Beware the Witch's Temptation
"Hah... hah..."
Sweat poured down my face as I frantically scanned my surroundings. Had I passed out? Or was it all just a dream? Ephemera realized the truth upon seeing the crudely built barn-like structure around her.
Outside, the grounds were a wasteland of devastation from the brutal battle. The mansion—filled with traces of her life alongside her parents since childhood—had been utterly pulverized, leaving no remnants behind. Photos, paintings... all those precious mementos swept away, shredded, and smashed to pieces. The grief over that was fleeting. Deep in her heart, the childhood nightmare that had haunted her endlessly had finally ended, but the reality felt so surreal it was like a dream.
She had thrashed desperately, pathetically, tearfully clinging to life, only to meet a miserable, ugly end. The mockery, venomous insults, and humiliations had been chilling enough to freeze anyone's blood. And yet, a strange emotion stirred at the realization that this rage hadn't been for someone else—it was because of her.
What is this feeling?
"Ooh!! Ephemera!! Auntie Poppins restored the family photos and important items!!"
What could she even call this? It was like waking up on a warm ondol floor at grandma's house to find all the relatives already bustling about—that awkward, inescapable vibe. Ephemera sat up in her pajamas amid the scene of everyone else long awake and busy. Her torn and tattered nightclothes had been replaced with fresh ones; she wanted to believe Orochi had changed them for her. Her body ached all over from the backlash of pushing herself too hard in the fierce fight, her legs barely holding any strength.
But seeing her father's sword propped neatly by the bed, she couldn't just lie there. Ignoring Orochi and the Third Prince like a maiden bewitched by an incubus, Ephemera scanned around for her betrothed—the one who had avenged her family. A subtle anxiety gnawed at her: what if he'd left? How should she repay this debt? But overriding those worries was an overwhelming desire to see him, surprising even herself. Barefoot and heedless, she shuffled along until she spotted him.
"Um, th-that... Tendo... sir?"
Tendo scratched the back of his head, his face twisting in discomfort at her hesitant, ladylike honorific.
"Pardon? Haha, feel free to just call me Tendo normally, Miss Ephemera."
"Ah, um... then... by my name too."
Flash didn't suit a girl's name at all—it felt off. The Third Prince and Orochi whispered from behind that Flash was fine, no big deal between friends. But didn't every girl deserve a pretty nickname?
"Flash... Would it be okay if I called you Phrygia? It has the flower meaning of 'new beginnings' now that your revenge is complete."
"Y-Yeah..."
Who would dare flirt so boldly with the head of a knightly house, saying her beauty rivaled a single flower worthy of naming? Orochi shook her head at her master's expression, thinking, We're done for. The family head, who had spent her life relentlessly training and honing her blade for revenge, forsaking romance, now wore a girlish face perfectly suited to her age. It was so transformed—as if under hypnosis or drugged—that even the maid was awestruck. The Third Prince gaped, stunned that the viperishly sharp Ephemera could make such a face.
"You seem a bit feverish. Are you hurt anywhere?"
As she lifted Ephemera's hand to check, how could it be so thick, sturdy, callused? The mere pressure of a slight grip pulled her along effortlessly, melting her in the heat. Unable to understand why her body burned so fiercely, Ephemera ducked her head, desperately hiding her ragged breaths.
Men's hands are so big... What reactions would they have if they knew she was lost in such a foolish thought?
—Wiyu had no ulterior motives!! It just felt like the perfect timing to give her childhood friend a cute nickname!!
As a "girl born as a woman," Wiyu had worried her instincts might dull without training or swordplay. Combat was child's play for her, after all. She'd swung her sword wildly alone, sparring with imaginary foes—what more could be said? She figured the demon that appeared was weaker than a hero—having never seen one, that's what she thought. Unable to gauge her own skill, she'd assumed she'd lose to a hero anyway, so losing to a senior was no surprise. If she'd fought seriously, the hero would've been pierced between the eyes in one clash.
Her witch powers were heavily influenced by her own perceptions. Not knowing the enemy's level, she'd lamented catching a weak one, wishing it'd been her precious sword... what more could be said?
"No need to push yourself for revenge anymore, right?"
"Th-thank you... for avenging them..."
"No need for thanks. We're friends, aren't we?"
Dismissing any burden, he kneaded her hand like he did when she was a girl—a habit. Was this the heat of newfound womanly awareness? Ephemera suppressed the urge to bolt with superhuman swordmaster patience, then fled like she needed to cool off.
Even the Third Prince—called an idiot, dolt, academy flunkie, the baby brother scolded by siblings for zero tact—could tell from her intense reaction how much she liked him.
Orochi was already weeping over a portrait of the previous head and Ephemera, muttering about her lady getting married.
"Just to repeat, our Ephemera has such wide hips—perfect for easy births. To rebuild the house, we'll need lots of kids... twelve at least. The academy allows pregnant students!"
"...Um, about the engagement, I need to think..."
"...Do you have someone else?"
"Th-there's a close friend from the neighborhood..."
"How close?"
How close? Close enough to see each other naked, but... Marriage to Ephemera? Too sudden, their first meeting awful... Just good friends seemed right. Wasn't killing her parents' murderers just a good deed—not worth marriage and wasting her life? Honestly, she'd gotten excited swinging her sword for real, even enjoying it; accepting thanks felt embarrassing now.
