Chapter 90

“It was from the year I was seventeen, that hunting day. I remember everything. I can hear the raucous music of the party and the sounds of laughter from afar, but all I can remember is the smell of blood.”

Even ten years later, the memory is still vivid. Mrs. Willow was one of the few who had cared for him all his life. At the moment when her affectionate gaze turned into one filled with fear and hatred… Serwin decided not to attach himself to anyone.

“Mrs. Willow looked at me and called me a monster.”

Why is her voice at that time still not forgotten?

“Troubling the people of the imperial palace is a long-time hobby of disaster—. It was not specifically promised, but I left it alone.”

After all, the disaster has calmed down as promised. It didn’t last long, but the break alone made Serwin feel like he could breathe. Hunting Day, which returns every year, was terrible, but on the other hand, it was nice to have a break.

Only when he safely surrendered himself to disaster could he be completely freed from the domination of disaster and rest. Ironically, it was only after giving up everything that he gained freedom.

‘I can’t tell her this.’

Serwin spit out only the right words to say.

“How about this year? I’m with you. Then you don’t have to prepare for this.”

“What if you can’t stop it even though you are there? Then there will be nowhere to hide.”

Serwin had only one thing he worried about.

He is afraid Amelie will hate him after learning the truth. He’s afraid she’ll leave.

“I’ve always wanted to look innocent to you.”

“But this isn’t right.”

Serwin lowered his head.

“I thought you would say so.”

‘What should I say?’

He was afraid of what her answer would be. He was crouching like a child with his large body, but his mind kept getting weaker.

However, it was not a matter of saying that she understood it. Her head was still confused, and her mind was not fully organized.

“Wait, I’m going to cool off. I’ll be back in the evening, so don’t look for me.”

“Amelie—”

Serwin looked at Amelie. His earnest eyes expressed his desire to hold her. But Amelie had her heart set on her weakness. She needed to be determined.

“This is the punishment for deceiving me!”

A stream of water poured down like a waterfall from the sky. Serwin couldn’t avoid it and got drenched.

“You should be very grateful I’m ending it like this.”

Had it been someone else, she would have slapped him in the face with water rather than a waterfall. He had to get a little wet as penance, then he could just change his clothes.

“I’ll wait for you.”

Amelie turned her back from Serwin and ran. Her mind was so complicated that it felt like it was about to explode. She needed to be alone somewhere and needed time to organize herself.

But Amelie was too famous to be left alone in such a crowded venue. When people passing by found Amelie, they approached her unconditionally and talked to her.

“Oh? Aren’t you Miss Amelie?”

“Have you met His Majesty?”

“Come to Area 3 with us.”

“Thank you, but that’s enough!”

It was already difficult to manage her facial expressions, but it was even more difficult to deal with people approaching with such obvious greed on their faces.

‘Leave me alone!’

However, she was too worried about Serwin’s condition to leave the Grand Malt Hunting Grounds.

She thought it would be safe to keep a distance so that she could quickly notice his change at any time.

When she couldn’t do this or that, or when she wanted to be alone, Amelie always used transformation magic. It was the same this time as well.

Pong.

She found a corner to hide in and quickly became a pink hamster.

“Oh, I think I saw Miss Amelie’s pink hair around here?”

A noble young man found Amelie’s corner and tried to approach. But Amelie went completely unnoticed because she was covered by the bushes.

‘Now let’s get some rest!’

She’s finally alone! Amelie ran toward the sunny side. But at some point, a black cat came out and snatched Amelie.

‘Huh? Huh?’

Amelie was confused.

‘Am I bitten by a cat now?’

No matter how much she transforms into a hamster, she’s still human, but a cat bites her?

‘Last time, I was chased by a dog. Ha.’

Why does she have to transform into something like this?

Amelie clicked her tongue. In the meantime, the cat walked somewhere with Amelie in its mouth.

‘Why is there a cat in this place? Oh what’s that, it looks just like Butterfly. It’s not Butterfly, is it?’

The cat’s teeth surprisingly didn’t hurt, but its rough tongue tickled her stomach hair.

‘Calm down…’

Amelie cast a spell. With a Pong sound Amelie returned to her human self and the cat lost her prey.

When back in her human body a stray cat was no longer a threat.

“Phew, I almost got eaten by a cat.”

“What day is it today? Why is my luck so bad? But that cat looks like Butterfly… Why is Butterfly here? Wow, did I almost get eaten by my cat?”

Amelie was exhausted and squatted down.

“Why would I eat you?”

“Huh?”

The cat said.

“The cat can talk!”

“You really don’t recognize me?”

The cat tilted its head.

“You’re really a fool, aren’t you?”

The cat quickly grew huge, and she became a woman with straight black hair.

“Lira Hose! That witch last time! Then, was Butterfly you?”

Amelie was surprised. Her cat is human! She didn’t even know that and kissed her!

“That’s right. I’ve been waiting all the time for you to be alone.”

Lira walked over to her, fluttering her black dress. Amelie recalled the moment she swung her dagger at her.

‘Why are you here today? What day is it that I’m so unlucky?’

Why, of all things, when Serwin and the Knights were away at this time?

She also left her broom at the place where she met Serwin.

‘What if she attacks me? With my magic, I don’t think I’ll even be able to handle it.’

It was better to run away than to fight half-heartedly. Lira doesn’t have a broom, so she just needs to find her broom before she gets caught.

‘Player’s Victory! Hit first before you get hit!’

