Chapter 15

Kukurudzu is located in a clearing deep within the Twisted Forest.

There are fewer than ten houses. The lack of uniformity in design and size makes it hard to tell at a glance that it’s a village. There are no organized plots, and the houses are scattered here and there. In the center of the village is a treehouse, and instead of gardens, there are fields and herb gardens scattered around. It’s just full of greenery.

There are no walls around it, only colorful ropes running between the trees.

The ropes are loose enough that you can pass under them without bending, but they are woven with a special barrier magic that repels intruders and those with ill intent. The barrier is also spread through the air, so it can handle attacks from above.

The barrier is harmless to the villagers who have a contract with it, so it’s sometimes used for drying laundry.

Soft light filters through the dense forest, illuminating Kukurudzu.

A small witch’s paradise. My precious hometown.

I hope it will be a comfortable place for Vil too... but that’s probably too much to ask.

“Welcome back, Sonia. And welcome, Vil. I’m so glad to see you.”

The day after my return, a small banquet was held under the treehouse.

It was a casual gathering, with food and drinks brought from each house spread out on a mat, and everyone eating and chatting. It felt like a picnic or a cherry blossom viewing.

All the residents gathered for me and Vil. Well, there are only about twenty of them.

“Welcome back. How was the capital?”

“I can’t believe there’s a man who would reject Sonia!”

“To choose a hated child as a lover. He must be a prince with strange tastes.”

“But... you brought a good man back with you...”

“Just like Sonia. You never come back empty-handed.”

Most of the women, from infants to old ladies, are witches or apprentice witches, so the atmosphere is lively.

While the surroundings are relaxed, Vil is radiating a sense of despair as if he’s been sentenced to death. He’s still not feeling well, but he’s also too tense.

Ah, maybe he feels vulnerable without a witch hunter. I ordered him to stay in the room because it’s not appropriate for him to be here.

“Alright, let’s have Sonia say a few words before we toast.”

The one managing the banquet is Coral—a witch with bright pink hair, bear ear headbands, and a frilly apron. At twenty-five, her fashion is a bit over the top, but it suits her cutely.

...In the original story, she’s one of the bad witches who causes trouble. I’ve been living in this village for a few years to prevent that from happening. Now we’re very close. I even entrusted her with managing my house, which was supposed to be empty.

“I’m back. I’m sorry for coming back so soon after the farewell party. I had some things to take care of and decided to return. Please continue to take care of me.”

While some of the villagers applaud enthusiastically, I turn to the young man shrinking next to me.

“As compensation for the broken engagement, I brought back a former knight who carries a core. His name is Vil Obsidian. He has a deep dislike for witches for various reasons, but he’s a serious and good person at heart. Please don’t bully him. But if anyone tries to seduce him, I won’t forgive you.”

Vil glares at me as if to say, “What kind of introduction is that?”

Fufu, if you have a complaint, say it out loud.

Amidst the sparse applause, a shadow rises.

“S-Sonia-sama... Why, why!?”

As the man who had been screaming while clutching his head, the atmosphere around him turns cold. Everyone sighs, as if to say, “Here we go again.”

A tall, hunched young man with chains wrapped around his body, almost like he’s wearing them as accessories. His hair is a translucent silver, his skin is pale, and he has large bags under his silver eyes. He looks like a ghost. His face is beautiful, but if you saw him at night, you’d probably make a child cry.

Let me introduce my loyal servant... no, my wonderful friend.

“Phantom... What’s wrong?”

His name is Phantom Giberd.

In the original story, he’s the “mid-boss.”

He has a masochistic fetish for being whipped by Sonia. In the later stages of the anime, Sonia brainwashes him into becoming a killing machine. Despite being a villain, he was popular among fans for his impact. He was strong enough to match Vil even in his normal state.

Of course, I haven’t been training Phantom in reality. I’ve been treating him normally since we met, but for some reason, he’s become a deranged stalker who’s obsessed with me, just like in the original story.

“H-how cruel! You rejected my love, yet you brought back another man after breaking off your engagement with the prince! And you’re going to live under the same roof...! Ugh, I’m so jealous... I’ll curse you, Vil Obsidian...!”

Vil mutters, “You’re going to curse me?” The target of his anger has suddenly shifted.

