The Witch (1)

I stood in front of the Moonlight Palace, watching the knights assemble in neat ranks. The formation of the knight order for subjugating Camilla was completed in less than thirty minutes. Normally, Heike would have led the knights herself in a situation like this, but she was currently away on an inspection tour at the border dispute zone and absent from the Imperial Palace. The Emperor wanted to handle it quietly since Camilla was still technically the Empress Dowager, so the subjugation would proceed with the Heavenly Palace's Imperial Guard and the Moonlight Palace's knight order.

"Teacher, shall we head to the site together?"

Tanya asked me.

"Of course. Looks like Asella's going too."

"Since Camilla was formerly from the Moonlight Palace. Does she plan to settle it personally?"

"Asella's probably itching for a fight. The formation's already done."

"Yes. Since the enemy is a black mage, we've deployed only the absolute elites. I'll escort you, Teacher."

"Thanks. But if they look like they need help over there, feel free to join the fray with me."

I nodded toward the Imperial Guard.

"The Heavenly Palace's Imperial Guard. They're the core for subjugating Camilla."

"They're all top-notch. There's even a Swordmaster among them."

"The captain of the Guard, Sir Sigmund, known as the Light Sword, one of the continent's three great swordsmen."

Thirty-two knights from the Guard had assembled. The dignified middle-aged man commanding them was Sigmund. Dressed in orihalcon armor in case of combat, he cut an imposing figure.

"Not interested? This is your chance to make an impression."

"Hm. I'd love to hear some firsthand accounts about sword aura, which only those who've reached the pinnacle can wield."

"You could probably use it too with a bit of practice, Captain."

"I'm not at that level yet."

"Yet, huh? Sounds like you're confident."

I teased her slyly, and Tanya shot back matter-of-factly.

"I have to reach it someday."

"Whoa, so I'll have a Swordmaster as my bodyguard? What a luxury."

I openly praised her, and Tanya snorted slightly, a bit miffed.

"I'm kidding. I believe in your potential more than anyone. Give it a little time, and you'll surpass Sir Sigmund by miles."

"That's overly optimistic. Unlike the capital knights, I didn't receive systematic training."

"Haha, just trust me. I do your annual health checkups, remember? Your constitution is on another level."

"...You're not just teasing me—you really believe I'll become a Swordmaster?"

Tanya tilted her head, and I nodded lightly.

"Have you ever seen me joke about work? I'm serious."

"Hm... If you say so, Teacher."

Buoyed by my faith in her, Tanya crossed her arms and let out a small chuckle.

"Thirty-two from the Guard, twenty from the Moonlight Palace. Earth Palace hasn't noticed our movements yet, so this is a surprise attack. If they surrender, great."

"Camilla might pull some tricks, so stay sharp."

"Understood. But is it okay that we haven't seen the Princess?"

"Why Asella?"

I countered, and Tanya offered sincere advice.

"She fought with you earlier, and Camilla is her birth mother, after all. Her mind must be a mess."

"True enough. I don't want Asella subjugating Camilla personally either."

I opened my status window.

The probabilities of bad endings stemming from Asella's villainous deeds were creeping up bit by bit.

In the original history, Asella killed Camilla.

Even if it was an involuntary incident caused by her mana circuits rampaging, the shock must have been immense.

Looking back now, I figured Asella had regretted it. Maybe she'd committed even worse atrocities afterward to bury the guilt of her filial impiety. She could only rationalize killing her own mother by proving herself a villain.

I never thought Asella had a conscience.

Maybe because she'd shown behavior different from the Emperor I knew, my attitude toward her had softened lately.

Either way, Camilla has to be subjugated.

Bad Ending No. 88: Demon Worship. Hidden black mages in the Empire, enthralled by the Demon King's army, unleashed massive black magic on the continent. A third of the capital's citizens perished, and I died blocking a summoned 1st Hierarchy demon.

Camilla's definitely been raising black mages.

Even the court mages, now calling themselves her disciples, seemed suspicious.

Best if the Imperial Guard handles it instead of Asella.

Following Tanya's advice, I decided to talk to Asella. She'd changed into her battle robes as a magic prodigy, ready for combat. I approached her as she issued orders to the knight captain.

"Princess, do you intend to fight personally?"

Asella whipped her head around. Her long ponytail, tied back, whipped through the air before settling slowly.

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Eh, this counts as an external activity, so I have to accompany you."

"We're still inside the Imperial Palace—how is this external?"

"It's a military operation with potential for combat. It's in the manual."

I answered logically, and Asella, unable to refute, clamped her mouth shut before muttering,

"Annoying."

"I get that."

"You never listen to me either. I'm doing what I want."

"I'll follow your judgment, Princess, but facing your former Empress Dowager Camilla—are you sure?"

"That's..."

Asella trailed off. To her, Camilla was undoubtedly the hated figure who'd tormented her all her life. But she was family. The Emperor was much older and hard to see, and her siblings were all enemies in this palace. Camilla was practically the only blood relative she'd grown up with.

The current situation, where she might have to take Camilla's life, couldn't be welcome.

"Princess, don't push yourself. You can wait here at the Moonlight Palace."

"...Hoo."

