Chapter 109: Edict
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: Edict
Even after the incident was over, Yohan didn't leave the hotel. The same went for the witches who were with him.
The reason was that they had become addicted to the conveniences of imperial civilization after enjoying it for quite some time. The witches had fallen completely in love with the hotel staff, who brought them anything they desired with a simple gesture.
Considering Yohan had all but run away from home on vacation, exhausted from catering to their every whim, it wasn't as if they could live in that cramped cabin forever, could they?
“Haaaah… this is nice…”
“How is it?”
“Mmm-hmm, right there, haaardeeer…”
The witches indulged themselves, receiving massages from female masseuses, while a few others even went to enjoy the nearby ski resort.
It was a mystery how a witch who could fly at the speed of sound if she wanted could possibly enjoy something like skiing, but Yohan didn't bother to point that out.
‘Well, I guess fighter pilots enjoy things like surfing… so maybe it’s similar.’
And so, the lodging and living expenses for the eight of them, including Yohan, began to dwindle at a truly astonishing rate.
The hotel was a place for VIPs, not commoners. It was so expensive that the common folk working on the streets or in factories would have to work their entire lives just to visit once or twice.
Eating, sleeping, and playing in a place like that, their money vanished in the blink of an eye, like a river drying up in a drought.
“Um, Teacher.”
“Whaaat? Yohan.”
“We’re about to run out of money. What should we do?”
“Hmm? Money? Is that what you’re worried about?”
Evangeline chuckled as if to ask what there was to worry about. Wondering what on earth his teacher was thinking, Yohan stared at her intently.
Sipping champagne with a silly grin, Evangeline requested a telephone, and the hotel staff promptly brought one to her. It was a rotary phone, the kind where you had to pull the dial to enter the numbers.
As Yohan let out a gasp of admiration—it was an antique he hadn't seen even in his childhood—Evangeline pulled the dial and made a call.
He was slightly surprised that his teacher even knew a phone number, but he was even more shocked when he found out who she was calling.
“Who is it?”
“Hm? The Empress.”
“…Who?”
“You don’t remember? Fri… Frideimon, was it? You know, that girl with a name like that.”
Frederica. Thinking how she had the nerve to call someone whose name she couldn't even remember, Yohan let out a hollow laugh and leaned in to listen to the call.
Before long, the person on the other end picked up the receiver.
[…Who is this?]
“Ah, it’s me.”
[Right, and who is ‘me’?]
“I said, it’s me.”
Watching his teacher's ‘It’s me’ scam, Yohan understood how she planned to get the money.
Why bother earning it? She could just shake down the Empress.
“…Fine, I understand. I’ll send it.”
Click—Despite the call being hung up on her so abruptly, Frederica didn't frown or get angry.
Instead, she let out a sigh of relief. That was how taxing it was to speak with the person on the other end of the line.
‘That damn witch.’
What? Calling out of the blue and demanding money? Did she think Frederica was some kind of ATM for witches?
Even the Witch of Machines and the other two witches had sworn their loyalty to her, yet this insolent witch showed not even a hint of such an intention.
If only she could, she would send the army or other witches to teach this one some manners. That she couldn't was a grievance for the ages.
“Adjutant.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Send a messenger to the Imperial Hotel.”
“Understood.”
Fortunately, the current Empress was wealthy. It was said that not even a king could eliminate poverty, but Frederica had overcome even that with the power of a witch.
She spread industrial technology throughout the entire country and had the profits flow directly to the Imperial Family. The wealth she amassed was enough to pierce the heavens, and with this capital, the Empress launched all sorts of welfare projects.
This was also the reason the monarchy could be maintained despite such technological advancement.
“By the way, what happened to Azmona?”
“We, uh, haven't heard from her…”
“Look into it. It will be a headache if we’re short one witch right now.”
At the Empress’s command, the adjutant bowed his head and exited the room. Once all her vassals had left, the Empress, now alone, let out a deep sigh as she looked at the documents piled before her.
“When am I ever going to finish all of this…”
But she couldn't just sit there sighing forever. The Empress began to review the documents, caressing her own breast with one hand.
Fidget, fidget—every time her fingers tickled her nipple, a strange pleasure was accompanied by a rush of adrenaline.
This adrenaline was the secret to how she could process this mountain of paperwork with a clear head.
“Ngh, huut—this one is on hold. Nngh, approved.”
