The Witch Gini
I don't know exactly what a gnome is, but at first glance, it's a massive earth giant.
Naturally, its body is made of pure soil, untainted by mana.
Soil.
The foundation where plants take root to grow.
That's why.
"It's over."
The gnome had become the foundation for countless plants under the blessing of Elpinire's World Tree.
Its movements sealed by the myriad roots burrowed inside it.
Passing by the now-hardened creature with heavy steps, I looked at the witch who was lifting the bell once more to shake it.
"O-Omen. You're next. Please—"
"It hurts a little."
"Gah!"
Thud.
Kicking off the ground with Musangbi, I closed the distance in an instant and lightly struck the nape of the witch's neck.
Of course, I'd released the Black Dragon, so she fainted and slumped like a marionette with its strings cut.
I reached out to catch her so she wouldn't fall.
"Ah, no!"
Plop plop.
As the witch passed out, the gnome reverted to its original state of loose soil.
Elpinire hurriedly grabbed the plants that lost their foundation and began replanting them.
I glanced at Elpinire muttering about being more careful, then turned to look at the cabin.
"Is this where she lived?"
I don't know what it is, but I should take her inside for now.
Subdue the Witch
Achieved
Moving to the next floor
I ignored the rising system message and trudged into the small cabin.
"Gasp!"
I opened my eyes to a familiar ceiling.
It was just a nightmare after all.
Yeah, if I'd been caught, I'd obviously be dead.
Why did I have to dream something like that...
"Awake?"
"Kyaaahhh!"
My ears are gonna fall off.
Clutching my ears with both hands, I stared at the witch trembling in the corner of the bed.
"If you're up, come here."
"Wh-wh-wh-why-why?"
"Why? To talk."
"Wh-why keep me alive? I'm not tasty!"
Do I look like someone who eats people?
Letting out a hollow laugh, I yanked the blanket she was clutching away.
Her strength must be weak; she let go limply, looking like she might cry any second.
Having snatched the blanket in one go, I looked straight at the witch gasping roughly and said,
"My name's Han Mir. Yours?"
"……."
"What's your name? You must have one."
"……G-Gini."
Gini.
Pretty name.
As I nodded, Gini muttered bitterly,
"It means 'trash' in ancient tongue, though……."
"……."
I squeezed my eyes shut, looking at Gini who was slumped even without the blanket.
What the hell am I supposed to do?
Gini peeked at me and whispered timidly,
"Y-you're not here to catch me……?"
"Me? Catch you? Why?"
"They call me a witch……."
"Didn't you just say you're not a witch? That's that."
"……."
"And why would I catch you? They paying?"
"Yes. There's a bounty."
"……Tch."
Damn, that's tempting all of a sudden.
I was tempted for a second, but shook my head.
Money from some unknown tower? I couldn't spend it anyway.
No reason or need to bother.
"Still not turning you in, so relax."
"……."
Gini eyed me with deep suspicion.
Should I not have hesitated earlier?
Nah, she wouldn't believe me anyway.
Look at her.
A feral cat would have less wariness.
Her eyes were painted thick with caution.
'This is trouble.'
I need to ease Gini's wariness as soon as possible.
Why?
Floor 3
Ease the Witch's Wariness
Not Achieved
Why? Because that's the condition for Floor 3.
How the hell do I do that?
Scratching the back of my head, I decided to get up first.
Staying here like this would just ramp up her wariness.
"I'm making food outside. Come if you're hungry."
"……!"
Flinch.
The trembling Gini.
Stomach growling, huh.
Smacking my lips lightly, I walked out of the room.
"……She's still like that."
The open front door.
Beyond it, Elpinire had been digging outside nonstop since earlier.
Curious, I approached and saw her planting the flowers she'd grown before.
"So damn persistent."
Tsk tsk.
Clicking my tongue, I tossed potatoes from my bag into the bubbling broth.
"Looks tasty."
The red, bubbling broth.
At a glance, you might think it's tomato stew.
"Spicy and perfect."
What went in wasn't tomato—it was gochujang.
I nearly died eating nothing but meat in the Evergreen Tower.
Hating the thought of that life again, I'd brought a whole tub of gochujang, and now it was paying off.
Humming, I stirred the gochujang jjigae.
"Would be perfect with rice."
Too bad.
Now just simmer till the potatoes are done.
Setting the ladle on the table, I looked around.
"This cabin's got everything, huh."
Seems tiny from outside, but inside it's fully equipped for living.
Starting with the hearth where I'm cooking, the big room Gin's in, smaller rooms, stairs to the second floor.
Bathroom, desk, furniture—all there.
Grabbing wooden bowls from the shelf, I inspected the pristine, unused ones.
"Doesn't look like she made these."
Too high quality for Gini.
I know not to judge by first impressions, but Gini doesn't strike me as the crafting type.
And if she made them,
'She'd have used them at least once.'
If you make something yourself, it's to use it.
But these bowls show no use.
