Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Story Left by the Witch☆ (6)
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A long, long time ago.
A time when Ether was not a tool of technology and energy, but purely a testament of faith.
The world was rife with war and chaos.
An era where life was governed by the rules laid down by beast gods.
In a corner of this chaos, there was a cave where the beastfolk lived.
Twitch.
Scruffy, ochre cat ears.
A beastfolk girl, small and frail beyond measure.
The world around her was always a cave shrouded in darkness.
A damp, smelly cave.
A cave filled with murals praying for a peaceful world.
‘What’s outside the cave?’
Standing at the cave's entrance, the girl spoke to the old beastfolk shaman. Abandoned by her parents, the old shaman was her only teacher and parent.
“Shaman, I hear sounds from outside the cave! What race could they be? What are they talking about?”
“Child of the mud-colored earth, don't go near.”
“Why not?”
“The arrows of the elves fly from beyond the mountain range.”
“What if I duck my head like lightning?”
“The giants will come with great spears and stomp on you with their great feet.”
“What if I roll away to dodge them?”
The girl's spirited reply.
She always talked back like this.
The old shaman let out a dry laugh and said.
“Then the underground elves who live below will rise up and bring down their greatswords.”
“What if I tickle them and run away while they're laughing?”
“Before you know it, night will fall, and the vampires will be there with fearsome swords.”
“What if I wait until morning when they fall asleep?”
“The humans will swarm in like clouds, daggers in hand. They'll probably sell you as a slave to wash their feet…”
“What if I tell them not to sell me as a slave… that I'm very smart, and they should listen to my story?”
“…”
The old woman, who had answered as fluently as a flowing stream, finally fell silent at the girl's question. Then, with a bitter expression, she spoke.
“Our races are different, and the powers we received from the World Tree are different. So they will never listen to your story.”
“…Then, what if ‘we’ all go out together?”
The old woman, her eyes now completely closed, spoke with a heart full of despair.
“Even among the same race, thoughts and perspectives differ. So they too will never listen to your story. The only real story we can share is ‘fear’.”
“…”
The beastfolk were timid and suspicious.
To them, this world was a hell full of hostility.
The only safe place in this world was inside the cave.
‘If only this world were as cozy and peaceful as the cave…!’
The beastfolk were naturally weak in stamina.
Furthermore, unlike other races who could project Ether through various armaments, all the beastfolk could do with Ether was swing a stick to emit a candle-like light.
And so, the world of the beastfolk was only the cave. To forget this, they sought peace by painting imaginary worlds on the cave walls.
A futile.
Empty.
Story that no one would listen to.
A story of those who didn't know the world, wishing for the world's peace.
“…”
“…Child of the mud-colored earth?”
The girl, who had been silent for a long while.
She finally walked out of the cave with determined steps.
Her scruffy, ochre cat ears twitched.
‘I want to leave this cave full of illusions and fear and see the real world. I want to share stories with the beastfolk… and with many other races.’
Not the fanciful tales of those who have never seen the world.
But a story that everyone can listen to and sing of peace.
“…”
The girl turned back and bid farewell to the old woman who was her teacher and parent.
“Then, I'll go and find out.”
“…Find out what?”
“The ‘story’ that we… that the beastfolk can share.”
A story that looks forward to tomorrow.
A story that can be shared with you.
A story that shines like [Gold].
The little girl set off on an adventure to find a story like [Gold], and along the way, she met two other girls who, like her, had left their safe villages.
And she met the kind man who supported them… the ‘Prophet’. He always showed the three girls the way forward.
-All this chaos is because of what's happening around the World Tree. You three can surely overcome it.
An age of chaos.
Three girls gathered for their respective dreams.
Following the ‘Prophet's’ guidance, they made their way toward the World Tree.
But sometimes… the ‘Prophet’ would mutter strange things.
-...This is basically the primeval Peach Sisters. Does that make me Zhuge Liang?
-…? Who's that?
-...It's nothing.
***
Hilde and I stared, dumbfounded, at the giant hole in the ground.
“…”
“…”
The boss had vanished into the hole.
