Chapter 17

This is from Vil's perspective.

The witch village of Cucurujou was quite different from what I had imagined.

I thought it would be a cold and terrifying village with a strong dictatorial atmosphere under Sonia's rule. Specifically, I imagined a scene where witches would kneel and clear the path as Sonia walked, cauldrons of suspicious magical potions would be placed everywhere, and the air would be filled with the groans and screams of men, like a scene from the underworld.

But what was the reality?

A circle of smiles formed around Sonia, and a gentle breeze carrying a fresh scent blew through the village. Dappled sunlight that invited drowsiness filtered down from the trees.

Only Phantom, a suspicious character, seemed to worship Sonia like a goddess. The residents were mostly children and the elderly, and their topics of conversation were things like "how splendid the wedding was" or "whether Prince Rain was as handsome as rumored," the kind of things ordinary women would enjoy.

During the welcoming feast, the time passed so peacefully that it was almost anticlimactic.

However, it seemed that the village was not as peaceful as it appeared.

Gray dragon meat was served at the feast.

This meant that Cucurujou had indeed been attacked by the dragon squadron led by Sednir, but they had repelled the attack effortlessly.

Despite such a recent and dangerous event, they were still able to hold a feast so casually. What kind of nerve do they have?

"We're used to it. We're cool."

As if reading my thoughts, a witch named Coral muttered quietly.

While there doesn't seem to be a witch as extraordinary as Sonia, the witches in this village give the impression of being highly skilled. They seem to be well-versed in battle. I especially felt an unfathomable power from a man named Phantom. I'm not even sure if I could defeat him in a one-on-one fight.

There was another thing that caught my attention during the feast. An elderly woman, one of the elders, knew my father.

I wanted to ask her more, but for the elder, it was a topic about a family enemy. Although she didn't seem to hate me, I hesitated to delve deeper.

There are so many things I don't understand, and it's frustrating.

At this stage, I can make all sorts of guesses, but thinking alone won't lead to any conclusions.

I was considering whether to question Sonia when I was taken to the lord's mansion in Azurite.

Actually, I had met Lord Sunnyg before.

A few years ago, I had seen him at a ceremony in the royal castle when I was guarding Prince Rain. I remembered him because he had an overwhelming aura that rivaled the prince's. He was a man who fit the words "sharp," "heroic," and "charismatic." Even as a man, I thought he was handsome.

Lord Sunnyg, who knew all about the king's despicable deeds, still followed him. It's a bit disappointing, but I can't really blame him. After all, it's impossible for a regional lord to openly defy the royal family.

Sonia seems to admire Lord Sunnyg.

The two of them have a similar aura. They are confident in themselves, harbor dark thoughts, yet always maintain a composed demeanor. They are so alike that it's almost nauseating.

They might become enemies depending on the royal family's future policies. It's terrifying that they can have such a harmonious meeting despite knowing this.

For the fitting of my formal attire—despite my refusal using all the vocabulary I had—it was in the room we moved to that Lord Sunnyg asked me:

"How about it? Isn't Sonia cute? You're lucky to have been picked up by her, Vil. Try to serve her with all your heart."

"Hmm..."

"What's with that lackluster response?"

His orange eyes reminded me of the sun, and I felt like I was being burned by his active energy. I prefer a negative atmosphere, so I thought talking to Phantom would be better.

"Um... What do you think, Lord Sunnyg? Do you really see her like a little sister?"

"Yes. I've known Sonia since she was a child. She's so adorable. You might be surprised, but the young Sonia was very shy and quiet. There was a time when she was so nervous that she couldn't even talk to me."

"Really..."

Indeed, it's surprising. I always imagined her as someone who could handle herself well from a young age.

"It was about four years ago. She suddenly became much brighter. Apparently, she started having enjoyable dreams."

"Dreams?"

"Yes. Dreams where she lives as a different person in another world."

In her dreams, Sonia becomes an unremarkable woman, plays with friends who share common interests, goes on trips with her family, and cries over unrequited love—such ordinary life experiences.

"Since she was born with everything special, she might have subconsciously yearned for an ordinary life."

The daughter of the savior witch and the future queen of Mistria. A beauty that any woman would envy and overflowing magical talent.

To desire an ordinary life despite being born with such gifts seems like a pretentious woman. Of course, there are heavy expectations from others and the struggles of being extraordinary, but...

"She once told me that she couldn't keep a pet because of family reasons, so I surprised her with a baby magic beast as a gift. Do you know about it?"

"Yes, Unica."

That horse was a gift from Lord Sunnyg. It acts rudely towards me but is very affectionate towards Sonia.

"Although she loves it now, she was disappointed at first. Sonia wanted to sleep in the same bed with her pet. I should have gotten her a pet dog or cat instead of a practical horse."

A pet dog or cat...