No food scent—just fresh wood aroma proves it.
'Who built this for her?'
The cabin, bowls, everything?
Who was it?
Shaking off the useless thoughts, I checked the seasoned broth.
"Yeah, good enough."
Sweet, spicy, thick gochujang flavor hits strong.
Potatoes fully cooked too.
"Onions or tofu would've been nice."
Just potatoes and green onions—kinda lacking.
Smacking my lips, I ladled gochujang jjigae into three bowls and set them on the table.
"Hey, Elpinire. Stop and come eat."
"Ngh…… No! I haven't finished planting the flowers!"
"……They're not dying if you're ten minutes late."
Finally, after planting the last flower, Elpinire entered with a smug, satisfied face.
Washing her hands at the well behind the cabin, she sat at the table and picked up a spoon.
"What's this food?"
"Gochujang jjigae."
"Ooh…… Don't know what it is, but looks tasty?"
Slurp.
She scooped a spoonful without complaint.
Then.
"Cough, hack!"
She choked violently, clamping her mouth.
I stared blankly at Elpinire bolting out.
Then the door burst open as Gini rushed out, yelling,
"I-I knew it! You poisoned the food and waited, right!?"
What the hell's she on about now?
I gave Gini a deadpan look.
She stared back with a horrified expression.
"You thought I'd fall for it? I never fall for tricks!"
"Do whatever."
I'm eating before it cools.
Short reply, then I scooped some broth.
Mm, delicious.
Fishing out a big potato chunk, wiping broth from my mouth, I watched Elpinire return.
"Ugh, warn me if it's spicy, Master."
"Spicy?"
"My tongue stings."
"No more gochujang jjigae for you then."
"No. It's spicy, but tasty."
Hoo.
She endured the pain with a serious face and kept eating.
Gini watched her with a stiff expression.
"N-not poison……?"
"Hm? Master doesn't do uncouth things like poisoning food."
"Master…… You're a slave too?"
"Cough, hack!"
What the—
This time I was the one choking and clamping my mouth.
Then I yelled urgently,
"Slave!?"
"I'm not a sl— tch, not, tch."
Elpinire kept tutting from the spice.
Sweating buckets, she said,
"I serve Master of my own will."
"That's why I said stop calling me Master?"
"I've said I won't several times already."
No, you said I'm the master.
Why won't my 'slave' listen?
Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a long sigh.
Gini alternated glances between us, then sat dazed at the empty table spot.
"Here."
"……."
Gini stared at the bowl in front of her.
Gripping the spoon in her fist awkwardly, she scooped some broth to her mouth.
"Cough!"
She swallowed wrong on the first bite.
Furrowed brows from spice, but she endured.
Soon, eyes wide, she muttered,
"……It's really not poison."
"Told you."
"Red, sticky, makes you cough…… All poison traits, so why isn't it?"
"……."
True.
Listing it out, it does sound like poison.
Speechless, I just lifted my spoon again.
Gini tilted her head repeatedly, then scooped more.
"……."
Thus, we slowly ate.
Seeing her bowl empty fast, I smirked.
All that poison talk aside, she likes it—good.
The sky's dark, hard to tell day from night.
Finishing dishes at the well, I caught my breath, staring blankly at the sky.
"Weird. What is this place?"
Punch, and it's bright for a split second.
But darkness swallows the light, turning dark again.
I activated Black Dragon and punched the air.
"Hm."
Again.
Bright right after, but darkness fills the void.
What is this place?
Tilting my head, I sensed a presence far off.
"……."
Turning, my eyes met Gini's peeking from behind the wall.
Caught, she flinched.
"What're you doing there?"
"……You don't know where this is?"
"Huh? Special place?"
"Yes. This is Darkness……."
"Darkness?"
What's that?
Seeing me tilt my head, Gini looked shocked.
"You really didn't know……."
"Tell me then."
"Darkness is one of Orision's five forbidden zones. You know forbidden zones?"
"……."
No clue.
Really don't.
Saying I don't would make her think I'm lying.
Cold sweat down my back, I blurted a random known place.
"Evergreen Forest……?"
"You knew. Yes. Darkness is a forbidden zone like the Evergreen Forest."
What.
Why was Evergreen Forest right?
"Darkness is a forest ruled by darkness spirits—eternal night and shadow. That's why it's forbidden."
I see.
So this darkness is all spirit work?
Amazed, I reached into the air.
Nothing tangible.
"Then why're you in a forest like that?"
"……Like I said, I'm wanted."
She answered in a subdued voice and vanished into the distance.
Thought we got closer sharing a meal, but still far?
"Tch."
Plenty of time though.
Closer than when she passed out— she'll warm up eventually.
Then the wariness crumbles.
"No rush."
Rushing would ruin it.
Take it slow.
Grabbing the clean pot, I headed back to the cabin.
"Hey, Gini. Mind if I stick around?"
"……No. Please leave."
Guess the road's still long.