Chapter 201: The Lonely Witch
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 201: The Lonely Witch
"Junior."
Muen heard a soft call.
He turned around instinctively.
In that dim, cramped little room, it felt as if the entire world had suddenly brightened.
Anna had changed into a purple, knee-length dress with a high waistline and a high collar. A black belt was tied loosely around her middle, accentuating a waist so slender it looked as if it could be encircled by a single hand, while further highlighting the impressive, sweeping curves of her chest.
The hem of her skirt swayed like layered petals. From beneath it, her long, shapely legs—clad in shimmering black stockings—peeked out like the stamens of a flower, carrying a distinct, alluring charm.
"How do I look?"
Anna lightly brushed her skirt, and for a moment, it was like a flower coming into full bloom.
She wore light makeup, and her long hair was swept over one shoulder in her usual fashion. With every glance and every smile, she was utterly captivating.
"Beautiful. Truly beautiful."
Muen nodded like a woodpecker pecking for grain. This wasn't mere flattery; he genuinely felt that his Senior, with even a little bit of dressing up, was more breathtaking than ever before.
He was dazed.
"I'm glad you like it, Junior."
Anna smiled with satisfaction. Her first time putting so much effort into her appearance had not been in vain.
This was also the first time she had ever felt nervous before meeting someone.
"Hmph."
A third person’s ill-timed cold snort echoed through the small shop.
Anna turned her head. The old man was still lying in his rocking chair, eyes closed as if in a deep slumber.
She walked over and gently placed a bottle of potion beside him.
"I made this specifically for you. Next time your joints ache, just use two drops. It should provide some relief."
"..."
"Don't sleep in a place like this anymore. The weather is getting colder."
"..."
"When winter comes, just close the shop. I saved up some money and bought a small courtyard for you in the west of the city. It stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It’s much better than staying here."
"..."
"Please... keep an eye on the orphanage for me."
"..."
"I'm sorry. This might be the last time I come back."
In the quiet shop, it was only Anna speaking to herself.
From beginning to end, the old man didn't say a word.
Anna wasn't upset; perhaps she had already guessed he would react this way.
After leaving the potion and a key by the old man's side, Anna lowered her eyes to hide her emotions and led Muen out of the shop.
Ding-dong.
The breeze stirred the wind chimes, their ring clear and crisp.
Yet, it only served to emphasize the loneliness of the little shop.
The old man on the rocking chair finally opened his eyes. He raised a hand as withered as a dry branch and picked up the potion bottle, examining it closely.
"How foolish. Didn't I teach you everything you know about potions?"
As he spoke, the old man opened the bottle and took a light sniff.
In that instant, for the first time, a look of profound emotion appeared on his aged face.
"I see... Your mastery of potions... has actually surpassed this old bastard?"
*
"That person just now was..."
Walking side-by-side with his Senior through the secluded alleys, Muen couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer.
"He’s essentially my adoptive father," Anna said softly, brushing aside a strand of hair ruffled by the breeze.
"Adoptive father?"
"I told you before, didn't I? I grew up in an orphanage."
Anna looked up, gazing at the distant light through the thin layers of clouds.
"The rule at the orphanage is that once you turn eleven, you must leave and survive on your own."
"Eleven?"
Muen was stunned. "That’s way too young. What can an eleven-year-old even do?"
"It’s not young. In the Lower District, eleven is already old enough. It’s an age where you're expected to survive by yourself."
Anna stated this cruel reality with a voice as light as air.
Muen fell silent.
He suddenly remembered that this wasn't his previous world—a modern era where productivity was high enough to keep everyone fed, and where, in any peaceful nation, an eleven-year-old would never be forced out into society.
In this world, despite the existence of powerful magic, profound alchemy, and unspeakable, great deities, the bottom rungs of society remained primitive and backward.
In the Lower District, many people still went to bed hungry every day.
"It couldn't be helped. The orphanage had to do that to save more people. But those years at the orphanage were my most relaxed and happy times—my most carefree days. So, I’m very grateful to them."
