The Little Witch I Picked Up
Has it been a year since I picked up the little witch? Or maybe two? I can't say for sure. One day, as I passed through the city, I heard a familiar name.
"It's him! Allian has shown up!"
"He took the child. Hurry, chase him."
"Sob... please, my child.... Help!"
Before I knew it, the Teacher—the man now wanted for aiding a witch, with a bounty on his head—had appeared in the city. I had no idea why he'd slunk back here, but it looked like he'd grabbed a passing child as a hostage to make his escape.
"......"
I hesitated for a moment, then hurried out of the city. As expected, the Teacher had fled into the Demon King's Forest. Cutting through the woods, I soon spotted him.
Sensing my presence, he turned and gasped in shock, muttering to himself.
"You...! How did you get here...?"
I approached without a word. He aimed his hand at the unconscious child slumped in his grasp.
"Don't come any closer! Or this kid...!"
Mana flickered at his fingertips, a clear warning that he could cast a spell at any moment. I stopped and said to him,
"Let the kid go, and I'll pretend I saw nothing."
"H-how can I trust you!"
His hand trembled as he glared at me, eyes darting wildly around in obvious panic.
"......"
I seized the opening and closed the distance in an instant. Grabbing the hand he'd aimed at the child, I sent a sharp chunk of ice hurtling skyward.
"You...! You were really going to kill this kid?"
I kicked him hard, snatching the child into my arms. As the bastard tumbled backward across the ground, I approached. That's when I felt something crunch underfoot.
Lifting my boot revealed red crystalline powder wrapped in cloth, now scattering in the wind. A sweet, cloying scent wafted up—familiar yet alien. Memories of the old bookstore flooded back, along with Edel. It was the smell that always clung to her.
And I knew exactly what it was.
"...What the hell have you been doing to that child all this time?"
It was an extreme drug that forced mana in the body to rampage uncontrollably. Something no one should ever use on a child—especially not her.
I lunged at him and kicked him again.
"Guh!"
"Talk!"
I shouted at the worm writhing on the ground, face pressed flat into the dirt. Instead of answering, he started laughing.
Black mana began leaking from me amid my boiling rage. He kept laughing until he finally stopped and spoke.
"Just... a little... curiosity."
"Filthy scum."
I stomped on his back. He groaned in agony as his clothes stained red, blood spewing from his mouth.
"Haha... so this is... cough... the end."
No, it couldn't be. He wouldn't die from this. But his throat was filling with blood, making even breathing a struggle.
My head cooled in an instant.
"Don't tell me... in the city..."
He spat up another gush of blood and rasped,
"One... last request...?"
"......"
I didn't answer, but he prattled on anyway.
"Protect... that child..."
Edel alone flashed through my mind. But his next words made my head spin again.
"My greatest... masterpiece..."
I ground my teeth.
"...You think I'll do what you say?"
"Heh heh... it's fine. You'll protect Edel... anyway..."
"......"
Voices of soldiers echoed from nearby. Traces of my black mana still lingered; I couldn't let them see me. Clutching the hostage child tight, I asked him one final question.
"Was it all an act? Every bit of you?"
"...Who knows."
"......"
With that, I fled from the approaching soldiers. Moments later, a massive explosion rocked the spot where he'd been. The blast ended the pursuit of both the Teacher and the witch.
'Here it is.'
Somewhere deep in the Demon King's Forest, teeming with magic beasts, stood a lone cabin. Bathed in moonlight, it exuded an eerie aura.
Ting!
As I drew near, something repelled me.
"......"
I placed my hand on the invisible wall and pressed firmly.
Crack—shatter!
The flimsy barrier crumbled. I walked straight to the door.
Closer now, I heard it.
"Sob... hic."
A child's muffled sobs.
Reaching the source, I knocked gently on the door.
"Eek! T-Teacher?"
She hadn't sensed me and called out in fright for him.
"Sorry for scaring you. I'm Uncle Kyle."
"Uncle...?"
"Could you open the door for me?"
She reacted as if she recognized the alias he must have told her. But...
"No!"
She refused flat-out.
"Teacher said never to open for anyone."
'Tricky.'
I couldn't force it. I decided to use the Teacher's own words.
—Protect that child.
It felt gross, but it wasn't a lie.
"Teacher sent me."
"Really?"
The doorknob started jiggling.
'She'll open it just like that?'
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. What if some clever bastard tricked her? Even as I worried, the knob kept rattling.
Click.
The rickety door creaked open. A small girl peeked out.
Silver-white hair gleaming in the moonlight. A bit bigger than before, but it was Edel.
Her puffy eyelids parted to reveal light purple eyes scanning me. Guilt swelled inside me.
"Where's Teacher?"
"......"
Instead of answering, I pulled a prepared snack from my pocket.
"Want some?"
Her stomach growled at the sweet scent.
"Yes..."
She eyed me warily, then crammed the treat into her mouth when I offered it. Her bulging cheeks and crumb-covered lips told the story of her hunger.
"Were you scared alone?"
She nodded, munching away.
"It's okay now. I'll stay with you."
After swallowing, she asked,
"...Why?"
"Teacher asked me to."
She tilted her head, then asked again.
"Teacher's not coming?"
"...Yeah. He had to leave suddenly for work far away."
"Liar."
"Not a lie."
"But he said to wait—he was getting yummy food."
"I told you, something came up suddenly."
As I searched for words to convince her suspicious gaze, the bushes rustled behind us.
Grrr!
A magic beast emerged. Far bigger than any wolf, it licked its chops and approached.
"Eek! M-Magic beast!"
She ducked inside, yelling,
"Uncle, hide!"
Instead, I stepped toward it.
"It's fine."
Grrrowl!
