EP10. Witch Hunt (6)
Sophie answered after a while.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Why did you, who is so loyal that even death doesn’t matter, gave away the information that the Count is staying at the annex so easily?”
“That’s because even if I don’t tell you, you have no choice but to find it in the end.”
At first glance, she might think that she has a point. But Sean didn’t care and continued to ask questions.
“The Count denied he was a witch.”
“Yes. What does that matter?”
“On the other hand, you didn’t really hide that you were a witch’s minion. It seems to be too contrary to the Count’s attitude.”
“…That’s it.”
Shaun looked at the battle ahead. In Edward’s ignorant fist, the count’s barrier was clearly engraved with gold. Perhaps soon the battle will be over. Even if Viola counterattacks afterwards, it will be difficult to reap meaningful results.
“At this rate, the Count will lose. Are the thoughts from earlier still valid?”
“…Even if the Count loses, my loyalty will not change.”
“Where is your real owner now?”
“…My master is the Count.”
“You mean you’re going to stay away from it until the end.”
Shaun pointed his sword at Sophie’s throat. The chill in her boy’s eyes was enough to disconcert the woman who was not afraid of her death. But Sophie kept her composure and opened her mouth.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“According to the answer.”
“…That’s unexpected.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s not important.”
The sword was so fine that it dug into her throat. A drop of blood formed on the well-forged blade of her meticulous grooming. Sean didn’t relax. He presses quietly but fiercely.
“Answer me. Where is Levi now?”
“·······.”
“Don’t be mistaken because silence is the answer. Your master’s treatment will be different.”
“You are so confident. Are you sure you can defeat the master?”
“As expected. The Count is not the owner.”
No matter who sees it, the count’s battle is already decided to be defeated. Even Sophie hadn’t denied that Viola would be defeated. Sophie got caught in Sean’s judo paper.
Her honest loyalty, which she did not know how to bend, made the result of breaking down in the end.
***
“It’s filthy hard.”
“····Inspiration. Are you a monster, not a human?”
Viola’s question contained a lot of her sincerity. The protective barrier she uses is a magic that specializes in blocking her physical power. She knows all too well how difficult it is to pierce the barrier unless it is magic.
Her own defeat everything. She said of course she could use more magic yet she could. But in the end, she will be nothing more than a madman. She couldn’t see any way to defeat her opponents. If it had been a one-on-one battle, she would have won with ease.
Even that monstrous old man was an easy opponent if he used 6-syllable magic. But that was impossible now.
Because of the existence of the bolt that obstinately interferes with himself every time he sings. The old man may be the most menacing of her current battle, but the one most annoying to her is obviously the pink-haired woman holding herself back with a crossbow.
After much thought, Viola made a simple decision.
She said rather brazenly with a disapproving smile.
“Hey, what are you going to do if you surrender…?”
“Hmm. That’s another fresh question. What do you expect?”
“That’s right, you guys. You say you’re a priest, so you won’t do anything bad. Yes?”
At that, Edward admitted with a satisfied laugh.
“Of course. I swear to serve the god of mercy. We don’t treat people badly.”
“As expected, I see people very well.”
“However, if it is a non-human witch, I will mercilessly destroy it.”
Frightened by the terrifying old man’s warning, imagining the future for a while, she immediately spoke in a tone mixed with absurdity and doubt.
“No, are you serious? Didn’t you just come in to rob as an excuse?”
“…Wasn’t it you who said you wouldn’t do bad things because you’re a priest?”
Tina, who listened to the conversation from behind, couldn’t hide her absurdity and refuted.
Viola was scratching her cheek at the situation of Jaseungjabak and tried to cover her situation with a shy smile.
“Ha ha ha… That’s it though. You really thought I was a witch? That’s a bit ridiculous.”
“Forever…”
From noble mtl dot com.
Tina, who was about to scold her, couldn’t keep her words any longer. She
Come to think of it, because she was a little weird. Clearly, all circumstances point to the Count being a witch.
Of course, it could have been an illusion, but the existence of Sophie and the monsters that popped out in front of the front door eliminated other possibilities.
That’s why.
Tina hadn’t even thought of another possibility.
Perhaps really. What if the count isn’t a witch? Then everything gets twisted.
It may be necessary to redo all the investigations conducted in Elioden from scratch. Perhaps the witch had already left Elioden and fled to another place.
No matter how you think about it, all the evidence points to the count as a witch.
But is there any reason to lie to the end? If witch hunters invaded her house, she would have no choice but to admit that they were uncovered.
“I haven’t finished the witch interrogation yet. Please take off the bandage.”
Sepia asked the count. She was stubborn enough to say that her front and back was tight, and she didn’t judge the count as a witch even during the battle. She just thought she was a witch suspect.
“Should I do it?”
“You must prove your innocence.”
“Ehh. Okay. Then there is nothing you can do.”
Viola slowly raised her hand behind her, trying to loosen the bandages. When everyone’s attention was focused.
Suddenly someone shouted.
“I’ll go to the tower for a while!”
It was Sean. At his words, everyone turned around.
When a boy who had not taken part in the battle said he went to the tower blindly without consulting him, Edward frowned at his sudden action.
“What is this all of a sudden nonsense? You want to go to the tower?”
“Shaun. Please tell me why you want to go to the tower.”
Tina asked why. Shawn only spat out a single word, revealing his urgency with his whole body.
“Levy is in danger!”
“Yes…? Levy is dangerous, what does she mean by that…”
Before Tina could finish her sentence, Shawn quickly turned and left the room.