Today, like any other day, suggestive moans flowed from the Empress’s office.
It was the Empress’s secret, unknown to anyone, including her vassals.
That night, after Evangeline’s call, a visitor came to the hotel.
“Dame Evangeline. Are you here?”
The visitor who sought Evangeline immediately handed her a large chest and then vanished.
Returning to her room, Evangeline opened the chest and realized it was filled with an enormous amount of cash.
There was so much money it seemed more reasonable to just buy the entire hotel… Evangeline took the money and ran to Yohan.
“Yohaaaan—!”
Whatever he was doing, Yohan’s door was locked. But a mere lock couldn't stand in the way of his teacher.
Casting a spell on the lock, Evangeline opened the door with ease, only to freeze at the sound of moans echoing from within the room.
“Kuh-hoooooot—! Oohk, ohoooook—!”
It was a sound too vulgar to imagine coming from a woman. Frowning slightly, she stepped inside and saw Hekaterina collapsed on the bed, with Yohan pressing his fingers firmly into her stomach.
“How is it? Feels like you’re going to die, right?”
“Hut, huaaang—! Haah, huaaak—heuk, heeeuk…!”
Whatever had been done to her, Hekaterina couldn't even answer, her eyes just welling up with tears. Watching the scene, Evangeline gulped, and the sound of her swallowing her saliva was the only thing that filled the silent room.
The sound must have reached Yohan, as he turned his head to look at his teacher who had just entered.
“Ah, Teacher. You’re here.”
“Uh, y-yeah. What were you doing…?”
“Testing a new technique I learned.”
As he said that, Yohan clenched and unclenched his fist, his fingers starting to squirm. Watching those fingers wriggle like a mollusk, Evangeline could only let out a hollow laugh.
But the laughter was short-lived. Remembering why she had come to this room, Evangeline held out the chest to Yohan.
“Here! I brought the money!”
“She really gave it to you? That’s amazing. That Empress.”
“Hm? What’s so amazing?”
“Well—she just does whatever you ask, right? Normally, she’d ask for a favor in return or something.”
There was no such thing as a free lunch. Yohan knew that fact all too well. Free things were the scariest. If it were him, he would have used the money he gave for free as leverage to ask for a great many things.
But Evangeline waved her hands, saying there was no need to worry about that.
“A favor? To a witch?”
An ant cannot ask an elephant for a favor.
Likewise, a human cannot ask a witch for a favor.
Just as there are humans who pray to God, there are none who ask favors of Him…
“Unless the Empress has gone mad, she wouldn't make such a request.”
And there’s no need to grant it—watching Evangeline say that, Yohan thought it was entirely possible.
If the Empress were to ask for something, his teacher would likely ignore her without a second thought. And yet, she would continue to unilaterally take various rights and privileges from the Empress.
Like a bully and their gofer from his school days, the relationship between the two was completely one-sided. A gofer’s devotion isn't met with reward. It only invites more exploitation.
That’s what he thought.
“An edict from Her Majesty, the Empress.”
Two days later, Evangeline frowned at the sight of an imperial envoy who had come to the hotel again. She snatched the letter from the vassal’s hand.
It was an act of disrespect toward the Empress, but the envoy didn't seem to mind. His opponent was a witch. If he valued his life, trying to enforce human etiquette would be insane…
“What is this?”
“…Do you know of a witch named Azmona?”
“Yeah. I know her. A name I’d love to kill.”
“That witch was affiliated with our Empire. As part of the Empire, she helped prevent us from being overrun by monsters…”
According to him, Azmona, the Witch of Cookies, was one of the three witches who protected the Empire.
She was a witch entrusted with the solemn duty of guarding the Northern Defense Line, preventing the monsters that existed in the frigid zone beyond from invading the Empire.
After Evangeline killed her, a gap had opened in their defenses.
“Her Majesty the Empress wishes for you all to take over that protection.”
“Us? Why?”
“If you refuse, she asked me to deliver this message.”
—Witch, perform your duty.
If you will not protect us, then we will not protect ourselves. We will watch as the convenience, the comfort, the entertainment you have enjoyed all turn to ash beneath the feet of monsters.
Having delivered the Empress’s words, the envoy looked at Evangeline with an impassive expression.
“What will you do?”
Hearing his words, Evangeline bit her lip.
The answer was already decided.