Someone to Lean On

Crunch-crunch. I walked forward, taking in the surrounding scenery.

"..."

Countless graves stretched out beneath a black moon hanging high in the sky. The purple mist and butterflies welcoming me stirred up a complex mix of emotions.

"...Sadness? Peace?"

I couldn't quite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pin it down, but the thought that this place was deeply connected to witches kept nagging at me as I pressed on. Toward that small castle where Asella was sure to be.

I read the small inscription and carefully pushed open the door, stepping inside.

Creeeak—The weathered door swung open slowly, revealing the interior. Instead of anything fitting for a castle, it looked more like an office: a desk cluttered with books and papers. The bookshelves were packed, and in the center hung a large portrait.

Long black hair, stunning features—her purple eyes held an air of mystery that captured every fantasy.

"...Nemira... ma'am? Or is it Priscilla...?"

It resembled the Curse Goddess Nemira I'd seen during my 3rd Job quest. The only difference was a slight variation in skin tone—Nemira's was darker than Priscilla's. Otherwise, they were nearly identical.

I pondered for a moment, then decided to just look for Asella.

I found her more easily than expected. She was slumped over a book beneath the portrait, fast asleep.

I gently laid her down properly and checked the title of the book she'd been reading.

"...?"

I had no idea why Asella was reading something like that, but I'd ask her about it later in private.

"Priscilla... ma'am..."

I sighed as I watched Asella curl up like she was having a nightmare.

"Asella... ma'am."

I scooped her up from where I'd laid her and summoned my witch's broom, settling on top. Naturally, her head came to rest against my chest, and I slowly made my way back the way I'd come.

"Priscilla... ma'am... Hoo..."

Asella, her head against my chest, tried to wrap her short arms around my waist but could only manage a loose grip.

"Hic... Eek..."

I froze at the unfamiliar sensation.

"Priscillaaa... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hee hee... Hee hee heh..."

Asella kept nuzzling my chest, giggling in her sleep.

...

I carefully laid Asella on the sofa and perched on the edge beside her.

"...Cute."

Watching her sleep with a dopey smile, drool trickling from her mouth, I suddenly felt like teasing her. I used Shape Shift to turn my hair black and checked myself in the nearby mirror.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'Damn, I really do look just like her now.'

Just changing my hair color based on what Asella had shown me made me look strikingly like the Priscilla in the portrait. The only difference? Priscilla's features seemed a bit softer than mine.

I gently stroked Asella's cheek.

"Mmm..."

She rubbed her cheek against my hand with a smile—so adorable. Time slipped by like that until Asella slowly opened her eyes.

"Pri...scilla... ma'am...?"

She stared at me in disbelief.

'Oh crap... I'm screwed.'

"Priscilla!!"

Suddenly, she was in my arms, sobbing. I patted her back, sweating bullets.

"Waaah... I missed you... Hic... Hng..."

Seeing her cry so heartbreakingly, I missed my chance to tell the truth. With no choice, I started role-playing as Priscilla, using memories of Nemira as a base. The concept: I'd possessed her body temporarily to linger in the mortal realm.

"Asella... my child..."

"It's really... Hic... you, Priscilla ma'am...?"

I considered confessing right then, but those big, teary eyes made the words stick in my throat. And the way she asked—with total conviction—made denying it feel wrong too. Luckily, my imitation of Nemira's speech matched Priscilla's perfectly. They might as well be the same person.

"...You've found a fine successor."

Asella wiped her tears and giggled happily.

"...You're talking about Noel, right? Hehe. She's got real talent..."

"Thanks to that child... I could set foot in this world, if only for a moment."

"Huh...? What do you... Wait, only for a moment...?"

"...If a dead soul lingers too long in the mortal realm, the body and soul I've possessed... could be dragged to the heavens together."

"...So... you really did pass on, Priscilla ma'am..."

Tears welled up again in Asella's eyes. I gazed at her tenderly and spoke.

"But thanks to this child allowing it, we could meet like this, even if briefly."

"R-Right... Hehe... Noel always helps me out."

"...Even if I couldn't show you my magnificent side as a great witch."

As Asella gave a bitter smile, I channeled Priscilla to say what I'd always wanted to tell her.

"...Asella."

"Y-Yes...?"

"You don't have to carry so much burden alone."

...

Asella's eyes went wide at those words.

'Asella ma'am. It seems like you're carrying too much on your own.'

It was exactly what I'd said to her before—as Priscilla.

"...Even a great witch needs someone to lean on."

'How about finding someone you can open up to honestly?'

"Well, your successor could be that 'someone.' Just like you were for me."

'What about me? You said you were smitten.'

"Priscilla ma'am... leaned on me?"

"Of course. Even great witches aren't invincible."

Asella beamed and fell deep into thought, wondering what help she'd given Priscilla, if it had really mattered.

"...Ah, it's time for me to go."

"Huh? Al...already...?"

"Mm. The time... is almost up."

"C-Can't you... stay...? We just met... There's so much I want to talk about..."

Priscilla—right in front of Asella's eyes—smiled wistfully.

"I want to talk with you too... But if I don't leave now, we may never meet again. Even leaving now means we won't see each other for a while."

"Ah..."

"You're doing well."

"..Huh?"

"Others might not see it, but you're doing well. I'm proud you're my successor."

"Pri...scilla ma'am..."

With that, "Priscilla" collapsed onto the sofa. My black hair slowly shifted back to silver.

"Noel..."

...

My all-out performance seemed to have landed perfectly—from delivering the words I wanted to say to the finale where the "possession" wore off. Maybe I should become an actor. Or wear a mask.

And the reason I'd said those things? Simple. From what Asella had told me about Priscilla, if she were alive, she'd have said the exact same. Call it a hunch—or near certainty.

I shook off the stray thoughts and pretended to wake up.

"Ugh... Asel...la ma'am?"

"Noel..!"

Asella pounced on top of me for a bear hug. I chuckled and patted her back.

...

After that whole ordeal, I turned the stream back on.

"Ahaha... Sorry, everyone... I wandered into a no-broadcast zone again..."

"But... as an apology, this weekend I'll do the content you all pick."

"Cam stream's a no-go, obviously. Oh, there's a random draw feature—wanna use that for suggestions?"

Viewership had already climbed past 2,700. I was a bit surprised and overwhelmed by the numbers, but since they were all fans, I decided not to overthink it.

"Okay... I'll draw five people to vote. Ready?"

"First winner~"

"Letta! I remember this name. You were the first to join my very first stream."

"Ahaha, of course! So, one content suggestion, please."

"Got it. Thanks! First candidate: Lost World~"

"Shush. Candidates are final, no changes. Next~"

"Our top donor, Ria! One suggestion, please."

"Sounds good. Candidate 2: radio stream. Next!"

The next three were hand-cam low-chat stream, drinking mukbang, and League of Champions stream.

"Voting open! This weekend's lineup..."

"1st place gets a long Saturday slot, 2nd a short Sunday night one."

Five minutes later, results from ~2,200 votes:

"Nice. Saturday: radio stream. Sunday night: short drinking mukbang."

"Oh, dilemmas. Sarea helped me set up a fan cafe last time. Link pinned—post there."

I streamed for another 10 minutes before ending.

'Is this right?'

The donation total ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seemed off, but earning well was good, so I let it slide.

"It's night already."

"Time for dinner and prep."

I boiled some ramen, eating while lost in thought. And finally, my promised meeting with Yewon awaited.