Ófnir, the [Priest of Conflict], had leveled the ground with his mantis-like forelimbs, dug a pit, and fled. Vibrating the hundreds of horns on his body, he swam through the earth and rock-filled underground.
…
Just in case this was another deceptive tactic.
We remained on high alert and peered into the hole… but Ófnir didn't pop back out with a ‘Just kidding~’ and a fanfare of lies.
He really bolted.
‘He actually ran. He fled without a moment's hesitation, so much so that it's almost suspicious…’
But on second thought, in a situation where victory wasn't guaranteed, bolting before your escape route was cut off or you got injured… was a truly wise decision.
It's just infuriating for the ones left behind.
“…”
This was the first time I'd seen a Priest-level boss run away.
In the original game, were ancient dragons who arrogantly called the students and dwarves of the academy city 'inferior races.' The sight of one turning tail and fleeing so quickly was utterly foreign.
Could this also be related to the ‘Prophet’?
‘Even if you know the future, unless you've experienced it firsthand, it would be hard to be this blindly wary of a 'prophecy'... What was his relationship with the 'Prophet'...?’
As I was lost in thought.
Hilde pointed at the hole and spoke.
“…Should we give chase?”
“I don't think we can…☆”
“…You're probably right.”
“Yeah…☆”
“Hmph…”
“…”
We both sighed for a while.
‘If he'd left a tunnel, maybe, but he filled it in with dirt behind him, so we can't follow… As if to prove he's the Priest of Conflict, every single thing he does is disruptive.’
Even his authority, creating clones, is perfect for causing trouble.
Was he [Fated] to be born solely to stir up conflict?
“…”
I inwardly thought about how to pursue the troublemaker… no, the [Priest of Conflict]. Since he caught me calling myself Zhuge Liang, I really had to rack my brain like Zhuge Liang.
“Hmmm…☆”
A hunch…
Rather than following him directly, figuring out his path would be more efficient.
It would be difficult to follow him in a straight line as he vibrated hundreds of horns to move through the ground like a state-of-the-art drilling machine. It was better to track his general path and deduce his intentions.
“…”
I looked in the direction Ófnir had disappeared underground.
‘That direction… it's the path where the others are fighting… no, further on, it's where Frau's gang set up their main base…’
Oh.
I think there was something there.
To discuss what to do next, I gently tapped Hilde's hand.
“Hey… you know—☆”
“…”
Squeeze—
“…What is it.”
“…?!”
A warm sensation.
Hilde caught the hand that was tapping hers. Then, like the tentacles of a giant sea monster, her fingers slowly slid between mine. In an instant, her hand and mine were completely intertwined.
‘Why is she suddenly holding my hand like this…’
When I came to my senses… our fingers were completely interlocked.
Since the excitement of the battle hadn't completely faded for either of us, our hearts were still pounding and our breathing was ragged. Our slightly sweaty palms felt… strangely intimate.
I can feel the frantic pulse in our clasped hands.
I become aware of the breath escaping her nose.
I become aware of the scent created by the movement of her hair.
I become aware of the faint breaths escaping her pink lips.
Hilde.
I'm aware of her.
Thump—
Thump—
As I become aware of everything,
my heart begins to pound fiercely.
Like a broken machine, out of control.
The feeling of being broken spreads through every corner of my body, carried by my warm blood.
The sensation traveling through my veins melts my cool composure.
Thump—
Thump—
“…”
“…”
Thump—
Thump—
Following the pulse in our clasped hands.
It felt as if my own heartbeat was syncing with hers.
Somehow, filled with anticipation, I look at her.
“…”
“…”
As always, my gaze met her silver-white eyes.
Instinctively, I knew she felt the same way I did.
Thump—
Thump—
It was stifling.
Not my hand… but my heart grew increasingly heavy.
Because of a surge of heat and a poignant ache that came from somewhere…
A poignant ache…?
“…?!”
What?
Me?
Just from holding hands…?
“…”
Uh.
What… what is this? This atmosphere.
What on earth is this mood…
‘This isn't the time for this…!’
Somehow, I felt that if I let this feeling continue… if I rashly gave in to my emotions, both Hilde and I would regret it.