"Riding is a hobby of the queen... Don't you think it's great? But by imposing my preferences, I made Sonia sad. She was cute even when she was disappointed! Sonia is kind. She didn't blame me and said, 'When I grow up and can take care of other animals besides Unica, I'll get a pet I like.'"

A shiver ran down my spine.

No, right? It's just a childhood dream, right? He's not trying to fulfill that dream with me, is he?

...But, I see.

Sonia also had a childlike, human side.

Thinking back, she seems to have smiled more since returning to Cucurujou. No, Sonia always smiles calmly, but she seems more relaxed than when we were on the road to the capital.

Perhaps it's the sense of security from returning home, or the relief from no longer being tense about meeting the king's envoy.

When the tailor finished the fitting and started to leave, Lord Sunnyg said in a voice only I could hear:

"Vil. I won't ask you to risk your life to protect her. But at least, I hope you can be by her side as a friend. I'm counting on you."

I couldn't say anything.

I was about to say that it would be troublesome to be asked such a thing, but Lord Sunnyg's gaze was so serious that I couldn't form the words.

I can't move for anyone anymore.

I couldn't even do anything for the most important person in my life, Emerda, so I have nothing to offer for the daughter of an enemy. I don't hate Sonia, but I don't have any affection for her either. In fact, it's not interesting to have things go according to her plans.

I can't be Sonia's friend, and I feel bad about it, but...

She is strong, smart, and well-liked by everyone.

I was surprised to learn that her father was a former male prostitute named Umber, but she seemed to take it lightly, so I don't think she cares much about it.

If I could be as thick-skinned as her, life would be more enjoyable. I can't do that, though.

Sonia's house is built on a slope, a bit outside the village. It's the most impressive house in Cucurujou, but it's still small compared to a noble's mansion. Considering that she lived with her mother in the forest, it's more than enough.

I stood in the kitchen, slouching.

"Really, why doesn't she have any servants...?"

The next day, after returning from the lord's mansion, I grumbled while preparing breakfast.

It's not my place to say, but Sonia was supposed to be the future queen of Mistria and the daughter of the savior witch, Aronia.

I thought she would have a large staff and live a life of luxury. It's just sad that such a grand house has no servants.

I don't mind doing chores like preparing meals. It distracts me, and I can't just be a pet.

However, living alone with a woman of a similar age in one house...

Even if the house is large and we have a master-servant relationship, it feels problematic. I have no intentions, but it looks bad. People might already think we're in that kind of relationship.

I don't like it.

"In the past, there were servants. My mother's disciples... or rather, slave-like witches, used to do the housework. But after various events, they all left over the past two years. It's a shame."

What did she do? She's scary.

"I didn't feel like hiring new ones. But I'm glad you're here, Vil."

I placed the freshly made breakfast in front of Sonia, who smiled. It was fried rice, tamagoyaki, and stir-fried meat.

Her eyes seemed to sharpen a bit.

"Thank you. Itadakimasu."

She froze for a moment after taking a bite but continued to move her spoon silently. I sighed in relief.

I'm quite confident in my cooking skills. I used to help in the cafeteria at the knight training school to get free meals.

When I was traveling to investigate mysteries, I often cooked, and my companions praised it. Seeing Emerda smile at the food I made made me feel like I was on top of the world.

On the other hand, Emerda's cooking tasted like charcoal. But when I was starving and using the witch hunter, I ate it without caring about the taste. I was the only one who ate it enthusiastically while everyone else refused, and Emerda was very happy.

Thinking about this made my chest hurt, and Sonia put down her spoon and wiped her mouth. Then she said casually:

"Thank you. It was delicious, but it's not good enough. I'll be making the meals from now on."

"What!? How can you say that after eating it all..."

Sonia looked at me coldly.

"Your seasoning is not bad, but everything else is terrible. The nutrition is unbalanced, the flavors are too strong, you use too much oil, and most importantly, you lack consideration for your master. After eating such rich food for two days in a row, I can't eat lunch or snacks today. It's a calorie overload."

"Damn, I don't know about that! If you didn't like it, you could have left it."

"It would be wasteful to leave the food you made. It's fine occasionally, but eating your cooking every day would be toxic to my body. It would damage my health and beauty. So, I'll only ask you to peel vegetables and wash dishes. Cooking is forbidden."

I was irritated. To be treated as if my cooking is poison...

"Fine. Then make your own food. I'll do the same."

"That's not acceptable. It's not economical. Don't worry, I'm good at cooking."

"Relax? I can't. I don't want to eat what you make. I don't know what kind of drugs you might mix in. I don't want to be a witch's guinea pig."

I haven't forgotten being drugged with a sleeping incense on the way to Cucurujou or giving Sednir a powerful drug.

Yesterday, I was shown her laboratory, which was filled with suspicious potions. She said they were cold remedies and nutritional supplements, but only she knows if that's true.

There's also a restricted basement. It gives me a bad feeling.

I expected her to argue, but Sonia just smiled.

"Being wary of my cooking means you're no longer giving up on yourself. That's good. Yes, let's eat separately for a while."