Asella took a deep breath and gripped her staff tighter. When she opened her eyes, her expression was resolute.

"I'm prepared. No room for mercy against the imperial family's enemies."

Her voice had returned to its charismatic tone, but her lips trembled slightly. I took both her hands gripping the staff.

"Wh-what...!"

I gently stroked the backs of her hands until her fingers relaxed. Like a cat caught by the scruff, Asella quieted a bit.

"Leave it to the knights and watch from the rear. That's a lord's proper role, isn't it?"

"...Still."

"Got it?"

Asella bowed her head, looking up at me with eyes half resentment and half pathos.

"Sneaky. You ignore everything I say but nag me."

"I listen when I should. You need to listen to me too if you want to live long and healthy."

"...You'll live long too?"

"Obviously. I'm a doctor. Gotta take care of my own body."

I meant it. This time, I wanted to live long without dying in a bad ending. My medical career was on track, and the family business was thriving for a comfortable life. I wanted to enjoy it to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my last day as recompense for all those painful loops.

"...Fine. But on one condition."

Asella unusually acquiesced and added a proviso.

"Make time after this is over."

"Of course, if it's an order."

Whoops, I answered too readily riding the mood. Asella's demands were never light.

"What for?"

"I want to go out. Secretly, like before."

She meant our secret cafe trip from the marquessate.

"And I want that answer from last time."

"Last time?"

"...You still haven't told me what you think of me."

I could say it anytime now. The worst villainess in history, the iron-fisted tyrant, the cruel Golden Witch. No matter how often I saw her, the terror etched in my mind from her didn't fade easily. She was trauma incarnate for me.

The Demon King, Four Heavenly Kings, barbarian chieftains—anyone who'd killed me even once was uncomfortable.

Well, still.

It felt a bit different now. As her personal physician, I felt responsible. Hard to pin it to one word.

"I understand your wish, Princess."

Hearing my reply, Asella turned to face the knights. The captain reported to her.

"Ready for departure. Awaiting your orders."

Asella scanned the knights and shouted confidently in her clear voice.

"This military action is war against a black mage. No mercy needed. Protect the imperial family and swear loyalty to the Empire's peace."

The knights hardened their gazes at her declaration.

"Moonlight Palace knight order—march!"

We advanced toward the Earth Palace.

"All units, halt."

Sir Sigmund, the Swordmaster leading the vanguard, raised his arm. The Earth Palace was about thirty minutes from the Moonlight Palace. We stopped before its main gate.

Fifty-two elite knights formed ranks. Asella and the Emperor commanded from the rear. I stood quietly beside Asella with Ambrosia and the Emperor's guards.

"No response from the Earth Palace?"

Sigmund's subordinate shook his head. Inside the Earth Palace walls, not a single servant or gardener stirred—it was deathly silent.

Just before entry, a messenger bird had carried the imperial order to surrender. No reply meant defiance.

"We advance."

The Guard moved swiftly, forming a perfect veteran formation befitting the Empire's best.

The moment they reached the main palace and passed the central entrance—

—Fwoooosh!!

Black mana writhed from the ground, surging up through the earth into the air.

"Black magic! Evade!"

"Ngh!"

The knights reacted fast, but a few were hit. Their bodies rotted instantly.

"Urgh, got me!"

"Healers!"

The Heavenly Palace healers, including one deputy imperial physician, dragged the wounded out and cast spells.

The endless black energy soon enveloped the entire Earth Palace in a solid dome.

"Is that black magic?"

The Emperor glared at the sight.

"Intent on war, Camilla?"

Ambrosia cautioned the Emperor.

"It looks dangerous, Your Majesty. Avoid contact at all costs."

"Ambrosia, do you know what spell it is?"

"Hm, not exactly..."

Even Ambrosia, a master healer, had no reason to fight black mages, so it was natural she wouldn't know.

She turned to me.

"Gotberg, do you know?"

"It's a type of barrier."

"Barrier?"

"Yes. It melts entering lifeforms, converting their life force to mana. Instant-cast and powerful—likely 5th Hierarchy."

Ambrosia clicked her tongue.

"Dangerous. So that's why the knights' skin rotted on contact."

"Is Camilla inside?"

The Emperor asked me, and I replied politely.

"The caster must be inside for a barrier to activate. She's definitely there."

"It melts lives. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What of the other palace inhabitants besides Camilla?"

"Regrettably..."

At this ruthless taking of lives, the Emperor's anger chilled.

"Suggest a way to breach it. Can't the healers dispel it?"

"Barriers aren't curses, so not in healers' domain. But there's a useful holy spell."

"What is it?"

"Purification spell. It can nullify the barrier. Sister, can you use it?"

Ambrosia nodded vigorously at me.

"Up to 3rd Hierarchy."

"Good. I'll need your support then."

"You can use purification too, Teacher? I thought it was a rare spell for heretics' inquisitors."

I rolled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sleeves and answered.

"I know it a bit. Up to 4th Hierarchy."

"4th Hierarchy! You can cast holy spells at such a high level?"

Ambrosia startled like a little beaver, then excitedly told the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, with Gotberg and me, we can breach the barrier."

The Emperor nodded at me.

"I leave it to you, Gotberg."

Takes me back. I grinned and stepped forward.