claiming friendship.
+ Rin Kihased has a boyfriend.
That was when it happened.
"What to do? In a bit, I'll hysterically mutter something like 'She keeps putting off taking Dorothy while busy fucking her hot subordinate, huh?', so just bow like they taught you in kindergarten and go home."
"......"
"I said go. Can't you open the door lock?"
"No. Could I ask one question before I leave?"
"What question?"
Dorothy—I'd heard the name for the first time today.
Wondering if it was Rin's apprentice witch, I cautiously asked.
"The Dorothy you just mentioned—is she the apprentice witch you asked me to take on before?"
"Yeah. Didn't I say? Dorothy Kihased. I'm Rin Kihased."
"Aha..."
You only saved your last name Kihased in my phone yourself.
A venomous resentment bubbled up deep inside, but luckily, it didn't show on my face in front of the witch lady.
If I hadn't held back, I'd have gotten another 30 minutes of nagging like before.
What showed on my lips now was just my usual business smile.
Seeing that Rin's irritation from the hallway had eased a bit, and since the apprentice witch came up, I continued a little.
"I can't promise for sure, but I think I'll soon have some leeway to take on Lady Dorothy."
"Really? You've done it plenty with Erzel's kid, huh?"
"Yes... not 'plenty' exactly, still a bit awkward, but no real aversion anymore."
"Erzel's lucky. Just the other day she was venting to me about what to do, and now I'm the one who'll end up whining."
"That happened?"
"I taught her everything, but she said sex was too scary and just played games. Something like that. The booze I drank consoling her cost a fortune..., ugh..."
"...Then for Lady Dorothy..."
"Dorothy?"
Rin tilted her mug and stared into space for a moment.
"She says she hates sex too. It's gross. At first I thought I'd hold back and try, but the more I think, the more nauseous, can't do it, blah blah."
"...Similar case. Not exactly the same."
"I figured a handsome guy might be less gross, so I looked around, but she said no guy caught her eye no matter what? She can't stomach mixing it up with squid-tomato-pumpkin slop."
"Ah, so that's why..."
Dorothy went even further, her standards too high to even try.
Right after hearing that, I recalled what job she'd run off to.
"Lady Dorothy dreaming of being an idol isn't because she has some passion for singing or dancing..."
"She can make a living off her face. Plus, maybe check out guys she likes in the industry as a trainee. Result? As you know, still no word."
"......"
"That's why I commented on your looks when we first met, right? Don't you remember?"
I didn't remember exactly what she'd said. It was too long ago.
But I do remember her staring holes into my face and appraising me.
...I thought it was just checking if I'd like her apprentice witch, but there was more to it.
As I realized that belatedly, a worry crept up too.
"Um, Witch Lady. May I humbly offer my opinion?"
"Go ahead."
"...If even idols or actors' looks don't appeal to her, doesn't that mean I have no chance?"
I'm better than average, luckily, but can't beat people who live off their faces.
After my question, Rin glanced at my face.
She scanned me thoroughly for a bit, then answered simply.
"That's for you to figure out from there?"
"......"
"You were picked in the first place because you fit Eve's taste. Witch taste, basically."
How can I do that gross stuff with ugly bastards.
If I absolutely have to, I'll just quit being a witch.
...Ah, quitting completely feels iffy, so I'll look for a guy I like.
Summing up the apprentice witch Dorothy I'd heard about so far gave that vibe.
A witch whose eyes were set too high, ending up on the idol path instead of unpleasant mana recharging.
What the hell is this...
"Ugh..."
Would such a witch be satisfied with me?
The Team Leader picked me herself, sure, but if idols and actors didn't cut it, wouldn't she grimace at a normie like me on sight?
Neria was kind-hearted and we cleared up her sex misunderstanding, but if she filters on looks from the start, it's hopeless.
"......"
Pondering hard only increased my sighs.
As I lay on the bed racking my brains for solutions, a little beep beep came from beside me.
"......No wonder I felt so weak."
The source was the thermometer jammed in my ear.
Pulling it out and checking the screen, it read a whopping 38.4°C.
"Haa..."
Looks like I caught a flu.