Amelie jumped up and threw soil up into the air. At the same time she created a gust of wind and blew the soil at Lira.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Ugh!”

Lira couldn’t even open her eyes because of the dusty wind.

‘Now!’

Amelie started running without looking back.

“Seriously!”

Lira fought through Amelie’s wind and followed her.

Regardless, Amelie ran looking forward. Her feet were unsteady, but thanks to living in the forest for a while before, she ran away well.

Lira, who was in a hurry, immediately used magic. There was hail in front of Amelie.

‘I’m going to use magic, too!’

Amelie started a fire, which melted all of the hail.

But after a brief pause, Lira drew closer.

“Aren’t you going to stop?”

Lira shouted.

‘Ugh, I’ll catch you.’

Amelie quickly turned the soil upside down with magic.

“Ouch!”

Lila lost her balance and stumbled.

“Do you think anyone can’t use magic?”

She used magic even as she fell. As soon as Amelie took another step Lira manipulated the grass to cling to her feet.

“Ack!”

Amelie tripped perfectly and fell down as well.

‘How could you use the grass that you can’t even see, it’s cheap!’

Amelie stood up right away, although it was difficult for her to move her legs since she had hit her knee on a stone.

“I got you.”

Lira grabbed Amelie’s collar from behind.

“Ugh—”

Amelie’s escape failed. Lira held Amelie to a tree with a vine.

“Oh, it’s been a long time since I ran, and I’m exhausted.”

Lira looked down at Amelie. The shadow cast on her face was terrifying.

‘I can’t win even with magic, and I can’t run away because I hurt my leg. Now what?’

Amelie stepped back in fear.

She couldn’t escape because she was blocked by a tree. Lira came closer.

“Why do you run away?”

“You attacked me first, didn’t you?

Amelie glared at Lila with tearful eyes.

“What’s wrong with you? What did I do wrong? Are you trying to kill me?”

She didn’t expect Lira to answer honestly. She meant to pass time by talking, hoping help or inspiration would arrive. However, Lira’s reaction was completely unexpected.

“Me? When?”

Lira looked upset at the accusation.

“Last time at the Grand Malt hunting ground! Why did you cast a spell all of a sudden? You tried to stab me with a dagger! You teamed up with Charlotte and attacked me!”

“Oh, that. Did it look like that?”

Lira was perplexed.

“The dagger was testing the Emperor. I wondered how he would react if I attacked you. And I didn’t attack first.”

“You made a huge blizzard first.”

“It’s just that I’m trying to take you away, but I’m a little tied up because the Emperor interrupted me.”

“You were trying to only take me?”

“Yes.”

Amelie recalled what had happened that night. Come to think of it, just before Lira appeared, an unknown force pulled her. Was she really trying to take her away?

“How can I believe you?”

“Then don’t believe it. It’s your loss.”

said Lira coolly. Amelie seemed to believe Lira’s story.

“What are you going to do with me?”

“I was trying to find out if you were a traitor or not.”

After seeing the friendly appearance of Amelie and the Emperor in addition to Charlotte’s statement, Lira was mostly sure Amelie was a traitor to witches.

“But you’re a witch, and I can’t kill you without hearing an explanation. You may be deceived by the Emperor.”

So she waited to be alone with Amelie, looking for an opportunity to talk. Serwin didn’t spare a moment away from Amelie though, so she unintentionally watched it for a long time.

“When I looked at it from the inside, it was a little strange. You’re a diligent witch, and you’re stupidly kind. Besides, you said that you and the emperor aren’t even lovers?”

And as of today, Lira has come to a conclusion about Amelie.

“You are being deceived by the Emperor.”

“No.”

Amelie protested.

“Then what is it? Why did you come to the Imperial Palace and do such useless things?”

Does she ask because she doesn’t know? Amelie thought Lira’s question was strange.

“We must defeat the disaster sealed in His Majesty’s body. If His Majesty collapses, disaster will be released to the world, so please help me to prevent that from happening.”

“Disaster? Seal?”

Lira asked as if it was something she never heard of. Amelie was confused.

“You don’t know? Why don’t you know? Are you a real witch?”

“What does that have to do with us?”

“It’s the witches who sealed the disaster in His Majesty’s body! It’s also the disaster that caused the witch hunt.”

“What are you talking about? The witch hunt was started by a witch who stuck together with the regent king. A traitor to her own people.”

“What? No, of course, the regent king has caused a witch hunt, but it is not without the effect of disaster.”

Lira looked at Amelie suspiciously.

“You mean, the emperor has deceived you. He must have lied about witch-hunting to take advantage of you.”

“It’s not like that!”

“How are you sure? He lied to you before, aren’t you fighting about that right now with him?”

“Ugh—”

Amelie was at a loss for words. What’s with the timing!

“Still, he’s not the type of person to deceive me with this.”

Amelie knew how much Serwin had suffered from the disaster.

“Today’s event is not like he lied to me in a bad way. It’s just… people make stupid mistakes when they’re too scared and anxious.”

Amelie didn’t think Serwin had done it out of malice. So she wasn’t angry even if he hid this and deceived her. She was very surprised, but Serwin had a hard time, too.

Lira narrowed her eyes.

‘This child is too kind, she’s used by the emperor.’

No matter how she looked at it, she didn’t have the personality to betray her people.

Lira released her vines.

“Ah, thank you.”

Amelie stood up, shaking off her skirt.

“But traitor? What do you mean? Are you referring to the person who sealed the disaster again?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“…We’ll have to work on figuring out the full story.”

Lira nodded her head.

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