The Witch's Assistant
The Witch's Assistant
Irion wasn't exactly an expert in mana theory, but he at least possessed the basic common sense.
There is only one Mana Core per person. In principle, the nature of the manifested mana is also singular.
Depending on that nature, everything from the efficiency of physical reinforcement to magic aptitude and the method of operating mana varies wildly.
The breathing technique Irion employed was also just one of countless operational methods.
While the influence of mana's nature wasn't absolute, it was an area that could never be ignored.
The mana of Renoa that Irion knew was akin to a viper.
A viper that slowly kills the target it bites.
However, within Renoa's circuits now, another heterogeneous mana could be felt.
A mana as hazy as fog and as viscous as a swamp. It was disturbing Renoa's refined circuits and suffocating her.
'There was nothing like this before.'
Just what on earth had she been picking up and eating?
Questions could wait.
Treatment was the priority.
Since forming the familiar contract, mana interference with Renoa had become much easier than before.
Through the path, it was possible to push his own mana in, or conversely, to receive hers.
Irion carefully injected mana into her circuits so as not to startle her.
After honing the shape of the mana as sharp as a hook, he snatched the viscous energy rummaging through her internals one by one and pulled it out.
The effect was immediate.
Renoa's ragged breathing quickly subsided, and her brow, which had been distorted in pain, softened.
"Ri...on......"
"Yes, I am here."
He wondered if she had woken up at the low-voiced call, but Renoa still had her eyes closed.
It seemed she had unconsciously uttered his name at the sensation of the familiar mana entering her.
"The urgent fire is out......"
As the tension released, Renoa's grip, which had been clutching Irion's hand as if to crush it, also loosened.
He had no desire to be held captive until morning like last time. Irion didn't miss the opening and quickly pulled his hand away.
"Euuu......"
As if dissatisfied, Renoa fumbled over the bed in her sleep, waving her now-empty hand.
However, Irion didn't have the slightest intention of playing the role of her stuffed animal.
After looking around the room, he pressed a shoe into her hand. Though she didn't seem to like it, it was better than nothing, and Renoa soon grew quiet.
Having finished his business, Irion returned to his room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he took out the mana he had just extracted from Renoa.
A murky, dark-green mana. The sticky sensation felt exactly like contaminated water leaked from radiation.
Even a glance told him it looked dangerous, and since there was no good in keeping it, he scattered it into the air and erased it.
The Ducal Territory of Lunder.
The witch Sercia, who had occupied the Duke's vacant research lab, was busy preparing for a ritual today as well.
"Ehyu, why on earth do I have to go through all this trouble......"
Sercia, who had been rummaging through the lab, patted her lower back.
Her veins stood out darkly like rotten tree branches, and a foul stench wafted with every breath.
Her body, which had already reached its limit, was hard to even call an elderly person's; it was no different from a living corpse.
"This is all because of that damn old geezer."
Twenty years ago, her grand plan to turn the entire Imperial Family into puppets was miserably crushed by a single man.
The Emperor's executioner and the Grand Commander of the Imperial Knights, Aslan Zion.
Her Mana Core, which was essentially a mage's heart, had taken a direct hit from the sword he wielded.
Because of that, her mystery was shattered, and her body was left as a mere husk.
It was a miracle she hadn't died on the spot that day.
"But there's not much left now..."
Sercia greedily caressed the purple crystal placed on the altar.
The place she had accidentally hidden in while fleeing with her broken body was the Empire's greatest magical family, Edelheid.
If she utilized the Edelheid bloodline, it was possible to create a body superior to her original one.
However, since her dying body couldn't properly fulfill the role of a broodmare, she stole the body of a suitable maiden and switched over.
Squeezing out her remaining mana and mystery, she placed a suggestion on the Duke and finally succeeded in crawling into his bedchamber to conceive a child.
The one born that way was Renoa Edelheid.
A perfect creation inheriting the Edelheid bloodline and Sercia's essence.
"It will be a year at most."
The moment Renoa grows and her mana circuits fully bloom, she will erase her ego and occupy that fresh body.
It would be far superior to her original body. She would be reborn as a complete Great Witch.
"My beautiful vessel. I wonder who you take after to be so pretty."
Everything is going smoothly.
If she can approach the Prince at the Academy and win his favor.
If she can turn him into a puppet, taking the Empire in her hands would be child's play.
For that reason, Sercia was in the midst of the ritual's groundwork today as well.
A suggestion magic cast inside the body using Sercia's mana, planted on the day Renoa was born.
It was a process of taming the body so that it would accept her without rejection when she switched bodies in the future.
During the day, it lay dormant deep within the Mana Core and only became active at night, so there was no worry of being caught by anyone.
Just then, while she was in the middle of the suggestion as usual.
Paat!
The crystal ball flickered.
The crystal ball that had been peering into Renoa's mental image no longer reflected anything.
It became quiet, like a mere ordinary glass bead.
"Wha-what. Why is it like this?"
Sercia tried tapping the crystal ball tuk-tuk and shaking it this way and that.