Anna put her hands behind her back and tilted her head, speaking with a playful pout:
"Junior, don't you dare say anything bad about the orphanage."
"How could I? I should be thanking that orphanage for raising such a beautiful Senior," Muen said with a slight smile.
"You certainly have a way with words, Junior."
Anna’s beautiful eyes flickered as she continued:
"But compared to the other children, I was lucky. The year I left the orphanage, he took me in."
"That old man?"
"Mhm. He’s a strange and mysterious old man. He never told me his name or his identity. Aside from a few specific customers, no one ever visits that shop, but he doesn't care at all. Every time I go back, he’s just like he was before—lying in his rocking chair, dozing off, as if he has an infinite amount of sleep to catch up on. Even now, I don't really know what to call him."
"But I get the feeling that old gentleman cares about you a lot, Senior," Muen remarked.
"Mhm."
After a pause, Anna nodded gently. "Perhaps. Despite his eccentric temper, I have to admit that all my skills—potions, magic, how to survive in this world—were taught by him. If not for him, I wouldn't be who I am today."
Anna turned her head, looking back toward the end of the alley.
The little shop stood there amidst the falling withered leaves, lonely and eternal, as if its doors would always remain open, waiting for her return.
Just as they always had in the past.
"That stubborn old man... if I try to make him move into a new home... he definitely won't be willing," she murmured softly.
Looking at Anna, Muen’s eyes flickered again.
"Senior."
"Yes?"
"We will definitely be able to come back. Definitely."
"...Mhm."
*
After passing through that exceptionally secluded street, Muen’s vision suddenly opened up.
A wide river cut across the verdant fields. Not far away, it converged with two other equally broad rivers, creating a majestic expanse as vast as the sea. It then meandered toward the horizon amidst a shimmering expanse of light.
Belland was not a coastal city, but it had three rivers flowing through it. Besides the famous Old Rhine, the other two rivers, the Yaz and the Groy, each had their own unique scenery.
Along the riverbanks, abandoned buildings were scattered, hidden among deep greens and withered yellows. Anna and Muen walked leisurely, side-by-side.
"This place is..."
Muen couldn't help but feel puzzled. Although his Senior was the one leading this date to "win him over," this area was far too unfamiliar to him.
"This is a place I used to visit often when I was little."
Anna walked past the old buildings, her fingers lightly brushing against walls and statues overgrown with greenery, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.
"Actually, I don't have any experience with dating. I didn't know what we were supposed to do. Besides, I probably can't show my face on the main streets right now, so I could only bring you here."
Anna turned back apologetically. "You won't blame me, will you, Junior?"
"Of course not."
Muen smiled.
"As long as I'm with you, Senior, we can go anywhere."
"..."
Anna suddenly turned around and gave Muen a playful, reproachful look.
"Am I the one winning you over, or are you winning me over? You little playboy."
"Of course it's you winning me over, Senior."
Muen blinked.
"Why don't you tell me about your past, Senior?"
"My past? It’s not very interesting."
"It’s to deepen our understanding. Isn't that a necessary part of a date?"
"Then shouldn't you tell me about your past first, Junior?"
"My past?"
Muen scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"If you heard it, Senior, you'd probably get angry."
After all, the old Muen Campbell hadn't exactly been a saint.
"...Junior."
"Yes?"
"Can I kick you?"
"Eh? Ah... the black stockings are great—wait, no, that hurts!"
"...Junior, you really are a pervert," Anna sighed, sounding somewhat weary.
Then, she reached out a hand toward Muen.
"Hmm?"
Muen rubbed his shin piteously while looking at the fair, delicate hand Anna had extended.
"The path ahead is hard to walk, and..."
Anna tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her gaze shifting away as a faint blush crept onto her pretty face.
"I read in a book that people usually hold hands on a date, don't they?"
"Hold hands."
Muen swallowed hard, his throat suddenly feeling dry.
His heart began to race violently once again.
He hadn't expected his Senior to take the initiative to suggest holding hands.
