Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Good Witch, Bad Witch
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"Thank you so much!"
The beaming smile from Gretel.
She's taking the request out of heartfelt gratitude for her brother.
No ulterior motives here.
That said, I wonder what the reward will look like.
Maybe it'll upgrade the level of one of my skills?
Dusk Wing Crow LV21
This is the list of skills I currently possess.
Each one has solid performance.
If I could level up just one of them, which would be the best choice?
The standout among my skills is Feather of Night, but it's not something I can use frequently.
The activation condition is Eternal Night, after all.
Leveling it up would certainly improve its effects, but it'd be far better to find a way to counter Eternal Night instead.
Twilight Feather and Shadow Flame are my mainstays.
Raising their levels would give immediate, tangible benefits, but they've been leveling up just from repeated use anyway, so it feels a bit underwhelming.
Surprisingly, the real winners might be Bird's Wisdom and Crow's Eye.
Unlike the others, they don't level up simply from observation or thought.
Bird's Wisdom is a mystery, but Crow's Eye has delivered some nice perks with each level-up.
Last time, it even overcame my species' chronic weakness to night blindness.
The next one could grant even better abilities.
For example, revealing more enemy traits.
The ability to collect enemy traits in feather form probably stems from Crow's Eye.
Strengthening it might enhance that power.
Of course, since it's still shrouded in mystery, I can't be sure.
It could be a combination of my other traits manifesting this way.
And I haven't fully grasped how trait collection works yet.
If I steal an enemy's trait, do they lose access to it? Can I only steal one per individual?
I need to research these details.
So far, I've mostly discovered traits by defeating foes.
If I could steal a trait mid-battle and disable it for the enemy...
That would be a massive advantage.
They'd panic without their go-to ability.
Though I don't have that capability yet, I should focus on strengthening and studying it.
...Not that agonizing over it matters much, since the quest reward is random anyway.
"Thank you, Raven. I'm relieved knowing Muna's companion is going to find my brother."
A kiwi bird's crow companion searching for a human? It's a bit convoluted, but if she's happy, that's what counts.
"Hmm, little one. I'll stay here and continue my research. Joining you wouldn't help much anyway."
Not that I want to say it to Muna's face, but in combat, he turns into dead weight.
His clever strategies are appreciated, but carrying him on my back restricts my shadow form usage.
"Caw."
So it's best to bow out early when possible.
Besides, he brought Dorothy's journal, so deciphering it is crucial.
But there's a problem.
"Caw? Kaw-kaw!"
"Shwoosh! Sh-shwoosh! Shoo-shoo-shwoosh!"
I can't speak, nor can Shungshungi.
We can communicate somewhat by flapping our wings, but that's the extent of it.
And unlike my old self, I've grown quite large.
What would Hansel think if he saw me and Shungshungi?
Helpful crows and a friendly ghost?
Nah, more like man-eating demons and a monstrous bird.
"Hmm, that's certainly an issue. Back then, maybe not, but you now... look a tad intimidating."
What do you mean by 'a tad'?
At any rate, we need Muna to rescue Hansel.
At least for friend-or-foe identification.
"Oh, for that... would you take my token?"
"Caw?"
A token?
"Yes. My brother gave me this necklace as a gift. If you bring it, he'll know I sent you."
What if he thinks we're necklace-stealing ghosts and monsters?
I'd better put on my best innocent face.
"Alright, the necklace... Huh? I kept it here separately. Where'd it go?"
Gretel waves her hands around, searching for the necklace.
So she wasn't wearing it around her neck.
But why can't she find it?
"Shwooo..."
Shungshungi lets out a sneaky little sound.
"Caw?"
I tilt my head to look, and there it is—in his stubby little claws, a necklace I've never seen before.
「Gretel's Token」
A cherished necklace given to Gretel by Hansel.
Wearing it slightly increases Luck.
No way—when did he snag this?
I raise a wing to pat Shungshungi's head.
"Caw-caw."
That's my boy.
Just like his dad, blossoming into a fine little thief.
"Huh? When did you take it? Anyway, if you wear that around your neck, there shouldn't be any issues."
She doesn't seem to suspect he had it from the start, so she bought it easily.
Problem solved.
We pocket the necklace as a bonus reward and can help Hansel without Muna.
Meanwhile, Muna can research here during that time.
"Kaw-kaw."
It'd be easier if Hansel were as free of prejudice as Gretel, but as siblings, he's probably similar enough.
From the way he talks to birds, he seems to have a connection to Muna anyway.
"By the way, Muna. You mentioned research? Is there anything I can help with?"
Gretel's eyes sparkle.
"Hmm... yes. It's about the witch we're tracking."
Muna gives a brief rundown on Dorothy the witch.
Brief by his standards, anyway—Shungshungi turned glutinous-rice-cake soft and dozed off midway.
"...so I may need your assistance."
"Heavens, Muna needs my help?!"
"When it comes to witches, ask a witch."
At those words, Gretel's face puffs up in a pout.
"Sure, I'm a woman who uses magic, so witch fits... but I'm not one of those evil witches, okay?"
She's not an evil witch.
She totally looks the part, though.
You can't judge by faces alone, but there's an aura about her.
Dorothy has a beautiful face, but it gives off a seriously shady vibe.
She even tossed a cute baby bird out the window.
Gretel, on the other hand, looks straight-up kind at first glance.
Frail build, golden hair.
The epitome of slender beauty.
Plus, she was friendly to us even before confirming we were the sage's companions.
"Shwaaaang..."
Shungshungi puffs up his feathers.
Like a bird version of puffed cheeks.
"Ah, your companions' expressions look weird. All witches are the same—good witches? What nonsense is that?"
I never thought that.
Guess Gretel's not great at reading expressions.
"Let me explain. Witches get so much misunderstanding just because of the word..."
She just wanted to clear up witch misconceptions, it seems.
The term does have negative connotations.
"Most women who use magic are called witches. A few get called mages despite being women, but that's extremely rare."
Gretel alternates glances between me and Shungshungi as she continues.
Though Shungshungi is snoring away.
"But lots of people see witches as targets for extermination. And plenty do evil deeds. So we divide witches into two types. Kind ones like me are called Day Witches."
Day Witches!
Calling herself a good witch outright?
"And the evil ones who do wicked things are Night Witches."
Easy way to remember.
Good is day, bad is night.
Good is white, bad is bla—
"Shwoooong!"
Shungshungi suddenly mutters in his sleep.
Like desperately blocking something. Probably my imagination.
"The witch you're after is probably a Night Witch. I've never heard of a Dorothy in the Witch Association."
A Witch Association? Does that even exist?
Sounds like a freaks' club.
Though if it's made of Day Witches, think mage tower organization.
Bad witches not in the association get labeled Night Witches, and Dorothy seems to be one.
Never even heard the name? Maybe not that famous.
Though unlikely to be weaker than I think.
Just the magic circle in her cabin shows her skill level.
And ties to Eternal Night? Far from ordinary.
"Night Witches follow the night itself. A group committing atrocities for vain goals. They even recruited me recently. Something about Walpurgisnacht's night and reviving Hexennacht? They said they needed my help."
Night Witches approached Gretel?
This is big intel.
We could dig more on Dorothy by using her.
"Witches came to you? What happened?"
"What else? I sent them packing nicely."
As she says that, Gretel stares intently at the fireplace.
Why glance at the fireplace if she sent them away?
...
No wonder she's level 40.
She processed witches that way?
I discreetly drop a few of Gretel's gems from my talons.
...Gotta steal before leaving. Snagging them early might land me in that fireplace too.