The Cute Witch Junior of My Dreams!
Coming to the Holy Kingdom, meeting the Pope, even encountering a goddess—if I hadn't come to the academy, would I ever have had experiences like these? Sure, turning into a girl came with plenty of regrets, but the more fun memories like this, the better, I think.
On top of that, Professor Vermilio must've put in a good word because this beast god I was meeting for the first time took a real liking to me and even granted me a blessing! I thought this year had been nothing but bad luck... but isn't this actually amazing?! I've made tons of friends, too!!
Anyway, this beast god, a friend of Professor Vermilio's, was apparently born a beastkin and clawed her way up to godhood through sheer effort. Mom's in a similar position, so I figured I should pick her brain for some tips. But when I asked about how to perform sacrifices, she looked totally baffled, like, "That's... witch culture?"
Once I become a god, I'll outlive everyone, so maybe I should tell my kids or grandkids to take good care of their mom...? "I do have a husband, and I'm worshipped far away in the beastkin kingdom... but being in the pantheon means I'm one of the older gods."
Unfortunately, she advised me not to think too long-term, since even gods get forgotten as eras pass and distorted by their followers. What do you have to do to not worship a god who's founded kingdoms and keeps granting blessings to this day? Hearing her lament about how the young generation has no respect for gods and thinks their existence is meaningless... generational gaps are such tricky beasts.
That's why we have academies, I guess... but the academy only teaches bits and pieces, so that's why we're here in the Holy Kingdom to learn more...
"Hmm, knowing everything in the world is tough, huh."
"Heard there's this omniscient but powerless white-haired swordsman in some city at the dimensional rift."
"I've heard that before—what, is it like paradise or something?"
"Kinda seemed that way... you'd have to die to find out..."
Gods can die too...? That's kinda shocking. What if our outer god suddenly clutches their heart and collapses while we're hanging out?
<Living this long, and now I'm getting worried over something this ridiculous...>
"Eee~ I was just worried because you're precious!! Sephiroth, that's mean!"
Lately, Sephiroth's been talking more to me—maybe we're getting closer. They snapped that as an outer god, every word risks danger, so they stay silent. Like chit-chat's gonna end the world? Their answer was that I could end it, so I turned away and ignored them.
Anyway! Finally, a proper divine magic for a heretic like me who relied on outsider spells like Lion Resurrection (Sazza)! Divine Magic: Feather Cloak (or whatever)! Since it didn't have a name, I slapped one on, and poof—feathers like the beast god's sprouted on my arms.
Ooh, it looked just like I'd turned into a harpy! Arms as wings! And I could revert them too—perfect. Great for matching with Grand Duke; picture a witch with majestic wings and a crow on her shoulder... so cool!
"Honestly, I still don't get divine magic at all, but thanks for the gift!"
"...Yeah... good luck at the academy... What the hell does Vermilio even teach her disciples?"
"You bastard!! I made a music box!!!!"
The beast god pinched Professor Vermilio's cheeks, yanking them while she roared near-screams. When she questioned if the academy really taught nothing, I nodded. It wasn't that I couldn't understand or use what they taught.
It was that if I misunderstood, they'd have to rewrite the textbooks.
"She used Earth Grinder thinking it ground coffee, and it warped the spell so bad the magic tower lodged a complaint."
If you just misuse it and get normal results, you can show that's wrong. But when my misuse rewrites reality into the correct answer, the academy has to tread carefully. Teaching a monster who could make stars flat if she believed they were...
Vermilio screamed again. "Uwaaaah!! How do you teach a kid who makes red and wine colors identical just by saying they're the same?!"
Give it back!! My wine-colored paint!! She collapsed sobbing. I scratched my head awkwardly, reminding her how she'd fixed it somehow.
"When the student's thicker skull overrides the laws of physics, what do you do...? Huh? Tell me, Per...!"
"Phew, good thing I ascended. Nearly saw something ugly."
Spot on! Cut losses faster than anyone! The beast god chased off Professor Vermilio, saying no more visits with me. Wailing about old hero party loyalty outside the shut door—reality's cold.
With the god meeting over, the Pope—who'd been waiting—returned. Seemed idle, but Witchcraft incidents needed someone who could handle it at minimum: the Pope. Someone who could call Mom if worse came... the weight of reliable connections!
"Hehe, so how do you like the Holy Kingdom?"
"Yes! Wanna come back with friends next time."
"Ho, you get along well with classmates, eh. Since you're here, how about praying to the gods?"
Smoothly probing her nature... Vermilio shivered at the Pope's skillful talk. Probably how he chats with Aris Witchcraft too. But she wondered what grand dreams her monster disciple held. Prayer meant wishes, desires.
...Sadly, Wiyu had no grand ambitions—just simple, humble wants. Even enrolling at the academy was to make Mom happier—a kind, warm dream. Even if grown bigger now, that innate gentleness wouldn't change.