Was this some new kind of prank?
Muen scrutinized that jade-like hand, wondering if there was some hidden mechanism that would give him an electric shock the moment he touched it, turning his hair into an afro while his Senior doubled over in laughter.
"What? Are you unwilling, Junior?"
"I'm willing! Of course I'm willing!"
Without any more hesitation, Muen grabbed her hand.
Even if it was a prank, he’d accept it.
Besides, he probably wouldn't be able to resist her teasing for the rest of his life anyway, right?
But this time, it wasn't a prank. Muen truly held her small hand.
Her hand was smaller and softer than he had imagined, feeling almost boneless. His hand was just large enough to envelop hers completely.
It was just a bit cold.
"Let's go."
Anna showed a rare trace of shyness. She quickly turned her head and pulled Muen forward.
Next was a mountain path.
Rugged, uneven steps wound upward along the steep mountainside. At the verdant summit, the sharp corners of a roof were faintly visible.
The path was indeed difficult, and they swayed as they climbed.
But in reality, given the strength of these two, there shouldn't have been any mountain path they found difficult to traverse.
What was truly swaying were their hearts.
*
"I used to be quite a wild girl, actually. My favorite thing to do was wander around deserted, eerie places like this in the middle of nowhere."
"Eh? I can't see that at all."
"Everyone has a side that's completely different from who they are now."
Anna looked up at the migratory birds flying out of the forest.
Those were likely the last batch of birds staying here. Soon, they would fly south for the winter and return next year when the spring flowers bloomed.
She wondered if she would still be around to see them.
"I discovered this place by accident. It seems to be an abandoned village. These kinds of places are common around Belland; everyone moved into the city, so the villages were naturally left to rot. Back then, I would weave through these vine-covered buildings, imagining they were castles and that I was a witch living inside, researching black magic."
"Not a princess?"
"No."
Anna shook her head gently.
"A princess can only wait foolishly for a prince to save her. If the prince doesn't come, she's finished."
Muen was taken aback.
"But a witch is different. A witch doesn't need anyone to save her. A witch uses her own knowledge and black magic to struggle with all her might. Even if she fails, at least she can defiantly curse fate before she dies, can't she?"
After crossing the rugged mountain path, the two reached the summit.
An abandoned church came into Muen's view.
A small portion of the church had collapsed under the erosion of time and rain. However, in front of the church, the statue of Emiel, the Goddess of Life, still stood tall. Her hands were held out gently, looking down upon all living things with compassion.
"Let's go up," Anna said suddenly.
"Eh? Up there? But that's a statue of the Goddess?"
Before Muen could finish, Anna leaped up, lightly stepping on the folds of the statue's waist, and gracefully sat upon the Goddess's outstretched palm.
Muen’s eyes went wide—not just because of the sacrilegious act of sitting on a divine statue, but because of the angle...
From here, he could almost catch a glimpse of the "Sacred Domain" through the black stockings and the hem of her skirt...
"Junior..."
Anna pressed down her skirt and said playfully:
"Hurry up."
"...Coming."
Muen wasn't a believer in the Church of Human Life, so he felt no psychological pressure. Following her lead, he leaped onto the palm.
And honestly, the spot was quite comfortable.
Not only was the size just right, but because the palm tilted slightly inward, Muen found himself pressed right up against his Senior as they sat side-by-side.
They were close enough to hear each other breathe.
It was only then that Muen realized the statue faced a steep cliff. Below was the vast expanse of the three converging rivers, and further beyond...
Before he could look, Anna gently pressed his head down, directing his gaze below.
"Don't look up yet. Look there."
Following the direction she pointed, Muen looked down.
At the base of the cliff, a fisherman was pulling in his net. He looked very happy; even from this distance, Muen could see the plump, beautiful fish he had hauled from the water.
"Do you... like fish, Senior?"
"I used to, very much."
"Used to?"