I’d like to leave him be, but if I do, he might start crying blood. I don’t want a bloodbath at this banquet.

“Phantom, don’t hate Vil. And don’t be jealous of a married man.”

“That’s right, Phantom. Don’t shout so loud. You’ll scare Freina.”

Coral’s words snap Phantom back to reality.

“S-sorry...! Oh, my angel!”

Phantom shows a melting smile to Freina, the baby in the crib next to Coral.

Phantom and Coral are married, and they had a child a year ago.

I was so overwhelmed by Phantom’s love that I couldn’t sleep at night, so I asked Coral to handle him. At the time, Phantom would lose his cool and start shouting no matter what I said. Even now, it’s the same.

So I asked Coral to tell him to stop stalking me. Before I knew it, they were married. It’s a mystery.

Both Coral and Phantom are orphans and have unique fashion senses, so they were drawn to each other. By the way, Phantom is nineteen, so it’s a bit of an age gap marriage. I think it’s wonderful.

“S-Sorry... Sonia-sama... Even though you exist, I, I, love my daughter the most...! Please, punish me by stepping on me!”

“I don’t want to. There’s no reason to step on you when you look so happy.”

“Oh, Sonia-sama, you’re so kind and I love you...!”

“Me, the wife?”

Coral pouts but isn’t really angry. She has the air of a mature older wife.

Ignoring the shocked and repulsed Vil, the banquet proceeds with a toast.

“Eat... You look pale. Coral’s cooking is the second-best after Sonia’s, so it’s delicious.”

Phantom, who is usually gruff, puts a piece of meat on Vil’s plate.

Kukurudzu is a women’s paradise with a two-to-eight gender ratio. Men are overworked and feel out of place, and they often gather to complain.

Phantom seems to want to be friends with Vil, who is a new male presence. It’s making me feel a bit uneasy.

“I don’t want to hear that from you... But fine. I’ll eat it.”

Vil, wary but unable to resist Phantom’s persistence, takes a bite of the stewed meat. I thought he might refuse outright... He really likes meat. Or is he eating out of frustration?

“Hmm, it has a strange texture... What kind of meat is this?”

“You’ll be surprised... Gray Dragon!”

Vil chokes.

“A lot of them flew in the other night, but Phantom killed them all. I wanted to catch them alive and sell them to the beast mount shop, but it was a big loss.”

“Ugh, but the scales and cores fetched a good price... The meat was also valuable.”

“That’s true. It’s extra income anyway, and it’s rare to eat dragon meat, so I’ll forgive you.”

Phantom sighs in relief, jingling his chains as he starts to enjoy his wife’s cooking.

On the other hand, Vil turns pale and downs a glass of fruit wine. He seems to have managed to hold it in.

Is he having flashbacks to that night? Poor thing. I secretly rub his back, but he doesn’t resist.

“Obsidian... Are you the son of that witch hunter knight?”

As the banquet calms down, I take Vil to greet the elder of Kukurudzu.

The elder is more of an advisor with no real authority. But she’s knowledgeable, so the young witches naturally respect her. I’ve been loved by her since I was a child, so I adore her.

Her wrinkles make her look like she’s always smiling. She’s a kind old lady.

“Yes, Grandma. Vil is the son of Cross Obsidian. He’s also a witch hunter.”

“Is that so. Twenty years ago, my youngest sister was killed by him. She was just living in town with her son and daughter-in-law, an innocent witch.”

Vil clenches his fists and gasps.

“...Do you hate me for my father’s actions?”

“No. If we punished children for their parents’ sins, there would be no one left on earth. Take the good and leave the bad. Your father was a fine man. Strong as a beast, sharp as a blade. Even as an enemy, his laughter as he bathed in the blood of witches was so alluring...”

“Huh?”

The elder looks into the distance, reminiscing, and sighs.

“He was also a child of witches. Decades after the Black Lustrous Witch Sletzia’s time... It’s a strange fate that you and Sonia are together.”

Vil looks at me for an explanation, but I shake my head.

“Grandma sometimes says things that don’t make sense. Just be kind to her; she’s old.”

It seems she didn’t hear me, as she mutters, “Jebela and Aronia have inherited something terrible.”