Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The Pastry Witch's Retreat
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The Pastry Witch withdrew her staff.
She belonged to Wonderland, the worst criminal syndicate in the Justina Kingdom. After betraying the Black Tower and abandoning all her illusion magic, she was a fallen one who had grasped a new truth called Charm.
Charm was the devil's magic.
It was similar to magic in that it could produce miracles.
But it transcended conventional magic entirely, delving into the realm of pure mystery, requiring no complex spells or calculations—just a human soul to manifest whatever the user imagined and desired.
A significant number of Wonderland's infamous criminals had been captivated by this Charm and joined the organization, and the Pastry Witch was one of them.
"Hmm."
The Pastry Witch was a total mess.
The bodies of the minions she had brought lay scattered around her, and the surrounding buildings were completely demolished, testament to the ferocity of the battle.
She was currently in Daebo Village on orders from the Red Cloak.
The reason was to kidnap Haniell.
Wonderland had consumed a great deal of the souls they had gathered so far—through the Eastern Anomaly, the hatching of Dargishkal, the development of the White Death Plague, and more—to create phenomena that would bring even greater death.
This was all to secure even more souls.
But everything had gone awry because of a single person.
Tristy's youngest son, the unparalleled genius Ester, had become an eyesore they couldn't ignore.
At that moment, Ouriel had suggested kidnapping Haniell, claiming she had a brilliant idea.
About three years ago, she had been drawn to the Red Cloak's ideology and power, becoming a loyal subordinate of Wonderland and secretly aiding their crimes.
Though the Pastry Witch was an executive, she didn't know every detail of the organization's inner workings.
She knew little about Ouriel specifically.
The boss had vouched for her, and her plan to use the sister as bait to manipulate Ester at will sounded quite appealing.
So the Pastry Witch had accepted it and set out to kidnap Haniell.
However.
"It's over already?"
The maid attending Ester pointed her sword at her, refusing to allow it.
The battle with the maid right before her eyes had been fierce.
She too was covered in wounds, just like the Pastry Witch.
Yet she showed no signs of fatigue or pain, still blocking her path.
Moreover, Ian was handling Judith, the Pastry Witch's loyal knight who was targeting Haniell from further away, so things weren't going according to plan.
Both of them ranked among the strongest foes she had ever faced.
"Tch."
She had underestimated the situation.
Regretting her insufficient preparations, the Pastry Witch clicked her tongue.
Aura users were notoriously tricky opponents.
Their physical superiority alone allowed them to crush everyone with sheer force.
But the maid wasn't an aura user.
The reason she could unleash transcendent power beyond that of ordinary people was undoubtedly her unique origins.
The maid's eyes were bloodshot red.
Wings and a tail sprouted from her back, and the grotesquely massive horns made her look like a demonkin.
"Half-demon..."
In this world, such beings were occasionally born by chance.
Unfortunate lives born from mothers forcibly seeded by powerful demonkin.
Half-demons inherited both demonkin and human traits, but because of that, they were outcasts rejected by both sides.
Humans, who took discrimination for granted over ugly appearances or different skin colors, treated them even worse since they carried monster blood.
"The dragonkin girl's still alive too."
Half-demons rarely lived past five years.
Most died from stoning due to discrimination and scorn, and even those who survived by luck suffered from the clashing demonkin power and human flesh, succumbing to illness before reaching adulthood.
But the maid before her seemed different.
What could be the reason?
As a witch, she couldn't help but feel curious.
"Is it that surprising that I'm still alive?"
Dalpi's expression was indifferent.
Regardless of her tepid reaction, the Pastry Witch nodded and opened her mouth.
Even though they were in the midst of battle and the plan had gone awry.
She had always been talkative, caring little for her opponent's feelings.
She was the type who felt satisfied only after spilling everything inside.
"I want to drag you off and study you right now. How are you still breathing? Why did the demonkin traits suddenly emerge mid-battle? As a scholar pursuing miracles, you're an utterly tantalizing specimen..."
Dalpi threw her sword to shut the Pastry Witch's mouth.
"Don't get cocky, you villain. The only one allowed to explore every inch of my body is the young master. I'd be grateful if you dropped dead right now."
At Dalpi's irritation, the Pastry Witch shrugged.
"Dying's not ideal. Guess I should escape."
Dragging this into a prolonged battle wasn't hopeless, but she realized the blessing of regeneration she had given Ouriel moments ago had completely vanished.
That meant Ouriel had failed to sway or kill Jephar.