"Life at the orphanage was very frugal. We only got to eat meat once or twice a month. Fortunately, I’ve been a good swimmer since I was a child, so every time I came out, I’d sneak over to catch fish to eat. The orphanage was very strict, so I’d always climb over the wall before dawn, run to this place to play like crazy, catch fish when I was hungry, and when I was tired, I’d read books I bought with money from selling extra fish at the market. Sometimes I’d lose track of time and sneak back very late with candies for the others, only to be inevitably and severely punished by the Matron."
Watching his Senior rest her chin in her hands as she described how fierce and terrifying the Matron was, Muen couldn't help but chuckle.
"You were that mischievous, Senior?"
"I'm still very mischievous, you know." Anna turned her head and gave him a playful wink. "Haven't you noticed, Junior?"
Muen’s heart skipped a beat again.
"And then, when I was eleven, I left the orphanage and was taken in by the old man. I studied potions and magic under his strict tutelage. I learned quickly and was soon able to study independently. A few years later, I entered the Academy. To make my research easier, I founded the Ancient Potions Society, and finally...
I met you, Junior.
That’s my entire life up until now. Pretty boring, isn't it?"
Anna tilted her head, gazing into Muen’s eyes. She had described her seemingly mundane life in the plainest of terms.
Muen looked back at her, feeling a pang of heartache.
"Senior."
"Yes?"
"Were you always... alone?"
"Hmm?"
Muen slowly raised his hand toward Anna.
He carefully watched her eyes, and only after confirming there was no sign of aversion did he gently place his palm against her cheek. "In your story," he said tenderly, "from the orphanage to being adopted, to the Academy... aside from a few necessary contacts and gathering materials for your treatment, it seems... no one else ever appeared. No friends, no family. Have you always been alone?"
Anna froze for a moment. Then, she lightly leaned her face into Muen’s palm and smiled nonchalantly.
"Junior, you know why. I never knew when I might turn into a monster. Getting too close to people only brings them misfortune."
"..."
Muen’s breath hitched. A massive, tearing pain gripped his heart.
He suddenly remembered the first time he had followed her to the Ancient Potions Classroom. As he was about to leave, she had been standing alone by the window, looking out—so incredibly lonely.
"Then what about me? Why did you keep approaching me, Senior?"
"At first, it was because I heard you were a famous playboy. I wanted to get materials from you or the people around you. But later..."
A trace of confusion appeared on Anna’s beautiful face. She looked into the distance and murmured softly:
"Later, I didn't know why myself. I just felt like... it was becoming very hard to separate myself from you."
"That’s—"
Muen was about to say something, but Anna pressed a finger to his lips.
"Don't speak yet. You can turn your head now," Anna said, her eyes shimmering with a mysterious light.
"Turn my head?"
Muen realized that she had been intentionally keeping him from looking into the distance.
Was there something there?
With that question in mind, Muen turned his head toward the horizon.
And then—
A massive setting sun filled his vision.
The crimson glow of the dusk rolled in like a tide, submerging everything. The majestic solar disk gently touched the vast waters, and the shimmering ripples flowed like the Goddess’s silken veil along the romantic waves. They were sliced into ethereal silhouettes by passing sailboats and the sound of horns.
Just minutes ago, it had been an ordinary sun. But now, it was as if it had been ignited by the world's most wondrous magic. Carrying a crimson fire, it illuminated the green mountains and the clear waves like a vivid oil painting. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
"This is..."
Muen was dazed. As a transmigrator from a jungle of steel, he had never seen such beauty.
No—even in Muen Campbell’s memories, this world had never been this... heart-stoppingly beautiful.
"As you can see, Junior, the first half of my life was actually very dull. So, I don't know what counts as a perfect date, I don't know what love is supposed to be like, and I don't know how to move someone's heart. I certainly can't give you precious gems or gifts like you do. So—"
Anna hugged her legs, resting her cheek on her knees. Her jewel-like eyes reflected the sunset, the clouds, and the boy’s stunned face. Like the little girl who had once run wild through the mountains and stumbled upon this sight for the first time, she spoke with joy and a touch of dreaminess:
"I can only give you the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen in my life."