Desperately racking her brain, she voiced her brilliant idea.
"Close enough to entrust my sword!"
Lightning struck in the Third Prince's mind. The young man was a swordsman—surely with his own blade. But where was it? ...Male witch... son of Auntie Poppins... neighborhood friend, so probably a witch...
"...By any chance, does that friend's sword look like this?"
"That's the one—the friend who beat you and enrolled."
—How is a friend a Witchcraft? Did the Witch Queen threaten to kill you unless he marries our daughter? The marriage talks were with Auntie Poppins... No, a guy like this could have 2-3 women trailing him, no surprise.
"I figured she'd refuse if I gave it directly... Your Highness, could you secretly pass it to Miss Phrygia?"
"Huh? What's this passbook? No... I've received so much already; I can't take more...!"
"Think of it as a gift for Miss Phrygia's suffering all this time."
The Third Prince teared up, moved. ...The passbook in his hand held profits from selling Wiyu's cheese—magic cheese so rare even royalty struggled to obtain it. Enough to build ten castles, a burdensome fortune. Wiyu had clung to Auntie Poppins' leg, insisting on compensation, and she'd handed it over. She managed it because Wiyu might squander it like her mom if she had it.
...Wait, so she had enough money to skip the academy and a fiancée too? How huge a mistake was defying Mom to enroll...?
Anyway, the sum was so massive it gave her a headache; commoner Wiyu couldn't handle it.
"Well, I'll head back now."
Sensing intuitively the shift back to female form—and heeding auntie's warning—she whistled for the white horse Auntie brought and mounted.
"Ah, al-already leaving?"
A brief, bewildering meeting, yet unforgettable. Ephemera gazed with longing eyes dripping reluctance. So much left unsaid, but she swallowed her emotions, bowed, and apologized once more.
"My immaturity caused you trouble. As family head, I thank you again for resolving our vendetta. And as a knight, I'll never forget witnessing such wondrous swordplay."
"Wondrous swordplay?"
"...D-did my words displease you?"
"I see it as the same sword. Like Phrygia, it's for protecting what's precious."
They could tell from clasped hands—they'd both fought desperately. Ephemera glanced at her own callused palm, mirroring Tendo's.
"See you again someday, kind top student."
"Y-Yeah..."
"Say hi to my academy friend for me."
"Y-Yeah..."
"Her taste's gone bad. Maid malfunction?"
"Totally broken."
Both wielding swords born of desperate effort to protect what they'd built—the kindest blades... Hearing that, their dazed family head stared blankly at the prince on his white steed until he vanished from sight.
Memories of her precious childhood, tumbling like a child in her parents' arms, hailed as a sword genius. Pillowing on her mother's lap, joyfully listening to tales of princes rescuing princesses. Like other girls, dreaming of a white knight coming for her.
The girl who'd lost her parents tragically, chained to revenge ever since, was swept away dreamlike by a fairy-tale prince. Reality forgotten, lost in the dream. Only now did she recall him cradling her limp body under moonlight like a princess—her whole form heated, face flushing crimson. Ears and nape scarlet, her usual updo exposing everything; she couldn't hide from those around her.
Relieved not to show this lovesick face, yet regretting it too—what was that about?
"...Pianse gave Phrygia all his cheese-selling fortune and left."
Shing—
"Don't call her that, Your Highness."
"Sorry."
The sheer murderous intent drained all color from his face; legs buckling like a newborn foal, the Third Prince handed over the passbook and collapsed.
"...Wait, you called her top student? And academy friend?"
"Wiyu Witchcraft, apparently."
"No same-sex friends... ah."
Not same-sex. A weirdo witch who claimed to be male, carried a sword she couldn't use, yet boasted sword skills. Why carry a decorative blade? The mystery unraveled now.
"...A mana-less person's sole weapon... To a swordsman, a cherished blade is life itself... And she enrolled with that?"
All her heated love flipped to fury; Ephemera rolled her eyes back and fainted.
"Chocolate, our little Chocolate... Shall we talk...?"
"...Huh, top student? We haven't met during break—why so mad?"
"Our cute Chocolate's sword... has another owner, right? I found out why you carry a blade you can't even use."
"I-it's mine...? Like a precious talisman...? It's basically mine...!"
"I'll kill you. For real."
"No."
"What, thinking 'he's a farmer anyway, no need for a sword'? You could die! Chocolate, you're trash."
I'll be watching you. Whether wife or concubine, you might live under one roof—behave.
With that terrifying, cryptic threat, the top student stormed off. Beatus scratched his side, grumbling about drama right after break.
"Top student, why the grudge?"
"Eh... long story, circumstances..."
"Dude, you psycho? Like stealing a wheelchair from a disabled person—what's the difference? You're in the wrong."
"No fair! It's mine!!"
Wiyu's name was engraved on the scabbard!! But pleading fell on deaf ears—Kali just scolded about not writing names on others' stuff.
"No, technically, she's no different from me!!"
"Your possessiveness is insane..."
"Poor guy... How's his girlfriend a Witchcraft...?"
"No, I'm a guy! Technically same-sex friends!"
That day, I couldn't forget my friends' lunatic stares. Transforming to male in front of them would cause issues too... Whatever. I pushed for academy admission—my fault! Gotta graduate without anyone learning I'm male!