It was hard to imagine Ouriel, with minions and regeneration, losing to Jephar.
With Porto unconscious, all Jephar could do was take the hits and lose.
Someone must have intervened.
And in this situation, only one person came to mind.
"I'd rather not clash head-on with the genius. See you next time if the chance arises."
"You think I'll just let you go?"
The Pastry Witch smiled faintly.
As she invoked Charm, space began to warp.
"Another bizarre technique..."
Dalpi blinked.
She let out a small sigh as she watched the Pastry Witch vanish in an instant.
Then, in one swift motion, she snapped off the horn growing from her head and picked up the dropped sword to slice off her wings.
Her movements were practiced, as if done many times; even as she wounded herself, her expression remained calm.
Dalpi checked her reflection in a shattered window before hurrying to Haniell.
"The enemy has fled. You can relax now."
Dalpi checked on Haniell's safety and turned her gaze.
It seemed Ian's side was wrapping up too.
As the Pastry Witch vanished, the red-haired knight named Judith began to flee as well.
"Dalpi, look after the young lady. I'll pursue her moderately and return once it's safe."
"Yes."
Ian gripped his sword and chased after Judith.
The assault was over.
As the tension eased, Haniell hurriedly checked Dalpi's body.
"Dalpi, are you okay?"
Haniell couldn't use magic due to the medicine's side effects, so she had no choice but to stay protected by her two guardians and watch.
She seemed quite bothered by that fact, her expression sour.
Dalpi bowed her head.
"I'm fine."
"I'm sorry. Because of me..."
"Protecting you is my duty. No need to apologize. If anything, I'm sorry for showing you such an ugly sight."
Ian might not have seen Dalpi's form properly amid the fighting, but Haniell had.
For the maid serving Ester to actually be a monster with demonkin blood—her head could roll right there and no one would bat an eye.
Dalpi's guess was half right.
"I don't think it's ugly."
She simply embraced Dalpi.
Even though Dalpi had expected revulsion.
Perhaps because they were family, she suddenly thought—not just in looks, but in this gentle side too—they resembled each other.
'If the other siblings were like this, the household would have been harmonious.'
It was a regrettable tale.
Haniell released the hug.
"Does Ester know?"
"He hasn't mentioned it directly, but he probably knows."
"I see. Then there's no issue."
Dalpi nodded.
From the sandworm incident onward, she had shown Ester her dislike for fighting because going all-out would involuntarily reveal her half-demon traits.
Just like moments ago.
Even setting aside the trouble of being exposed, snapping horns and cutting wings was no ordinary pain.
Above all, she didn't want to show her monstrous form to Ester.
In short, it was a maiden's heart.
"Ah."
Dalpi's eyes widened.
"Yeah?"
"I forgot to bring the communication orb from the mansion."
To leave the orb she had never neglected alone for four whole days.
"Is there a problem?"
Dalpi scratched her cheek.
"It's Schrödinger's orb."
"Huh?"
"If there's a message from the young master, it's a crisis; if not, just a minor mishap."
Dalpi tried applying a scientific theory she had heard from Ester before.
'This is what it's for, right?'
Anyway.
Dalpi planned to hurry back to the mansion with Haniell once Ian returned and report to Ester, but it wasn't necessary.
Dust clouds rose from the distance.
They were Tristy's knights, with Jephar at the lead, riding swiftly toward them.
It was an exquisitely timed coincidence.
Had they already grasped the assault on Daebo Village and come to resolve it?
Impressive efficiency in mere hours.
As Dalpi scanned them, she spotted a welcome face.
"Young master?"
"Ester?"
Next to Jephar was Ester, who should have been in the capital, charging fiercely toward Dalpi and Haniell.
"Dalpi, Sis!"
He dismounted.
"Ester, weren't you busy making medicine in the capital?"
"It'd take too long to explain; I'll tell you later. Dalpi..."
What caught Ester's eye was Dalpi's condition.
Covered in large and small wounds, she looked like a critical patient at first glance.
Of course, only in Ester's eyes.
As Dalpi often said, his worrying and fussing were double that of others.
If it were that serious, could she stand on both legs so steadily?
"You okay? Hurt bad?"
Even so, the young master's concern always felt pretty nice.
"Urk, my head suddenly..."
"If you're dizzy, get on my back for now. I know a place nearby to rest..."
Haniell thought anyone could tell Dalpi was acting.
Yet Ester fell for such obvious playacting.
Even a genius brother had his airheaded side, like any person.
"My legs have been giving out since earlier too..."
Haniell smiled as she approached them.