‘This… isn't the kind of atmosphere… that normal friends share, is it…?’
Were Hilde and I ever normal friends to begin with?
No.
That's not it.
This isn't the time to think about this.
Swoosh—
I hastily recalled the current situation in the academy city and pulled my hand away. Hilde, as if feeling self-conscious after her own action, quickly added.
“…You looked drained.”
“…No. I'm fine.”
“…”
“…”
…
A sudden silence fell.
‘What is this awkward atmosphere…!’
The silence was so heavy.
I glanced at Hilde's wound and spoke.
“Your injury… is it okay—☆”
“…Are you one to talk.”
“But I'm still worried☆”
“…I worried for a year. And then for another fortnight.”
“…”
“Do you know how I feel now?”
“Yeah…☆ Sorry…☆”
“...Then that's enough.”
Hilde said this in a slightly pouting tone. But I saw the corner of her mouth twitch, so I knew she was just being petulant.
Because she knew I was hurting… just as much as she had.
Hilde spoke with a slight… smile.
“…Serves you right.”
“…”
Poke—
She poked my cheek with her hand, which was bleeding slightly.
The warmth of the trickling blood.
It grazed my cheek, making it burn.
Rumble—!
In time with the thunder rumbling from somewhere, we stood there for a moment, looking at each other.
“…”
“…”
Hilde remained still, that smile on her face. Somehow, I couldn't even hear her heartbeat; it was a moment as if time had stopped.
“…”
“…”
『Serves you right.』
A playful phrase she'd never use, always pretending to be so stern.
Somehow… Hilde seemed excited by the fact that I was now in the same position as her.
“…”
“…”
Was it because the warmth from before lingered on my fingertips?
Suddenly, her slightly pouting… and excited expression looked new to me.
Is this.
Really the kind of feeling… that normal friends share?
『You bastards dare to harm my Lara—!』
‘No way… If… if that's really the case…?’
Rumble—!
“…!”
The sound of thunder from somewhere brought me back to reality.
It seemed a downpour was about to start under the hazy sky.
‘This isn't the time to be leisurely thinking about this…’
Holding that question in my heart.
I watched Hilde, who had already started moving again.
‘She looks tired somehow…’
I voiced the thought I'd had before we held hands.
“About the direction the [Priest of Conflict] went—☆”
“…Yes.”
“I think it might be the direction where that idiot moron Frau was☆”
“Idiot moron…?”
“Ah, the stray cat calls her that, so it just slipped out…☆”
“…I see. I believe Frau was preparing a large-scale magic circle in that direction. Though it was unexpected when she rushed out to challenge me to a one-on-one duel.”
“…I see.”
“…”
“…”
Silence returned.
But this time, it was a comfortable one.
‘Then we should head that way… The bombardment has stopped, so it seems the snake-tattooed ones among the Noble Faction have been subdued…’
Mentioning the stray cat during our conversation.
It made me wonder about Freyja's situation.
I looked up toward the 'Sage's Room' in the spire of the Research Faction's library.
Twitch.
Twitch.
Twitch.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Hundreds of pairs of animal ears poked out from the windows.
Hundreds of Research Faction students were leaning out the windows.
‘What, since when have they been watching…?’
Trying to hide my embarrassment, I deliberately called out cheerfully to Librarian Mila.
“Sorry~☆ I seem to have lost my spear…!”
“Hauu…!”
Scramble—!
But Mila's face turned red, and she ducked back inside the window.
“…?”
“…Senior.”
Just as I was feeling bewildered.
I heard Lotha's voice from behind me.
‘I thought it was the stray cat's presence, but it was Lotha… that was close.’
Lotha stood there, holding a grimoire, her face flushed as she fidgeted.
“Um… I came out to help… but it's already over… And… uh…”
“…?!”
But I couldn't focus on Lotha's words; my attention was glued to the grimoire she was holding.
My eyes felt like they were about to pop out of my head in shock.
‘Why is that showing up now…?’
A shabby, unimpressive grimoire.
Because that was Lotha's legendary item, left behind by the [Golden Witch].
‘But that's an item from the very late game…?!’