"Unbelievable... God! A miracle child walks among us!!"
Such pure, noble kindness—like if he had a blood daughter, she'd be this saintly!! Who the hell was Witchcraft's husband to sire such a good-hearted kid? The Pope shuddered at her untainted golden eyes and beaming goodwill smile. Passing priests wailed miracles in God's name—what more to say?
Witchcrafts could learn morals through parental upbringing after all!!
"The academy's impressive!! The first academy must be something special!"
"Handling level's different."
"Then we should enroll our poor lamb at Pluwitch Academy too."
"Huh? There's a witch here?"
To Vermilio's question, the Pope sighed heavily, mentioning she belonged to the Hardliners. A witch in the faction pushing witch hunts and extermination? Vermilio was baffled. But... humans kill humans plenty; tribal hate's no shock.
"Planned to enroll her next year. Tani... didn't want her broken by vengeance. Her witch hatred's gone overboard—seeks total witch annihilation."
"Stop sending psycho bitches to our academy."
Incoming witches all lacked social skills—pure psychos. Doesn't God grant mercy to their teachers? Vermilio bit back curses since her friend's a god.
"What kinda past...?"
"A truly horrific one... I'm here partly because a witch in the Holy Kingdom might trigger her [witch hunt]."
"Why not tell her guardian professor, you idiot!!! Show me that hero-trained bullshit rampage?"
"Slipped my mind."
Bold-faced shamelessness stunned Vermilio. As she grabbed her instrument for a beatdown, Wiyu's eyes sparkled—practically glowing.
"A witch?! A witch junior's coming? Waaah! Wanna meet her!!"
All her kind senior witches... Would she get a junior someday? They said don't expect it, but a junior!!
"Even if she's rough, it's fine. Seniors say witches stabbing each other is like greeting."
"Such a tradition?"
No such thing. Witches just all lack social graces—crazy bitches. Wiyu, who'd learned wrong, wanted to meet her cute(?) junior early.
And despite gods screaming fuuuuck!!! Stop her!!!, the world granted it. Crash! Barrier shattered with deafening boom; choking malice slammed down first.
Pure-black intent to kill—no stray thoughts, pitch-dark as void. The heresy inquisitor, fully armed, appeared.
A tiny girl swinging a hammer her size. Wiyu admired the hidden massive chest under armor, hopping lightly to dodge.
Sparring loser daily, but dodging/defense? Decent(?). Honestly, she could dodge anything if she wanted—minor details. No greetings, straight violence; Wiyu grinned happily.
Aah—Senior Yungmei said Senior Echo did this too.
"Hi~ I'm Wiyu Witchcraft~ What's your name, witch junior?"
"I'll kill you, Witchcraft!!!!!"
"Yup yup! Witchcraft! Happy you remember already."
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—hammer winds sliced skin, bursting blood from bystanders' monstrous strength. Freely growing hammer pressed relentlessly, but not a graze.
Wanted to take hits, but guilt-tripping her? Nah. Toying mosquito-level, vanishing/reappearing; inquisitor's eyes bulged veins.
Then—blinding halo-ring behind her.
"No way! Opening 【Divinity】 at that age?!"
Needs divinity and innate soul power. Like Senior Kaoru's aura, peak awakens one of the Seven Heavens' holiest powers. Vermilio gaped—wielding it could make her a god.
Inquisitor vanished—talent overflowing for witch-slaying.
"Danger! Her weapon's Witch Special Forces' witch-killer!! Imbued with blood of witches judged across Holy Kingdom history!"
Pope warned it'd work on Aris Witchcraft too—a 【divine armament】. But Tani's divine magic shoved even him; holy domain deployed, hammer smashed at Wiyu's head.
Unperceived speed ambush...!!
Didn't notice, didn't see—no damage...!! No boom expected, but balloon-poof silent. Head absorbed all; neck didn't twitch—what more?
All froze, too absurd to intervene. Dragons scream under dragon-slayers. Witch-killers pierce all witch powers, pulverize existence...
"...Not a witch...?"
No telltale witch 'feel'—more demigod, dragon... no, mad war god? Anyway, not plain witch—some "Treat as [witch] race on [field]" card effect.
"Fitting strength for the world's worst evil that shouldn't exist, huh?"
Attacks null, but spirit unbroken—malice visible red in eyes. Bottomless ocean malice poured endlessly. No needs but kill; life-ignoring grudge/hatred chilled bones.
"That's Tani Aglaya, Holy Kingdom's witch inquisitor, witch hunter... and 【Outer God's Apostle】."
"Outer god?!"
"Waa! Outer god! Sis contracted one too—what's yours?"
"Not chatting now!"
Wiyu casually I'm like her outer god boss? amid tension. Vermilio puzzled—how no malice sense? And fear: outer god contract for holy power ignores world's laws perfectly for witch-hunting. But cost...?