It tensed at my advance, then charged. I put just enough power into my fist and swung at its muzzle.
Thud!
Its face crumpled on impact.
Yelp! Whine! Yiiiip!
It fled, tail between its legs.
"Phew..."
Soon, the girl peeked out again. I'd almost shown her a gruesome sight—normally, I'd have obliterated it without thinking.
"Gone?"
"Yeah."
"Whew... Uncle's super strong."
"Thanks."
As she scanned for more beasts, I said,
"It's dangerous here. Want to live at my place?"
"...No."
"More scary beasts might come if you stay."
"Ugh... but."
"Teacher wouldn't want you staying here."
Another beast's howl echoed nearby.
"Eek!"
She cringed, glanced at me, and said,
"Okay... I'll wait at Uncle's house."
'Wait, huh.'
Better than nothing. I offered my hand.
"Alright, let's go."
"Okay..."
Her tiny hand reached out—then dropped limply before touching mine. She staggered and collapsed.
I caught her before she hit the ground.
"You okay?"
"Yeah..."
But her eyes were already half-lidded.
"Rest now."
"......"
I scooped her up and plunged deeper into the forest. Magic beasts howled in the distance, her soft breaths filled my arms. I headed for the Demon King's Castle.
As I entered the castle, my sole subordinate and maid, Abela, greeted me.
"Welcome back, Master Theo."
She bowed, then eyed the girl in my arms.
"She looks too young to be called a witch."
"Yeah."
I handed her over carefully, mindful not to wake the child.
"Take her to a room and let her sleep."
"Yes, of course."
I sighed as she vanished down the hall.
'Child-rearing, huh...'
It was a decision after much thought. Did I even have the right? Was I just playing into his hands? Doubts lingered.
'Raise her right, get her independent ASAP.'
That was all I could do. Make sure Edel never felt the emptiness. Keep our bond from deepening. Then our story would end cleanly.
The girl woke to birdsong. Still drowsy, she sat up, rubbing her eyes and scanning the room before nuzzling into the soft blankets.
'Feels nice...'
The door opened. Long golden hair, slender upward-curving horns. Abela.
Noticing her, the girl yelped,
"Eek! Horns! Demon!"
She yanked the covers up to her chin. Abela smiled gently.
"No need to be scared, Lady Edel."
"H-how do you know my name!"
"Hee hee, a secret. Anyway, nice to meet you. I'm Abela, maid to Master Theo."
"Theo...?"
"The one who brought you here."
"Uncle?"
Abela's brow twitched at Edel's words, but she smiled again.
"Hungry? Breakfast is ready. Shall we go?"
"......"
"Lady Edel?"
Wary of Abela, Edel finally spoke.
"Where's Uncle?"
"He just got back from errands and is resting."
"...I'm going."
"Pardon?"
"To Uncle."
"He'll be down soon. Better to wait in the dining hall, no?"
Edel shook her head.
"Has to be now."
"...Understood. I'll show you to Master Theo's room."
She tossed off the covers and followed Abela out, shrinking at the castle's unfamiliar sights but keeping distance from the demon maid.
Soon, they stopped at a neatly kept door.
"This is Master Theo's room."
Two knocks. A familiar voice from inside.
"What is it?"
"Lady Edel wished to see you, so I brought her."
"Yeah? Come in."
Just before opening, Edel declared,
"Sis is in big trouble now."
"...?"
"Uncle's super strong."
The door creaked open. Theo sat at his desk, sorting papers.
"Sorry to disturb your rest."
"Nah, it's fine."
He looked at Edel, still peeking from the doorway.
"So, why'd you come find me?"
Confirming it was him, she scampered behind him.
"Uncle, look..."
Her finger pointed at Abela.
"There's a demon. Punish her..."
Theo and Abela exchanged glances and burst out laughing. Edel tilted her head.
"Why?"
"Did Abela do something bad to you?"
"N-no."
"Then why punish her?"
"She's a demon with perfect horns. Teacher said those are bad demons..."
"Is that so?"
She nodded. Theo patted her head lightly.
"Not all demons with intact horns are bad. Abela's definitely not."
"But..."
"And judging people carelessly like that? That's what makes someone really bad. You know that better than anyone, right?"
"Ugh."
She hung her head. He asked,
"What do you think about Abela now?"
"Sorry."
"So what should you do?"
"......"
Glancing at Abela, Edel approached.
"Sorry, Abela sis."
Abela knelt to her level with a smile.
"It's okay. Thanks for apologizing."
"......"
"Now, before the food gets cold, shall we head to the dining hall?"
"Yeees..."
Sensing Abela's gaze, Theo said,
"I'll be right there. Eat without me."
"Yes. This way, Lady Edel."
They headed off together. Edel still kept distance, but it was a bit less now.
After finishing my reports, I went to the dining hall. Voices drifted from behind the door—unusual.
It creaked open.
"Lady Edel, you have crumbs on your mouth. Let me wipe them."
"Okay..."
A feast laid out in Edel's honor. She picked at it, filling her empty belly from days of starvation. Abela tended to the new guest, her own meal ignored.
"You're back. Oh, Lady Edel's clothes!"
I watched the busy pair and started eating. Chuckling at Abela's fussing, Edel approached, wielding oversized utensils.
"Uncle..."
"What?"
"This your house?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Wow..."
She looked around the hall.
"Eat like this every day?"
"Nah. Special for you."
"Hee hee."
She stared, questions lingering, then turned to Abela.
"Then why does Abela sis live with Uncle?"
"What kinda question is that?"
"Uncle's human, sis is demon."
"Ah."
I let slip the secret without thinking.
"Uncle's the Demon King."
Then—
Clang!
Utensils crashed to the floor. Edel froze, muttering,
"Demon... King?"