I don’t know exactly what the hell is going on, but I can at least guess from Sean’s movements that it’s a pretty serious problem.
Tina looked at the place where her Sean left and her viola. After a short thought, Tina opened her mouth.
“Then I…”
“Let me follow Sean.”
“…Are you Mr. Edward?”
“Of course, it would be safe for everyone to move together, but first of all, people must remain here.”
“Even if it’s not Mr. Edward…”
To Tina’s concerns, the old man responded with a light smile.
“If it is safe here and dangerous there. It is the right law for the strongest to go.”
“Yes. Then please.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“Heh heh. It’s not bad to be seen off by the ladies.”
The old man disappeared after Shawn at a speed unbecoming for his size.
Viola, who had been watching the scene blankly, belatedly asked the two women a question.
“What the hell is the situation?”
Tina decided to focus on her original situation again.
Anyway, if that was acting, she would be an actress with really good acting skills.
To the point where I wonder if the witch’s special power is high-quality acting.
“Could you take off the bandage immediately? Quickly check and follow me.”
Of course, it was still a half-doubtful situation for her, so I glared at her with full vigilance against the witch who might be hers. Viola obediently resumed the work she had stopped earlier.
When the bandage was removed, the upper part of the count’s face was revealed. She had her eyes closed.
“Now, is that enough?”
“Please open your eyes.”
“Huh? Why?”
“You need to check your pupils.”
As Tina’s doubts grew stronger at Viola’s hesitation, the Count sighed and muttered:
“It’s awkward to open your eyes.”
With a complaint she opened her eyes.
The pupils were bright blue.
No matter how you look at it, it didn’t look purple, it was the blue eyes like the clear sea.
“····You. You really weren’t a witch.”
“Isn’t that obvious? You’re a witch in the first place. It would be distasteful that she mistook me for something like that.”
“But… Then why did the monster appear in front of your house?”
“A monster? Did that come out in front of my house?”
Rather, Viola asked in retrospect, pondered for a moment, and then guessed.
“Isn’t that on purpose to make me mistaken for a witch?”
“Who the hell would do that…”
“That must be a witch.”
“I mean. You mean she doesn’t know who the witch is.”
The first thing that came to her mind was a maid. However, she did not use magic or curses during battle.
If she loses, she could die like Edward suggested, but she didn’t use it, which means she wasn’t a witch in the first place.
“…But what’s in the tower?”
“Tower? There’s nothing there? In the first place, except for the recent magic class with my student, I never went in.”
“Nothing? Are you really sure? From the first floor to the top?”
“····If you ask like that. In the first place, I didn’t go anywhere except for the 1st floor…?”
A witch who lives secretly in the Mage Tower, avoiding the eyes of the Count?
It’s not impossible, but it was an extremely unrealistic guess.
She, the most accomplished sorceress in her Ellie Orden, cannot fail to notice her intruders entering her realm. Didn’t she notice and wait for them even when they came?
“Who lives here besides you?”
“Huh…? Me and Sophie. . . . Oh, Sophie is the name of my maid.”
“And what?”
“And… My daughter.”
Daughter. Upon hearing Viola’s words, Tina immediately asked.
“Where is the daughter now?”
“····My daughter? Wiz now… ····What?”
***
Sean ran with his heart racing.
And then he remembered the conversation he had with Sophie just before.
“Yes. That’s right. The Count is not a witch.”
“Then where is your real master?”
“It’s a tower.”
The answer that came out so easily made Sean more suspicious.
“Why do you tell me so easily?”
“If you find out that the Count isn’t a witch anyway, you’ll end up heading for the tower.”
“What if it was a smoke screen to divert attention?”
“Oh, that might be the case. Trust me though. I am not telling lies.”
For an absurd reason, Sean was dumbfounded. It made me genuinely wonder if he thought that statement was persuasive. Sophie seemed to have let go of everything, but on the contrary, she continued to speak more calmly than before.
“Really. Because I never lied to you.”
“…Whatever it is. It will become clear in a little while. I don’t know how strong their owner is, but I don’t think they’ll be able to beat us.”
“I hate to admit it, but maybe. . . . Oh, I forgot.”
Contrary to what she said, she didn’t look embarrassed at all. Sean realized that his last words were intentional.
“I lied to you twice.”
“····What?”
“One is that the count said he was the master.”
“Are you kidding me right now? If that’s the case, you picked the wrong opponent.”
“The other is that a girl named Levi left here.”
Sean froze. Her attack worked so perfectly.
Sophie calmly waited for her final attack with her leisurely smile.
“Where are you?”
“Didn’t I tell you? It’s called the top.”
“Where is Levy right now, other than the witch?!”
“So I told you.”
“It’s in the tower.”
Sean ran. I know very well that this is Sophie’s trick. She knows all too well that she purposely threw bait at herself to distract them.
But sometimes. There are times when you have to enter even though you know it is a trap.
There is an existence that has no choice but to do that. For Sean, Levy was like that.
When we left the annex, passed through the garden, and finally arrived in front of the tower. Shawn opened the tower’s tightly closed door without a moment’s rest.
Then the interior of the tower began to shine in Shawn’s field of vision.
An old and shabby tower that is not particularly maintained. A tower with warm light coming in through the open doors and windows.
It was like a peaceful scene that had nothing to do with the previous battle.
Under the shining sunlight. In the center of the tower.
A girl was standing.
“····Levy?”
Levy was waiting for Sean.