Since the crystal ball was also a magic tool, it did break down occasionally. Every time that happened, it would usually be fixed if she hit it like this, but now there was absolutely no response.
"Has its lifespan ended?"
Just as she was thinking that.
Pajik!
"Euk!"
A stinging current assailed her.
The presence of the mana she had planted in Renoa had evaporated without a trace.
The backlash hit Sercia.
"Who? Just how? Don't tell me Renoa found out? That shouldn't be possible?"
It was a structure that could never be detected unless one directly checked her mana circuits.
Fortunately, since half of the mana nature Renoa possessed belonged to Sercia, there was no problem in tracking her.
However, it was impossible to cast the suggestion through magic as before.
To plant it again now, Renoa had already left for the Academy, and even if she called her back, it would arouse suspicion.
After agonizing for a long time, Sercia...
"I guess it can't be helped~"
Gave up cleanly. It was something that was good to have but not a dealbreaker if it failed.
Still, she had prepared a safeguard just in case.
Sercia scribbled something on a small piece of paper and rolled it up.
With a snap of her fingers, a single crow was summoned.
She made the crow hold the letter in its beak and let it fly out the window.
The capable assistant would take care of the rest.
"Agassi, please wake up. You will be late if you delay any further."
"......"
"Agassi. Agassi."
"Eueung......"
Pushing up her heavy eyelids, Renoa let out a languid breath.
She stretched her stiff body out long and then sat up with Bibi's support.
She took a water cup, rinsed her mouth with cold water, and cleared her head.
"This is unusual. For you to oversleep, Agassi. Especially on an important day like today."
"......"
"Did you not sleep well last night?"
"It's not that..."
In fact, it was the opposite.
She had slept too well.
Ever since coming to the Ducal Territory, Renoa had been plagued by nightmares almost every day.
Because of that, the times she had slept properly could be counted on one hand.
If she showed any weakness, the direct descendants and retainers would surely pounce on her, so she couldn't show it even if she was exhausted.
But today, she didn't have a nightmare. To be precise, the nightmare vanished in the middle.
'It wouldn't disappear no matter how much I struggled...'
It was enough to make a ghost wail.
"But Agassi, why are you holding a shoe?"
"Huh?"
At Bibi's question, Renoa lowered her gaze. A single shoe was clutched in her hand.
As if she had been hugging it dearly all night, the front of her pajamas was also covered in dust.
"Why am I......"
"That is not what's important right now. You must hurry and prepare if you don't want to be late for the entrance ceremony."
"Ah, right."
With the help of the maids, Renoa washed her body and changed into the Academy uniform.
In the living room, Irion, who had finished his preparations long ago, was waiting.
"Just how long are you going to sleep? You didn't come no matter how long I waited, so I was going to go by myself."
"......"
From the morning, Irion was speaking as he pleased, seemingly unaware of any fear toward his master.
Renoa gazed at him intently.
She couldn't remember clearly because she had been half-asleep, but she felt like she had sensed a familiar energy.
An infinitely cozy warmth.
"You, last night......"
Renoa was about to ask without thinking.
"...No. Never mind."
She vaguely glossed over it.
Even if it really was Irion's help, what would she do?
The moment she acknowledged feeling relief at his presence, it was no different from self-destruction.
It was better not to know.
"Let's go. We'll be late."
"Yes."
"You two, have a safe trip."
Bibi saw the two of them off.
As a maid, she could not enter the Academy. It was forbidden by school rules.
If nobles brought in servants under the pretext of being attended to, the Academy would become chaotic.
"Don't idle around just because I'm not here."
"Of course. This capable maid works without rest even when you are away, Agassi."
"Sure you do."
Irion and Bibi's gazes met.
Irion looked at Bibi, who was staying at the mansion after being liberated from Renoa, with an envious look.
Bibi let out a Hut- sound and gave a mocking sneer.
"Let's go."
"Nueee..."
Irion and Renoa left for the Academy.
Bibi, who watched them until they disappeared from sight, returned to the mansion with a brisk step.
Humming Heungeol-heungeol, she tidied up Renoa's bedroom.
"I heard there's a famous cookie shop in Valerion; I should go there once."
Rolling around on the sofa while eating delicious cookies. It was what Bibi loved most in the world.
Moreover, there was no Renoa to find fault with her.
"I wish Agassi would attend the Academy for her whole life."
I wonder if she could repeat a grade about 60 times. If so, I'm confident I could be completely loyal.
Around the time she was making such trivial thoughts while tidying the bedding.
Kkaaaak! Kkaaaak!
The sound of a crow echoed.
Looking toward the window frame, a crow was perched there before she knew it.
Bibi approached the window.
The crow dropped a small piece of paper it was holding in its beak onto Bibi's palm and vanished like smoke.
Even though the room was already empty, Bibi looked around just in case.
After confirming once more that she was alone, she carefully unfolded the paper.
She quietly read the letters written on the paper.
And then.
"......"
She gripped the paper Kkwaak in her hand.