"Thanks for the dishes."

Sonia left. She's so casual.

I regretted my immature behavior a little later.

Even though I don't really think she would poison my food.

What is this feeling of wanting to rebel... Is it puberty?

I'm an idiot.

No, I shouldn't worry about it. Sonia doesn't seem to care, so it's not a big deal. I decided to forget about it quickly.

In the morning, I helped the village witches with the fields and orchards. Physical labor isn't hard for me, but it was tense because it was my first time doing farm work and there were so many witches around.

In the afternoon, I cleaned the library.

The bookshelves were mostly empty, and books were piled haphazardly on the floor and tables.

They had tried to clean up before the house was left empty, but gave up because there were too many books. I was ordered to empty the bookshelves, clean them, and then reorganize the books.

There were general books, magic books, and history books about a kingdom that was destroyed by witches overnight. Sonia laughed and said that if I let Coral and the other witches help, it would turn into a reading party and get out of hand.

Although I received a higher education as a knight, I'm not particularly fond of studying, so I didn't even look at the contents. I worked steadily. By the way, Sonia wasn't there because she had other things to do.

When I was alone, I started to worry about various things.

What should I do from now on?

I told the princes I would contact them when things settled down. If I don't, Charrot and the others might come looking for me. That would be a problem.

I don't think I can keep the truth from my comrades when I see them.

The Rose Orb, the king's atrocities, my distrust of the prince, and Emerda's lifespan—these are things I shouldn't talk about. It would only cause unnecessary conflicts and make everyone unhappy.

But it's too heavy to bear alone.

It feels dishonest to keep the truth hidden, and I can't stand it.

I'll write "no abnormalities" in the first letter.

I need to buy some time.

"What will I do with the time I buy, me..."

It would be easy to escape from Cucurujou.

No, escaping without Sonia noticing would be difficult, but I don't think she would pursue me persistently. If I run, I run. It's not a big deal. She seems to have taken me from the capital out of sympathy and a whim.

The problem is what to do after escaping from Cucurujou.

If it's known that I'm free, the royal family's assassins will come after me. They won't let me live knowing the secrets from twenty years ago.

I can't stay in Mistria. I might have to flee to another country, like the Kingdom of Schranmoo or the Empire of Katara...

My thoughts stopped there.

What would I do if I ran away?

Change my name, change my appearance, and make a living as a mercenary or adventurer?

With my skills, I wouldn't starve. Fighting recklessly might help me forget the sense of emptiness and disappointment.

But I don't have the energy to do anything to survive right now.

On the other hand, living in Cucurujou... I can't imagine it.

I don't want to be involved with witches or national conspiracies anymore. I don't want to know any more truths that make me feel terrible.

In the end, I couldn't find an answer and just went through the motions of daily life.

"Again with that menu? Your nutrition is so unbalanced."

One evening, about a week after arriving in the village, Sonia sighed at the dining table.

In front of me were dried meat, an apple, and bread. It was enough for a battlefield, but it was getting boring to eat the same thing every day. I was too lazy to make a more elaborate meal.

"Do you want some vegetable soup? I made too much."

I had been smelling an incredibly good aroma. Tomato-based broth with butter-fried onions and bacon... I imagined the harmony of acidity, sweetness, and meat juice and quickly shook my head.

"Leave me alone."

I won't be trained anymore. I won't let that happen.

Sonia's cooking skills were genuine, and her meals were luxurious. The menu itself was ordinary, but the dishes were elaborate and restaurant-like. They looked and smelled appetizing. I wondered how they tasted...

"I'm going outside for some fresh air."

To resist the temptation, I rushed out of the house. My stomach, which I had just finished eating, started to feel empty.

...I'll get another apple from the orchard. It's not stealing. I was told I could eat freely when I helped.

The orchard was a bit away from the village. I followed the path, guided by the light of the magic lamps.

"Ugh... What am I doing..."

I let out a small scream when I ran into Phantom in the dim light. He's so imposing but doesn't give off any presence, which is annoying. It's bad for my heart.

Phantom was carrying a basket of apples. Coral, who was carrying a baby on her back, was behind him. They seemed to have been on a family walk while harvesting apples.

"Are you here for apples too... for Sonia?"

"For myself only. I'm a bit hungry."

My stomach growled at the worst possible time.

"Oh? You're hungry, Vil. Sonia always eats early, but you haven't eaten yet?"

"No, we eat separately."

Phantom and Coral were surprised.

"Vil, did you do something to make Sonia angry? Are you being punished?"

"No, that's not—"

"Kee! You're in a position to eat Sonia's cooking every day! What did you do!?"

Phantom's shouting wouldn't stop, so I reluctantly told him about our conversation the other day. I thought he might get even louder, but surprisingly, Phantom fell silent.

"......S"

"Huh?"

But it was only the calm before the storm.

"Uuuu... I'll kill you, I'll kill you, I'll kill youuu!"