How far her resolve to kill witches, no holds barred.
"Power short? Speed? Doesn't matter... I'll mince you...! My outer god!! 【Lightning God】's power!!!"
"Tani!! Stop!!"
"Fuck off, geezer!!!"
Hammered Pope into wall—no hesitation. Vermilio gaped, instrument out—but lightning pierced it. Golden flash; lightning-wrapped "thunderfication"—god silhouette behind.
Sinister blood-halo; divinity burst from eyes.
"That entity's a forgotten ancient god from another world... forgot true name, but top god surely...!"
Mastered light, lightning, skies—called by vengeance-obsessed Tani.
Insane talent... shrine maiden? Permanent high-god possession.
"Wiyu! Holy domain here! Can't use 【Divinity】, but divine magic summons gods!"
Pope yelled like summoning Sephiroth. Vermilio tried halting, but Wiyu: Got it! Summoned her god(s).
(Never told Pope over 108 contracts—Vermilio bolted.)
Light orbs rained like meteors. Tani's god sneered.
<Kuhahaha!!! Cute minnows!! Lesson: True name gone, existence lost—weak bug gods en masse won't bridge despair gap──>
Too. Many. Sephiroth punches, then 108 gods line up, ticketed waits, beatdowns. Overwhelming numbers crushed 【Outer God Lightning God】.
Ragged on ground, it wept—even worshipped, got beat like this?
"Wh-what are you!!!!"
Tani roared, lightning-wrapped witch-killer smashing Wiyu's head wildly. Confirmed painless earlier—all hits zero.
Wiyu pitied fragile cute junior with misty eyes.
"Heard you're enrolling at Pluwitch next year? I'm your senior! Rely on me! Sis... sis is iffy... call me bro?"
"Crazy bitch!!!!"
"Looks like girl, but core's boy."
No talk!! Malice blasts, 【Divinity】-cloaked killers—thunder-ears: Ouch~
"I curse you, witch!!!! I hate you!!! Witchcraft!!!! Your existence is sin!!!"
"Why so mad? What'll forgive you? Tell bro, there there."
Aww~ so cute~ toddler tantrum; Tani freaked, smacked reaching hand, screeched.
Her parents: murdered by witch. Witchcraft made witches thrive, nests—but selfish witches mixed in, inevitable tragedy.
One trampled kind witch-visiting couple's goodwill. Fattened their child on parent-meat dishes for her mad path.
Seemed to revel selfishly—but shredded by Aris Witchcraft, pathetic end.
Aris was raising "child" then—no care elsewhere. Survivor kid: trauma, vengeance only.
Kill, torture witches endlessly... unquenchable hate flame. Grudge-curse from scarred soul spewed anew.
"Our Tani's good daughter!!! Right...? Wanna be good to parents? Such good girl... bro's touched."
"Ah...?"
Revived parents. Unforgettable faces froze Tani's mind.
Eh? What happened? Revived parents baffled too.
Gratitude? Impossible now. Unchaseable reality... lightly twisting "heresy" choked breath.
Deep heart: childhood horror—watching parents slaughtered, force-fed. Surpassing terror, inexpressible... soul-born chill, sweat, frozen body.
Revenge eternal flame snuffed like match.
"Forgive now?"
"Ah... ah..."
"Ah! Right! Here! Bit ragged, but this the witch from memories?"
Unforgettable foe—soul-shredded by Aris, ragged revival. Shoved legs-first into mystery grinder.
"Bad witches need butchering~ Usually post-kill, but no mercy needed."
Krunch-grind!!! Deafening screams pierced ears, brain—begging, wailing upper body; stopped.
"Hmm... old meat tough... Minji meatballs? Tani like meat? Bro cooks well! Revenge feast! Or feed you?"
"Ah.. ah.."
Blood-splattered realization—nightmare plea. Gentle head-pat beyond compare.
"Wanna be good senior like mine! Good senior dream!"
Academy: real real good to you~ Hug tight, warm, soft, motherly... maddening.
Legs buckled, frozen piss-leak—no shame.
"Bad witches better gone. But Mom forgives?"
"Ah.. ah.."
"Answer."
"Yes!!! Yes!! Senior!!!"
Inquisitor discipline auto-yelled. Her limit. Halo shattered mind-shatter; poor witch foamed, fainted.
"Happiness overload fainting?"
Misses parents age... pitiful...
"Glad we came to Holy Kingdom!"
Witch junior too—lucky day. Wiped face-blood on uniform, ignored wriggling grinder-witch, greeted Tani's parents.
"Professor, can I be good senior like mine?"
Wish to meet at academy next year—surely granted.
Pope adjusted glasses as she mentioned casual prayer.
"No Holy Kingdom entry from now on..."
"Fuck."
Vermilio speechless. Wiyu's kind, but reality harsh, cold...